Name_________________________________________

Comments ___________________________________________________________________

POSITION PAPER /ORAL PRESENTATION

(Read on 11-24-08 and handed out on 11-25-08)

In order to complete this assignment, you will be required to do independent research on the topic/issue you choose. Virtually all of the available topics are already being fully debated and reported in national and local newspapers, periodicals, and on television. For this particular assignment, I am insisting that 80% of your sources be drawn from print media. Only 20% may come from the Internet or other sources. All sources used (a minimum of five) should be listed separately (source, date, author, etc.) and attached to your paper in MLA bibliographic format on which you will be provided guidelines and instruction. When conducting your research, be sure to pay close attention to the validity and reliability of the information provided in the sources reviewed.

You are expected to give thoughtful consideration to the various points and arguments raised in the articles that you review on your topic prior to reaching a conclusion of your own on the issue. Your opinion should not be based upon biases, prejudices, or emotional arguments; it should contain a reasonable conclusion(s) that is based upon reliable facts that have been assessed in a logical manner.  Please note that there are no “wrong” or “right” opinions; many experts have differences of opinion on all of the issues we have discussed in class. In fact, you are encouraged to suggest a creative solution related to your issue. Your conclusion, however, should be convincingly conveyed in both your written and oral presentations.

Expectations and guidelines related to your oral presentation will be discussed further at a later date. Please use the following format for your written paper:

·   minimum of 2 typed, or 4 handwritten pages

·   double-spacing (i.e., a space between each line on your page)

·   12 point font

·   minimum of 6 paragraphs that includes:

            a)  a statement of the issue in controversy

        b)  your opinion or position on the matter

     c)  facts and arguments that support your opinion    

     d)  facts and arguments countering opposing positions, if appropriate

            e)  a proposed solution or course of action

In reviewing the print media sources that you select, I strongly urge you to use the following procedure:

1) Scan each article to get an overview of the author’s general position

2) Read the same article in detail from start to finish, highlighting any points or arguments you feel are particularly strong or valid

3) Transfer each highlighted point or argument to a separate index card

4) Repeat the process with each successive article

5) Prior to writing your position paper, review your index cards and arrange them in an order that appears logical and supportive of your opinion

6) Write your paper in the form discussed above, referencing the arguments or points in support of your opinion on the matter

Note:   You should paraphrase the material gleaned from these articles. Do not quote any material verbatim without using quotations and crediting the original author. This should be done sparingly, as I expect this paper to be an original work reflecting your own opinion based on an analysis of various arguments related to the issue.

While I do not expect a sophisticated effort from every student on this assignment, I do expect each student to assess the various factors related to his/her issue and to adopt a thoughtful position. Try to keep your sentences short and to the point. Your sentences should be complete, with appropriate punctuation and grammar. If you choose to type your paper, please use the spell check on your word processing program. If writing this paper by hand, you should use a dictionary. Parental assistance with editing, not initial drafting is not only permissible, but encouraged!

You will need to adhere to the following schedule:

Choose Topic (11-25-08): Sign-up on list.  One person per topic.

Declare Position (12-2-08):  Choose the side of the argument you are taking.

Rough Draft Check (12-8-08): All research should be complete. Must have a clear thesis statement and outline of all six of the paragraph topics.

Paper Due (12-12-08):  Keep a second copy for yourself, so that you can use it to plan your oral presentation.  MUST BE TURNED IN ON THIS DATE. 

Oral Presentations (12-15 thru 12-19): Be prepared for any of these dates.  Must have notes on index cards.  Must practice speech and NOT just read your notes.  You are defending your paper.  WE WILL TALK ABOUT THIS IN CLASS BEFORE THE PRESENTATION DATE.

REMEMBER:

·      Two major grades and several minor ones are connected to this assignment.

·      This is a RESEARCHED opinion paper.

·      You must have sources!

·      You must document (MLA) your research.

·      You must defend your paper through an oral presentation.  This grade is EQUAL to the grade on the paper.  SELL IT!!!

I have read the above assignment and I am aware of the due dates and requirements.

___________________________________         _________________

Student Signature                                     Date

__________________________________       __________________

Parent Signature                                    Date

THIS SHEET MUST BE TURNED IN WITH YOUR POSITION PAPER.  THERE WILL BE A 10% REDUCTION ON YOUR PAPER IF IT IS NOT INCLUDED.

Name______________________                                                                               Date________

                                              To Kill a Mockingbird  

Chapter 25

1) How is the meaning of the title revealed in this chapter?

