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. Amal begins wearing the hijab full-time because she wants to affirm the strength of her commitment to her faith.

• In committing to wearing the hijab, what does Amal achieve besides this affirmation of her faith? (topic sentence)
• Examine one of the following:

o The interaction between Amal’s choice to wear the hijab and the “male gaze”

o The expectation of those around Amal to account for/explain negative prejudices of Muslims and her feelings in these moments

o The visibility of wearing a hijab and the attention—both positive and negative—this brings Amal

• Find and discuss at least three details of plot, characterization, or language around one of these ideas that supports your idea about what else Amal achieves.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, show how Amal’s achievement supports one or more of the book’s thematic concerns: Personal Experience of Being a Religious Minority in Contemporary Australia, Traditional Beliefs Versus Contemporary Customs, Young Women’s Position in Contemporary Society, and The Complexities of Parent-Children Relationships.

2. The title of this book, Does My Head Look Big in This?, can be interpreted in more than one way.

• What is the figurative meaning of a “big head” implied by the action of the novel? (topic sentence)
• Give at least three details of plot, characterization, or language that support your interpretation of the figurative meaning of the title.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, show how the figurative meaning of the title supports the novel’s thematic concern with Personal Experience of Being a Religious Minority in Contemporary Australia or its concern with Traditional Beliefs Versus Contemporary Customs.

3. One of the things that Amal appreciates about wearing the hijab is that it changes which of her qualities other people focus on.

• What message about the way girls and women are evaluated in Australian society is conveyed by Amal’s experience wearing the hijab? (topic sentence)
• Give at least three details of plot, characterization, or language that support your assertion about this message.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, show how this message supports the book’s larger thematic concern with Young Women’s Position in Contemporary Society.

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. What is the symbolic function of food in this novel? How does it mark membership in various communities? How do people use it to show love and support for one another and for themselves? Given its symbolic function, what does it mean that Leila’s mother tries to stop her from sharing a birthday meal with her friends? What does it mean that Simone’s mother tries to police Simone’s relationship with food? What is the relationship between these women’s actions toward their daughters and their desire for control? Write an essay in which you analyze the relationship between the symbolic meaning of food and Simone and Leila’s mothers’ desire for control. Connect your analysis to the novel’s thematic concern with Young Women’s Position in Contemporary Society and The Complexities of Parent-Children Relationships. Support your ideas with evidence drawn from throughout the novel, making sure to cite any quoted material.

2. How do the characterizations of the various immigrant families in this novel illustrate different possible attitudes toward assimilation? Consider Amal’s parents and her Aunt Mandy and Uncle Joe as well as families like Leila’s and Eileen’s. How does Mrs. Vaselli’s story amplify the novel’s message about assimilation? What message is conveyed by plot events like Leila running away and Samantha secretly smoking? Write an essay in which you analyze the novel’s position about the desirability of assimilation versus the desirability of holding onto the beliefs and customs of one’s country of origin. Show how this is related to the novel’s thematic concern with Traditional Beliefs Versus Contemporary Customs. Support your ideas with evidence drawn from throughout the novel, making sure to cite any quoted material.

3. How does Amal’s understanding of herself and her faith grow over the course of the story? In the beginning, how does she see herself and her faith? What clues are there in the plot and in the reactions of other characters that indicate that Amal may have a little growing to do in the way she understands herself and her faith? What does her friendship with Mrs. Vaselli teach her? What does Amal learn from the events surrounding Leila’s birthday party and Leila’s flight from her home? What does Amal learn from the events surrounding Adam’s birthday party? Are there any other key moments that contribute to her growing understanding of herself and her faith? Write an essay that analyzes Amal as a dynamic character who matures in her understanding of both herself and her faith. Connect this growth to one or more of the book’s thematic concerns: Personal Experience of Being a Religious Minority in Contemporary Australia, Traditional Beliefs Versus Contemporary Customs, Young Women’s Position in Contemporary Society, and The Complexities of Parent-Children Relationships. Support your ideas with evidence drawn from throughout the novel, making sure to cite any quoted material.