Storm Runners

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. Despite his father’s certainty, Chase questions fate.

• Which most affects Chase during the hurricane: fate or free will? (topic sentence)
• Include at least three details and quotations to illustrate your ideas and explain each thoroughly.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain what Chase might share with his father about fate when they next see each other.

2. Chase and his father make preparedness a priority.

• What are the three main ways Chase’s dad helps prepare him for the hurricane? (topic sentence)
• Include three or more details, quotations, and reasonings to prove your argument.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, articulate a lesson the novel builds about being prepared.

3. Tomás travels with John and Chase and plays a key role throughout the story.

• What is Tomás’s primary trait? (topic sentence)
• Include at least three quotations and an in-depth analysis to support your points.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain what the reader could learn from Tomás.

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. Consider the role of the media in the novel. What lesson does the novel build about the media? Where and when does the television crew film? How accurate is the news about the storm? What happens behind the scenes of the news station? How does Cindy feel about Richard, and why? How do Richard’s actions off camera contrast with those on camera? Include quotations and reasoning to build your argument, and cite each with a page number.

2. The characters face immense conflicts with nature, while some also demonstrate respect for nature. Choose a character to focus on. What is that character’s relationship with nature? How does their thinking shift throughout the story? What experiences most shape their attitudes? Where do they meet alternate viewpoints, and how do those ideas affect them? Notice any subtleties in their actions and words. Incorporate quotations and other details to craft your analysis.