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Prompt 01

Essay task

AP LiteratureCommon Core ElaIB Language & LiteratureGCSE

In The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins creates a dystopian world where the Capitol wields control through spectacle, surveillance, and deep-rooted inequality to dominate the twelve districts. Write a well-structured argumentative essay in which you assert that the Hunger Games serve as a means of political oppression rather than just a source of entertainment. Use specific examples from the novel to back up your argument, and discuss how Collins employs Katniss Everdeen's viewpoint to reveal the Capitol's manipulation of power, fear, and identity.

Guiding Questions to Consider

  • How does the Capitol utilize the televised Games to strengthen the districts' feelings of submission and despair?
  • In what ways does Katniss's actions during the Games turn into a form of resistance, even if it's unintentional?
  • How do symbols (like the mockingjay and the berries) challenge or undermine the Capitol's authority?

Requirements

  • Craft a clear, defensible thesis statement
  • Incorporate at least three pieces of textual evidence along with analysis
  • Address and counter a counterargument (for instance, some might claim the Games offer districts a chance for reward and fame)
  • Conclude by linking Collins's themes to a broader discussion on power, media, and resistance

Prompt 02

Essay task

AP LiteratureAP LanguageCommon Core ElaGCSE English

In The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins portrays Panem as a dystopian society where the Capitol exerts control through spectacle, fear, and economic dominance to maintain its power over the twelve districts. Write a well-developed argumentative essay asserting that Collins employs the Hunger Games as a symbol of systemic oppression. Argue that the forced participation of children in televised combat is not just a form of punishment but a calculated strategy to stifle rebellion, erase individual identity, and uphold class inequality. Support your argument with specific examples from the text, and address at least one counterargument to bolster your position.

Guiding Questions to Consider

  • How does the Capitol's use of spectacle serve as a means of political control?
  • In what ways does Katniss's survival either challenge or reinforce the Capitol's power dynamics?
  • How does Collins utilize setting, character, and plot to critique real-world systems of power and inequality?

Requirements

  • A clear, arguable thesis statement
  • At least three body paragraphs with textual evidence and analysis
  • One counterargument with a rebuttal
  • Formal academic tone
  • MLA or teacher-specified citation format

Prompt 03

Essay task

AP LiteratureAP LanguageCommon Core ElaGCSE English LitIB Language & Literature

In The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins portrays Panem as a dystopian world where the Capitol wields spectacle, surveillance, and systemic oppression to exert total control over the twelve districts. Write a well-developed argumentative essay in which you argue that the Hunger Games serve as the Capitol's most effective tool of political control — not just as a form of punishment, but as a means to stifle rebellion by compelling the districts to take part in their own oppression.

In your essay, be sure to

  • Present a clear, defensible thesis that goes beyond merely summarizing the plot
  • Use at least three specific pieces of textual evidence (scenes, dialogue, symbols, or narrative details) to back your argument
  • Analyze how Collins employs literary devices such as imagery, irony, characterization, and/or point of view to enhance this theme
  • Address a counterargument (e.g., the Games as entertainment rather than a means of control, or Katniss's defiance as proof that the system is failing) and effectively refute it
  • Conclude by linking the novel's themes to a broader insight about power, propaganda, or resistance in real-world or historical contexts

Scoring Focus

Thesis quality, effective use and analysis of evidence, handling of counterarguments, and thematic insight

Suggested length

4–6 paragraphs (approximately 600–900 words)

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