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

1. The poems about basketball frequently use techniques of concrete poetry.

• How do these stylistic choices influence the meaning of the poems? (topic sentence)
• Provide specific examples from one poem that demonstrate the relationship between form and meaning.
• What feeling is the use of concrete poetry trying to evoke in the reader?

2. The moment in the novel when Chuck and Josh are pulled over by the police is a weighty reminder of the difficulty of being Black in America.

• What is the novel saying about Chuck’s fragile position as a figure of celebrity or authority? (topic sentence)
• How does this inform other parts of Chuck’s character or Josh’s story?
• How might this be related to Chuck’s distrust of doctors (or another defining character trait)?

3. At the beginning of the novel, a bet gone awry causes Josh to lose his dreadlocks.

• What is the significance of Josh’s hair, and how does losing it change him? (topic sentence)
• Provide specific examples from the novel that demonstrate Josh’s relationship with his hair before and after it is cut.