To Kill a Mockingbird Syllabus Journeys Unit, Fall 2014 "'First of all,' he said, 'If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-' 'Sir?' '-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.'" Atticus, To Kill a Mockingbird, page 30 Throughout the next several weeks, we will be reading Harper Lee s To Kill a Mockingbird, a classic in American literature. The novel earned a Pulitzer Prize in 1960, and it has been said that this book is one, every adult should read before they die, second to the Bible. Set during the period of the Great Depression in Maycomb, Alabama, To Kill a Mockingbird is narrated by Scout Finch, a six-year old girl who beautifully captures such themes as tolerance and courage. Through Scout s eyes, we are able to experience the issues that plagued Maycomb, Alabama, including racial prejudice, social class, gender roles, and superstitious beliefs of the 1930 s. Therefore, to best understand and appreciate the novel, we will be interpreting the text in the context of the aforementioned concepts. Dates of Assigned Readings, Vocabulary Homework, Vocabulary Quizzes, Rock the Talk DOK Questions, and Short Answer Responses: Tuesday, September 9, 2014 Homework: Vocabulary Notes Section 1 (chapters 1-5) Distribute: TKAM Syllabus Vocabulary Notes Section 1 To Love a Mockingbird Article and Read Read: Read Chapter 1 in To Kill a Mockingbird Introduce Depth of Knowledge Questions and Share Sample Questions and Sample Short Answer Responses 1. Provide an objective summary of chapter 1 in TKAM. (RL 8.1 and RL 8.2- Central Idea and Cite the Text) 2. How does the fact that Scout is narrating the text impact the reliability or tone of the text? (RL 8.6- Point of View) 3. What purpose does chapter 1 serve in the text (RL 8.6- Point of View) 4. Read the following quote from chapter 1 and determine its significance to the central idea of the chapter: There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County. But it was a time of vague optimism for some of the people: Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself. 5. In the above quote, the author uses an allusion to draw upon the historical context of the text. Identify the allusion and its significance to the text. Wednesday, September 10, 2014 Vocabulary: Review Vocabulary Notes for Section 1 Reading: Chapter 2 in To Kill a Mockingbird Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Writing: 3 DOK Questions Chapter 2: Thursday, September 11, 2014 Homework: Short Answer Response for Chapter 2-3 Due Friday, 9/12 Vocabulary: Review Vocabulary Notes for Section 1 Reading: Chapter 3 in To Kill a Mockingbird Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Short Answer: Analyze how the author uses the character of Miss Caroline to develop the theme of chapter 2-3 in To Kill a Mockingbird. (RL 8.1 and 8.2) Due Friday, 9/12
Writing: 3 DOK Questions Chapter 3 Friday, September 12, 2014 Homework: Section 1 Vocabulary Quiz on Monday, 9/15 Vocabulary: Review Vocabulary Notes for Section 1 Reading: Chapter 4-5 in To Kill a Mockingbird Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Writing: 3 DOK Questions Chapter 4: Chapter 5: Monday, September 15, 2014 Homework: Complete Section 2 Vocabulary Notes (chapters 6-11) for TKAM; Read Chapter 7 and Short Answer Response Due Tuesday, 9/16 Vocabulary: Quiz on Section 1 Vocabulary Reading: Chapter 6-7 in To Kill a Mockingbird Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Short Answer: (Chapter 7, RL 8.1, 8.2, 8.6) At the end of chapter 7, Scout states, When we went in the house, I saw he [Jem] had been crying; his face was dirty in the right places, but I thought it odd that I had not heard him. Why does Scout fail to recognize the reason why Jem was truly crying? How does the fact that Scout is narrating the text impact her narration of this important scene? (Due Tuesday, 9/16) Writing: 3 DOK Questions Chapter 6: Chapter 7:
Tuesday, September 16, 2014 Homework: Read Chapter 9 and Short Answer Response Due Wednesday, 9/17 Chapter 8: Chapter 9: Vocabulary: Review Section 2 Vocabulary Words Reading: Chapter 8-9 in To Kill a Mockingbird Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Short Answer: (Chapter 9 RL 8.4- Figurative and Connotative Language) At the end of chapter 9, Atticus states, But do you think I could face my children otherwise? You know what s going to happen as well as I do, Jack, and I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness, and most of all, without catching Maycomb s usual disease. What disease is Atticus talking about? What connotation does the word disease have in developing the theme of the text? Due 9/17 Writing: 3 DOK Questions Wednesday, September 17, 2014 Homework: Short Answer Response for Chapter 10 Due 9/18 Vocabulary: Section 2 Vocabulary Reading: Chapter 10 in To Kill a Mockingbird Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Short Answer: Read the following quote from chapter 10: Remember it s a sin to kill a mockingbird. That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. Your father s right, she said. Mockingbirds don t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy... but sing their hearts out for us. That s why it s a sin to kill a mockingbird. Explore the different motifs of the mockingbird. (RL 8.4) Due 9/18 Writing: 3 DOK Questions Chapter 10:
