The People of Sparks

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. In the novel, resources for the city of Sparks are rare.

• Why does scarcity create conflict in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Describe the scarcity the people of Sparks experience in the novel, then describe how that scarcity generates fear and bias between the people of Sparks and Ember.
• In your concluding sentences, explain whether you believe conflicts between the communities would have arisen if Sparks had plenty of resources to share.

2. Lina and Doon are inquisitive characters who seek purpose and knowledge.

• How do Lina and Doon pursue information and purpose in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Explain how Lina seeks out information in the novel, then describe how Doon collects information. Compare the way the characters collect information and draw conclusions about their environment.
• In your concluding sentences, explain why Doon and Lina set an example for young readers who may be seeking solutions in their own environment.

3. The people of Sparks experience an influx of population at a time when they have limited resources.

• What are the ethical dilemmas faced by the people of Sparks and Ember? (topic sentence)
• Explain the ethical problems faced by the people of Sparks. Describe how the Sparks and Ember populations experience an identity crisis, how the people of Sparks face an ethical dilemma by accepting the people of Ember for a year, and whether Sparks would be justified in removing the Emberites after the rioting.
• In your concluding sentences, describe how the Emberites were viewed as a burden to the Sparks society rather than a contributing body and if the Sparks society was justified in viewing the Emberites this way.

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. Describe the differences between the governing systems of Ember and Sparks. How are the governments of Sparks and Ember different and alike? How might the death of the mayor of Ember contribute to the lack of cohesiveness between the two communities? What is the role of leadership in each community in times of crisis? Do the leaders of Sparks and Ember step up to resolve conflict, or do they create more conflict? What parallels can be drawn between the arrival of the Emberites to Sparks and the current problems faced by communities around the world?

2. What are the various causes of conflict among the people of Sparks and Ember? Why do the people of Ember feel dissatisfied when they arrive in Sparks? What differences between the two communities create tension? How do individuals in the book stir up a rivalry between the two communities? What prejudices fuel tensions in the communities? Do you think the communities might have been able to resolve their conflicts with open discussion?

3. Describe the cycle of vengeance and violence in the novel. When is the cycle of vengeance first introduced? What events in the novel help establish and/or contribute to this cycle? How do Lina and Doon both participate in the cycle of violence? In what ways do the communities perpetuate violence? Why do you think the community efforts to extinguish the fire ultimately created unity for the two cities?