My Side of the Mountain

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. Over the course of the book, Sam grows closer to nature through his bonds with animals.

• How does Sam learn to communicate with the animals that frequently visit his camp? (topic sentence)
• Describe the animals that frequently visit Sam’s camp and provide one example of how he communicates with each of them.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain whether you believe Sam’s relationship with the animals is realistic. Provide evidence from the novel to support your claim.

2. Sam’s journey into the mountains illuminates the differences between city and country life.

• What are the biggest differences between living in the city and the country for Sam? (topic sentence)
• Describe Sam’s thoughts on the city and on the country, then compare the differences between the country and city identified by Sam.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain which lifestyle you believe Sam prefers and why.

3. Prior to setting out on his adventure, Sam reads a number of books about nature and survival.

• How helpful are the books to Sam? (topic sentence)
• Provide 1-2 examples showing how the books help Sam, then explain instances in which the books are not able to help Sam.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain whether you believe most of Sam’s knowledge came from books, or if it is a result of his experiences.

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. Unlike most kids who run away from home and then quickly run back, Sam spends a full year living alone in the mountains. Consider the characteristics that Sam possesses that make him successful at living in the wilderness. Create an essay with at least three main points to describe Sam’s success in the wilderness. Use examples from the novel to support your points.  

2. My Side of the Mountain often plays around with the idea of expectation versus reality. For instance, when Sam first sees Bando, he expects Bando to be a criminal but discovers he is an English professor. Think of at least two other instances where Sam’s expectations did not meet with reality. Provide quotes from the novel to justify your response.

3. Toward the end of the novel, Sam no longer lives in solitude—people regularly visit Sam’s camp, including friends and the entire Gribley family. Provide three paragraphs describing how Sam’s lifestyle has begun to look and feel like a real community. Validate your answer by referencing specific evidence found in the text.