In To Kill a Mockingbird we saw and heard many different civics related scenes.

Many components, we
have already learned about: due process system, citizen responsibilities, etc. One component in your
essay today, I would like you to analyze is that of Civic Engagement. Civic engagement means working to
make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge,
skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a
community, through both political and non-political processes. Give an example of a character you
admired for their civic engagement (Atticus and Tom are easy picks you may use). What are ways in
which they were civically engaged?
In the second part of your essay, you will write about what it means to be civically engaged, then
identify a problem in your community and write about it. You should educate your reader on the
community, give them a background, and state how you would work to resolve it. This should be more
than one action, you should have an action plan!

Essay Rubric
3 Points 2 Points 1 Point 0 Points
Movie
Connection
Student is able to
identify a character and
write 5+ sentences on
their civic engagement
and fight for what is
right giving descriptive
details and reflecting
on a key civics based
concepts.
Student is able to
identify a character
and write 4+ sentences
on their civic
engagement and
fight for what is right
and reflecting on a key
civics based concept.
Student is able to
identify a
character and
write at least 3
sentences on their
civic engagement
and fight for
what is right.
Student is
unable to
identify a
character or
write about a
connection to
civics.
Communit
y
Connection
Student is able to
identify a problem
within the community
and provide 5+
sentences giving the
reader a background
on the issue. The
student will write
about a possible
solution and how they
can become civically
engaged.
Student is able to
identify a problem
within the community
and provide 4+
sentences giving the
reader a background
on the issue. The
student will write
about a possible
solution and how they
can become civically
engaged.
Student is able to
identify a problem
within the
community and
provide 3+
sentences but
gives the reader
limited
background
knowledge on the
issue and limited
information
regarding a
solution.
Student is
unable to
identify a
problem in the
community.
Grammar/
Punctuatio
n
No more than 3-4
grammar/ punctuation
errors.
No more than 4- 5
grammar/ punctuation
errors.
No more than 5-6
grammar/
punctuation
errors.
Student has
greater than 7
grammar/
punctuation
errors.
TOTAL
POINTS

_________
___