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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What will many experienced authors claim about their characters?

2. Which one of the following triggers a negative reaction from readers?

3. Which one of the following is not an example the author uses as a way to add emotional intensity to a character?

4. What is part of the reader's experience of the milieu?

5. What does the author think can also provide ideas for additional characters?

Short Essay Questions

1. What techniques does the author describe in Chapter 3 about characters from unrelated ideas?

2. What is writing based on "issue", and how can it be a source for characters?

3. What are some of the ways a reader can know a character that is well written?

4. How can writers find characters within themselves?

5. What kind of act is writing and how does it compare to other mediums?

6. How does a writer create a strong initial impression for a character?

7. What is the contract that a writer makes with a reader, and when is it introduced?

8. What technique does the author recommend when first introducing a character?

9. What is milieu and which types of stories feature it as the main narrative?

10. What are some places that a writer can look to find the inspiration for characters?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the different techniques used to make a character more appealing and the ones used to generate a negative response. Also, explain how the events are affected by characters, the initial impressions, and how they are developed throughout a narrative. Be sure to include examples that display the overall purposes for a positive or negative character.

Essay Topic 2

The past can be used as the justification for future events that take place in a fictional story.

1) Describe 3 different techniques a writer can use to explore the past in fiction.

2) Define justification, why it is important, the effect it has on the characters, and how much justification is necessary in a story.

Essay Topic 3

Creating names for characters can give the reader clues about those characters' intentions and traits. Describe the selection process for names, what a writer should consider when naming their characters, how and why the names should vary, and what a name can represent. Also, explain the use of a list of characters and their traits along with how it can help writers maintain consistency in their work.

(see the answer keys)

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