Winterdance | 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 - Prelude

1. According to Gary, what are "problem" dogs?

2. In the Prelude, what warning signs of the coming storm does Gary miss?

3. Gary writes in the Prologue, "Everything had been done wrong." What does he think he did wrong?

4. What "absolute fundamental knowledge" scares Gary at the end of the Prelude?

Short Essay Question - The Dogs: Beginnings

5. In "Beginnings," what does Gary mean when he writes, "I began to notice the dogs"?

6. Why does Gary stop trapping, killing, and hunting animals?