1. What is the controlling idea or thesis of the essay?
2. Who is the writer’s audience?
3. What is the significance of the title? How does it reflect the writer's main point?
4. List some of the supporting details and comment on their effectiveness.
5. Describe the organization of the essay and explain why the writer may have chosen this order.
6. Select a quotation that is striking for its style or content; comment on its purpose in the essay.
7. Identify any special uses of language, such as imagery, metaphor, or irony; explain their effect.
8. If the essay includes a personal narrative, explain the autobiographical significance.
9. Write your response to the writer's ideas, explaining why you agree or
disagree. Make specific references to the text.