The Fourth Stall

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. Mac relies on the help of others to carry out his business dealings throughout the novel.

• Excluding Vince and Joe, which secondary characters contribute most to Mac defeating Staples? (topic sentence)
• Describe two to three secondary characters, their talents, and the roles they play in defeating Staples.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, describe why Mac relies heavily on his team to carry out his business pursuits.

2. Staples exemplifies a traditional shadow archetype in the novel.

• Which of Staples’s traits characterize him as a typical antagonist in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Describe three qualities that characterize Staples as a typical antagonist in The Fourth Stall.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, describe Staples’s motivation for his business dealings and how Mac resolves his conflict with Staples.

3. Wealth is an important motif in the novel as it contributes significantly to the character’s motivations in the narrative.

• What is the specific theme on wealth in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Explain the theme of wealth in the novel, then explain how Mac and Vince’s backgrounds, family situations, and how they feel about money contribute to this theme.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain why you believe the author chose to reveal the characters’ family backgrounds in his narrative.

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. The novel is explored through Mac’s first-person point of view, who engages in backstory retellings and interpretations. Consider Mac’s backstory retellings and select the three most notable backstories he tells. In an essay of at least three main points, describe these notable backstories and explain their purpose in Mac’s narrative and how it affects the audience. Provide specific quotes from the novel to support your response.

2. Baseball, specifically the Chicago Cubs, is a shared interest between Mac and Vince. Consider the role of baseball in the context of Mac and Vince’s relationship. Discuss in two or three paragraphs how baseball affects the boys’ friendship and business and what it says about their personalities. Validate your answer by referencing specific evidence found in the novel.

3. Mac’s confidence is a clear character trait at the beginning of the novel. Consider Mac’s interior monologue, description, and reactions to others. In two or three paragraphs, describe examples of when Mac’s confidence wavers and how that wavering contributes to his character growth. Cite examples from the text to support your analysis.