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

1. Throughout the novel, Sinclair frequently uses the term “machine” to reference the system that Jurgis and his family are subjected to.

• What is this “political machine?” (topic sentence)
• Find and discuss three references to this machine throughout the novel that support your answer.
• In your concluding sentences, discuss briefly how the political machine of Chicago is an example of The Law and Government as Agents of Violence

2. Sinclair argues that the businesses of Packingtown use brutal and corrupt practices in their workplaces.

• How can businesses exploit their workers and consumers through brutal and corrupt practices? (topic sentence)
• Find and discuss three examples of brutal and corrupt business practices in the novel that support your rationale.
• How do Packingtown’s businesses speak to the larger theme of The Brutality and Corruption of Turn-of-the-Century Capitalism? Summarize your thoughts in your concluding sentences.