67 pages • 2 hours read
Alice OsemanA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
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 graphic novel over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.
1. Nick develops feelings for Charlie but feels confused and unsure about moving forward.
2. Charlie and Nick meet in January, and by April their relationship has transformed.
3. Visual characterizations are prominently featured in the text.
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 role does Charlie’s sister Tori play in Nick and Charlie’s relationship? How does she function as a literary device in the story? How important is this role in the story, and how might the narrative change if Tori were an antagonistic influence as opposed to a supportive one? Add textual and imagery details to your discussion for support.
2. Charlie and Nick face issues like bullying, stereotyping, and peer pressure that affect the way their relationship unfolds and the way they view themselves and the world. How does the setting of an all-boys school contribute to the issues Nick and Charlie face? How might the relationships presented in the graphic novel be different without the influence of these negative experiences and specific setting? How might they be the same? Incorporate quotes and/or descriptions of graphic elements from the text for support.
3. Heartstopper is one of the first Western graphic novels to depict a gay relationship between teen boys. How do the graphic elements enhance the emotional and symbolic impact of the story? In what ways are these elements better represented by this graphic format than they might be in a traditional novel? Include examples from the text to support your discussion.
By Alice Oseman
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