to kill a mockingbird essay title ideas

101 To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Titles & Examples

If you struggle to find “To Kill a Mockingbird” essay topics on prejudice, race, the characters’ courage, or any other issue, look no further. Our team has prepared a list of titles and essay writing tips for this book.

🏆 Best To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Topics & Examples

📌 most interesting to kill a mockingbird essay titles, 👍 good to kill a mockingbird research topics, ❓ to kill a mockingbird essay questions.

Before we will talk about the do’s and don’ts in essay writing, let’s clarify the types of essay.

When working on “To Kill a Mockingbird” essay thesis, you can focus on the facts of the book or concentrate on your attitude towards its key issues and characters. According to your approach, we can divide essays into two main areas:

• Objective essay: you set out your personal thoughts on a chosen issue and provide supporting arguments and evidence;
• Subjective essay: you express your point of view on a specific topic without claiming the truth and strengthening it with facts.

For example, when you choose a “To Kill a Mockingbird” essay topics on goodness, you will state that Atticus is a kind and fearless. No doubt that this character has a positive role.

On the other hand, when you describe Mayella, you will have to choose: will you condemn her or express pity.

As for the essay content, it can be divided into many subcategories:

• Philosophical essay
• Critical essay
• Literary analysis
• Historical essay, etc.

There are also a few key literary types:

• Feature article, etc.

Do’s & Don’ts When Writing To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

Now, it’s time to talk about what you should write and what to avoid in your paper. First of all, you have to remember that all “To Kill a Mockingbird” essay titles should reveal the essence of the issue.

Recommendations for essay writing:

• Do mark your essay subject at the beginning of the text. “To Kill a Mockingbird” essay hooks will help you to catch the reader’s attention. Don’t forget to emphasize the central issue in the conclusion.
• Do support the style of presentation by your emotions, vision, and opinion. Use the “question-answer” in paragraphs. Make the transitions between paragraphs harmonious and smooth.
• Do use quotes, historical facts, and observations to argue the thesis statement, solve the main issue, and describe the key subject of the paper.
• Do stick to the central thesis of your essay. Avoid deepen into philosophical reflections — tell about concrete facts and examples. Here’s an example: don’t include the facts from the author’s biography if you focus on the events of the book and factors that affect discrimination.
• Do proofread the paper. Read carefully your essay several times and think if your readers will understand your expressions.
• Do not use specific terminology in “To Kill a Mockingbird” essay. For example, when you write about discrimination, you don’t necessarily have to provide its dictionary definition or use complex law, historical and psychological literature, and samples. Just your own language. However, it doesn’t mean that your opinion should seem ungrounded.
• Do add your emotions to the paper. Let your readers feel that you believe in your ideas when defending the essay thesis.
• Don’t choose the header before you write an essay. First, you should write an essay, and only then compile the title of your paper.

Well, now you know about the essay types, what to do, and what to avoid in your essay. Of course, you may ask: “What to write in my own essay?”

The key to success is to start. Check “To Kill a Mockingbird” essay examples on our website to get inspiration. Even the topic seems to you too complicated, start your research, and then you will be able to express new and original thoughts.

