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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. Where does Gunnar find a refuge at school?

2. For what do colleges woo Gunnar?

3. Where does Gunnar take Nick to try to help him relax?

4. What is the rally to which Gunnar is invited to speak protesting?

5. What is Yoshiko doing when Gunnar arrives at his apartment following his class?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the recruiter from Boston University do to woo Gunnar?

2. What happens when Yoshiko goes into labor?

3. To what is Gunnar invited to speak and how does Gunnar feel about the introductory speaker?

4. Where does Gunnar find refuge in his new school, how does he get his assignments and why has he been brought to that school?

5. Who arranges a marriage for Gunnar and how does he come up with a bride? Where does the wedding take place?

6. What does Gunnar find out when he gets out of the hospital after the riots and goes to Psycho's house? What does Psycho say to Gunnar?

7. Where is Gunnar's wedding reception and where does he go for a honeymoon?

8. How does the school counselor feel about Gunnar's SAT scores and what happens because of his scores?

9. What does Gunnar's creative writing class want him to do?

10. What does Gunnar decide is the best approach to speaking and what does he talk about?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of The White Boy Shuffle, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in The White Boy Shuffle. (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Do you think racism still exists in the United States? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Discuss in depth several things that you can do in your own life to help stop prejudice against any group of people. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. According to the hate crime law any person harming another person and the primary motivation is prejudice or hatred that crime is more serious than the same act against a person that does not have that motivation. Do you think this is a good law? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think it is important that The White Boy Shuffle was written? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think The White Boy Shuffle did what the author set out to do? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Explain why you might or might not read another book by this author about another black person. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,111 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample