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 novel over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Three-dimensional characters demonstrate a wide variety of traits: both positive and negative qualities, both strengths and weaknesses. Lanesha accomplishes and overcomes so much that she can seem one-dimensionally superhero-like at times, but she also demonstrates faults, weaknesses, and negative traits that show she is a developed character with many sides.

• List three faults, weaknesses, or negative traits Lanesha demonstrates that contribute to her three-dimensionality as a character (topic sentence).
• Discuss a total of three scenes in which these traits can be seen.
• In your conclusion, describe the impact of Lanesha’s mix of positive and negative traits on her survival.

2. At times, TaShon is depicted with imagery that connotes weakness (he is physically smaller than peers; he is harassed by Max; he can’t keep his own dog; his father cut off his extra fingers when he was born). He also tends to react to fear and frustration more impulsively than Lanesha (he cries openly in front of her).