Borders

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. For King, the concepts of Citizenship and Identity are not synonymous.

• Compare and contrast the concepts of Citizenship and Identity as presented in the story. (topic sentence)
• Which characters represent the perspective that these two concepts are not synonymous?
• Ultimately, how does this character’s understanding of their own identity shape their concept of citizenship?

2. Pride is a characteristic that runs in the narrator’s family.

• How do the narrator’s mother and sister exemplify the trait of Pride?
• Find two examples where the mother and sister exhibit Pride.
• Based on your understanding of the text, do you believe that the narrator believes that Pride is an honorable characteristic? Why or why not?

3. While King’s story primarily follows the narrator, his mother, and his sister, there is a separate collective force of The Outside World.

• Who best represents The Outside World in this story? (topic sentence)
• Describe the primary way in which The Outside World symbolically interacts with the narrator and his family.
• Based on the conclusion of the text, how does the narrator feel about The Outside World?

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by textual details, and a conclusion.

1. Consider the role of the media in the story. How are the reporters characterized? What changes take place to the plot, mood, and characterizations at this point? Evaluate the reporter’s arrival as a catalyst in the story, detailing your written response with details and examples.

2. What effect might the experience at the border have on the narrator’s developing sense of identity? Imagine that he will cross the border again as an adult. How do you believe he would answer the question regarding his citizenship?