Pick A or B
A) It is no coincidence that the town in Mr. Was is called Memory, since memory might be considered a major �theme� in Mr. Was. Your job is to write an essay in which you explore the relationship between the structure and style of Mr. Was, and memory as a psychological phenomenon. What comparisons might be drawn between the structure/style of the book, and the nature of human memory? You will need to do some �heavy� thinking about the nature of memory. You will want to look at pps. 235, 7, 51, 58, 70, the language of Pinky, and other passages. (4 pages minimum)
B) At the end of Mr. Was, the author writes that he is going to meet Mr. Boggs, so that Mr. Boggs can explain some things to him (p. 255). You are to write the actual conversation which you imagine might occur between the author and Mr. Boggs. Make sure to include references to the events of the book, and try to write in a style similar to that of the book. You will especially need to pay attention to the way Mr. Boggs speaks (remember who he is�who is he?) for your conversation to be believable. This assignment will be longer as it will include some creative elements, and since dialogue takes up more space. (5 pages minimum)
C) Write a review of the book. The first page of your review should summarize the plot of the book, the next page and a half should discuss one or two major themes in the book, and the last page and a half should discuss in detail the strengths/weaknesses of the book. (4 pages total)
Writing Assignment for Night
Pick A or B
A) Throughout Wiesel�s Night, among other things the reader witnesses the effect which human experience has on human belief. Drawing on key passages, write an essay in which you explore what the author (via the narrator) has to say about the relationship between experience and belief. You should make sure to include a description of how the narrator�s experiences affect the narrator�s beliefs, and vice versa. (4 pages minimum)
B) After reading Elie Wiesel�s speech entitled �The Perils of Indifference� (you can find the speech and even listen to it at http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/wiesel.htm ), in conjunction with Wiesel�s Night, write an essay in which you describe the effects of indifference inside the camp, the effects of indifference outside the camps, and finally, the effects of indifference in the world today. Be sure to draw from both texts as you develop your essay. (4 pages minimum)
Writing Assignment for The Chocolate War
Pick A or B
A) The poster in Jerry Renault�s locker seems to serve as a sort of inspiration to him throughout the book. However, by the end of the book, we find Jerry severely criticizing the words of the poster:
They tell you to do your own thing but they don�t mean it. They don�t want you to do your thing, not unless it happens to be their thing, too. It�s a laugh, Goober, a fake. Don�t disturb the universe, Goober, no matter what the posters say. (187)
We are left, in the end, with a protagonist who is seemingly hopeless, depressed, and very pessimistic. This is a rather unconventional ending to a book for young adults. You are to write an essay in which you make an argument as to why you think Cormier ends the book in this way, with a character who is so disillusioned. What is he trying to say, or what message is he trying to send to his readers? Is there some sort of lesson which he wants readers to learn? You may think of more than one possible answer, but make sure you think your answer through carefully. Your essay should demonstrate your knowledge of the book. (4 pages minimum)
B) The ending of the book is very dissatisfying for many readers as it seems like the story should continue (in fact, Cormier did write a sequel to the book himself). Your job is to write your own continuation of the story which demonstrates your knowledge of the book�s plot, characters, and �themes�. You must also attempt to imitate the author�s style as you write your own continuation. To a reader of Cormier, your finished product should look like it was written by Cormier himself. Since this assignment will include dialogue (which takes up more space) and creative elements, it should be longer than option A, about 5 pages minimum.
C) Carefully consider the scene from the book in which the teacher �recreates� Nazi Germany in the classroom. Why is this scene particularly important? What might Cormier be trying to get across to his readers through this scene? Answer these questions in an essay. (3.5 pages minimum)
Writing Assignment for I Am the Cheese
Pick A or B
A) One way of reading I Am the Cheese is as an exploration of the nature of reality. You are to write an essay in which you discuss the questions which the book raises about the nature of reality, as well as the answers it seems to suggest. You should consider both the content and the structure of the book. You will need to do some �heavy� philosophical thinking about the nature of reality for this assignment (4 pages minimum).
B) Before the story begins in I Am the Cheese, the author includes an interesting note which might easily be overlooked. He writes: �I am the cheese is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and events are fictional, and any resemblance to real persons or actual events is unintentional�. Write an essay in which you explain why you think the author includes this message at the beginning of the book. What is the significance of this message in the greater context of the entire book? What is he saying about truth vs. fiction, and can any irony be found in the inclusion of this message before the story begins? Finally, how does the unreliable narrator complicate the world of fiction? (4 pages minimum)
C) Imagine you are a newspaper reporter who has uncovered the �true� story behind I Am the Cheese. In a sense, you are the one who has uncovered the scandal, solved the mystery, and figured out who everyone really is. You are to write an article revealing the truth, in which you make sure you state explicitly and in detail what exactly happened, who was involved, and why. (4 pages min.)