Not many novels come with an adaptation by their own author. Stephen Chbosky wrote and directed the 2012 film of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," so students can look at a writer translating his own work into a different medium. That is a strong setup for a comparison essay.

The risk is that students write a list of what was cut. They say the movie left out a scene, or that the book has more detail. Those observations are a beginning, but an essay that stops there is a summary of differences, not an argument.

A better prompt asks why. Why might the filmmaker drop the letter format, or lean on music and visuals instead? What does the change do to how we understand Charlie?

Students also need basic vocabulary for film. Camera work, editing, sound, and performance are different tools than sentences and paragraphs. A short mini-lesson before screening helps them write with more precision.

Prompts That Ask for Analysis of Choices

Anchor the prompt in one scene or one element that exists in both versions. That gives students a manageable unit and lets them look closely instead of gesturing at the whole story.

• How does the film handle Charlie's inner voice compared with the letters?
• What does the tunnel scene gain or lose in each version?
• How do the two versions reveal Charlie's past differently?
• What does the soundtrack do that the book's music references cannot?
• Which version gives supporting characters more depth, and how?

What to Reward in the Rubric

Give credit for precise description of a choice, followed by an explanation of its effect. "The film uses voiceover" is an observation; "the voiceover keeps Charlie's confessional tone but changes who he seems to be speaking to" is analysis.

Do not reward opinion about which version is better unless it is supported. "The book is better" is not a claim until the essay explains by what standard.

Keeping It Rigorous

Require accurate references to both texts, including specific scenes and lines from the film. Some students will rely on a vague memory of the movie, and the writing suffers. Allowing a second viewing of a key scene helps.

Check that students are not simply borrowing from reviews. A short in-class draft of the thesis helps ensure the thinking is theirs.

Grading Across Formats

Because the assignment covers two forms, the rubric needs to be careful about what counts as evidence. Written passages and specific film moments should both be acceptable, as long as they are described accurately. Tools such as GraideMind grade against the rubric text you provide, so spelling out the evidence rules helps keep the feedback on target.

Review a few results yourself, especially on essays that lean heavily on film description. Automated feedback works only from what is on the page, so your knowledge of the scenes is a helpful check.