We Were Here

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. Miguel’s family background of a white mother and a Mexican father impacts not only his identity but his interactions with others.

• How does Miguel’s ethnicity influence his sense of belonging in society? (topic sentence)
• Provide 3 examples of how Miguel’s sense of belonging is influenced by his background.
• In your concluding sentences, summarize how Miguel’s ethnic background influences the way he interacts with others in the novel.

2. The author chose to present Miguel’s story in his own words instead of using a third-person narrator.

• Overall, what would have changed in the novel if it had been written as a third-person narrative? (topic sentence)
• Give 3 specific examples of how the novel would have been different if written in the third person.
• In your concluding sentences, explain why you believe the author wrote the novel from the first-person point of view.

3. Early in the novel, Miguel makes the decision not to call his mother on Sundays.

• Why does Miguel decide not to call his mother on Sundays? (topic sentence)
• Give 3 specific reasons why Miguel thinks it is best not to call his mother.
• In your concluding sentences, explain what impact Miguel’s decision might have on his journey and his experience in the Lighthouse.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Miguel has a brief romance with Flanca, a beautiful young Mexican girl. Even though he hardly knows her, he reveals more of his recent history to Flanca than he has to anyone else up to that point. Why might Miguel have chosen a virtual stranger as a confidante? What emotional impact does Flanca have on Miguel? Why is Miguel eager to trust her? Use examples from the novel to support your thinking.

2. Consider the informal language and casual tone that Miguel uses to express himself throughout the book. How does this approach to narration influence the reader’s perception of Miguel as a character? What inferences can be drawn about Miguel based on his communication style? How might the book have been different if it had been written by an older Miguel?

3. The author introduces the story with Miguel’s account of his arrival at the Juvenile Hall Detention Facility. Late in the book, he uses flashbacks to add information about Miguel’s prior life. Why is this technique effective? How do the flashbacks add to the reader’s perception of the story? How would the reader’s experience of the story be different—if at all—if Miguel’s past were explained at the beginning of the book?