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.

Scaffolded/Short-Answer 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. Max thinks he’s not smart, but his attitude changes. Name two things that cause this change and explain why they have this effect using examples from the novel.

• Max’s attitude about his intelligence changes due to his relationship with Freak and his character development throughout the novel. (topic sentence)
• Max’s friendship with Freak provides him with confidence, and his character development throughout the novel strengthens his sense of identity and leads him to become more vocal about his needs.
• Freak’s impact on Max leaves him with an open mind and appreciation for the moment, while his character development allows him to advocate more for himself.

2. When he learns at the hospital that Freak has died, Max becomes upset and combative, and he breaks a door. Why does he react this way?

• Max breaks a door after learning that Freak died due to his grief and struggle to process the reality of his friend’s death.