Thursday, September 18, 2014 Homework: Read Chapter 12 and Short Response Due 9/19; and Study for Vocabulary Section 2 (chapters 6-11), Quiz on 9/19 Chapter 11: Chapter 12: Vocabulary: Section 2 Vocabulary Chart Reading: Chapter 11-12 in To Kill a Mockingbird Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Short Answer: (Chapter 11) Interpret the symbolism of the white camellia that Mrs. Dubose gives Jem upon her death. What does Jem s response to the gift indicate about his character? Due 9/19 Writing: 3 DOK Questions Friday, September 19, 2014 Homework: Section 3 Vocabulary (chapters 12-17) Due 9/22 Vocabulary: Quiz on Section 2 Vocabulary Reading: Chapter 13 in To Kill a Mockingbird Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Writing: 3 DOK Questions Chapter 13: Monday, September 22, 2014 Homework: Vocabulary: Review Vocabulary Notes for Section 3 Reading: Chapter 14 in To Kill a Mockingbird Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Writing: 3 DOK Questions and Sample On-Demand Prompt Chapter 14:
Tuesday, September 23, 2014 Homework: Vocabulary: Review Section 3 Vocabulary (chapters 12-17) Reading: Chapter 15 in To Kill a Mockingbird Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Short Answer: On-Demand Narrative Writing Prompt for Chapter 15 Writing: 3 DOK Questions Chapter 15: Wednesday, September 24, 2014 Homework: Study for Section 2 Vocabulary Quiz on 9/25 Vocabulary: Quizlet for Section 3 Vocabulary (chapters 11-17) Reading: Chapter 16 in To Kill a Mockingbird and I Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman (Marginal Annotations) Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Writing: 3 DOK Questions Chapter 16: Thursday, September 25, 2014 Homework: Complete Section 3 Vocabulary (chapters 12-17) due 9/26 and Begin Informational Essay Chapter 17: Vocabulary: Quiz on Section 3 Vocabulary Reading: Chapter 17 in To Kill a Mockingbird (Marginal Annotations) and I, too, Hear America Singing by Langston Hughes Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Informational Essay: (RL 8.4 and RL 8.6) Read I Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman and I, too, Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman. What is Langston Hughes perspective of America after reading I, too, Hear America Singing. What does the author s word choices reveal about his perspective? Due Friday, October 3 Writing: 3 DOK Questions Friday, September 25, 2014 Immigration Research Project Presentations
Monday, September 29, 2014 Homework: Section 4 Vocabulary for TKAM (chapters 18-24); Read Chapter 19 for Homework and Complete Marginal Annotations and Short Answer Response for Chapter 19 Vocabulary: Review Vocabulary for Section 4 Reading: Chapter 18 and 19 in To Kill a Mockingbird Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Short Answer: Compare and contrast Mayella Ewell and Tom Robinson on trial? Do you sympathize with Mayella, despite her rather pathetic demeanor on trial? Writing: 3 DOK Questions Chapter 18: Chapter 19: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 Homework: Short Answer Response to Chapter 20 Chapter 20: Vocabulary: Quiz on Section 3 Vocabulary Reading: Chapter 20 in To Kill a Mockingbird Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Short Answer: Reread Atticus s Closing Statement. What was the central idea of his closing statement and how does Atticus use language and tone to persuade the jury of Tom Robinson s innocence? Writing: 3 DOK Questions Wednesday, October 1, 2014 Homework: Study for Vocabulary Section 4 Quiz on Thursday Vocabulary: Section 4 Vocabulary Words Reading: Chapter 22-24 in To Kill a Mockingbird Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Writing: 3 DOK Questions Chapter 22:
Chapter 23: Chapter 24: Thursday, October 2, 2014 Homework: Complete Section 5 Vocabulary Notes (Chapters 25-31) Vocabulary: Section 4 Vocabulary Quiz Reading: Chapter 25-27 in To Kill a Mockingbird Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Writing: 3 DOK Questions Chapter 25: Chapter 26: Chapter 27: Friday, October 3, 2014 Homework: Read 28-31 and Complete DOK Questions Vocabulary: Review Section 5 Vocabulary Notes Reading: Chapter 28-31 in To Kill a Mockingbird Listening and Speaking: Rock the Talk DOK Style Writing: 3 DOK Questions Chapter 28: Chapter 29:
