Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion

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. Boyle’s work often results in creating peace between former rivals or enemies.

• How does Boyle’s work help to bring about reconciliation between former enemies?  (topic sentence)
• Provide three examples from the text of changes in the relationship between former enemies. How are these experiences similar?
• Finally, in your concluding sentence or sentences, discuss how the journey from rivalry to acceptance relates to either the theme of The Transformative Power of Compassion or Everyone Is Worthy of Redemption.

2. Fr. Boyle tells the story of several tragic deaths in the text.

• Why do you think he does this? (topic sentence)
• Use three examples from the text to support your argument, connecting them back to your central thesis.
• In your conclusion, connect your argument back to the motif of unnecessary death.

3. Fr. Boyle often brings homies with him when he goes to speaking engagements.

• Why does he do this? Why does he tell us about it? (topic sentence)
• Using three examples from the text, explore how these anecdotes connect to the larger mission of Tattoos on the Heart.
• Finally, in your concluding sentence or sentences, relate your exploration to the theme of The Transformative Power of Compassion.

Full Essay Assignments

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

1. Tattoos on the Heart is a memoir that centers on compassion and redemption. As a result, we get Gregory Boyle’s perspective on how Homeboy Industries and those with whom he works embody those themes. However, what do we learn about Father Boyle himself? In this essay, make an argument about the arc of Father Boyle’s growth and the lessons that he learns from the homies. Use three examples from the text to support your argument, citing specific quotes.

2. The Transformative Power of Compassion is central to understanding the mission of Homeboy Industries. What does this organization do for former gang members? How is it able to touch them personally? Make an argument that answers this question as part of your essay and use examples from the text, including specific quotations, to support it. In your concluding sentence or sentences, circle back to the theme of compassion and explain its importance to the homies.

3. Who is redeemed in this memoir? What does it tell us about our society and its ability to help other people find redemption? Write an essay in which you answer these two questions. Make sure that your essay has a strong central thesis laying out your argument, and use at least three examples from the text to support it, including text citations. Ultimately, connect your essay back to the theme of Everyone Is Worthy of Redemption.