Linaarika D. answered • 09/25/24
Experienced High School English and Writing Tutor - Essays, SAT
How to craft this response: First, begin by making a claim. As a reader, were you convinced after reading the chapter that Mayella was lying? Once you establish your opinion, look into why you might feel that way. Was it what a character said? Was it how they were acting? Was it the structure and tone that they were using to communicate? Was it their logical arguments? What pieces of evidence made you feel like Mayella was either lying or telling the truth. Keep in mind that the question is asking about how Atticus did this - so you must include evidence that relates to Atticus' s behavior in the chapter. To establish a coherent structure for your answer, start out by writing your claim, and then list the reasons why you think that. Next, expand on each reason. Use evidence from the text, like quotes or paraphrasing, to back it up.
Example response: Atticus proves very well to the reader that Mayella is lying, using tone, action, and foresight. He employs a cordial but interrogative tone to command respect in the courtroom while also pressuring Mayella to reveal hidden truths. For example, when Mayella complains about Atticus's strict demeanor, the judge does not side with her - this gives Atticus the upper hand in the situation. Next, Atticus's physical movement contributes to casting guilt onto Mayella's case. He 'strolled' and kept a respectful but endearing distance from the witness stand, coming off cool and under composure. This effectively made Mayella look overly nervous and sheepish in the face of Atticus. Lastly, Atticus's foresight and explanation for his questions convinces the reader that Mayella was lying. The narrator explains that Atticus built up his questions to establish a foundation for Mayella's guilt. His logic listed out like that successfully convinces the reader that Mayella is hiding something.
