Dreams of Joy: A Novel 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 - Prologue, Part One: The Tiger Leaps: Chapters 1 - 3

1. What does the Prologue recount?

2. What are some of the lies Joy discovers about her family?

3. What happens to Joy's stepfather, Sam, and how does Joy feel about it?

4. What organization does Joy join in college and why does she end up in China?

5. What happens when Joy calls her boyfriend Joe when she is wandering through Chinatown?

6. Describe Joy's trip to China.

7. How does...
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