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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. Selling how much cocaine constitutes an A-1 felony at the time Chapter Six takes place?

2. Which of Elaine's children sometimes snuck out of Yvonne's apartment to visit Elaine?

3. A few months after leaving prison, Elaine discovers a copy of her birth certificate. Who is listed as her father?

4. What is the occasion of Yvonne's last visit to Elaine?

5. According to Chapter 28, what do friends Elaine and Lora talk most about?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Sabrina.

2. What are Elaine's options for time served in Part 1?

3. Why did Elaine move into Apache's bedroom in Chapter 29?

4. Describe Elaine's cell at Bedford Hills Prison from Chapter Eight.

5. Describe the vehicle that brings Elaine to Bedford Hills Prison.

6. What is Alfonso Camacho's background? Do you think Alfonso Camacho is a good parole officer? Why or why not?

7. Describe Lora Tucker.

8. In Chapter 20, what does Elaine see that she needs for Apartment 13B?

9. What is it like for Apache on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota?

10. Describe Jamel's appearance when Elaine visits him at Riker's Island.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "Life on the Outside," it appears that the only thing that Elaine and Lora have in common is that they're both African-American women. They grow up with different socio-economic status. One has formal education as a young adult; the other doesn't. One is a mother; the other isn't. One suffers from HIV; the other doesn't. One serves time in prison; the other doesn't. They even have different opinions about men. Yet somehow these two women become friends. Why do you think this happens? What draws these two women to each other?

Essay Topic 2

"Life on the Outside" is an example of narrative nonfiction in that it's a true story that reads like fiction. While the story is about Elaine Bartlett, it is not her voice recounting the story. In reality, author Jennifer Gonnerman is part of the story. What is her role and goal in the telling of this book? Do you ever feel her advising or judging Elaine? Is she ever a part of the story? Do you find any evidence of her "voice?"

Essay Topic 3

In the "Author's Notes," author Jennifer Gonnerman states that she relies largely upon her own observations in the telling of Elaine Bartlett's story. Do her observations color the story or is she able to maintain objectivity in the telling of the story?

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