Life As We Knew It

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 below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Miranda’s relationship with Jonny changes throughout the course of the story.

• How does Miranda’s view of Jonny change over the course of the novel? (topic sentence)
• Compare Miranda’s view of Jonny before the moon is hit by the asteroid to what she thinks and feels about him at the end. Provide examples of relevant turning points and interactions that show Miranda’s changes in progress.
• In your closing sentences, evaluate whether Pfeffer’s portrayal of these characters is believable.

2. Megan’s faith has an effect on her relationships with Miranda and Sammi.

• How do Megan’s experiences at church change her attitude toward Miranda and Sammi? (topic sentence)
• Provide examples of how Megan interacts with each girl and that depict how Megan is different from years past.
• In your closing sentences, assess whether Megan is justified in her opinions and actions because of her religious beliefs.

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. Matt is a role model and an anchor for Miranda throughout the ordeal. He also tells her that anybody can be a hero if they choose to be. What makes a hero in these dire circumstances? What makes a hero in our society today? As you compose your essay, cite specific examples from the book of how any of the characters acted like a hero. Also, add specific examples from the world today to support your opinion.

2. Throughout the novel, Miranda details her dreams and daydreams. She grapples with whether she is in heaven in many of these. Why is this important to her? How do the dreams affect her daily life? How does her last dream about the pizza parlor lead her to the conclusion that she needs to relinquish her own life for the lives of her family?

3. How do catastrophes impact relationships between people, their neighbors, and strangers? How does this particular catastrophe in the story impact Pfeffer’s characters? Use both research-based and text-derived examples to help illustrate your points.