Fredericks 1

Malayna Fredericks

Kieler

ILT

27 Aug, 2018

Research Paper Outline

1. Introduction

a. Hook: Could you ever imagine becoming famous after writing just one book?

Harper Lee has created history after writing her well-known book, ​To Kill A

Mockingbird ​and then soon becoming famous for it at once​.

b. Context: I will first start my essay off by stating the facts about Harper Lee’s

childhood. Soon merging into her education, then straight into her work life,

where she influenced the world. I’ll bring up her accomplishments and how they

have changed our world for the better. Then bring the end of my essay towards

how her final days lasted. I will discuss the importance of Lee’s acts and how she

has changed our world.

c. Thesis Statement: With this research paper, I will explain how Harper Lee has

influenced our world and how she is remembered today. I will explain her early

life, work life, accomplishments, and finish off with the end of her life.

d. Transition Sentence: To begin my essay, I will explain Harper Lee’s family and

her childhood growing up in Monroeville, Alabama.

2. The Beginning of an Author

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a. Topic Sentence: In Harper Lee’s early life, we reflect back to her childhood, her

family, and her education, which leads towards her influential acts.

b. Context:

i. What was Harper Lee’s childhood like?

1. Harper Lee was born in Monroeville, Alabama. She was born as

Nelle Harper Lee on the 28th of April in 1926 (Fine).

2. Her father, Amasa Coleman Lee, was a lawyer and influenced Lee

to go into the field as well “About the Author: To Kill A

Mockingbird.”

3. Lee’s mother, Frances Cunningham Finch was known to not have

a job because she was mentally sick “About the Author: To Kill A

Mockingbird.”

4. Out of her 3 other siblings, Alice, Frances Louise, and Edwin,

Harper was the youngest “About the Author: To Kill A

Mockingbird.”

5. Lee had grew up as a tomboy, never caring about makeup or dating

like the other girls “Harper Lee Biography.”

6. She grew up with her neighborhood friend, Truman Capote, who

was also a soon-to-be-writer himself “About the Author: To Kill A

Mockingbird.”

ii. What was Lee’s education like?

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1. After highschool, Harper studied law at the University of Alabama,

but ended up dropping out because she loved literature (Fine).

2. She was an exchange student in Oxford for a summer (Fine).

a. Analysis: Harper Lee was influenced by her father to

become a lawyer, but she decided to follow her dreams and

persuade her love of literature.

b. Transition: Dropping out of college lead to the start of

Lee’s career. She eventually managed to persuade writing

and was successful doing so.

3. Harper Lee’s Work Experience

a. Topic Sentence: Even though Lee had became famous for one book, doesn’t mean

she stopped working. Harper Lee helped a friend with his very own book, she

wrote more stories, and she was busy with church.

b. Context:

i. How did Lee become a writer?

1. After dropping out, Lee fled to New York City, where she first

worked as an airline reservationist (Fine).

2. Towards Christmas, she received financial aid from a friend, where

she was able to work as a full-time writer (Fine).

3. Lee never dated still, so she never had a spouse because she only

needed a friend (Fine).

ii. All about Lee’s books

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1. After writing a series of short stories, Lee had created ​To Kill A

Mockingbird ​(Fine).

2. More than 30 million copies had been sold, then ​To Kill A

Mockingbird ​became a memorable film in 1962 (Fine).

3. One of the main characters, “Atticus Finch,” was based off of

Lee’s father and “Dill” was based off of Truman Capote (Fine).

4. After her book became famous, she later moved back home in

Monroeville and wrote some short “essay” stories, one called

Romance and High Adventures, b​ ut never published it (Fine).

5. Lee also worked on a book called ​The Reverend, b​ ut it was also not

published because she wanted to continue having a quiet, peaceful

life “Harper Lee Biography.”

6. The only other book Lee had wrote and actually published was

called ​Go Set A Watchman, ​which was originally wrote before ​To

Kill A Mockingbird ​“Harper Lee Biography.”

7. Go Set A Watchman ​portrays the later lives of the characters in

Lee’s first book “Harper Lee Biography.”

8. Lee’s second book was actually submitted to a publisher in 1957,

but wasn’t accepted because they thought the main character

should be a child “Harper Lee Biography.”

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9. Instead of changing the main character to a child, Lee wrote a

whole new book but still based if off of ​Go Set A Watchman, ​but in

a younger life “Harper Lee Biography.”

10. It wasn’t until 2 years went by, then ​To Kill A Mockingbird ​was

published “Harper Lee Biography.”

iii. Helping Truman Capote

1. In her later years, Lee helped Capote with his own soon-to-be

novel, ​In Cold Blood​ “Harper Lee Biography.”

​ as
2. After working together to create the book, ​In Cold Blood w

published in 1966 “Harper Lee Biography.”

