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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. What do some people think Gunnar's speech at the rally does?

2. How does Gunnar feel about the members of his creative writing class?

3. For what do colleges woo Gunnar?

4. Where is the second place Gunnar and his bride go?

5. Who arrives at Gunnar's house while the writing class is there?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Gunnar's father do after the riots and how does Gunnar feel about it?

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

4. What does Nick complain about Boston and what does he do about it?

5. What subject does Nick bring up to Gunnar and what does Nick ask Gunnar?

6. What does Gunnar's coach tell him about Nick and what does the coach have for him? What does Gunnar do?

7. Who comes to talk to Gunnar about his speech the next day and what do they ask him about?

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

9. Who crashes Gunnar's wedding and what happens between them and his bride?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The White Boy Shuffle could be said to be a "bildungsroman" of Esi. Discuss the following:

1. Define the concepts "bildungsroman" and "coming of age."

2. Thoroughly trace and analyze The White Boy Shuffle as a bildungsroman of Gunnar. Give specific examples. What does Gunnar learn? How has he changed? Is the change for the better?

3. Thoroughly trace and analyze The White Boy Shuffle as a black power story. Give specific examples. What does Gunnar learn? What does Nick learn? What would blacks say about Gunnar's actions?

Essay Topic 3

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think The White Boy Shuffle is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,049 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample