The Westing Game

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 Turtle changes because of her experiences in Sunset Towers.  

• What 3 relationships are the clearest catalysts for Turtle’s changed character? (topic sentence)
• Explain these relationships in detail and analyze the extent to which each contributes to Turtle’s character growth.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain whether you believe Sam Westing intentionally developed Turtle’s character or if it is an unintended result of the game; include your rationale.

2. Theo and Doug are the only two characters paired together who have a previous, positive relationship.

• How do these two characters work together as a team? (topic sentence)
• Provide 3 examples from the novel that demonstrate Theo and Doug’s teamwork; evaluate each example in terms of the potential for success as players in the game.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain why you believe Westing chose to pair Theo and Doug while the rest of the players were paired with strangers.

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. Samuel Westing plays four distinct identities over the course of the game. What is the purpose of the identities of Sandy, Julian, Barney, and Windy? In what way do each of the characters meet the needs of the players of Westing’s game? Which identities are more crucial to the success of the game than others, and to what extent? How does this relate to the novel’s theme Appearances as (Non)indication of the Self? Provide specific examples from the novel that support your assessment of the characters’ purpose.

2. Samuel Westing is an immigrant who loves the Fourth of July, and he even dresses like Uncle Sam to celebrate the occasion. What role does America play in the novel? Which characters exemplify the American dream, and to what extent? In what way does this relate to the theme Greed and Charity as Motivators? Use examples from the novel to describe Westing’s love of America and how it is connected to the other characters in the novel.

3. Consider the components of Sunset Towers: the driveway, the elevator, the hallways, the apartments, and the two restaurants. Select three spaces at Sunset Towers and describe how they advance the plot of the novel. Consider how the spaces bring people together, provide important details, or serve as a way for characters to communicate. Make a connection to the theme The Use of Rationality to Explain an Irrational World and use specific examples from the novel to describe each space and its purpose.