Summer Reading Assignment: First Year Cadets (9th Grade)

To Kill a Mockingbird

By Harper Lee

Novels are a product and reflection of the life and times of their authors, even though they often present experiences that transcend those defining influences. As students read To Kill a Mockingbird, thematically the exploration will engage them in an examination of the diverse meanings of coming of age.

You will need to buy a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. You can find this in most bookstores and libraries, as well as online at etc.

Cover Sheet

You will be expected to create a cover sheet for your report. The cover sheet should include your name, the date, and the title of the assignment (Summer Reading Project).

Identifying Vocabulary Words

As you read this book, you should keep a pencil with you. Use it to mark vocabulary words. (That’s right, you are being told to write in your book!) As you come to words that are challenging, underline them. You should identify words that are not in your active vocabulary. Look for words that you have not spoken out loud within the last month. Underlining vocabulary words as you read will help you with the next part of the assignment. You will be expected to compile a list of 40 challenging vocabulary words.

Next you will take that list of 40 words and identify 20 that you wish to learn. You will be creating word maps for these words. (This includes: meanings, synonyms, sentences, and pictures. See example at end of packet.)

Character Journal

To Kill a Mockingbird is told from the point of view of a young girl named Scout Finch. Your assignment is to tell the story from Atticus Finch’s perspective through the use of a character journal. You will write at least five substantial journal entries from his perspective.Put yourself in the character’s shoes, and consider the following questions to get started:

 What are you most afraid of or worried about? Describe the person, object, or event that bothers you. Who has impressed, annoyed, or pleased you most so far? What other character has had the strongest effect on you? Describe the interaction you've had, and why you feel the way that you do.

 What do you want to accomplish in your life? What obstacles stand in your way?

 If you could relive a moment, what moment would you like to relive, and why? What event do you think about? Why is it such a strong memory for you? Do you have any regrets about this moment?

 What lesson(s) have you learned? What have the events that you've been through taught you? How have you changed?

 Choose a value or ideal that is important to you -- honesty, courage, faithfulness, and so forth. Define your value, and explore how it relates to your life. Why is this ideal important to you?

Try to incorporate all of the major details of the story. You should definitely include references to the trial of Tom Robinson; the sentencing of Tom and results of it; events that show the vengefulness of Bob Ewell;and significant events that involve Boo Radley. (An example of a character journal entry is included at the end of this packet).

Historical Background

(New Historicism and Marxist Literary Perspective)

Research what was going on in the United States during the time periodTo Kill a Mockingbirdis set (1930’s South) and the time period it was published (1960’s America),and how that might affect the outcome of Tom Robinson’s trial.

  • What were some major controversies at the time the book was written? The time in which it is set?
  • Who are the powerful people in the text? Who are the powerless? Who receives the most attention?
  • Why do the powerful have the power? Why are the powerless, powerless?
  • Which character is the outsider? Are they powerful or powerless? Explain.
  • Do the powerful in the text overpower the powerless? How—news? Media? Religion? Literature?
  • Is the text itself a reflection of the society in which it was created? How do you know?

Use trustworthy sources, and include a works cited page that tells where you attained your information.

Word Maps Example

Word Map

DEFINITION / SYNONYMS

USE IT IN A SENTENCE.

/

ILLUSTRATION

Character Journal Entry Example

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Entry #1: Prim, Chapter 3

My head is spinning. The unthinkable has happened. My stomach keeps clenching and unclenching like an angry fist. When I heard my name over the speaker, I felt a paralyzing numbness. My name, one slip of paper among hundreds, got picked? I heard a few gasps around me. People were stunned that a twelve year old had been chosen. A child forced to fight to the death for the cameras. Those cowards in the Capitol will do anything to keep their control over us.

Within seconds of the announcement, I heard my sister’s voice. Katniss was pushing her way through the throng, volunteering her life to save mine. She didn’t even hesitate. It was not her job to save me. It’s strange that she was willing to sacrifice herself for me, yet I’m angry with her. I cannot bear to watch my sister die, but then neither could she. I know she’d do anything to protect me. I’m hoping that will get her through the Games because I still need her here in District 12.

I keep hoping I’ll wake up from this nightmare, but she’s really gone. They took her away so quickly. She’s on her way to the Capitol now, and within days, she’ll be in the arena fighting for her life.

Katniss must win. Deep down, I feel that she really will. I don’t know anybody as strong and brave as my sister. I don’t care if the District 1 & 2 Tributes have been training their whole lives for this. Katniss will beat them. She has to. I don’t know what I would do without her.

Works cited page explanation and example

Basic rules
  • Begin your Works Cited page on a separate page at the end of your project.
  • Label the page Works Cited and center the words Works Cited at the top of the page.
  • Double space all citations, but do not skip spaces between entries.
  • Indent the second and subsequent lines of citations by 0.5 inches to create a hanging indent.
  • Entries are listed alphabetically by the author's last name (or, for entire edited collections, editor names). Author names are written last name first; middle names or middle initials follow the first name.
  • Alphabetize works with no known author by their title.
  • Below is the general format for any citation:

Author. Title.Publisher, Publication Date, Location (pages, paragraphs URL or DOI).Date
of Access (if applicable).

For further assistance, access the Citation Machine, which will guide you through the citation process.

For assistance email