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The show that scores the argument
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Before we begin

• Well need to define our roles
• Six contestants
• Two hosts
• Two stat boys or stat girls
• Three judges
• Will score and explain rationale for elimination
• Viewers at home
• May ask follow up questions or act as lifelines

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Todays Format

• Round 1 The First Word
• Scout as Savior
• Family Relationships
• Round 2 Buy or Sell
• Atticuss Parenting Style
• Mockingbird and Lee Great?
• Atticuss Decision to Defend Tom
• Round 3 Out of Bounds
• Setting and Date of Publication
• Round 4 The Showdown

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Round 1 The First Word

• In this round, contestants discuss two literary
  headlines of the days reading assignment.
• Points are awarded or deducted for quality of
  argument.

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Scout as Savior

• Scout ironically saves her father from certain
  danger, after he spends most of the book
  protecting her.
• What is the significance of Scout saving her
  father? What could have happened if she didnt
  intervene? Does it surprise that it is Scout
  not Atticus that is in control of the
  situation?
• The First Word 1 of 2

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Relationships

• Some of the relationships between family members
  and friends in the book seem rather
  run-of-the-mill, whereas others seem to be quite
  unusual.
• Do you consider the relationships in the book to
  be normal or abnormal? Why?
• The First Word 2 of 2

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Round 2 Buy or Sell

• In this round, contestants are asked to buy or
  sell (be for or against) three different
  concepts, also drawn from the days literary
  headlines.
• Points are awarded or deducted for quality of
  argument.

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Atticuss parenting style

• Atticuss parenting style is perceived by others
  in his community as rather unique.
• He treats his children like adults when Scout
  asks him to define rape, he does so in a very
  simple, clear way he tells Uncle Jack and Aunt
  Alexandra not to condescend to the children. He
  conceals certain elements of his identity his
  skill at marksmanship, for example which would
  probably make him seem more normal to his
  peers.
• Are you buying or selling the idea that Atticuss
  parenting style is the best?
• Buy or Sell 1 of 3

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Mockingbird as and Lee Great?

• To Kill a Mockingbird is the only book Harper Lee
  ever wrote.
• Some writers, most notably Stephen King, are a
  bit critical of her for not writing more. Others
  laud her as a great writer, despite a relatively
  small body of work.
• Are you buying or selling the idea that Lees
  work should be considered among the greatest in
  our literary canon?
• Buy or Sell 2 of 3

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Atticuss decision to defend Tom

• At the point when Atticus decides to defend Tom,
  it is unclear whether Tom is innocent or guilty.
• Some would argue that Atticuss decision to
  defend Tom is actually more noble because he
  doesnt know whether Tom is innocent, and doesnt
  concern himself with this.
• Are you buying or selling the idea that Atticuss
  decision is more noble because he doesnt care
  whether Tom is guilty or innocent when he takes
  the case?
• Buy or Sell 3 of 3

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The First Cut

• Sorry, the two contestants with the lowest score
  have to go home!
• Now, four contestants remain.

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Round 3 Out of Bounds

• In this round, contestants discuss one story
  which is indirectly literature-related.
• Points are awarded or deducted for quality of
  argument.

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Setting and date of publication

• The novel is set during a tumultuous time and
  place for our nations race relations
  (Depression-era South) and was composed during
  another significant time for our nations race
  relations (right before the height of the Civil
  Rights Movement in the 1960s).
• How do you think the climate of the Civil Rights
  Movement influences the events of the novel,
  which take place 30 or 40 years before?

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The Second Cut

• Sorry, the two contestants with the lowest scores
  have to go home!
• Now only two remain!

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Showdown

• The two remaining contestants get 15 seconds on
  each of three literature-related topics.
• One point will be awarded for the better argument
  in each of the three categories.

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A Female Voice

• We havent read too many books by female authors
  during our first three years at MHS. Weve
  probably read even fewer books with female
  narrators.
• Do you approach this book differently, given that
  it is written and narrated by a female voice?
  Why or why not?
• Showdown 1 of 3

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Important Symbols

• The book contains many symbols, many pertaining
  to the motif of loss of innocence.
• What is the novels most important symbol? Why?
• Showdown 2 of 3

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Racism

• When Calpurnia brings Jem and Scout to her
  Church, they are not warmly received by her
  fellow church-goers, mainly because the kids are
  white and it is a predominantly black church.
• Are these church-goers racist ?
• Showdown 3 of 3

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Face time!

• The winner of todays competition gets 30 seconds
  to discuss anything he/she wants to discuss!
• It can be literature-related, but does not have
  to be.