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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. Where does Jacob claim to have gotten the military knife?

2. At what time in their lives had Laurie and Andy met?

3. Jonathan tells which person that he or she is the ultimate decision-maker when it comes to the murder case?

4. What career is Laurie's father involved in?

5. In what month of 2007 does Ben's murder take place?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss one coping mechanism Andy uses to get through Jacob's murder trial.

2. Who is Neal Logiudice?

3. What qualities of Andy's character are revealed in the moment when Jacob learns about his grandfather's and great-grandfather's violent histories?

4. What happens when Andy and Laurie confront Jacob about the knife Andy found in Jacob's room?

5. What major realization about life does Andy describe arriving at as a result of meeting Laurie in college?

6. Discuss the ways in which Laurie changes as a result of Jacob's indictment.

7. What is posted on Facebook about a knife of Jacob's and by whom is it posted?

8. In relation to Ben's murder, when does Andy testify in front of the grand jury?

9. What job does Andy hold at the time of Ben's murder, and how is he involved in the homicide response?

10. What is Jacob's explanation for the most damning clue in the murder case?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the author's use of a confessional tone in relating the narrative of Defending Jacob.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss William Landay's use of the appearance versus reality theme throughout the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's use of foreshadowing within the novel Defending Jacob and the effects of its use on the reader.

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