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

1. Throughout the novel Turtle changes because of her experiences in Sunset Towers.  

• What 3 relationships are the clearest catalysts for Turtle’s changed character? (topic sentence)
• Explain these relationships in detail and analyze the extent to which each contributes to Turtle’s character growth.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain whether you believe Sam Westing intentionally developed Turtle’s character or if it is an unintended result of the game; include your rationale.

2. Theo and Doug are the only two characters paired together who have a previous, positive relationship.

• How do these two characters work together as a team? (topic sentence)
• Provide 3 examples from the novel that demonstrate Theo and Doug’s teamwork; evaluate each example in terms of the potential for success as players in the game.