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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 does the author think about characters from unrelated ideas?

2. How does the author describe what it means to "raise the stakes"?

3. What determines the amount of characterization in an event?

4. What kind of narrative should a storyteller use?

5. What type of vocabulary creates a negative response to a character?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does a character who becomes more heroic convey to the reader?

4. What is the difference between "walk-ons" and minor characters?

5. What are the two aspects of creative writing and what is the difference between them?

6. What is the significance of a character's last name and why is that an important decision for a writer to make?

7. What is the idea of a story, and how is it used?

8. In what way can the story itself provide a writer with additional characters?

9. What is the intent of the author in "Characters and Viewpoint"?

10. What techniques can a writer use to raise the emotional stakes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the hero in fiction as it is described in the book. Explain the definition of a hero, what traits contribute to a heroic character, which situations can cause characters to reveal their heroic side, and how an ordinary person doing extraordinary things can add to the drama of a story. Include examples of literature to illustrate the way a hero can be created and developed effectively.

Essay Topic 2

Define creative writing as an art form using examples of other mediums and how they differ from writing. Also, compare and contrast the storyteller and the writer, their responsibilities, and the ways they approach the story.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the presentation perspective with the representation perspective. Include a detailed definition of each one and their applications in fiction. Also, provide relevant examples of how a perspective can change a story and its characters.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 967 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample