Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers (that build literary analysis skills by requiring textual references).

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, graphic organizers, sentence starters, group work, or oral responses may prove useful.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the outlines below. Cite details from the text to support your work.

1. Saknis takes an interest in Matt as a neighbor.

• Why does Saknis believe Matt might become a friend to the Beaver clan? (topic sentence)
• Cite three traits that Matt exhibits in the story that suggest he might become a friend to the Beaver clan.
• How can Matt’s decision to stay with his family still benefit the Beaver clan?

2. The Beaver clan boys test Matt and find him worthy.

• What does Matt do to earn the other boys’ respect? (topic sentence)
• Cite three ways in which Matt meets the boys’ challenges.
• Had Matt decided to join the village at their winter camp, would the boys have accepted him or subjected him to more tests?

3. Matt gifts his pocket watch to Attean.

• Why does Matt give away an heirloom he promised to protect to someone outside his family who probably won’t use it? (topic sentence)
• Cite three reasons why Attean deserved such a gift.