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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. When a student is having difficulty writing, what does Anne ask them about?

2. What is Anne's first useful concept about?

3. How does Anne define clutter?

4. How does a writer end up with a good second draft or a terrific third draft?

5. What are great language tools that explain the unknown in terms of the known to the reader?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Anne compare writing a first draft to watching a Polaroid develop?

2. How does Anne suggest writing about school lunches be beneficial for a writer?

3. According to Anne, how are we able to see the underlying essence of a person?

4. What does Anne suggest doing with the feeling of paranoia?

5. According to Anne, how does knowledge of a character develop?

6. What was Natalie Goldberg's response when asked for the best possible writing advice she had to offer? How true is this advice?

7. In college, Anne found a community in which she might fit in. Why did she felt a sense of community in college?

8. How does Anne suggest writers offer hope to readers?

9. How does Anne suggest we can free ourselves from perfectionism?

10. At some point you may need to design a set for your characters that you know nothing about. What avenues does Anne suggest taking to gain the knowledge you need?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

On the first day of class, Anne tells her students that good writing is about telling the truth. What kind of attitude do the students have the first few days? How does their attitude change in the following days? Why does their attitude change?

Essay Topic 2

Aside from getting published, what are reasons to write? What are some things that reading books helps us understand?

Essay Topic 3

Short assignments and bad first drafts are the most helpful things Anne has to impart about writing. Pick either the short assignment or bad first draft, and explain the motivation, process, and outcome of the task.

(see the answer keys)

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