Show Me a Sign

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. Mary has difficulty understanding the identity of Thomas, a Black freedman who is married to a Wampanoag woman. Thomas surprises Mary when he identifies as a Wampanoag.

• How does Thomas explain his identity as a Wampanoag? (topic sentence)
• Explain how Thomas and Mary’s father explain Thomas’s affiliation with the Wampanoag culture. Then describe why Mary has difficulty understanding Thomas's identity.
• In your concluding sentences, explain how Mary's prejudice connects to the theme of Social Hierarchies.

2. Show Me a Sign explores many social distinctions made among types of people.

• What are some distinctions made between types of people in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Explain how those who live in Martha’s Vineyard are alike and different from those living in Boston. Then explain the differences in the way the people of Martha's Vineyard and those of Boston view social difference.
• In your concluding sentences, explain how this connects to theme of A Tale of Two Towns.

3. Deafness is defined in a variety of ways throughout LeZotte’s novel.

• What are the conflicting views of deafness Mary is confronted with? (topic sentence)
• Compare and contrast the differing view of deafness in the novel. Consider views of deafness on the island, in Boston, and the views of Dr. Minot and Andrew Noble.
• In your concluding sentences, explain how the views on deafness connect to the theme of Defining Deafness and Debunking Myths.

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. In the novel, the islanders are visited by Andrew Noble, a scientist. What is Andrew Noble’s purpose in coming to the island? What does he do while he is there? What are Andrew’s attitudes toward the deaf community? How does Andrew’s approach demonstrate insensitivity and prejudice? Provide examples from the text to prove your assertions. Then, connect your ideas to a theme or themes in the novel. Cite any quotes in the style your teacher suggests.

2. Storytelling is an art employed by people who are deaf and people who are hearing. Who are the storytellers in the novel? Describe how the methods of storytelling differ among people who are deaf. Do these methods offer any advantages over spoken storytelling? Provide examples from the text to support your claims. Then, connect your ideas to a theme of themes in the novel. Cite any quotes in the style your teacher suggests.

3. Boston is radically different from Martha’s Vineyard in its treatment of people who are deaf. What is different about Boston’s treatment of people in the deaf community? What are some of the prevailing attitudes in Boston that are not present on Martha’s Vineyard? How is Boston’s treatment of individuals similar in some ways to that of Martha’s Vineyard? Provide examples from the text to support your claims. Then, connect your ideas to a theme of themes in the novel. Cite any quotes in the style your teacher suggests.