2) Why is Tom’s death considered “typical” in Maycomb?

3) How does Mr. Underwood feel about Tom’s death? Why did the author choose to include Mr. Underwood’s opinions about Tom’s death?

4) Why is the court of public opinion sometimes more influential than the court of law? Refer to the novel and an example in real life.

5) What do you think Ewell meant when he said “it made one down and about two more to go”? What can you predict will happen next?

Chapter 26

1) Identify at least one example that Scout is growing up and maturing and one example that Jem is growing up and maturing.

2) Why is it hypocritical of Miss Gates to teach a lesson on Hitler’s persecution of the Jews?

3) What is Harper Lee’s purpose in writing this chapter? Think about the messages she wants to send her readers.

Chapter 27

1) Identify three threats that Bob Ewell allegedly makes against some Maycomb townspeople.

2) Why do you believe the author, Harper Lee, included the Halloween story in her novel? Describe any significance you believe it has.

Name______________________                                                                                     Period________

                                              To Kill a Mockingbird

Chapter 28

1)    How does Scout know the body she touches is not Jem’s?

2)    What, according to Dr. Reynolds, is Jem’s condition?

3)    What news does Sheriff Tate give Atticus?

Chapter 29

4) Who is the stranger standing in the corner of Jem’s room? Why might he be there?

5) Why is Scout’s ham costume significant to the story?

6) Who is the perpetrator (the person responsible for the crime)? How do you know who he is?

Chapter 30

1) Why does Heck Tate insist that Bob Ewell’s death was self-inflicted? In what way is this partly true?

Chapter 31

1) Comment on the way the narrator (Scout) summarizes earlier events and characters to show their siginificance. Refer to events and characters that include Boo Radley, Jem, Atticus, and the neighborhood as a whole. Why do you think Harper Lee (the author) chose to end her novel this way?

Name______________________                                                                     Period________

                                              To Kill a Mockingbird  

Chapter 22

1) Explain how Atticus’s character has influenced Jem. Identify evidence that supports Jem’s reaction to the guilty verdict.

2) How do the children (Jem, Scout, and Dill) deal with the outcome of the trial? What do their coping mechanisms reveal about each of them?

3) How do the adults (Atticus, Miss Rachel, Calpurnia, Aunt Alexandra, Miss Stephanie, Miss Maudie, and Bob Ewell) deal with the outcome of the trial? What do their reactions and comments reveal about each of their characters?

Chapter 23

1) How did Bob Ewell confront Atticus? How did Atticus react? What does Atticus’s reaction reveal about his character?

2) What does circumstantial evidence mean in terms of Tom’s trial?

3) Why don’t Maycomb citizens sit on juries in their town?

4) Why does Scout want to befriend Walter Cunningham now (after learning more about the inner workings of the trial)?

5) Why does Aunt Alexandra accept that the Cunninghams may be good but are not “our kind of folks”? Do you think that people should mix only with others of the same social class and/or race? Are class/race-divisions good or bad for societies?

6) Identify evidence in the story that reveals Scout is naive and childlike and Jem is more mature and adult-like in his understanding of people.

Chapter 24

1) How does Scout feel about the women (Aunt Alexandra, Miss Rachel, Mrs. Merriweather, Miss Stephanie, and Miss Maudie) and their discussions in this chapter? How do they treat Scout?

2) What can you learn from the women of Maycomb about proper and improper behavior?

3) Why did Tom try to escape from prison?

4) Explain briefly how Tom was killed.

Name________________________________                                                                      Period______

To Kill a Mockingbird 19-21

Chapter 19 Questions

1) How does Tom Robinson’s testimony help his case? How does his testimony hurt his case?

2) Which characters have courage to break society’s code of ethics for this setting? Explain their courageous acts.

Chapter 20

1) How does Atticus’s closing statement help his defendant, Tom Robinson? How does his closing statement hurt his defendant?

2) How do you think the jury will react to Atticus’s closing statement? Explain your reasoning.

Chapter 21

1) Who believes that Tom Robinson has a chance at being set free? Why do they believe this?

2) Why do Reverend Sykes and the rest of the African American spectators stand for Atticus, even after his defendant Tom was found guilty?

Name________________________________                                                Period________

TKMB 16-18

Chapter 16 Questions

1) Describe how the Maycomb people act at the courthouse square–when they arrive to view the trial of Tom Robinson.

2) Where do Jem, Scout and Dill sit in the courthouse? Why is this significant?

Chapter 17 Questions

1) Describe Tom Robinson’s alleged crime, as told by Bob Ewell and Heck Tate.

