Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman': Study Prompts

This 17-page resource consists of a set of text-based writing tasks, and formal essay questions in the style of AP and IB examinations. The initial tasks focus student attention on significant aspects of each scene, and build up a full understanding of what Miller is trying to achieve, how he is trying to achieve it, and how successful he has been. Overall, the resource helps students develop a whole range of reading and critical skills and provides practice in writing coherent responses to probing questions on works of literature. The text-based questions can, additionally, be used as a basis for class discussion, and the essay topics as an invaluable tool for pre-examination revision and rehearsal. At a time-saving level, teachers will be relieved of the need to develop their own units of work for the play, and to seek out relevant questions from past examinations. The resource effectively supports the Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1-6 and CC.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11.12.1-6.