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. Suspense is an important part of any mystery. An author increases suspense through setting, mood, action, and plot twists.

• What is one strong way that Robert Beatty increases suspense throughout Serafina and the Black Cloak? (topic sentence)
• What are three scenes in Chapters 1-23 in which this suspense-building technique is used? Describe details from the text to discuss how the suspense increases overall as a result of these scenes.
• Finally, identify in your concluding sentence or sentences the climactic scene (high point of suspense) in the novel, and explain what makes it the most suspenseful.

2. Parent-child relationships in this novel are complex. Pa and Serafina have a parent-child relationship, for example, although they are not actual kin; the Vanderbilts serve as parent-like guardians to Braeden; Leandra never knew Serafina but shows a mother’s love immediately on recognizing her.

• What overall message (theme) comes across about parent-child relationships though these characters? (topic sentence)
• What actions, events, or circumstances contribute to that overall message? Refer to details from the story.