• Slavery in To Kill a Mockingbird Novel The introduction of Tom by the author is a plot device to represent the plight of the slaves in the state.
• To Kill a Mockingbird The author, in the novel To Kill a Mocking Bird presents a deeper understanding in relation to events occurring in her novel. To enhance understanding of the novel, the author has widely embraced symbolism in […]
• To Kill a Mockingbird: Movie Analysis Speaking of the movements which convey the essence of the film without any speech “intrusion”, it would be a good idea to drive the example of Boo Radley standing in the darker corner of the […]
• Moral Principles in Harper Lee’s Novel To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee explores a great number of themes in the first chapters of the novel, for example, integrity of a person and his/her ability contradict the norms, adopted in the community.
• Social Issues in the “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee The phrase ‘to kill a mocking bird’ stands out as a metaphor in the book To kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
• To Kill a Mockingbird Main Themes The main themes of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird cover both adult and children’s concerns, including the dignity of human life, the importance of truth, the rights of people to be different, the need […]
• The Problem of Racism and Injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee In the novel, Harper Lee demonstrates her vision of the question of the social inequality with references to the problem of racism in the society based on prejudice and absence of actual principles of tolerance […]
• “To Kill a Mockingbird”: Book and Movie Differences It is important to note that the film, To Kill a Mockingbird entails most of the aspects depicted in the novel.
• What It Takes to Kill a Mockingbird: In Search for the Differences Between the Novel and a Movie The characters both in the novel and in the movie were often pushed to the breaking point; however, one of such moments described in the book was left out of the movie.
• “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962) by Robert Mulligan This movie presented a timely reflection of the extent of deep racial problems and social injustices existing in the southern part of the US in the early 60s.
• Novel Appreciation: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The contemporary discussion of this novel is often tied to the question of racism; nevertheless, I am convinced that this book can be of great interest to modern readers, and I would like to discuss […]
• American Novel: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee It is also worth to mention that the novel is indeed relevant to its readership because it mirrors the nature of society affected by racism and inequality. Through the act of inclusiveness, I am in […]
• Analysis of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Although the innocent black man is killed while attempting to break out of prison when he might have gone free had the case proceeded to a higher court, Atticus and the town’s sheriff conjure a […]
• “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee In consequence, the book became a model source of reading that inspired people to further take on the issues of race in the USA and throughout the world.
• “To Kill a Mockingbird” Novel by Harper Lee It is one of the main characteristics of the mockingbird includes its innocence and imitation of the songs of other birds in a loud voice.
• Racial Prejudice in Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” Paul Lawrence Dunbar in his poem, “Sympathy” has vividly portrayed the pangs of a caged bird and likens it to the collective pain that colored people have felt like victims of racial prejudices.”And a pain […]
• Racist Trial in the Novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee For the purpose, evaluation would be made in the context of utilization of events, time and culture of the book and compare it to today’s society, culture and racial attitudes.
• American History in “To Kill a Mockingbird” Book & Film Racial attitudes and the dominance of white men over the black ones in the USA are the central ideas of the movie and the novel.
• “To Kill a Mockingbird”: The Novel by Harper Lee Scout does not realize the severity of many of the events of the book as they are taking place, and as such she is an innocent.
• Understanding Other Perspective: To Kill a Mockingbird The literature portrays the actual happenings in the society in an educative and corrective manner that is acceptable to both sides of the victim and perpetrator of injustices.
• “To Kill a Mockingbird” Drama Film The plot proves to be logical and consistent throughout the movie, motivating the audience to watch till the end of the film.
• Lift a Ban on “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Lee Understanding different activities have remained vital in society.”To Kill a Mockingbird” is a book that explains the problems of the United States and promotes people to be just and respect human rights.
• Nelle Harper Lee and Her Reflection in “To Kill a Mockingbird” The author perfectly reflects her life in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird as her father played an essential role in creating the story.
• Themes in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee To Kill a Mockingbird, in its imperfection, is a testament to the march of progress in social justice and racial equality.
• Reflections of Harper Lee’s Life in “To Kill a Mockingbird” Nelle Harper Lee wrote a book, “To kill a Mockingbird,” this novel is one of greatest in the history of world literature, but the author would never have written the book without the best friend […]
• Systemic Racism in Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” & Whitehead’s “The Nickel Boys” Racism in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird is pronounced and presented as the natural habitat of the town of Maycomb.
• Empathy and Racism in Stockett’s The Help and Li’s To Kill a Mockingbird To start with, the first approach to racism and promoting empathy is to confront prevalent discrimination and racism, which was often shown in The Help. Another solution to racism and the possibility of promoting empathy […]
• The Title of Lee’s “How to Kill a Mockingbird” Book The novel’s core topic is the disappearance of innocence and the influence of bias on the lives of the novel’s characters.
• “To Kill a Mockingbird” and the Techniques Used: Characterisation, Structure, Point of View, and Language
