The Art of War

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their 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. Sun Tzu describes deception as one of the factors that determine a favorable outcome in a war.

• How does Sun Tzu describe the use of deception in warfare? (topic sentence)
• Explain two ways in which a leader can arrange an army’s forces so that they fool the enemy.
• In your concluding sentences, explain why Sun Tzu believes deception is necessary in warfare.

2. The Art of War describes several strategies for identifying and exploiting enemy weaknesses.

• Why is it important for a leader to create weakness in an enemy? (topic sentence)
• Describe three ways an army’s leadership can create weakness in an opponent’s military position.
• In your concluding sentences, explain why exploiting enemy weaknesses can provide the upper hand in battle.

3. According to Sun Tzu, fire can be used against an enemy camp to gain an advantage.

• What is the correct use of fire against an enemy camp? (topic sentence)
• Describe how fire can be used against an enemy camp to create confusion, to destroy necessities, and to kill enemy soldiers one by one.
• In your concluding sentences, explain how wind can enhance an attack using fire.

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. Like all people, military leaders are prone to emotional weaknesses. Describe the emotional weaknesses that generals may have. How can these weaknesses be dangerous in battle? How might military leaders be able to exploit these weaknesses in enemy leaders?

2. What are the five types of spies identified by Sun Tzu? What role does each of these spies play in collecting information? Why is it important to have spies in warfare? How does Sun Tzu believe spies should be treated, and why? How are spies related to the book’s themes of Planning Is Primary and The Importance of Deception?

3. Sun Tzu describes planning as the most important aspect of war. Describe why planning is key to warfare and why it determines the outcome of battles. What aspects of warfare are military leaders expected to plan? Why is it valuable to know when to abandon a plan? Explain the strategies in the book that are executed with careful planning.