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. The title of the novel, The Lions of Little Rock, has multiple meanings in relation to the book.

• What are two to three of the various meanings of The Lions of Little Rock? (topic sentence)
• Give several examples from the text that explain each meaning of the title.
• In your concluding sentences, explain how the title connects to one or more of the major themes of the novel.

2. Many characters in the novel undergo personal transformations other than Marlee and Liz. Think of two other characters and describe how their attitudes change over the course of the novel

• Who are two characters that experience a personal transformation in the novel (other than Marlee and Liz)? (topic sentence)
• Provide examples from the text that prove how and why the characters transform.