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 play over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Jasper “Jazz” Dent has an unlikely friendship with Howie Gersten. Analyze their friendship in terms of the major themes of the book

• What makes Jazz’s and Howie’s friendship so unusual? (topic sentence)
• Discuss the similarities of Jazz and Howie through the thematic lenses of identity and genetic legacy.
• Conclude your essay by explaining how Jazz and Howie both defy the odds in bucking the fate of their DNA.

2. Author Barry Lyga uses third-person limited perspective strategically throughout I Hunt Killers, switching from Jazz’s perspective to that of the Impressionist throughout the book.

• How does this perspective switching help build suspense throughout the book? (topic sentence)
• Provide details from the text that show how this technique serves to keep information from the reader or provide it at key moments.
• Conclude your essay by discussing how the suspense would be broken if the text were written in a single consistent perspective.