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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. After the jury begins to deliberate on July 17, what does Steve say he is already planning?

2. What is the name of the prisoner who joins Steve and the others on July 11?

3. When Steve asks O'Brien how many times she has been in court, what does she respond?

4. What have some people in Steve's neighborhood told his mother about Steve's lawyer?

5. Who does Steve attempt to hug when he hears his verdict?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Sunset's verdict and sentence?

2. 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?

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

4. Why is Ms. Moore not at work the day King came to see her?

5. Describe the type of music Steve writes in his journal on July 17th that he is going to put on the soundtrack of his film.

6. Once each lawyer has rested her case, Steve writes in his journal on Friday, July 17 that it's understandable why other prisoners are obsessed with appeals. What does he realize about their obsession?

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

8. What is the visitors' room like?

9. On Sunday the 12th, how does Steve see his brother Jerry?

10. What has O'Brien asked Steve to do when his response is to write down Mr. Sawicki's name twice?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

One of the most significant players in Steve's life is Kathy O'Brien. Write a character analysis of Kathy O'Brien, explaining who she is, how she behaves, and what her role in this novel is. Be sure to offer specific textual passages showing how this character is developed throughout the novel. You may want to include whether or not Kathy O'Brien's character undergoes any changes, and if so, detail them.

(see the answer keys)

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