"These notes refer to the Cambridge GCE O Level Examination held in November in Singapore. However, they are of general interest to anyone preparing to answer essay questions on 'To Kill A Mockingbird', in any exam."
" "
"There is a 20% mark allocation for the essay, so about 30 minutes should be allowed for answering this question."
" "
"*Notes on approved essay techniques follow."
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"You are advised to follow these steps in writing your answer."
"*1. "
"Quickly select the topic which seems best suited to the study and preparation you have done. Usually this will be obvious."
"If you have trouble choosing, jot down rough notes about each topic and see which one is easier to give information on."
"*2. "
"Check the question carefully, underlining key words. Be 100% sure that you know exactly what the examiner wants you to do. Many essays are failed because they are off the topic, although the candidate has shown wide knowledge of the book."
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"*3. "
"Now, plan your essay. It may seem that time is very short, but a well-planned essay will be written much more easily than one where you are struggling to think of ideas as you write."
"Any essay topic should fall naturally into some kind of logical form or order. Try to allot one paragraph for each major point you want to make."
"For instance, if you are asked to discuss different types of courage, a possible arrangement would be:"
"*PHYSICAL COURAGE - shown by Atticus shooting mad dog - protecting Tom in jail - Boo saving children"
"*WHICH IS WORTH MORE? - quote Atticus - true courage is when... - mental courage is more difficult, but more valuable."
"*CONCLUSION - Different kinds of courage are shown - both are worthwhile but mental courage as defined by Atticus is 'true' courage."
" "
"*4. "
"As you plan, try to think of quotations that are relevant to your topic. Jot them down also. It doesn't matter if it is not a long or complete quote, but it should be fully relevant."
"You won't get marks for writng down all the quotations from the book that you have learnt - only those you use to back up some point that you are making."
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"Almost as good as a quotation is a precise example from the text. The body of your essay should fall into the pattern of:"
"*Point - Evidence - Point - Evidence etc."
"If you can help it, never make an unsupported statement."
" "
"Now let's try a sample essay topic."
" "
"I have made up one that allows you to discuss all the major themes of the book."
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"*Compare what Scout learns inside the classroom with what she learns outside of school."
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"A plan of the proposed essay follows."
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"*Essay Plan"
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"Para. 1. Intro - she learns much more outside than in"
"Para. 2. Scout's first day in school, frustrated, bored, wants to leave, 2nd grade no better."
"Para. 3. Current Events lesson (Ch 26)"
"Para. 4. Learns to see others' point of view"
"Para. 5. Learns about true courage"
"Para. 6. Learns Mockingbird theme."
"Para. 7. Conclusion - Scout learns more from Jem and Atticus etc. than from school."
" "
"Turn to the next page for the beginning of the model answer."
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"*MODEL ANSWER"
"Although we don't learn many details of Scout's school education, it is clear that her most valuable lessons are those she learns outside the classroom."
" "
"Scout arrives at school on her first day full of enthusiasm, eager to learn. She is obviously bright, already knowing how to read and write."
"To her dismay, her teacher frowns upon these abilities, and says she will have to"
"*undo the damage."
"The teacher obviously relies too rigidly on her newly acquired teaching techniques, and Scout is quickly bored and frustrated by the insultingly simple methods the teacher uses."
4
"Scout quickly decides that she wants to leave school, and has to be persuaded to stay by Atticus. Although she returns to school, she notes that the remainder of her schooldays were no more auspicious than the first, and that the second grade was 'grim'."
"Much later in the novel, Scout describes a Current Events lesson. Her teacher, Miss Gates, tries to teach the children the meaning of democracy, and verbally attacks Hitler for his persecution of the Jews."
"However, Scout is unable to take this lesson seriously for she is puzzled by the teacher's hypocrisy."
"Although she claims to be against prejudice, Scout has personally heard her expressing her own prejudiced views against the negroes after the Tom Robinson trial."
5
"In contrast to her stifling and frustrating school lessons, Scout learns many valuable lessons outside the classroom."
"One important idea is explained to her by Atticus after that disastrous first day at school - to be tolerant of others' views, or in Atticus' words, to climb into their shoes and walk around in them."
"She practises this later in the novel, as she strives to understand both Jem and Atticus."
"The most notable example, however, is when she stands on Boo Radley's porch in the final chapter, and sees the events of the previous two years through his eyes, finally understanding his feelings towards the children."
"This is the first important lesson she learns at Atticus' hands."
4
"Another important lesson in Scout's life involves two separate incidents - her father's shooting of the mad dog, and the weird behaviour of Mrs Dubose when she accompanies Jem when he is forced to read to her."
"The children are very impressed with their father's courage, and also his skill with a gun. However, Atticus explains that Mrs Dubose is showing the greater courage."
"Addicted to morphine after an illness, she is determined to conquer her addiction before she dies. Scout learns the valuable lesson, that true courage is"
"*... when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway, and you see it through no matter what."
6
"The most important lesson that Scout learns as she grows and matures is the one mentioned in the book's title."
"A mockingbird is a harmless creature, that only entertains with its brilliant imitative voice. Atticus bans the children from shooting these birds for this reason."
"However, people can be mockingbirds too, most notably Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. In his editorial, Mr Underwood compares Tom's conviction to the"
"*...senseless slaughter of songbirds."
"and Scout proves her own understanding of this point when she accepts Sheriff Tate's decision not to reveal that Boo killed Bob Ewell."
"*It'd be sort of like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it?"
3
"Scout learns other things too from her father and from Jem, such as humility and self-control, but those lessons mentioned above are the most important of all."
"On the other hand, the unimaginative and uninspired teaching she receives at school seems to have done her little good at all."
"It is clear that, in her case at least, the most valuable lessons are learned outside the classroom."
