- L.6-8.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage and when writing : Make sure to keep your narrative tense correct. Past or present. Also make sure that all pronouns are clearly identified. For every 2 pronouns, you need a noun.

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L.6-8.2: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization African American + all the characters’ names, punctuation (commas is the guilty one : link), and spelling when writing. This includes conventions around citations (MLA format): To Kill a Mockingbird exposes well the racism of this era. For example, Scout overheard a conversation between her teacher, Mrs Gate, and one of the super Christian ladies of the town, Miss Stephanie Crawford, at the end of the trial of Tom Robinson. Later on she reports to Jem, her brother, “I heard [Mrs Gate] say it’s time somebody taught’em a lesson, they were gettin’ way above themsevelves, an’ next think they they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home” (283).

W.6-8.1.a: Effectively introduce and contextualize topic and purpose of the essay (thesis). Preview the organization of the essay :

• Your intro cleverly or/and elegantly states:
• the topic, but is mostly informative regarding the context (why this topic / essay?),
• the purpose (thesis : what do you want to prove/show),
• and the structure (organization) of the essay. Yet, nothing that you say in the introduction will be repeated in the body paragraphs.

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W.6-8.1.e : The conclusion effectively reinforces the information presented and provides an opening to further reflection.

• It sums up how you defended/supported your thesis by restating the main points made in each of the body paragraph.
• A good conclusion will end with thought-provoking statement or question that will leave the reader curious, wondering, and/or wistful

• W.6-8.1.b: Develop the topic with relevant well-chosen facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. Each paragraph has its own claim (organisation) that is relevant to your thesis. In each paragraph, evidences support the claim announced in its topic sentence.

To Kill a Mockingbird exposes well the racism of this era and provides a foundation for meaningful discussions about this relevant topic. For example, Scout overheard a conversation between her teacher, Mrs Gate, and one of the super Christian ladies of the town, Miss Stephanie Crawford, at the end of the trial of Tom Robinson. Later on she reports to Jem, her brother, “I heard [Mrs Gate] say it’s time somebody taught’em a lesson, they were gettin’ way above themsevelves, an’ next think they they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home–” (283). In this quote, Scout points out the outright racism of these two characters who are talking about black folks of their town. It is evident that these two ladies, a teacher and a so-called good Christian, believe that black people need to stay at a much inferior place and should never aspire to mix with people of the white race when they are mentioning marrying one of them. Furthermore, they justify convicting to death one of the black folks, in this case Tom Robinson, in order “to teach them a lesson”. Quite a radical punishment. Today, racism is still prevalent, but is presented differently…….

• - W.6-8.1.c: Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. Words not only organize the essay but also the content of the paragraph (first of all, another aspect, furthermore / however, yet / To conlcude, in short,...) . Words also help the readers make the connection between evidence and claims (this shows that…. ; This quote illustrates that….)
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• To Kill a Mockingbird exposes well the racism of this era and provides a foundation for meaningful discussions about this relevant topic. For example, Scout overheard a conversation between her teacher, Mrs Gate, and one of the super Christian ladies of the town, Miss Stephanie Crawford, at the end of the trial of Tom Robinson. Later on she reports to Jem, her brother, “I heard [Mrs Gate] say it’s time somebody taught’em a lesson, they were gettin’ way above themsevelves, an’ next think they they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home–” (283). In this quote, Scout points out the outright racism of these two characters who are talking about black folks of their town. It is evident that these two ladies, a teacher and a so-called good Christian, believe that black people need to stay at a much inferior place and should never aspire to mix with people of the white race when they are mentioning marrying one of them. Furthermore, they justify convicting to death one of the black folks, in this case Tom Robinson, in order “to teach them a lesson”. Quite a radical punishment. Today, racism is still prevalent, but is presented differently…….