The Color of My Words

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. Throughout the novel, Ana Rosa continually advocates The Power of Words.

• Why does Ana Rosa believe words are powerful? (topic sentence)
• Select one moment in the novel where words hold power for Ana Rosa.
• In your concluding sentences, summarize whether words hold the same power for all the characters and explain your reasoning.

2. The family is an important central unit in the novel.

• How does Ana Rosa’s family affect her decisions? (topic sentence)
• Find an example in the novel where her family influences a decision.
• In your concluding sentences, explain briefly what this example says about Family Relationships and How They Affect People.

3. Consider the role of the government in the lives of the people of the Dominican Republic.

• Do Ana Rosa and her fellow community members believe that they are supported by the government? (topic sentence)
• Find one example of this perspective in the novel.
• In your concluding sentences, explain the connection to the broader theme of The Government Versus the People.

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. As a coming-of-age novel, The Color of My Words relies on several key moments when Ana Rosa has big revelations about both herself and the world around her. Choose one of these instances and analyze why Joseph crafts the plot in this way. Why are these realizations important? What effect do these new perspectives have on the larger conflicts and resolutions in the novel?

2. As the novel’s title suggests, colors and words are connected for Ana Rosa. Analyze this connection as it appears throughout the text and draw conclusions about the symbolic use of colors and language. Use evidence from the book to support your arguments.

3. Ana Rosa’s village is an important place to her. Analyze how the village plays a role in the overall plot and feeling of the novel, paying attention to specific characters or locations. How does Ana Rosa’s community link to the theme of Family Relationships and How They Affect People?