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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 does Melinda say in a note to Rachel in "Fourth Marking Period"?

2. What does Melinda do at her father's office?

3. Where does Melinda go when she arrives at Effert's?

4. What does the English teacher explain about the book they are going to study in "Third Marking Period"?

5. What is Melinda's reward for the thing she does for a whole week?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Heather tell Melinda in "Third Marking Period" that upsets Melinda?

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

3. Describe the incident in art class when Mr. Freeman's honesty hurts Melinda.

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

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

6. How does Melinda hurt herself in biology class?

7. How did Melinda happen to go to a party where there are alcohol and older students in the past?

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

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

10. What book does the class begin to study in English, and what is Melinda's response to it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss Speak based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Speak is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for young teens versus adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider Speak a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of power in Speak. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with power and/or have the most power? Why? What are some symbols of power? Symbols of powerlessness? What characters seem powerless?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of abandonment in Speak. Who is abandoned? Why? Who does the abandoning? Why? Do Melinda's parents abandon her? Why or why not? Do you think Melinda is embraced back into the "fold" of humanity? How? When? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of change. Who changes in Speak? Who seems to stay stagnant? What are the reasons the characters change who do so? Why do some characters not change? Do you think Melinda's changes at the end of the book will last? Why or why not? What would it take to make Andy change? Do you think there is hope for the young man? 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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