Empathy, the ability to understand and share the thoughts and feelings of others, is an important part of our humanity. How do we best express empathy? How does showing and accepting compassion help inform our understanding of the world?

In this unit, we read an excerpt Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. In the reading, Atticus Finch tells his daughter, Scout, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view–until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

You may pick a different book and a different quote, but you must receive approval from the teacher BEFORE submitting. You must provide a copy of the reading for the teacher to review. If picking another reading, remember that the objective of the assignment is to discuss empathy.

For this essay, you will craft a three-paragraph response (4-6 sentences per paragraph) to answer the following:analyze the significance of this quote. What does this quote mean and why is it important?

How does this quote connect to your life? Provide at least 1 example.

also include a conclusion paragraph that restates main ideas and wraps up your reflection.