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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 is Steve's reaction to mopping the floor?

2. How does Petrocelli frame Doctor Moody's answer about the cause of death?

3. What does "doing a calendar" in prison mean?

4. What book does Steve's mom bring with her when visiting Steve?

5. On Tuesday, July 14, after Bobo's testimony, what does Steve think to himself about the reason so many of the men there are in jail?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Steve is made to mop the floor?

2. What is Briggs' objection to what Bobo is wearing when he testifies?

3. Why was Lorelle Henry in the pharmacy?

4. When Briggs questions Henry about identifying King, what does she admit about the photographs the police showed her?

5. What is Sunset's verdict and sentence?

6. When O'Brien comes to see Steve on July 14 after Bobo's testimony, what does she say she has to now do in court to save Steve?

7. What do the prisoners eat for breakfast on Sunday, July 12?

8. How do readers know what Steve's verdict is, based on the screenplay?

9. How does the medical examiner say Mr. Nesbitt died?

10. What does Henry mean in the pretrial questioning when she says she is having trouble testifying that King was involved in the crime?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Some critics might read this novel as a coming of age story, in which Steve's maturation from young man or boy to mature man is one of the themes. In an analytical essay, describe the process of Steve's maturation and development, using specific examples from the book.

Essay Topic 2

One major theme of this novel is teenage violence. Explain the role violence between teenagers and violence perpetrated by teenagers plays in the plot and characterization of this novel, and describe the ways in which Walter Dean Myers explores this theme. Be sure to indicate what you think Myers is trying to communicate to the reader about teenage violence, using specific textual examples.

Essay Topic 3

The narrative style of this novel is rather unique. Write an analytical essay that describes and analyzes the particular method Walter Dean Myers uses in Steve's journal entries to establish and communicate this point-of-view. In addition, what are the narrative benefits of such a point-of-view? How do these journal entries most effectively tell those parts of the story?

(see the answer keys)

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