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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 issue does Gunnar's elementary school take to absurd levels?

2. What did the Gun Totin' Hooligans do together originally?

3. How many siblings does Gunnar have?

4. What does Gunnar say the majority of the playground jokes concern?

5. What does Gunnar do in the store?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Psycho Loco upset when he comes to Gunnar's house in Chapter Five?

2. What does Gunnar's elementary school emphasize?

3. What does Gunnar do when he returns to class following his health examination?

4. Where have Gunnar and his family moved and what kind of neighborhood is it?

5. What does Nick do to handle some of the attention directed at him and how does that affect Gunnar?

6. What does Gunnar's mother tell her children about their ancestor Euripides?

7. How does Gunnar feel about organized basketball and why? What changes for Nick and Gunnar because of basketball and how do they deal with the change?

8. What does Gunnar reveal himself to be in the Prologue and how does he feel about his role?

9. What does Gunnar think about his school's emphasis and what does he say contradicts the school's sensitivity?

10. Where does Gunnar go to avoid beatings, what does he do there and how does he still get beat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of interesting questions raised by The White Boy Shuffle. Questions that Beatty most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Beatty's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Beatty's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Paul Beatty and see if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of The White Boy Shuffle, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in The White Boy Shuffle. (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

One night after leaving a dance club, the guys talk about police harassment they have endured and they discuss the possible outcomes of the upcoming trial for the police officers caught on film beating a black motorist named Rodney King.

1. Police officers stopping minorities more often than whites is called racial profiling. What measures do you think should be taken to prevent racial profiling? Discuss your opinion in depth using examples from The White Boy Shuffle and your own life.

2. What would you do if you were Gunnar and stopped by the police for no reason? Discuss your options in depth.

3. Do you think that a suit and college education stops racism? Why or why not? Discuss your opinion in depth using examples from The White Boy Shuffle and your own life.

(see the answer keys)

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