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

1. Cameron Boxer and String McBean’s story arcs progress in a similar way.

• Cameron’s and String’s motivations are similar throughout the story. (topic sentence)
• Support your thesis with evidence of Cam’s and String’s motivations at the beginning of the story; then, show evidence of Cam’s and String’s motivations at the end of the story.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how Cam and String followed a similar path and relate it to the novel’s theme of Contributing to Something Greater.

2. Cam’s rivalry with Evil McKillPeople helps develop the theme of Cooperation Versus Competition.

• Cam’s choice to team up with Melody for Rule the World communicates the importance and advantages of cooperation. (topic sentence)
• Provide at least three details or quotes from the story to show how Cam’s relationship with Melody and Evil McKillPeople changes throughout the novel from competition to cooperation.