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. Johnson structures this novel by juxtaposing events happening in several different time periods.

• What messages are conveyed by this juxtaposition of events from the different time periods? (topic sentence)
• Offer at least three examples from the text that support your interpretation of the meaning of this juxtaposition.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, show how your interpretation supports one or more of the novel’s thematic concerns: The Balance Between Justice and Forgiveness, The Path Forward Is Not Always Visible, Racism Is a Catalyst for Conflict, and Hiding to Fit In.

2. The friendship between Candice and Brandon changes over time.

• How do the changes in Candice and Brandon’s friendship demonstrate character growth? (topic sentence)
• Offer examples from the beginning, middle, and end of the novel that show changes in their relationship over time.