Literature for Scholars
Major Essay Topic 1—The Impact of Society, Community, and Culture on the Individual

Due: October 6, 2010

Worth: 300 pts (AKA, A HUGE PART OF YOUR FIRST QUARTER GRADE)

 

                After having spent some time researching the 1930’s and understanding the history of the chosen setting for the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, you must now extend your thinking to understand how society, community, and culture impacts an individual. In this case, you will want to consider how your life, background, the community (neighborhood, city, school, family) in which you were raised influenced you. You will then need to connect your experience to that of the major character of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout. Finally, you will want to use the experience you had researching the 1930’s to understand what influenced the novel of the book you just read. All of these topics must be addressed in an expository essay that reflects of the following essential questions:

Part I—You

·         What do you value? What made you who you are today? How did your community (school, neighborhood, city, family) influence you and how you developed?

·         How does your society empower or limit you? What are the expectations for you? Have you ever resisted society and stood up for something you believed in? How did that decision impact you?

Part II—Scout

·         How does the community of Maycomb influence Scout? How does it shape her values and view of the world? What figures influence her and what is the impact of their influence?

·         How does Scout’s own family shape her development? How does she grow and change throughout the story? How is that change significant?

Part III—Harper Lee

  • How did the events of the 1930’s influence Harper Lee in her design of the book? In other words, think about why she wrote the story and what kind of message she was trying to communicate.
  • How does understanding the 1930’s and understanding the historical context of the book help you to understand the novel better? How do the themes, characters, setting, and plot become clearer as a result of understanding the history behind the book?
 

Turn over for paper requirements

Requirements

 

  1. All essays should contain a proper heading
  2. All essays should have a title
  3. All essays must be submitted with any brainstorming work or rough drafts
  4. All essays should be written in Times New Roman with 12 pt as the size
  5. All essays should be double-spaced
  6. All essays must be between 3-4 pages double-spaced
  7. All expectations of proper grammar and mechanics must apply
 

Strategy for Writing

We will take some time in class to work through the best strategies for writing this essay. Here is a broad timeline for how you should ensure that your paper is completed on time:

 

Wednesday, Sept. 15—Brainstorm and organize your ideas; submit your notes and outlines for my approval

Friday, Sept. 17—Submit any initial drafts to me for review

Monday, Sept. 20—Complete a rough draft for review

Wednesday, Sept. 22—Make revisions on the rough drafts

Friday, Sept. 24—Submit the completed essay