The Basketball Diaries Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay Questions

The 60 short essay questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Students must describe what they've read, rather than just recall it.

Short Essay Question - Part 1

1. Why does Lefty leave his players in the Bronx?

2. Why does Pedro stay home from the basketball game?

3. Why does Jim predict a gang war soon?

4. Compare Jim's basketball team to the team at Riverdale High.

5. Why does Jim dread returning to a Catholic school?

6. Why is Chris's story about Willie's injury unlikely?

Short Essay Question - Part 2

7. Why does Jim get out of saying confession in the winter of 1964?