Chapter 30: Chapter 31: Question: 3 Monday, October 6, 2014 Homework: Study for Vocabulary Section 5 Quiz on Tuesday and Short Answer Response Vocabulary: Section 5 Vocabulary Reading: Paul Laurence Dunbar Sympathy and Maya Angelou I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Listening and Speaking: Final Class Discussion using DOK Questions Writing: (RL 8.3) Read Paul Laurence Dunbar s Sympathy and make connections among and distinctions between the caged bird and Tom Robinson from To Kill a Mockingbird. Tuesday, October 7, 2014 Homework: Narrative Essay Due Monday Vocabulary: Section 5 Vocabulary Quiz Writing: Grab your composition book and venture on an odyssey around your home, neighborhood, the library, school, the park, etc. Sit down and jot your observations of the events that transpire. Then, write your own Travels with in which you describe the events and offer your own worldviews on such said topic. (See teacher sample) Wednesday and Thursday, October 8 and 9, 2014 Homework: Narrative Essay Due Monday Reading: Read excerpt from Travels with Charlie by John Steinbeck Listening and Speaking: (RI 8.3) Analyze how the text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events from To Kill a Mockingbird. On Demand Informational Writing Assessment
Friday, October 10, 2014 Homework: Narrative Essay Due Monday Reading: Read Paul Laurence Dunbar s The Haunted Oak Listening and Speaking: Analyze the tone and point of view of The Haunted Oak. How do the tone and point of view of the poem reinforce the theme? How does the fact that the poem is told from the Oak s point of view impact the effectiveness of the poem in reinforcing the theme? (Point of View) Important Dates: Research Project (Interview of an Immigrant): Friday, September 26 On-Demand Narrative Prompt: Tuesday, September 23 On-Demand Informational Prompt: Wednesday, October 8 Narrative Essay: (RI 8.6- Point of View) Grab your composition book and venture on an odyssey around your home, neighborhood, the library, school, the park, etc. Sit down and jot your observations of the events that transpire. Then, write your own Travels with in which you describe the events and offer your own worldviews on such said topic. (See teacher sample) Due Friday, October 11 Informational Essay: (RL 8.4 and RL 8.6) Read I Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman and I, too, Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman. What is Langston Hughes perspective of America after reading I, too, Hear America Singing? What does the author s word choices reveal about his perspective? Due Friday, October 3 Vocabulary Quizzes: Section 1: Monday, September 15 Section 2: Friday, September 19 Section: 3: Thursday, September 25 Section 4: Thursday, October 2 Section 5: Tuesday, October 7 Short Answer Responses: 1. Chapters 2-3: (RL 8.1 and 8.2) Analyze how the author uses the character of Miss Caroline to develop the theme of chapter 2-3 in To Kill a Mockingbird. (RL 8.1 and 8.2) Due Friday, September 12 2. Chapter 7: (RL 8.1, 8.2, 8.6) At the end of chapter 7, Scout states, When we went in the house, I saw he [Jem] had been crying; his face was dirty in the right places, but I thought it odd that I had not heard him. Why does Scout fail to recognize the reason why Jem was truly crying? How does the fact that Scout is narrating the text impact her narration of this important scene? Due Tuesday, September 16 3. Chapter 9: (RL 8.4- Figurative and Connotative Language) At the end of chapter 9, Atticus states, But do you think I could face my children otherwise? You know what s going to happen as well as I do, Jack, and I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness, and most of all, without catching Maycomb s usual disease. What disease is Atticus talking about? What connotation does the word disease have in developing the theme of the text? Due Wednesday, September 17 4. Chapter 10: Read the following quote from chapter 10: Remember it s a sin to kill a mockingbird. That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. Your father s right, she said. Mockingbirds don t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy... but sing their hearts out for us. That s why it s a sin to kill a mockingbird. Explore the different motifs of the mockingbird. Compare the mockingbirds of Harper Lee s 1930 s society to the mockingbirds in today s society. Explain. Due Thursday, September 18 5. Chapter 11: Interpret the symbolism of the white camellia that Mrs. Dubose gives Jem upon her death. What does Jem s response to the gift indicate about his character and perspective? Due Friday, September 19 6. Chapter 18-19: Compare and contrast Mayella Ewell and Tom Robinson on trial? Do you sympathize with Mayella, despite her rather pathetic demeanor on trial? (Consider the manner in which Scout narrates the trial scene. Does she narrate the scene in a way that promotes readers to sympathize with or criticize Mayella?) Due Tuesday, September 30 7. Chapter 20: Reread Atticus s Closing Statement. What was the central idea of his closing statement and how does Atticus use language and tone to persuade the jury of Tom Robinson s innocence? (RL 8.2 and 8.4) Due Wednesday, October 1 8. Cumulative: (RI 8.3) Read Paul Laurence Dunbar s Sympathy and make connections among and distinctions between the caged bird and Tom Robinson from To Kill a Mockingbird. Due Tuesday, October 7