Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson presents the dramatic tale of Melinda in her freshman year of high school. Because she called the cops on a party, her friends, and people she doesn't even know, viciously make her an outcast. Few even realize that she now refuses to speak. Her only outlet is art class, where the teacher pushes her to show feeling in her work. Throughout the novel, the reader is given Melinda's perspective on school, other students, and, eventually, the reason she has chosen to be mute.
Add to these questions at the end of EACH section:
(G) Describe Melinda. Include both physical and personality traits. Discuss the changes that take place in her character throughout the story and how those changes develop. (We should see this answer develop and change as you read the novel.)
(G) Describe Mr. Freeman. Include both physical and personality traits. Discuss the traits that you believe are most important to his influence over Melinda. (We should see this answer develop and change as you read the novel.)
(G) How does the relationship between Mr. Freeman and Melinda develop? Be Specific.
Section One:
(G) What is Melinda's state at the beginning of the novel? Give some background about her life/circumstances. (This will be your base to see how much she changes.)
(G) Summarize the first meeting between Melinda and Mr. Freeman. What are the circumstances? What are Melinda's first impressions of her teacher?
(I) Predict how you think their relationship will develop based on this meeting.
(G) Are there any other characters that influence Melinda? How?
Section Two:
(G) What are Mr. Freeman's expectations for Melinda and his other students? How does he help them achieve his expectations and their own goals? Be specific.
(I) How would you respond to Mr. Freeman's expectations? Do they seem reasonable to you?
(G) What is most important to Melinda? Explain.
Section Three:
(G) Do Mr. Freeman and Melinda have a relationship outside of class? Does it matter?
(G) What change do we see in Melinda? What do we learn about her in this section?
(I) Choose a quote/paragraph that has been most stirring for you thus far (Sections 1-3). What impression did it leave?
Section Four:
(G) What is the most important event or decision that leads to Melinda's growth in the novel? Why? Would this event or decision be different if Mr. Freeman had not influenced Melinda?
(I) What is your response to the resolution? Is it believable?
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson presents the dramatic tale of Melinda in her freshman year of high school. Because she called the cops on a party, her friends, and people she doesn't even know, viciously make her an outcast. Few even realize that she now refuses to speak. Her only outlet is art class, where the teacher pushes her to show feeling in her work. Throughout the novel, the reader is given Melinda's perspective on school, other students, and, eventually, the reason she has chosen to be mute.
Instructions
Add to these questions at the end of EACH section:
(G) Describe Melinda. Include both physical and personality traits. Discuss the changes that take place in her character throughout the story and how those changes develop. (We should see this answer develop and change as you read the novel.)
(G) Describe Mr. Freeman. Include both physical and personality traits. Discuss the traits that you believe are most important to his influence over Melinda. (We should see this answer develop and change as you read the novel.)
(G) How does the relationship between Mr. Freeman and Melinda develop? Be Specific.
Section One:
(G) What is Melinda's state at the beginning of the novel? Give some background about her life/circumstances. (This will be your base to see how much she changes.)
(G) Summarize the first meeting between Melinda and Mr. Freeman. What are the circumstances? What are Melinda's first impressions of her teacher?
(I) Predict how you think their relationship will develop based on this meeting.
(G) Are there any other characters that influence Melinda? How?
Section Two:
(G) What are Mr. Freeman's expectations for Melinda and his other students? How does he help them achieve his expectations and their own goals? Be specific.
(I) How would you respond to Mr. Freeman's expectations? Do they seem reasonable to you?
(G) What is most important to Melinda? Explain.
Section Three:
(G) Do Mr. Freeman and Melinda have a relationship outside of class? Does it matter?
(G) What change do we see in Melinda? What do we learn about her in this section?
(I) Choose a quote/paragraph that has been most stirring for you thus far (Sections 1-3). What impression did it leave?
Section Four:
(G) What is the most important event or decision that leads to Melinda's growth in the novel? Why? Would this event or decision be different if Mr. Freeman had not influenced Melinda?
(I) What is your response to the resolution? Is it believable?
(I) What will you remember most about this novel?