Name_____________________________
Date: _______ Per: _____
The Schwa Was Here - Final Essays
Choose two of the following questions below to respond to. You must circle the essay questions that
you chose to answer and make sure those answers are labeled correctly. Staple this sheet to the top of
your answers.
You may use your book, your annotations, your summary sheets, everything you have done thus far to
help you answer.
Each question should be answered completely. Your answer is a persuasive argument piece; remember
to include the elements of persuasive argument (thesis, support, elaboration). As usual, you should
have a lead and a conclusion.
Each essay should be 3-5 paragraphs in length. Keep in mind that this is your FINAL TEST for this novel.
1. One of the themes in the story is friendship. Based on the events of the novel, would you want
Antsy for a friend? Explain your opinion using the plot, characterization, conflict, and theme to
support your answer. Use the text (quotes, paraphrases, or examples from the story) and
connections (*text-to-text, *text-to-world, and text-to-self) to support your views.
2. Literature teaches us a lesson. While there are many themes in the Schwa, four of the strongest are:
A . trauma can change people in positive or negative ways
B. the biggest things seem like small things
C. knowing the truth is important even if it isn’t the scenario you would like
D. everyone wants/needs to be noticed
Choose one of the four themes above and explain why it is the most important to the story and to
your life. Use the characters, plot, conflict, and symbols in the story to support your view and to
connect to your life. Be sure to include specific examples from the text (quotes and paraphrases)
and connections (text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world) to support your views.
3. Every good story has conflict. Choose one of the four main conflicts of a story (character vs. self,
character vs. character, character vs. society, and character vs. nature) naming the characters and
situation involved. Explain why this specific conflict is the most important in the story. Think
about our discussions involving character, plot, point of view, theme, and symbols to support your
evaluation. Be sure to include specific examples from the text (quotes and paraphrases) and
connections (text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world) to support your views.
4.
Is The Schwa Was Here Antsy’s story or Calvin’s? Explain your answer using point-of-view,
conflict (plot), and theme to support your opinion. Think about who is telling the story. Consider
the most important conflicts in the story. Think about the themes. Use the text (quotes,
paraphrases, and examples) and connections (text-to-text, text-to-self, text-to-world) to support
your views.