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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. With what does Melinda's English teacher threaten Melinda?
2. How does Melinda almost ruin an expensive microscope?
3. Why does the ecology club protest the new mascot name?
4. How is Melinda feeling emotionally as she boards the school bus?
5. What does Melinda see as her job in algebra class?
Short Essay Questions
1. How does Melinda find a safe space for herself at school and what is the space like?
2. How does Melinda feel about Algebra compared to other math courses she has taken?
3. What are some names Melinda comes up with for groups of students in the auditorium, and to what group does she belong?
4. Why does Melinda decorate the faculty lounge with Heather and what do the Marthas say about Melinda?
5. What is the topic of discussion at dinner after the interim reports come out, and how does Melinda respond?
6. What do Melinda's parents order to do after school and how does Melinda "obey" them?
7. Who are the Marthas and why does Melinda talk about them?
8. What class would Melinda avoid if possible and why?
9. What is Heather's plan for Melinda and herself?
10. Describe Melinda's first impressions of the art room.
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
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 2
Speak could be said to be a "bildungsroman" of Melinda Sordina, the narrator. Discuss the following:
1. Define the concepts "bildungsroman" and "coming of age."
2. Thoroughly trace and analyze Speak as a bildungsroman of Melinda Sordino. Give specific examples. What does Melinda learn? How has she changed? Is the change for the better?
3. Why do you think many novels/stories written for teens are "coming of age" stories? Do you think it is good for teens to read this genre? Why or why not?
Essay Topic 3
Characters are an important part of what makes Speak interesting. Discuss the following:
1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Melinda. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.
2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Andy Evans. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.
3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Heather. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.
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This section contains 1,033 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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