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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 grade does Melinda receive on her extra credit project?

2. What does Melinda do after Mr. Freeman comments on her work in "Fourth Marking Period"?

3. What is written behind the suffragette poster?

4. Who does Melinda see in the mall on the last day of Spring break?

5. What did the summer party have that Melinda's mother does not know about?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mr. Freeman believe is Melinda's problem in art class, and what does he do about it?

2. How does Melinda's pleasure at making posters turn into a nightmare?

3. Describe the traumatic event that took place for Melinda at the party the summer before.

4. What has Melinda been doing more frequently in "Third Marking Period", and where does she end up one day?

5. What ruins Melinda's leisurely walk to school?

6. How does Melinda's focused work on an extra credit project backfire?

7. Why is Melinda worried about Rachel in "Fourth Marking Period", and what does she try to do to alleviate the worry?

8. What is Mr. Freeman doing during art class in "Second Marking Period"?

9. What does Melinda notice about IT in April?

10. What touches Melinda emotionally on Christmas Day and what happens?

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

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels end on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Speak and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Speak is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Many authors if queried would admit that they have an agenda for writing a particular novel. Discuss the following:

1. Define and give examples of the concept of "author agenda."

2. Do you think Anderson had an agenda in mind when she wrote Speak?

3. What do you think would be Anderson's agenda(s) (if she has one)? Give examples to illustrate how the agenda is fulfilled.

4. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

5. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

(see the answer keys)

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