Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Charlotte and Wilbur develop a Strong Bond of Friendship that comes to define them both.

• What are the similarities and differences between Wilbur and Charlotte’s characters, and how do these similarities and differences allow them to grow and learn from each other? (topic sentence)
• In the body of your essay, detail three characteristics of both Wilbur and Charlotte using examples from the text. Compare and contrast these traits.
• In the conclusion of your essay, discuss the ways that Wilbur and Charlotte’s friendship breaks conventions.

2. Charlotte lays an egg sac before she dies in one final illustration of The Inevitable and Fleeting Nature of Life.

• What does this egg sac represent, and how does it serve to comfort Wilbur after he loses his best friend? (topic sentence)
• In the body of your essay, examine the symbolism behind Charlotte’s egg sac, what it took to make it, and what happened afterward.