• The Different Types of Families Represented in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• Atticus Finch’s Views on Race and How They Change Throughout “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The Racist Attitudes of the People in Maycomb County in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• “To Kill a Mockingbird”: How Symbolism Reinforces Important Ideas
• The Supproting Character of Boo Radley as a Hero in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• Unjust Persecution as a Major Theme in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The Significance of the Title of “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• Use of Symbols in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• The Trial of Tom Robinson and Its Role in Exploring the Issue of Racism in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• Violence and Alienation in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• “To Kill a Mockingbird”: The Importance of Understanding Individual Differences
• True Courage in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• The Two Types of Underprivileged People in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The Influences Parents Have on Their Children in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The References That Suggest to Boo Radley and Tom Robinson in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• Tom Robinson and Boo Radley as Mockingbirds in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The Southern Gothic Elements in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• The Resemblance Between Tom Robinson and Boo Radley in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The Themes of Childhoods in “Jane Eyre” and “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The Role of Family in Shaping the Characters in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The Affects of One’s Surrounding Environment on Their Personality and Morals in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The True Heroic Qualities of Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The Theme of the Loss of Childhood Innocence in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• Town of Maycomb’s Role in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• The Different Types of Prejudice Represented in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• Atticus Finch as a Moral Compass for His Children in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The Moral Development of the Characters in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The Impact of Cowardice on the Characters in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• Mrs Dubose as an Example of Courage in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The Impact of Scout’s Family on Her Development in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The Victims of Stereotyping in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• Atticus Finch as a Father Figure in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• Tragic Hero in “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “The Crucible”
• The Themes of Racism and Fear of the Unknown in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• Hidden Symbols in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• The Value of Informal Education in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• Tom Robinson’s Trial as a Central Part of “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• Unarmed Bravery in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• Use of Piaget’s Theories of Child Development in Analyzing “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• The Tolerance Level of the Characters in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
• The Use of Symbolism and Irony in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• Tom Robinson’s Conviction in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”
• How Old Is Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• What Does Mrs. Maudie’s Nut Grass Symbolize in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• How Does Scout Describe Dill in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• How Is the Theme of Femininity and the Power of Women From “To Kill a Mockingbird” Still Relevant Today?
• Who Are the Radleys in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• Why Does Scout Have That Nickname in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• How Are Fathers Presented in the Novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• What Is the Main Meaning of “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• How Does Author Present Racial Issues During the 1930s in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• What Are the Two Main Plots in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• What Is the Irony in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• What Is the Most Important Lesson in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• Is “To Kill a Mockingbird” Still Relevant Today?
• How Does Lee Make Atticus Finch a Heroic Figure in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• What “To Kill a Mockingbird” Teaches Us?
• What Are Some Life Lessons From “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• What Is the First Turning Point in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• What’s the Climax of “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• What Are Some Symbols in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• How Are Prejudice and Hypocrisy Explored in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• How Does Harper Lee Build Up Tension Throughout the Novel “To Kill a Mockingbird?
• How Has “To Kill a Mockingbird” Changed the World?
• Why Should Students Read “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• How Does Harper Lee Use Minor Characters in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• How Does “To Kill a Mockingbird” Connect to the World?
• What Does the Reader Learn About the Social Setting in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• What Are the Most Important Quotes in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• Who Is the Protagonist in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• Who Lost Their Innocence in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
• What Does the Mad Dog Represent in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?
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35 To Kill A Mockingbird Essay Topics

