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. Describe the transformation of Holly Angelo’s character over the course of the novel.

• How does Holly Angelo change throughout the novel? (topic sentence)
• Describe Holly at the beginning of her journey, in the middle, and at the end.
• In your concluding sentences, explain what brought about the changes in Holly’s character.

2. Describe Peak’s role in the death of the boy who fell.

• Do you think Peak has any responsibility for the death of the boy who fell after copying Peak? (topic sentence)
• Give three reasons Peak is or is not responsible for the fate of the boy who fell.
• In your concluding sentences, describe how the actions of the boy who fell changed the trajectory of Peak’s life.

3.