American Literature Assignment #26

April 22-24, 2008

1. Reading: Read the final chapters of To Kill A Mockingbird. As you read, listen to the moral voice of the story-teller and watch out for these themes: the existence of social inequality, the importance of moral education, the strange coexistence of Good and Evil, the limitations of innocence, and the power of moral courage. Mark up your books, my friends, as you brood on the messages you find.

& Be prepared to write an essay discussing a theme of the book.

& Due Tuesday, April 29.

2. Vocabulary:

1. Vilify: To slander or defame someone’s name or standing in the community; to malign.

2. Diatribe: Bitter, critical speech or writing.

3. Vitriolic: Burning or corrosive like acid; caustic.

4. Jargon: Special language or terminology.

5. Blasphemy: Disrespect or irreverence toward something sacred or seriously important.

6. Satire: Comedy using laughter as a weapon to evoke a feeling of scorn along with amusement.

7. Slander: False, defamatory spoken criticism of someone.

8. Garble: To change or alter meaning through misrepresentation of facts or distortion of ideas.

9. Garrulous: Extremely talkative, gabby, locquacious.

10. Querulous: Complaining, fault-finding, fretful, petulant.

3. Magnum Opus:

The Calendar

April 22 30 Note-cards Due 30 points

April 29 Rough Draft Due (At least 8 pages) 35 points

May 15 Final Paper Due (No late papers will be accepted!) 100 points

***Students in A.P. Biology may turn in their papers on May 20.