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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 happens when Melinda faints?

2. Why is Melinda angry after being at her father's office?

3. What can any student do to bring up a poor social studies grade?

4. What does Melinda do for a whole week?

5. What does Melinda think she may be when she is an adult?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does the physical education teacher discover about Melindal and what is the result?

3. What is the result of the meeting with Melinda, her parents, the guidance counselor and the principal?

4. What is Melinda's response to Heather's talk in "Third Marking Period"?

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

6. What does Melinda notice about IT in April?

7. Who invites Melinda to his home in "Third Marking Period", and what is her response?

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

9. Describe the ride with Mr. Freeman to Melinda's mother's workplace.

10. How does Melinda hurt herself in biology class?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Peer pressure and bullying are obvious factors in how Melinda is treated and how Melinda responds to a new school environment and the other students. Discuss the following:

1. Is peer pressure as strong a presence in the school system now as it was before the advent of classes about the topic? Do you think Melinda's school does anything to address the issue of both peer pressure and bullying?

2. Are you aware of the extent of either peer pressure or bullying in your school or in your school experience if you are no longer in high school?

3. Do you think adults suffer from peer pressure? Why or why not? What types of "peer pressure" might adults experience?

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

Any work of fiction has some similarities, yet the structure can engender differences. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss the structure of Speak and how it informs the plot.

2. Why do you think Anderson chooses to structure Speak the way she does? Give examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Many readers love novels and are indifferent to short stories, and vice versa. Discuss why you think some readers would enjoy one format over another.

4. Choose a short, one-act play and compare it to Speak as far as how structure affects the reading experience.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,202 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample