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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. Why can't a student go to a movie with her best friend?

2. What is Sharaud's goal when he arrives in Gruwell's class?

3. Why does Gruwell almost take another job the fall of 1995?

4. What does one student realize after meeting the diversity panelists?

5. What event does Gruwell say puts some teachers at Wilson High over the edge?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Zlata think about the situation in Kosovo?

2. Because of the Read-a-Thon for Tolerance, why is Zlata invited to speak to the class?

3. Why is Gruwell stereotyped by some of the other teachers?

4. What does Zlata mean when she says we cannot erase evil from the world, but can change the way we deal with it?

5. Why does one student feel like Cinderella after a dinner at the Century City Marriott?

6. Why are some students not allowed to go to Medieval Times?

7. What is tagging?

8. Why does Zlata highly respect and admire Gruwell?

9. Why is a student excited to meet a Japanese man who was in an internment camp during World War I?

10. Describe a tour through the Museum of Tolerance.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The fall semester of 1996, a student says that America is at war. Is America at war? Why or why not? What examples are provided in the book? Why do students at Wilson High School say that America is at war? Who are the combatants if America is at war?

Essay Topic 2

Violence is an everyday occurrence for the Freedom Writers in their homes and neighborhoods. Write about the violence they see everyday. How does this violence affect the students? How does this violence affect their families or friends? How does writing the diaries help the students learn to deal with the violence in their lives? Does Gruwell help the students to break this cycle of violence?

Essay Topic 3

A mother tells her child in Diary 99 that "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!" A person the student looks up to says "Adversity makes warriors of us all." What do each of these statements mean? How can a person become stronger through difficulties? How can adversity make a person a warrior? How does the student feel about these statements at first? What person inspires the student? How does this person help the student to realize the possibilities that life holds?

(see the answer keys)

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