The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. What is the evolution of the diary entries?

A) The diary entries shift from examining problems to focusing on future goals.

B) The diary entries shift from race-based violence to discussing in-class readings.

C) The diary entries shift from acceptance of disadvantages to crying out for justice.

D) The diary entries do not shift but remain consistent in content, focusing on tolerance.

2. What incident inspires Ms. Gruwell to focus on tolerance in her classroom?

A) The brutal attack one of her students experiences at home

B) The refusal of the students to take the final exam

C) The racist caricature drawn of one of her students by another student

D) The aggressive bullying Ms. Gruwell experienced from her students on the first day

3. How does Ms. Gruwell inspire change in her students?

A) She lectures them on the benefits of tolerance.

B) She presents them with ideas, allowing them to draw conclusions.

C) She works tirelessly to rescue them from dire circumstances.

D) She draws media attention, providing them with a platform.

4. What is the historical significance of the text’s title, The Freedom Writers?

A) It describes the students’ purpose in creating their collaborative work.

B) It is a play on words honoring those who protested segregation on buses.

C) It is inspired by the class’s shared desire to have equality and freedom.

D) It describes the hope of what the students want to accomplish.

5. How does Romeo and Juliet inspire change in Ms. Gruwell’s students?

A) They begin to see the senselessness of gang rivalry.

B) They approach racial tolerance in a new way.

C) They draw comparisons to their own economically divided school.

D) They are inspired to take potentially life-altering risks.

6. How does Ms. Gruwell most succeed in increasing engagement in her class?

A) She enforces a strict reading regimen to build comprehension.

B) She encourages the students to suggest ideas for enrichment trips.

C) She helps students make deeply personal connections to literature.

D) She creates challenges in the form of games to encourage studying.

7. What is the importance of community outside the classroom for Ms. Gruwell?

A) Community offers shared learning opportunities for those overcoming adversity.

B) Community provides resources in the form of donors and sponsorships.

C) Community promotes notoriety through exposure to the media.

D) Community guarantees its elite citizens opportunities for political service.

8. How would Ms. Gruwell describe the ultimate purpose of student reflection in teaching literature?

A) It is a way for students to glean information they otherwise might miss.

B) It improves the insights of the reader through introspection.

C) It creates a private environment where people can freely share thoughts.

D) It is a catalyst for effecting change in individuals and the world.

9. What best describes the way Ms. Gruwell establishes her classroom community?

A) She crafts an environment focused on securing media attention.

B) She designs an environment in which students are grouped by ability.

C) She fosters an environment where students feel a sense of belonging and safety.

D) She creates a high-stakes environment of competition and success.

10. How does Ms. Gruwell use the media to her advantage in the classroom?

A) She uses media, such as documentaries, to help students relate to the curriculum.

B) She draws attention to her class, securing recognition and sponsorships.

C) She focuses on books by prohibiting the use of media in the classroom.

D) She makes comparisons between the class’s media attention and Bosnia.

11. What do the students in The Freedom Writers do to challenge societal norms?

A) They form cross-cultural relationships.

B) They engage in media and protests.

C) They reject stereotypes.

D) They advocate for social equality.

12. How do the students in Ms. Gruwell’s class experience healing?

A) They address social issues, including current news.

B) They connect to literature by drawing comparisons to their past.

C) They share their experiences and relate to the experiences of classmates.

D) They compile their shared histories in a book for closure.

13. Which statement best characterizes Ms. Gruwell’s teaching style?

A) She mandates strict guidelines and high expectations for all students.

B) She celebrates and focuses on the individual differences of each student.

C) She inspires a cohesive group of students who are willing to work together.

D) She creates an environment where students must think critically and creatively.

14. How does Ms. Gruwell challenge the traditional roles of teachers in education?

A) Ms. Gruwell rejects a student-centered approach for a more dogmatic approach to learning.

B) Ms. Gruwell risks broaching difficult topics to be able to create connections with students.

C) Ms. Gruwell creates personal relationships with each student, unlike most teachers.

D) Ms. Gruwell secures the resources to help her students travel the world.

15. In what way does writing play an important role in Ms. Gruwell’s classroom?

A) Writing practice helps students begin to perform at higher levels of understanding.

B) Writing serves as a way to help students express their feelings.

C) Writing reinforces students’ long-held values and belief systems.

D) Writing fiction is a way for students to escape their difficult surroundings.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. Ms. Gruwell’s students initially consider her to be an outsider, but by the end of the book, they consider her family. How does Ms. Gruwell represent family for the students?

2. Many of the Freedom Writers initially feel like they are alone in their experiences. How does their perception change by the end of the book?