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. Mary has difficulty understanding the identity of Thomas, a Black freedman who is married to a Wampanoag woman. Thomas surprises Mary when he identifies as a Wampanoag.

• How does Thomas explain his identity as a Wampanoag? (topic sentence)
• Explain how Thomas and Mary’s father explain Thomas’s affiliation with the Wampanoag culture. Then describe why Mary has difficulty understanding Thomas's identity.
• In your concluding sentences, explain how Mary's prejudice connects to the theme of Social Hierarchies.

2. Show Me a Sign explores many social distinctions made among types of people.

• What are some distinctions made between types of people in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Explain how those who live in Martha’s Vineyard are alike and different from those living in Boston.