Scat

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. There are many different teachers and types of learning in the novel.

• Which teachers are the most effective, and what strategy do they use to teach? (topic sentence)
• Describe two characters who are effective teachers in the novel and explain what strategies they use to teach about the environment.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain why more learning is acquired outside of the classroom than in the classroom in the novel.

2. The central story of Scat concerns the disappearance of Mrs. Starch and the conflict in the Black Vine Swamp. The novel also tells the story of Nick’s father’s return from the Iraq War.

• How are the two plotlines related thematically, and how is the Iraq War connected to the Florida Everglades? (topic sentence)
• Describe Nick’s reaction to his father’s return from war, how he copes with his father’s return, and how his father’s actions help him to rescue the panther cub.
• In your concluding sentences, describe ways the war in Iraq might be connected to the Black Vine Swamp that are not identified in the novel.

3. In the novel, Nick discovers the works of Edward Abbey, a writer and environmentalist who called for monkeywrenching, or sabotage tactics, in defense of the environment. Environmentalist groups like Earth First! who employ such tactics are sometimes called eco-terrorists.

• Does the novel support tactics of monkeywrenching? (topic sentence)
• Explain examples of monkeywrenching portrayed in the novel, describe who uses those tactics, then explain whether you believe the author supports tactics such as monkeywrenching.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain whether you believe monkeywrenching is an appropriate way to approach environmental conflicts.

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. Animal life is one of the central concerns of the novel. How should animals and humans coexist, according to Hiaasen? What examples does Carl Hiaasen use of animals and people coexisting? What are some of the situations in the novel that pose a threat to animal life?

2. Carl Hiaasen has written many successful mystery novels, including Scat. How does the novel’s structure and plotting create mystery or suspense? What clues does Hiaasen leave for the reader to follow? How does Hiaasen make use of danger to build suspense? How might foreshadowing, cliffhangers, and comedy play a role in building tension?

3. Hiaasen is unforgiving in his portrayal of the drilling company Red Diamond Energy Corporation. Do you think Hiaasen’s portrayal is an accurate depiction of the way corporations operate? Is Hiaasen’s description of the harm corporations bring to the environment accurate? How does Hiaasen describe consumerism, or the unnecessary purchase of items, as being harmful to the environment?