Shooting Kabul

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 below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Throughout the novel, Fadi encounters different opinions regarding the Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

• Which opinion does Fadi’s family have regarding the Taliban, and do their views represent other Afghans in the story? (topic sentence)
• Find three examples from the novel where an Afghan shares her/his opinion on Taliban rule.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain why many Afghans believe that the Taliban has Transitioned From Afghanistan’s Savior to Its Oppressor in the novel.

2. For Fadi, photography is more than just a hobby.

• Why is photography an important medium for Fadi? (topic sentence)
• Find and discuss an example in which Fadi uses photography to achieve a specific goal.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how Photography is a Means of Connecting Cultures for Fadi and his classmates.

3. After 9/11, many of the characters in the novel are victims of Islamophobic hate crimes.  

• Generally, how are characters subject to Islamophobia because of 9/11? (topic sentence)
• Find three examples in which characters in the novel experience targeted hate crimes or acts.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how these events connect to the theme of 9/11 and Islamophobia in the United States.

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. Shooting Kabul is primarily told from the third-person limited perspective of Fadi. Why does Senzai make this narrative choice? What are the benefits of being aware of Fadi's thoughts? How does Fadi's perspective provide further insight into the text's themes of Photography as a Means of Connecting Cultures and 9/11 and Islamophobia in the United States? Provide examples from the text that support your claims. Cite any quotes in the style your teacher suggests.

2. In theory, Fadi and his family could have lived anywhere in the United States. In your opinion, is it important that the novel takes place in Fremont, California, or could it just as easily have been set in another city? If the novel was set in a different city, would Fadi and his family still have received the same level of support from the Afghan community? Why or why not? Provide examples from the text that support your claims about the novel's setting. Then, connect your ideas to a theme or themes in the novel. Cite any quotes in the style your teacher suggests.

3. Consider the novel’s title, Shooting Kabul. Why do you think this title was selected for the story? Does the name have a double meaning, if any? If so, why? Provide examples from the text that explain the meaning of the novel's title. Then, connect the title to a theme or themes in the novel. Cite any quotes in the style your teacher suggests.