Atticus Finch Question?

I am writing an essay about him and how and why he is a corageous person. does this work? and if i does can you give me a little bit to write about with it? Atticus had the courage to teach his children the values of equity and justice through his own example. BTW i already have about the rabid dog and the tom robinson case also can you elaborate why did sticking up for tom at the jailhouse made him courageous THANKS