Harper Lee’s classic American novel To Kill a Mockingbird is among the most taught books in American literature. The story of young Scout Finch, her brother Jem, and their father Atticus–as told through the eyes of Scout–is one that has captivated readers for generations.

With the reading of the novel also comes an assortment of assignments that require students to analyze and interpret the text. One such assignment is the To Kill a Mockingbird essay.

While understanding the book’s content can be a challenge in and of itself, crafting a well-written essay on the subject can be even more so. However, we’ve created a handy guide detailing everything you need to know about writing a To Kill a Mockingbird essay, including tips on structure and 35 essay topic ideas.

How to Write the Essay

To Kill A Mockingbird essays can be written in many different writing styles depending on the essay prompt and the teacher’s individual preferences. However, there are a few key things that every To Kill A Mockingbird essay should have. Let’s take a look at what those are.

A Strong Thesis Statement

A strong thesis statement is the most crucial element of a good To Kill A Mockingbird essay. This statement is what your entire essay will be based around and should be narrow in focus. Depending on whether your essay is an argumentative, persuasive, comparative statement, or literary analysis essay, your thesis will take on a different form.

An Argumentative Thesis Statement

If you’re writing an argumentative essay, your thesis statement should take a clear position on the issue at hand. For example, if you’re writing about whether or not Atticus Finch is a good father, your thesis statement might look something like this:

“Atticus Finch is a good father because he is patient, teaches his children to be moral people, and is always there for them when they need him.”

A Persuasive Thesis Statement

If you’re writing a persuasive essay, your thesis statement will take on a slightly different form. Instead of simply stating your position, you’ll also need to provide evidence from the text to support your claim. So, for example, if you’re writing about whether or not Atticus Finch is a good father, your thesis statement might look something like this:

“Atticus Finch is a good father because he is patient, teaches his children to be moral people, and is always there for them when they need him. This is evident in how he deals with Scout’s defiance, helps Jem come to terms with Boo Radley, and stands up for Tom Robinson in court.”

A Comparative Thesis Statement

If you’re writing a comparative essay, your thesis statement will need to compare and contrast two or more characters, themes, or elements from the text. For example, if you’re comparing and contrasting the characters of Atticus Finch and Bob Ewell, your thesis statement might look something like this:

“Though both Atticus Finch and Bob Ewell are fathers, they couldn’t be more different in the way they raise their children. Atticus Finch is a patient and level-headed father who instils morality in his children, while Bob Ewell is an abusive and alcoholic father who does nothing but harm his daughter.”

A Literary Analysis Thesis Statement

In this type of essay, you’ll be asked to analyze the themes, symbols, or other literary devices used in the text. So, for example, if you’re writing about the theme of racism in To Kill A Mockingbird, your thesis statement might look something like this:

“The theme of racism is evident in To Kill A Mockingbird through the characters of Tom Robinson, Calpurnia, and Atticus Finch.”

In each of these examples, you’ll notice that the thesis statement is clear, concise, and takes a position on the issue at hand. This is exactly what your thesis statement should do as well.

The Body Paragraphs

Once you have a thesis statement, you can begin to write the body paragraphs of your essay. In each body paragraph, you’ll need to include a topic sentence, supporting evidence from the text, and your own analysis.

The topic sentence is the first sentence of the paragraph and introduces the main idea that will be discussed in the paragraph. The supporting evidence can be quotes, events, or other information from the text that backs up your main idea. And finally, your analysis is your interpretation of the evidence and how it supports your main idea.

For example, if you’re writing about Atticus Finch as a good father, your first body paragraph might look something like this:

Paragraph 1:

• Topic sentence: Atticus is a good father because he is patient.
• Supporting evidence: “Atticus was making a feeble attempt to comfort her, but his hands were shaking as badly as hers.” (Lee 94)
• Analysis: This quote shows that even when Scout is misbehaving, Atticus remains calm and patient with her.

With each new paragraph, you’ll need to include a new topic sentence and supporting evidence.

The Conclusion

The conclusion of your essay is where you’ll need to tie everything together and leave your reader with a clear understanding of your position. To do this, you’ll need to restate your thesis statement and main points from the body of your essay.

You’ll also want to leave the reader with something to think about. Maybe offer a new perspective on the text, or suggest how the themes of the text apply to real life.

For example, your conclusion might look something like this:

“Though Atticus Finch is a fictional character, he serves as an excellent role model for fathers everywhere. His patience, morality, and courage are qualities that all fathers should strive to possess.”

35 To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Topics

Sometimes the most challenging part of essay writing is coming up with a topic. That is where this list of To Kill A Mockingbird essay topics will come in handy.

To Kill A Mockingbird Essay Topics About Racism

• The racist attitudes of the people in Maycomb County
• The impact of racism on the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird
• The trial of Tom Robinson and its role in exploring the issue of racism
• Atticus Finch’s views on race and how they change throughout the novel
• How racism affects the relationships between the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird Essay Topics About Family

• The different types of families represented in To Kill A Mockingbird
• The role of family in shaping the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird
• Atticus Finch as a father figure
• The impact of Scout’s family on her development
• How the absence of a mother figure affects the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird Essay Topics About Courage

• The definition of courage and how it applies to the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird
• Atticus Finch as a model of courage
• Mrs Dubose as an example of courage
• How the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird define and demonstrate courage
• The impact of cowardice on the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird Essay Topics About Morality

• The moral development of the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird
• Atticus Finch as a moral compass for his children
• The importance of morality in To Kill A Mockingbird
• How the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird deal with moral dilemmas
• The impact of immorality on the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird Essay Topics About Prejudice

• The different types of prejudice represented in To Kill A Mockingbird
• The role of prejudice in shaping the events of the novel
• How the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird deal with prejudice
• The impact of prejudice on the relationships between the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird
• Atticus Finch’s views on prejudice and how they change throughout the novel

To Kill A Mockingbird Essay Topics About Injustice

• The injustice of the trial of Tom Robinson
• The role of injustice in To Kill A Mockingbird
• How do the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird deal with injustice
• The impact of injustice on the relationships between the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird
• Atticus Finch’s views on justice and how they change throughout the novel

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Topics About Gender

• The role of gender in To Kill A Mockingbird
• How characters in To Kill A Mockingbird are impaired or helped by gender roles
• The impact of gender roles on the relationships between the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird
• Atticus Finch’s views on gender and how they change throughout the novel
• The significance of Scout’s development as a tomboy

With any of these 35 To Kill A Mockingbird essay topics, you will have a pretty easy time coming up with an excellent essay. Remember to create a strong thesis and use the guide above when writing your To Kill A Mockingbird essay body and conclusion.

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To Kill a Mockingbird

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Discussion Questions

To Kill A Mockingbird is often categorized as a “bildungsroman,” or “coming of age” novel, following the childhood evolution, learning, and growth of young Scout and Jem. Over the course of the book, both characters develop increasingly-mature consciousnesses about the world; however, their individual growth processes are also specifically gendered as feminine and masculine. What are some of the ways Scout and Jem develop according to traditional southern standards for women and men? What are some of the ways both Scout and Jem resist that development?

Since the 1960 publication of To Kill A Mockingbird , Atticus Finch has been widely upheld as a role model for real world lawyers, even inspiring many people to pursue the practice of law. Recently, however, critics have argued that Atticus Finch didn’t do as much as he could have to disrupt the climate of racism, sexism, and classism he practiced within. Do you feel Atticus Finch continues to endure as a strong role model, or do you think his practices are outdated?

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To kill a mockingbird essay topics.

Freshman English I – To Kill a Mockingbird Essay –

Directions: Write a 4-6 page ( 1000-1500+ word) essay, typed and double-spaced, on one of the following topics dealing with Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird (1960). Compose your essay in such a way as to edify and inform readers who are unfamiliar with this book. Follow the format outlined below. Your essay will be graded on the basis of the following categories: content (How informative is your essay?), organization (Does it follow my format with a definite underlying structure?), narrative voice (Does the narrative sound credible and coherent?) and clarity (Are the examples that are given in support of the thesis clearly presented and explained in depth?

Topic A –  Innocence and Experience – What are the major life-lessons that the younger characters in the novel ( Scout, Jem and Dill ) absorb as part of their coming-of-age in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s? You may pick one or more of these young people to write about and you may want to mention other kids in the story as well such as Walter Cunningham, Little Chuck Little, Burris Ewell, Cecil Jacobs and Francis Hancock.

