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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 Melinda's parents declare her as having outgrown?
2. What does Melinda see as Heather's greatest character flaw?
3. Who introduces herself to Melinda in "First Marking Period"?
4. What does Melinda think would make David Petrakis cute?
5. What does Melinda say she needs after encountering Rachelle in the bathroom?
Short Essay Questions
1. What happens to Melinda in the cafeteria at lunch on the first day of school?
2. Describe Melinda's Thanksgiving Day.
3. What is the results of Melinda's participation in job day and how does Melinda feel about the event?
4. Why doesn't Melinda go trick or treating, and what does she do on Halloween?
5. How does Melinda continue to fix up her closet at school?
6. What does Melinda do after school on Columbus Day?
7. Who are the Marthas and why does Melinda talk about them?
8. What do Melinda's parents order to do after school and how does Melinda "obey" them?
9. Describe Melinda's encounter with Rachel in the bathroom in "First Marking Period".
10. Describe Melinda's visit to Heather's home after school.
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Choose one of the following to discuss:
1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in Speak. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Anderson chooses the symbols she does? Do you think Anderson consciously decides upon the symbols to represent various elements of Speak? Why or why not?
2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in Speak. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Anderson chooses the metaphors she does?
3. Discuss Anderson's use (or lack) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Anderson use too many or too little literary techniques? State to which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related (style, character, plot, setting, theme).
Essay Topic 2
Discuss the following:
1. Compare/contrast Melinda's experience in ninth grade with your own experience your first year of high school (or middle school). In what ways are the experiences alike? Different?
2. Discuss how you would have handled things were you in Melinda's situation. Do you think she handles her isolation better or worse than (or about the same) as you? Would you have confided in your mom and/or dad? How about another adult? Why or why not?
3. Can schools do more to address such issues as arise in Speak? Why or why not? What could they do? Did your school do a better job at addressing the kind of issues that are illustrated in Speak?
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 Speak 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?
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This section contains 1,257 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
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