View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who helps Melinda devise a plan for her extra credit social studies project?

2. Where does Melinda go one day when she skips school?

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

4. What does Mr. Freeman's painting express?

5. Why is Heather in danger of losing her standing with the Marthas?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. How does Melinda hurt herself in biology class?

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

7. What do Melinda's parents decide about her Christmas vacation, so what does Melinda do?

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

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

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

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

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not?

5. What type of plot do you think Speak is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,210 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample