Mr. underwood's editorial defending tom robinson is surprising because

Mr. Underwood's editorial defending Tom Robinson was surprising because he is known for not liking African-American people. In Chapter 16, Atticus says, "'You know, it’s a funny thing about Braxton,' said Atticus. 'He despises Negroes, won’t have one near him.'" Although supposedly Mr. Underwood had these beliefs, it appears that he changed in the story, since he wrote an editorial about injustice.

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the answer is academic paper

and the second should be college professor

the central idea is basically saying that juveniles that have committed a crime will not have the same consequences as the   adults that have. they will have a softer punishment than what the adults have that is harsh in some ways.