2) What evidence does Atticus reveal about Bob Ewell that may find him guilty of Tom Robinson’s alleged crime?

3) Characterize Bob Ewell (describe his actions, language/speech, and other people’s points of view).

Chapter 18 Questions

1) Characterize Mayella on the witness stand. Remember, characterization includes personality traits, actions, thoughts/feelings, language/speech, and other people’s points of view. What are your opinions of her? Explain.

2) Comparison: How are Mayella and her father similar? Contrast: How are they different?

3) How does Mayella incriminate her father on the witness stand? Why does this help Tom Robinson’s case?

Name______________________                                                                                    Period________

To Kill a Mockingbird

Chapter 13 Questions

1) Why does Aunt Alexandra come to stay with Atticus and his family? What is she like?

2) Read the first two things Alexandra says when she comes to the Finch house. Are these typical of her or not?

3) Alexandra thinks Scout is dull (not clever). Why does she think this, and is she right? Are all adults good at knowing how clever young people are?

4) How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Maycomb’s social life?

5) Comment on Aunt Alexandra’s ideas about breeding and family. Why does Atticus tell them to forget it? Who is right, do you think?

Chapter 14 Questions

1)Who does Scout find hiding under bed? Why is this person hiding in the Finch home?

2) Why is Jem considered a “traitor”? Why is he is also considered a maturing, more responsible young man?

Chapter 15 Questions

1) Describe Jem’s behavior when he confronts Atticus at the jailhouse and also meets a mob of hostile men.

2) Describe Scout’s behavior in the setting mentioned above.

Name______________________                                                                                             Date________

To Kill a Mockingbird  

Chapters 1-3 Questions

1)    What does it mean to “act responsibly?” Explain what a person needs to do in order to “act responsibly” in the 1930’s in Maycomb, Alabama.

2.) Who can people trust in Maycomb, Alabama? Identify your impressions of:

     Dill-

     Calpurnia-

     Jem-

    The narrator-

    Atticus –

    The Radleys-

    Miss Stephanie Crawford-

    Miss Caroline Fisher-  

3.) What are some essential family values and family history that have shaped the people in this community?

4.) What behaviors are acceptable in the Maycomb community? What behaviors are not acceptable in the community?

5.) Which characters inform Scout about proper behavior? How do these characters tell her to act?

6.) What is Walter Cunningham like? What does his behaviour during lunch suggest about his home life?

7.) Describe Miss Caroline’s interactions with Burris Ewell. What does this suggest about Miss

Caroline? What does this suggest about the Ewells?

8.) What do you think of the way Atticus treats Walter?

9.) Does Scout learn anything from Walter’s visit? What do you think this is?

10.) Atticus says that you never really understand a person “until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” What does this mean? What does this lesson suggest about Atticus? Is it an easy thing for Scout to learn?

Name______________________                                                                     Date________

                                              To Kill a Mockingbird  (due 4/22)

Chapter 10 Questions

1) Scout says that “Atticus was feeble” (weak). Do you think that this is her view as she tells the story or her view when she was younger? Does she still think this after the events recorded in this chapter? Why/Why not?

2) In this chapter Atticus tells his children that “it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (p. 90). What reason does he give for saying this?

3) What does the shooting of Tim Johnson reveal about Heck Tate and Atticus? How does Atticus feel about how well he can shoot?

4) Jem and Scout have different views about telling people at school how well Atticus can shoot. Explain this difference. Which view is closer to your own?

Chapter 11 Questions

1) How does Atticus advise Jem to react to Mrs. Dubose’s taunts?

2) Characterize Mrs. Dubose. Characterization includes personality traits, actions, thoughts/feelings, and other people’s points of view.

3) What request does Mrs. Dubose make of Jem? What does Mrs. Dubose gain from this “punishment” to Jem? What does Jem gain?

4) What does Atticus teach Jem and Scout about understanding antagonizing and belittling language and people like Mrs. Dubose?

5) Chapters ten and eleven are the last two chapters in the first part of the book. Explain why Harper Lee chooses to end the first part here.

Chapter 12 Questions

1) Briefly explain Jem’s and Scout’s visit to First Purchase church (Calpurnia’s church). What do people think/feel about them? How do they feel about this experience?

2) What new things do Scout and Jem learn at this church about how the black people live?

3) Describe Calpurnia’s education and her son’s education–refer to their literacy.

4) Explain why Calpurnia speaks differently in the Finch household, and among her neighbors at church. How is language different in a workplace and in a social setting and/or around family?