A Literature Circle is the study of a piece of literature by a small group.

All group members read up to the same part of To Kill a Mockingbird. They then proceed
in an organized discussion of the text. Each group member takes on a specific role for
the discussion of the text. Each group member must bring hard copies of their materials
to class (discussion questions, written out summaries, illustrations, etc)
Literature Circle Roles:
1. Summarizer: Your job is to prepare a brief summary of the reading. You begin the
discussion by reading your summary. Materials to bring to discussion: Written out
summary of each chapter for the week.
2. Discussion Director: Your job is to develop a list of questions (at least 5) that your
group might like to discuss about this part of the book. Dont concentrate on small
details. Your job is to help everyone in the group grasp the big ideas of the book. The
best questions will come from your own reactions to the book, and its themes.
Materials to bring to discussion: A list of AT LEAST 5 open ended questions to
ask the group. You will fill out a report and staple all materials to this report. It
will be turned in at the end of the discussion.
3. Literary Devicer: Since To Kill a Mockingbird is chalked full of literary devices, it
will be your job to find at least 5, which may include simile, metaphor, symbolism,
idioms, personification, hyperbole, imagery, onomatopoeia and so on. See
www.literary-devices.com if you need more ideas or information. You must pick a
variety of devices and not simply 5 similes. Materials to bring to discussion: List
of examples along with page number you found them on and an explanation of
how they are used.
4. Word Watcher: Your job is to be on the lookout for new words in the book.

This could mean words that are unfamiliar to you or provide key meaning or
understanding of the text. You should be prepared for the discussion with the
definition of the words. Materials to bring to discussion: 1 word per chapter and any
assigned required words from the list below with definitions and an explanation of
why they are important to the text.
5. Illustrator: shares how he or she visualized a scene in the novel, sharing their image and
write-up on it. The Illustrator portrays a key scene in the novel in two different media,
and then analyzes what they chose to emphasize or leave out. Illustrator will choose 3
scenes from the reading and will illustrate them. Materials to bring to discussion: You
must bring hard copies of your drawing or google images. They must be printed out.
You can not draw stick figures at the last minute. You must also have a copy of the
explanation of why you chose each of them.
6. Passage Picker: Your job is to choose 4 or 5 key passages from the book to discuss. You
should select passages that you feel are important to the text and will encourage
discussion of key elements. Materials to bring to discussion: Printed our or
handwritten copies of each of the passage you chose, as well as some bulleted
talking points you would like to discuss about them.

7. Quiz Maker: First, the Quiz Maker writes 10 questions that require students to know
strong, thorough, and specific evidence from the text that will be used to support
analysis. Members of the group answer the quiz on their Literature Circle Work Sheet.
Students format this assignment many ways, including as an oral quiz, as multiple-choice
questions, or as fill-in-the blanks and provide copies for the group. As students review,
they discuss and clarify the questions. Materials to bring to discussion: Copies of the
quiz for each member of the group and an addition copy for me. Also 1 answer key
to be turned in to teacher.

8. Character Sorter: shares the three significant characters he or she identified. These
mini-character biographies explore how Scout interact with other characters, to
demonstrate how those characters and interactions advance plot and develop the key
themes of the novel. Materials to bring to discussion: Written explanation of 3
characters that includes how they interact with Scout, how they relate to other
people, who they are and how they are important to the story.

Literature Circle Discussion

Each group member must complete the required part of the reading. If
even one member of the group fails to do so, he or she is not only affecting
himself or herself, but also the productivity of every other member of the group.
It is vital that no one reads beyond the assigned part of reading. This will
not help you. Actually, it will hinder your participation in the discussion, as you will
not be able to take part in any predictions.
Each group member must be prepared for the discussion with copies of his or her
work for every other group member, and an extra for the teacher to evaluate.
For each different part of the book read, each member must take on a new role.

Discussion Sequence
The order of the discussion is as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

The
The
The
The
The
The
The
The

Summarizer
Illustrator
Literary Devicer
Word Watcher
Passage Picker
Character Sorter
Discussion Director
Quizmaker

Each member of the group will share their findings, and then the findings will be discussed by
the entire group. As part of your evaluation, you will also complete peer evaluations and selfevaluations of your discussions. Group members should be ready to add any important facts
or ideas discussed to their study notes (for the exam).
IF you will be gone on discussion days, you must submit your notes to the discussion director
prior to the day of discussion. If your materials are not here, you do NOT get a grade!!
Sections of the reading are as follows:
First Rotation

Ch 1 to 8

Discussion on 10/24

Second Rotation

Ch 9 to 16 Discussion on 10/31

Third Rotation

Ch 17 to 24 Discussion on 11/8

Fourth Rotation

Ch 25 to 31 Discussion on 11/14

Discussion
Director

First
Rotation

Second
Rotation

Third
Rotation

Summarizer

Word
Watcher

Illustrator

Passage
Picker

Character
Sorter

Quiz
Maker

Literary
Devicer

Fourth
Rotation

Required Vocabulary
1. Profound
6 Determine
6 Engage..
8 Omit
9 Emerge
9 Mishap
9 Notion
10 Reflect
11 Compassion
11 Disposition
12 Characteristic
14 Pensive
17 Glaring

18 Justify
18 Perpetual
23 Analyze
23 Inevitable
24 Critical
28 Exploit-

Required Literature Terms (be able to define AND identify in a story)

Simile
Metaphor
Symbolism
Idioms
Personification
Hyperbole
Imagery

Onomatopoeia

Character List
1. Scout (Jean Louise Finch)
2. Jem (Jeremy Finch)
3. Dill (Charles Baker Harris)
4. Atticus Finch
5. Arthur Boo Radley
6. Tom Robinson
7. Calpurnia
8. Aunt Alexandra
9. Maudie Atkinson
10. Bob Ewell
11. Mayella Ewell
12. Heck Tate
13. Reverend Sykes
14. Judge Taylor
15. Mr. Gilmer
16. Mrs. Dubose
17. Walter Cunningham
18. Walter Cunningham (Jr.)
19. Adolphus Raymond
20. Helen Robinson
21. Uncle Jack
22. Francis Hancock
23. Burris Ewell
24. Zeebo
25. Nathan Radley
26. Miss Rachel Haverford
27. Miss Stephanie Crawford
28. Mrs. Grace Merriweather
29. Link Deas
30. Miss Caroline Fischer
31. Cecil Jacobs
32. Little Chuck Little
33. Mr. Avery
34. Lula A
35. Eula May