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 below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. As the novel progresses, 17-year-old Lev undergoes a transformation as he grapples with the transition from boyhood to adulthood.

• How does the novel show Lev’s transition into adulthood? (topic sentence)
• Explain what the novel describes as the nature of manhood and the events in the novel that point to Lev developing into a man.
• In your concluding sentences, explain how Lev’s development reflects the author’s viewpoints on what it means to be a man.

2. After Lev meets Vika, she serves as a catalyst for change in his character.

• How does Lev’s behavior begin to change after he meets Vika? (topic sentence)
• Explain why Lev is attracted to Vika despite her lack of traditional feminine qualities, how Lev’s character changes once he meets her, and why Vika inspired this change in Lev.