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 and evidence from the novel to support your answer. 

1. Elizabeth and Margaret play the sidewalk game of stepping on the cracks.

• What do cracks initially symbolize to Margaret and Elizabeth? What does Margaret mean when she later says that she feels as if cracks are opening in the ground around her?
• Describe two or three ways that Margaret’s worldview and sense of self changes over the course of the novel. Use examples from the text to support your ideas.
• Finally, discuss how cracks in Margaret’s beliefs reflect the novel’s theme of moral ambiguity.

2. Margaret and Elizabeth have been best friends since they were small, but their friendship is a little unbalanced.  

• Do you think Elizabeth is a good fiend to Margaret? Why or why not? How does each girl feel about the other at the start of the novel?
• Describe three ways the girls’ friendship changes as the novel progresses. Give details from the text to support your ideas.