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. Choose two scythes and compare and contrast their views on compassion. 

• What is similar and different about how the two scythes show compassion or lack of compassion for their gleaning victims? (topic sentence)
• What specific examples of gleanings support your claim about their views on compassion?
• What specific examples of how the scythes treat the families of the victims support your claim about their views of compassion? 
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how the similarities and differences between these two scythes reveal important ideas on the thematic motif of The Value of Compassion.  

2. Do you think the world in Scythe is better off being governed by the Thunderhead as opposed to humans? Why or why not? 

• In your topic sentence or thesis statement, state your claim about if the world of Scythe is better off being run by artificial intelligence and why.