Topic B –  Sources of Enmity – What are the significant sources of tension (i.e. suspicion, mistrust, class prejudice, racial prejudice,  snobbery, enmity, animosity, hatred) between various characters in the novel and what price is paid by certain characters for these antagonisms? For this topic, in addition to the younger characters mentioned above, you may want to concentrate on any of the following adult characters: Old Mr. Radley, Nathan Radley, Boo Radley, Miss Stephanie Crawford, Miss Maudie Atkinson, Atticus, Calpurnia, Lula, Zeebo,  Reverend Sykes, Aunt Alexandra,  Tom Robinson, Bob Ewell, Mayella Ewell, Sheriff Heck Tate, Mr. Gilmer, Judge Taylor, Mr. Link Deas, Dolphus Raymond, Miss Merriweather, Mrs. Farrow, Mr. Underwood .

Topic C – Dimensions of Social Inequality – What does this novel have to teach us about the problem of human inequality and the divisions within human society ? Write about specific dimensions of inequality in Maycomb, Alabama – i.e. the advantages and disadvantages that certain characters experience. Try to identify an underlying common lesson that unites each of these characters. Your paper may choose to focus on characters such as Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, Bob Ewell, Mayella Ewell, Burris Ewell, Mr. Cunningham, Walter Cunningham,  Dill Harris, Dolphus Raymond or any of the other characters mentioned above.

Introduction

Topic Sentence – Begin with a topic sentence that identifies the novel’s title and author

and makes some general comment about the overall significance of the novel.

General Exposition – Next provide a general overview of the novel’s plot and subject matter and the principal characters.

Narrow the Focus – Be sure to narrow the focus so as to establish the range and scope of your essay.

Thesis Statement – At the end of your first paragraph, include a thesis statement or statements that specifically outline and clarify the life-lessons or sources of tension  or dimensions of inequality that your paper will be analyzing.

Body of Paper

Be sure to include at least three (3) developmental paragraphs each one of which provides   evidence – examples   – illustrations   (taken from various scenes in the novel) of the life-lessons or sources of tension or dimensions of inequality you have outlined in your thesis.  Each developmental paragraph must include at least one or two relevant quotations followed by commentary and analysis.

Remember to begin each developmental paragraph with A.) a topic sentence that identifies the example or evidence that is relevant to your thesis. Next, B.) set the scene sufficiently – i.e. explain  what is happening in the story and which characters are involved –  before introducing a particular quotation. Next, C.) quote in a concise manner any description and/or dialogue that you find especially important or illuminating.  For each quotation or paraphrase of a scene, D.) provide relevant  commentary and analysis – i.e. explain to your readers why each example or bit of evidence is significant.

Use your conclusion to make editorial comments (for or again)  the novel’s overall merits  and its depiction of the problems and issues mentioned in your essay. You may also use the conclusion to comment on how the lessons of the novel relate to your own personal experience of related subjects.

 Freshman English I – To Kill a Mockingbird Essay – Sample Thesis Statements

Topic A –  Innocence and Experience – Difficult Lessons of Youth

The three main children characters react in different ways to the trial of Tom Robinson – and take from it different lessons about the world; Dill who identifies strongly with Tom responds with panic and paranoia; Jem becomes cynical and disillusioned with the justice system, while Scout (perhaps like Harper Lee herself) remains accepting and hopeful about the possibilities of social change.

The children in the novel – Scout, Jem and Dill in particular – learn harsh lessons about the ways in which small towns and other close-knit communities can sometimes marginalize and de-value individuals who do not fit the mold.  These three see what the older folks in the story are oblivious to: the loneliness and isolation that certain social pariahs (Boo, Mayella, Dolphus and Tom) are forced to endure.

One of the big lessons that Scout learns in the story is how some children are branded from an early age as “acceptable” or “unacceptable” based on conditions and circumstances beyond their control. Aunt Alexandra’s judgments  – about the Radleys, the Cunninghams, the Ewells, Calpurnia, etc. –  serve as the perfect foil to Scout’s more mature insights.

Harper Lee identifies with the children in the novel more than the adults – with the possible exception of Atticus.  Like Scout , her sympathies lie with  good-natured kids such as Dill Harris , and Walter Cunningham , as well as the more problematic Cecil Jacobs and Mayella Ewell . From each of them, though in different respects, we learn about the need for maintaining “dignity in the midst of squalor” or as Hemingway would say “grace under pressure.”

