Capote is on the Prescribed reading List (PRL) for Prose: fiction and Prose: non-fiction and this is an interesting book to explore because, while it counts as a text in the latter category, its use of fictional techniques to present the true story of a brutal murder is both controversial and a source of much rich exploration regarding the relationship between fiction and non-fiction, and the concept of truth in literature more broadly. 

This unit has been written specifically with IB students in mind, and addresses the areas of exploration, the concepts, global issues and the requirements of IB examinations. The pages (as they are developed and published) are organised into a unit of study with before, during, and after reading sections.  As ever with our resources, this unit it is not intended to be prescriptive and of course you may supplement our materials with others, and you may select from and modify them to meet your own requirements.

The opening three lessons are based on the three areas of exploration but there is no requirement for teachers to cover all three areas when teaching a text and you may decide to choose one area as your primary lens for your unit of study. In addition, it is important that you read the novel and any materials we publish to ensure that they are appropriate to your own local context. We hope that you and your students enjoy working with this unit.