Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their text 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. In the parable of Who Moved My Cheese?, the mice, Sniff and Scurry, exhibit traits that make them more successful than the humans, Hem and Haw.

• What lesson can the humans learn from the mice? (topic sentence)
• Describe the traits of Sniff and Scurry, then explain how those traits help the mice adapt to changes and make better decisions.
• In your concluding sentences, summarize the lesson that Hem and Haw can learn from Sniff and Scurry and emphasize the importance of being adaptable and proactive in business.

2. In the story, Sniff and Scurry each possess a different skill that, when combined, creates successful teamwork.

• How do Sniff and Scurry each use their individual skills to create successful teamwork? (topic sentence)
• Explain the skills of Sniff and Scurry and how those skills complement one another.
• In your concluding sentences, explain how Sniff and Scurry both contribute to achieving their goals, even though they do not have a shared skill set.

3. In the story, Sniff, Scurry, Hem, and Haw are all forced to find cheese in the maze.

• What does the maze symbolize in the story? (topic sentence)
• Describe the symbolic meanings of the maze, the passageways, and the cheese in the parable of Who Moved My Cheese? What does each item represent?
• In your concluding sentences, explain why you believe the author chose to use a parable to convey his ideas about change.

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. Haw writes several notes on the walls of the maze. What are the two main reasons Haw does this? How does Haw’s behavior reflect what humans might do when faced with adversity? What is the significance of Haw’s actions within the context of the story? How might Haw’s actions be beneficial to others when they are experiencing similar changes?

2. Hem and Haw argue about why their cheese has disappeared and who’s responsible. What are Hem’s arguments? What are Haw’s counterarguments? How does the argument between Hem and Haw reflect what might happen in a workplace? How are Hem and Haw’s arguments helpful in the story, and how are they counterproductive?

3. Think of a situation in your life that could benefit from a search for more resources. Describe the situation, name the needed resources, and suggest how you might go about finding them. Then describe the impact that obtaining the needed resources might have on your life. Use sensory details to describe your success, and connect your description to the parable in Who Moved My Cheese? and to the theme of How to Search for Cheese.