Topic B –  Sources of Enmity (Ill-Will, Mistrust, Prejudice, Hatred, Animosity)

The novel deals most obviously with racial prejudice , but the greater lesson has to do with class differences and how a person’s inherited social status   – or what Aunt Alexandra calls “heredity” – unfairly determines how individuals are treated by others.

Perhaps the major underlying sources of friction within the community are the  economic hardships and uncertainties wrought by the Great Depression ; the novel can be seen as a parable about how certain people react in extreme circumstances, some with fear, mistrust and suspicion, others with fair-play, generosity and good-will.

The real source of tension in Maycomb is the ongoing rift between the country folk – poor white farmers who have been “hit the hardest” by the economic catastrophe and the city folk – merchants and professionals who are desperate to avoid slipping into absolute poverty. Caught in the middle of all this are the innocent characters – Boo Radley, Tom Robinson and Dolphus Raymond – who are just trying to mind their own business.

Topic C – Dimensions of Social Inequality

Like other social protest novels, this novel makes a special case for the ideal of social equality – as a basic dignity that the law affords to all citizens, local or otherwise; the array of misfit characters including Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, Dolphus Raymond,  Dill and even Mayella Ewell – each in their own way, show us the price that must be paid when the true meaning of democracy (“equal rights for all, special privileges for none”) is forgotten.

Maycomb, Alabama – although fictional – is a microcosm for all the petty snobberies and prejudgments that exist in small towns all over America; while Harper Lee goes to great lengths to show the “logic” behind the existing social order, she is also brutally honest in exposing its shortcomings. [We see this most specifically in the struggles of Mayella Ewell, Walter Cunningham and Dolphus Raymond.]

More than anything else, To Kill a Mockingbird is a book about the need for education , for literacy, and the advantages of literacy as the guarantor of equality and social mobility. The characters who value education (Scout, Atticus and Miss Maudie) are also the most generous and  magnanimous in their treatment of others; the characters who disparage learning (Bob Ewell, Mayella Ewell and Aunt Alexandra) are more fearful and suspicious of others.

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Most Interesting To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Titles

• To Kill a Mockingbird: The Importance of Understanding Individual Differences
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• To Kill a Mockingbird – How Is Boo Radley Miss Understood in Maycomb
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• What True Courage Is in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Two Types of Underprivileged People In To Kill A Mockingbird
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• The Southern Gothic Elements in To Kill a Mockingbird, a Novel by Harper Lee
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• Violence And Alienation In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee
• The Themes of Childhoods In Jane Eyre And To Kill A Mockingbird
• Why is the Novel Called To Kill a Mockingbird

Good To Kill a Mockingbird Research Topics

• The Sinful Action of Killing a Mockingbird in To Kill a Mockingbird, a Novel by Harper Lee
• To Kill A Mockingbird: The Effects of One’s Surrounding Environment On Their Personality And Morals
• The True Heroic Qualities of Atticus Finch in to Kill a Mockingbird
• The Victims of Stereotyping in to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Theme of the Loss of Childhood Innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird, a Novel by Harper Lee
• Who Has More Courage in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• What Does ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Teach us About Small Town America in the 1930s
• Tragic hero of To Kill A Mockingbird and The Crucible
• The Stereotypes And Fight To Keep To Kill A Mockingbird A Part of Educational Learning
• The Themes of Racism and Fear of the Unknown in the Novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Value of Informal Education in the Novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Three Hidden Symbols in To Kill a Mockingbird, a Novel by Harper Lee
• Tom Robinson’s Trial is in Many Ways the Central Part of To Kill a Mockingbird
• Unarmed Bravery In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee
• Use of Piaget’s Theories of Child Development in Analyzing, To Kill a Mockingbird
• Tom Robinson and the Ewells in the Novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Tolerance Level of the Characters in To Kill a Mockingbird, a Novel by Harper Lee
• The Use of Symbolism and Irony in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird
• True Courage: As Illustrated In To Kill A Mockingbird
• Tom Robinson’s Conviction In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird
• What Makes Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird a Literary Classic
• Town of Maycomb’s Role in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• To What Extent Is to Kill a Mockingbird a Novel About Racism and Prejudice

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Questions

• How Are Fathers Presented in the Novel To Kill a Mockingbird?
• What Is a Short Summary of To Kill a Mockingbird?
• What Is the Main Meaning of To Kill a Mockingbird?
• Is To Kill a Mockingbird True Story?
• What Are the Two Main Plots in To Kill a Mockingbird?
• What Is the Irony in To Kill a Mockingbird?
• What Is the Most Important Lesson in To Kill a Mockingbird?
• Is To Kill a Mockingbird Still Relevant Today?
• What To Kill a Mockingbird Teaches Us?
• What Are Some Life Lessons From To Kill a Mockingbird?
• What Is the First Turning Point in To Kill a Mockingbird?
• What’s the Climax of To Kill a Mockingbird?
• What Are Three Themes in To Kill a Mockingbird?
• What Are Some Symbols in To Kill a Mockingbird?
• How Are Prejudice and Hypocrisy Explored in To Kill a Mockingbird?
• How Does Harper Lee Build Up Tension Throughout the Novel To Kill a Mockingbird?
• How Has To Kill a Mockingbird Changed the World?
• How Does Author Present Racial Issues During the 1930s in To Kill a Mockingbird?
• Why Should Students Read To Kill a Mockingbird?
• How Does Harper Lee Use Minor Characters in To Kill a Mockingbird?
• Why Can’t Schools Teach To Kill a Mockingbird?
• How Does To Kill a Mockingbird Connect to the World?
• How Does Lee Make Atticus Finch a Heroic Figure in To Kill a Mockingbird?
• What Does the Reader Learn About the Social Setting in To Kill a Mockingbird?
• Why To Kill a Mockingbird Is Considered as Classic?
• What Are the Most Important Quotes in To Kill a Mockingbird?
• Who Is the Protagonist in To Kill a Mockingbird?
• Who Lost Their Innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird?
• What Does the Mad Dog Represent in To Kill a Mockingbird?

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A List Of Persuasive Essay Topics On To Kill A Mockingbird

When writing a persuasive essay, you need to think of a topic that you can write about in an argumentative style. Essentially, you may look at a particular point of view or opinion, so as to argue for or against something.

For example, if you are discussing To Kill a Mockingbird, then you may wish to look at one of the themes in the book, and discuss how important it was. Alternatively, you may wish to outline something about the book in comparison with other works, and why you think, for example, that To Kill a Mockingbird is more important.

Whilst you will often use a persuasive style of writing to talk about topics from the real world, it can be interesting and challenging to apply this technique when writing about a novel or piece of literature. However, it can sometimes be relatively difficult to think of a good topic to write about in the first place. Therefore, in order to make it easier for you to think of things to write about, the following outlines a range of different persuasive topic ideas relating to Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, which you can then use or adapt for your own work.

• The backdrop of the Great Depression is important To Kill a Mockingbird, but not critical, and the story would work if set in a variety of other eras
• The themes of racism and discrimination are explored in fantastic detail in To Kill a Mockingbird, and it is the most important piece of literature of the early 20th century that examines this topic
• The story would not be anywhere near as powerful without Harper Lee’s talent for writing in a narrative style
• To Kill a Mockingbird is as powerful in its depiction of gender roles as it is in its exploration of racial discrimination
• Every student should have read and written about To Kill a Mockingbird before they leave high school
• To Kill a Mockingbird is the most important piece of literature to come out of America in the 20th century
• Atticus Finch should have done more to help Tom Robinson
• Atticus Finch should be a role model for all legal professionals
• To Kill a Mockingbird is far superior to Go Set a Watchman
• As good as movie annotations might be, they simply cannot compete in terms of storytelling when it comes to the original novel

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Published: Mar 5, 2024

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Atticus's moral principles, counterarguments.

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