8th ELA and Social Studies Winter Break Project

Arguments about the Court System

Ela Component
In ELA you have been reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee where Tom Robinson, a black man, is
accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. In chapter 18 and 19 you read their testimonies on the
witness stand. We, the readers, are lead to wonder who is telling the truth? What really happened?

For this project you will create a poster in which you outline the two different sides of the case and state which
position you think is most convincing.

Social Studies Component

The trial in To Kill a Mockingbird is fictitious, but trials such as these are ever present in our nation’s past and
present. On your phone or computer, research one trial in which an african american individual has been
treated unjustly by the court system. In one to two paragraphs write a summary of this trial, the outcome, your
opinion and how it connects to the trial in To Kill a Mockingbird. Cut out your summary and tape or glue it to
your poster.

Design Requirements

Your poster must have

Content
● A two to three sentence summary that states the reason for the trial.
● A summary of Mayella’s argument
● A summary of Tom’s argument
● 3 quotations that reveal Mayella’s argument
● 3 quotations that reveal Tom’s argument
● Your opinion in 4 to 5 sentences.
● A one to two paragraph summary of a trial from the past or present.

Final grade: _______/12

Visual
● On poster board
● Some decorations or colors (ex: use markers on the headings to give the project flair, or draw and or
print out a picture of Mayella and Tom for a visual hook)
● Clear organization
○ Clear handwriting
 ○ Large enough font

Final grade: _______/4

Poster Example
To Kill a Mockingbird: The Trial
By: ________________

Reason for trial:

Mayella’s Argument Tom’s Argument

Summary Summary

Evidence Evidence

● ●

● ●

● ●

● ●

My Opinion: Who is telling the truth?

Making Connections