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. The spice melange plays a critical role in the economy, politics, and religion of the Imperium.

• How does the author use the spice as a metaphor? (topic sentence)
• Provide three examples where the spice plays a role in shaping the characters and events. Explain how each example illustrates the symbolic significance of the spice.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how the role of the spice reflects the themes of power, addiction, and exploitation.

2. House Atreides and House Harkonnen represent contrasting powers in the Imperium.

• How do the traits and behaviors of each House reflect their respective characters and goals? (topic sentence)
• Provide three examples illustrating the differing values, leadership styles, and ambitions of House Atreides and House Harkonnen.