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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When writing towards a scene, why may you find it is all wrong when you finish it?
(a) Because of what you have learned about your characters along the way.
(b) Because your subject matter expert finally called you back to talk about set design.
(c) Because your editor said it was wrong.
(d) Because the wind is blowing from the west now.

2. What magazine did Anne write food reviews for, before it folded?
(a) California.
(b) Pots and Pans.
(c) Sacramento.
(d) Food News Review.

3. What is Anne's first suggestion about writing dialogue?
(a) Read your words out loud.
(b) Secretly record your friends talking and use their words exactly, without asking permission.
(c) Always write in dialect.
(d) Copy conversations you hear in public.

4. Aside from talking to people, what are other ways to gather ideas for set design?
(a) Take a nap and dream about it, or watch a movie.
(b) You need only to look to the plot for your set design.
(c) Reading a book on the subject and then meditating.
(d) Going to visit and reading books about the set your are trying to design.

5. What do most of Anne's students assume about why well-respected writers's books turn out beautifully?
(a) They drink wine.
(b) They are subject matter experts.
(c) They analyze each character.
(d) They have outlined the plot.

6. When a student is having difficulty writing, what does Anne ask them about?
(a) The current time and temperature.
(b) How messy they were as a child.
(c) About the wire thingy on champagne bottles.
(d) Their school lunches.

7. In Anne's opinion, who writes bad first drafts?
(a) She does.
(b) Reporters.
(c) All good writers.
(d) The birds.

8. What is Ethan Canin's idea of the most valuable thing about writing?
(a) Using a sanserif font.
(b) A strong plot.
(c) A likeable narrator.
(d) Good dialog.

9. When Anne is participating in the school lunch writing assignment, what does she say about hers?
(a) Homemade bread was something to be proud of.
(b) It was really about opening our insides in front of everyone. Just like writing.
(c) Her father always made the perfect sandwiches.
(d) All the kids wanted to trade for her tuna salad.

10. What was the image from a medieval monk, Brother Lawerence, that helped Anne come to terms with the residents in the nursing home?
(a) Treat others as you would want to be treated.
(b) We are all dust in the wind.
(c) That we, like trees in the winter, have nothing to give, but are there to be loved unconditionally.
(d) Do not worry about tomorrow, today has enough worry for all.

11. What image does Anne use to help her gather dialog for characters?
(a) Hammers.
(b) Broccoli.
(c) One-inch picture frame.
(d) Dr. Suess.

12. What does Anne say good writing is about?
(a) Outlines, plots, and themes.
(b) Dialect.
(c) Telling the truth.
(d) Spelling everything correctly.

13. Instead of writing towards a plot, what does Anne suggest?
(a) Writing about birds.
(b) Writing towards a scene.
(c) Taking a break.
(d) Writing about set design.

14. In Part 1, Section 6, Polaroids, who was the self-proclaimed "cool man?"
(a) The referee of the basketball game.
(b) A boy against a fence.
(c) A tall African American man.
(d) Sam.

15. Where does the image of putting an octopus to bed come from?
(a) The octopus' mother.
(b) The nursing home.
(c) Recovery.
(d) Pammy's memorial garden.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does plot grow from?

2. How does Anne define clutter?

3. From where did Anne's Special Olympics article start to emerge?

4. What was Vonnegut's comment on writing?

5. What is a plot treatment?

(see the answer keys)

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