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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. Which writer, although thought of as a solitary genius, spent time working in close community with Ford Maddox Ford?

2. What organization does Gardner suggest for help in locating good teachers, advice on fellowships, etc.?

3. Gardner writes in Chapter 2 that in the workshop he is teaching he encountered a story which he hopes to publish titled what?

4. What is one of the only programs for funding for writers on the governmental level?

5. Where does the manuscript of a book go after the copy editor is finished with it?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Gardner say regarding the study of philosophy and psychology?

2. Are all good writers good teachers? What does Gardner say of this in Chapter 2?

3. What does Gardner write of the standard technique of teaching writing in Chapter 2?

4. Why is writing usually rejected, according to Gardner?

5. Where does the author's manuscript go after he reviews the copywriter's corrections?

6. What are Gardner's workshops like for writers?

7. Why must a teacher avoid projecting their aesthetic view on writers?

8. What does Gardner write of writers' workshops in Chapter 2?

9. What should the successful teacher do for his writing students, according to Gardner?

10. How does Gardner explain the detailed letter from an editor and the author's choice of revision?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare the language and characterizations of Shakespeare, Dylan Thomas, and John Updike. How do these authors approach character differently?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss what literary dynasties are. What are some examples of literary dynasties? How does an author go about finding his own community?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the negative aspects of going for a graduate degree from a writer's workshop. What cons does Gardner cite for these programs?

(see the answer keys)

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