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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. On what street does Osvaldo live?

2. According to Osvaldo's testimony, why did he participate in the robbery?

3. How does Detective Karyl describe the scene when he enters the drugstore?

4. King says that all you need to get paid is a "crew with some heart" and what else?

5. In the notes Steve writes just after his father leaves, what does he say he did at the drugstore?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the typeface of Steve's journal entries indicate stress or special meaning on certain words?

2. Why is Steve not hungry on the morning of Monday, July 6?

3. What does Steve think his father's crying means?

4. What does Steve say in his journal for Tuesday, July 7, that all the other prisoners are always talking about?

5. How can Steve's lawyer be described?

6. What does Steve say happens if anyone knows you are crying in prison?

7. When Steve gets dressed for court on Thursday, July 9 and thinks of his mother, what is she doing?

8. What kind of knife does one prisoner have? Describe it.

9. In his journal notes for Tuesday, July 7, why does Steve say he needs to keep thinking of the movie?

10. How does Detective Karyl describe the crime scene at the pharmacy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In a persuasive and analytical essay, describe the format of this novel. First, describe the various format(s) Myers uses in this novel. Second, decide whether or not you think one kind of format used in this novel is more effective than the other in communicating the major fictional elements: setting, characterization, imagery, symbolism, plot, action, etc. Be sure to write an essay with a strong argument about the effectiveness of the various format(s) you have described in the first part of the question.

Essay Topic 2

Much of the complexity of this novel rests on the difference between moral innocence and legal innocence. In an analytical essay, define each of these terms and describe the difference between them. Be sure to consider whether or not Steve is morally innocent of his crimes, despite the fact that his legal innocence was established.

Essay Topic 3

What does this novel communicate to the reader about personal responsibility and guilt? Write an analysis describing and investigating what Myers thinks about these two issues. Be sure to offer working definitions of each, personal responsibility as well as guilt, and determine, through specific and explicit textual analysis, the ways in which these two issues are similar to each other and/or differ from each other.

(see the answer keys)

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