The Westing Game
Essay Options & Requirements
You are REQUIRED to complete 2 of the following essay options. Each essay is worth 10 points. You
will be graded on content & organization and grammar & spelling.
Essay Grading Rubric
5
4
3
2
1
Content &
Organization
At least 3
paragraphs
Significant
text-based
evidence used
Answer is correct
2-3 paragraphs
Some text-based
evidence used
Answer is correct
Paragraph
organization
Little to no
text-based
evidence used
Answer is partly
correct
No paragraph
organization
No text-based
evidence used
Answer is partly
correct
No paragraph
organization
No text-based
evidence
Answer is
incorrect, but
attempted
Grammar &
Spelling
Two or fewer
errors.
Three to five
errors.
Six to eight
errors.
Many errors, but
the meaning is
clear.
Errors distract
from the
meaning of the
essay.
Choose TWO of the following:
1. Describe how the pairs assigned by the Westing Game compliment each other. Give examples
of how they improve each other's lives.
2. Each heir that played in the game changed in ways that might be unexpected. Analyze how
each heir changed over the course of the game. How did working on the puzzle, working with
the partner they had, and having the $10,000 at their disposal bring about certain changes?
(You can reference one character to answer this question.)
3. Sam Westing turns out to be a man with many different identities. What five different names
and identities does he use? What was the purpose of each identity?
4. Grace feels the "third bedroom is a trifle small" but it will be okay for Turtle. What does this
show about how she regards Turtle? What are some other indications throughout the story
that show her feelings toward Turtle? How does Grace's relationship with her children, and
the way it changes over the span of the novel, show her growth in character?
5. Why are sixteen specific people invited to come live at Sunset Towers?
6. Why did Sam Westing invent the game? What significance was each of the heirs to the
outcome? Why do you think the author included a mistake in the heirs?
You may choose 2 additional essay questions to answer for extra credit.