Quinn English. “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. Packet.

 

Quinn English. “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. Packet.

Name____________________________________________ Date_____________

 

Task: Students will read the packet for each day and complete the assignments.

Standards: 10.R.1.1 Analyzing theme, 10.R.1.2 Character Development and Perspective, 10.R.3.2 Evaluate Arguments and Claims.

DAY 1 DIRECTIONS:  1. Read the summary. 2. Read the close read 1. Answer the multiple-choice questions. 3. Complete the Common Lit assignment “My Lost Youth”

1.   SUMMARY:  Chapters Leading Up to Mrs. Dubose and the Meaning of Courage

Scout and Jem grow up in Maycomb under the guidance of their father, Atticus, whose quiet integrity often sets him apart from the rest of the town. As the children begin school and interact more with others in the community, they become increasingly aware of the social divisions that shape people’s behavior. Differences in class, family background, and reputation influence how individuals are treated and judged.

Tension rises when Atticus agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a Black man accused of assaulting a white woman. The decision sparks criticism and anger throughout Maycomb. Jem and Scout face insults and teasing from classmates and neighbors who disapprove of their father’s actions. They struggle to understand why standing up for fairness makes their family a target.

2.     CLOSE READ: Understanding Courage (Mrs. Dubose)

Jem had never seen his father speak so seriously before. After the long weeks of reading aloud, he still did not understand why Atticus had insisted he visit Mrs. Dubose every afternoon. The old woman had been harsh, critical, and unpredictable. Sitting in her dim living room while the clock ticked loudly on the mantel had felt more like punishment than kindness.

But now Atticus explained that Mrs. Dubose had been fighting a battle no one could see. She had decided she wanted to free herself from her dependence on medicine before she died. Each painful afternoon Jem read to her had helped her endure the withdrawal. Though her body weakened, she refused to give up. She wanted to leave the world on her own terms.

Atticus told Jem that most people think courage means carrying a gun or winning a fight. Real courage, he said, is knowing you are likely to lose but choosing to try anyway. Mrs. Dubose had known the odds were against her. She endured suffering and fear, but she faced them head‑on rather than surrendering.

Jem felt a quiet shift inside him. He had hated Mrs. Dubose for her cruelty, but now he saw something else — determination. Her struggle forced him to reconsider what bravery looked like. Courage, he realized, was not loud or dramatic. Sometimes it was private, painful, and invisible to others.

FAST-Style Questions:

1. Which central idea is best developed in this passage?
A. Courage is shown through physical strength.
B. Courage involves perseverance despite certain difficulty.
C. Courage depends on public approval.
D. Courage requires winning battles.

2. How does Jem’s perspective change in the passage?
A. He becomes more fearful of Mrs. Dubose.
B. He learns to ignore others’ struggles.
C. He begins to understand a deeper meaning of bravery.
D. He decides courage is unimportant.

3.     Complete the Common Lit assignment “My Lost Youth”