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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. When does Deanna's mother visit her in Deanna's room?

2. How does Deanna describe Stacy?

3. How old is Deanna when her father finds her in a compromising situation?

4. What do Deanna and Jason do after the senior boys leave?

5. What does Deanna do with her writing about the surfer girl?

Short Essay Questions

1. About what does Deanna's father hint at when she sees him at home after school?

2. How do Deanna and Lee become friends?

3. What happens when Deanna goes to a pizza parlor to drop off a resume?

4. What does Tommy invite Deanna to do that reminds her of a time she felt drawn to him?

5. What does Stacy suggest when she picks up Deanna at work?

6. What happens with Deanna when she is thirteen?

7. What does Deanna's mother want to do on Sunday morning?

8. What happens to Deanna on the last day of school three years after the incident with Tommy?

9. What comment about church has Deanna thinking about Lee?

10. How does Deanna's surfer girl stories become journal entries?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss Story of a Girl based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Story of a Girl is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider Story of a Girl a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 2

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Story of a Girl is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Story of a Girl and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Story of a Girl is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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