3. Capote wanted to acknowledge and dedicate the book to Lee, but

he later failed and gave up “Harper Lee Biography.”

iv. Go Set A Watchman ​is Published

1. In May of 2013, Lee decided to release ​To Kill A Mockingbird

through e-books, even though she preferred books herself “Harper

Lee Biography.”

2. Lee quoted: “I’m still old fashioned. I love dusty old books and

libraries. I am amazed and humbled that ​Mockingbird ​has survived

this long. This is ​Mockingbird​ for a new generation.” “Harper Lee

Biography.”

3. Two years passed and Harper Collins found Lee’s first book ​Go

Set A Watchman ​in a safe box “Harper Lee Biography.”

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4. Collins then announced that she would publish the book herself in

July of 2015 because Lee was getting to the age where she wasn’t

able to do so herself “Harper Lee Biography.”

5. After the book was published, Lee discussed that she was happy

with the results and reactions to her book “Harper Lee Biography.”

v. Celebrity Spotlight

1. Lee was never quite comfortable with her fame, because she didn’t

feel the need to be the spotlight (Myint).

2. She ended up becoming famous in her church for avoiding her

celebrity spotlight in her church and community “Harper Lee

Biography.”

3. Lee has compared her fame to being; “hit over the head and

knocked out cold,” and she finds public encouragement frightening

(Myint).

4. She often used her wealth to make anonymous donations to her

community, church, and charities “Harper Lee Biography.”

a. Analysis: Lee had wrote many books, but she ended up

only publishing two. She was a very good and inspiring

writer that influenced many people. Though she was shy to

the public, she succeeded to still influence us and help our

world grow.
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b. Transition: After ​To Kill A Mockingbird b​ ecame famous,

Harper Lee won some awards for such brilliance and honor.

4. Accomplishing Goals

a. Topic Sentence: ​To Kill A Mockingbird c​ hanged the world in so many ways,

which allowed Lee to win some awards for her inspiring book, as long as a film

being made too.

b. Context:

i. Harper Lee’s Awards

1. With ​To Kill A Mockingbird ​becoming so famous, it won the

Pulitzer Prize in 1961 (Fine).

2. Then in 2007, President George W. Bush presented Lee with the

Presidential Medal of Freedom “Harper Lee.”

3. President Bush quoted; “her outstanding contribution to America’s

literary tradition…” “Harper Lee.”

4. He also quoted: “‘​To Kill A Mockingbird’​ has influenced the

character of our country for the better.” “It’s been a great gift to the

entire world. As a model of good writing and humane sensibility,

this book will be read and studied forever.” “Harper Lee.”

ii. A Memorable Film

1. To Kill A Mockingbird’s ​film ended up being very successful

(Myint).
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2. The role of “Atticus Finch” was played by Gregory Peck, where he

received the “Best Actor Award” and the film received to other

Oscars (Myint).

a. Analysis: Harper not only won an award for her book, but

won an award for influencing our world in so many ways

and continuing our literary tradition.

b. Transition: Later after receiving her last award in 2007, Lee

was starting to experience health issues that caused her to

become sick.

5. Still Living Her Best Life

a. Topic Sentence: Harper Lee starts to struggle with her living conditions and

becomes mentally and physically ill.

b. Context:

i. Mental Illness

1. It was widely discussed that mental illness could have possibly ran

through Lee’s family (Myint).

2. Lee’s mother had suffered from depression and mood swings, but

no one really knew why (Myint).

3. It has been said that Frances, Lee’s mother, had tried drowning Lee

twice during Lee’s baths (Myint).

ii. Getting Sick

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1. A little after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Lee had

a stroke and stared struggling with health issues “Harper Lee

Biography.”

2. She then moved into an assisted living facility.

3. She experienced hearing loss, limited vision, and problems with

short term memory “Harper Lee Biography.”

4. Lee’s sister Alice quoted: “Books are the things she cares about,”

so with her health issues, she was still able to read with a

magnifying glass “Harper Lee Biography.”

5. Very sadly, Nelle Harper Lee died in her sleep at the age of 89 at

the living facility on the 19th of February of 2016 “Harper Lee

Biography.”

a. Analysis: After Lee’s stroke, her health issues got worse,

which lead to the heartbreaking news the Harper Lee died.

6. Conclusion:

a. To sum up everything that has been stated, Harper Lee has really inspired our

world for the better with just two books published. I have learned that Harper Lee

not only followed her dreams when they weren’t her fathers, but she was also

very shy and private. Lee started off like a normal child like me, then she

followed her own path into making it big and changing the world. Her work

influenced lots, and she had received many awards. She later on got really sick

and had many health issues, and sadly nothing helped her live a little longer and
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she soon died. Harper Lee has not only influenced our world, but she has

influenced me on a personal level. I hope to someday be able to influence the

world like Harper Lee did herself.