Speak Discussion Questions

SPEAK 1

Discussion/Study Question

pp. 3-46

 

1. Analyze Melinda’s reaction to the first day of high school and why her fears seem more intense than that of others.  Analyze why she says, “I am Outcast.”

 

2. Examine the meanings of the “clans” and the prevalence of high school cliques.  Why do we sometimes not like people who are really good at things, like sports, music, art, or school?  Is this fair?  Are adults like this?

 

3. Discuss the “first ten lies they tell you in high school.”  Compare with your first day.  So you think Melinda’s assumption that they are “lies” is valid?

 

4. Examine Melinda’s characterization of the teachers.  What do these descriptions reflect?

 

5. Discuss Mr. Freeman’s approach to teaching art.  Have you had similar experiences in classes with this type of teaching style?

 

6. Discuss Melinda’s home life.  How does communication break down in Melinda’s family?  What could each person do to improve it?  If you were a parent, how would communication be in your family?

 

7. Discuss the interaction between Melinda and Heather.  Are they friends?  What brings them together?

 

8. Are we sometimes different people on the outside than we are in the inside?  How?  Why is this true, do you think?

 

 

SPEAK 2

Discussion/Study Question

pp. 49-92

 

1. Discuss Melinda’s decline, including physical symptoms.

 

2. Analyze the social studies “debate” and its aftermath.  Note who challenges the teacher and the position each person takes.  How do you feel about this type of debate? Is the teacher right or wrong? Do students have a right to challenge a teacher?

 

3. Who is a “real” American?  What do you think of Mr. Neck’s opinion?  Going by his definition, are some of you not really Americans?

 

4. Discuss the Thanksgiving dinner for Melinda’s family and why this is significant.

 

5. Analyze Melinda’s statement about her parents, “I bet they’d be divorced by now if I hadn’t been born.”  What does this reflect about her self esteem?

 

6. Examine Melinda’s references to her secret and what this reveals about her relationship with her parents.  What do you think happened at the party?

 

7. Discuss Melinda’s athletic ability, her attitude toward being on the basketball team, and the comparison she makes between basketball and life.

 

8. Analyze the deterioration of the relationship between Melinda and Heather.  Why is it that people sometimes like us more when they can get something out of us?  Are the Marthas good friends to Heather?  Why or why not?

 

9. What should we value in other people?  What qualities are important in a person?  What do you usually notice first about people?  Does that really matter?

 

10. Examine Melinda’s reference to IT.  Pages 85-86 & 89-90

 

11. Discuss the school conference with Melinda’s parents and the aftermath.  What do you think about Melinda’s suicide attempt?  Was it real?  What does it indicate?  What do you think about her mother’s reaction?

 

 

SPEAK 3

Discussion/Study Question

pp. 95-137

 

1. Discuss what precipitates Melinda’s skipping school and what she does.

 

2. Was being a child better than being a teenager?  In what ways?  In what ways is it better to be older?  Why is it hard to be in between childhood and adulthood?

 

3. Analyze the reference to the symbols in The Scarlet Letter and how Melinda would adapt the letter “A.”

 

4. Discuss the dissolution of Melinda and Heather’s friendship and the effect it has on Melinda.  What is the meaning of friendship?

 

5. Analyze the events and effects of Valentine’s Day on Melinda and the aftermath.

 

6. Melinda wishes her science teacher would teach them about love and betrayal instead of about the birds and the bees.  Where do we learn about things like that?  Can we learn about love from a book?  Explain?

 

7. Discuss what happens when Melinda is placed in In-School Suspension.  How would you react to this situation?

 

8. Analyze Mr. Freeman’s effect on Melinda, inside and outside the art class.  Do you agree with his statement, “When people don’t express themselves, they die one piece at a time.”

 

9. Mr. Freeman tells his class, “You must walk alone to find your soul.”  What does this mean?  Is it true?  What is a soul?

 

10. Mr. Freeman also says that “art is about making mistakes and learning from them.”  What else is like this?  Explain.

 

11. Examine Melinda’s self-image and her survival techniques after Heather’s rejection.

 

12. Examine Melinda’s revelation about the night of the party and its residual effect on her.

 

 

SPEAK 4

Discussion/Study Question

pp. 141-198

 

 

1. Discuss the evolvement of the name of the Merryweather High mascot and the debate over each name.

 

2. What draws Melinda and Ivy together?

 

3. Do you agree or disagree with “Ten More Lies…”  Why?

 

4. Describe Melinda’s inner turmoil when she discovers Rachel is dating Andy.  What should she have done?  Did she do the right thing?

 

5. What is the symbolism of Mr. Freeman’s statement, “…trees are flexible, so they don’t snap.  Scar it, give it a twisted branch-perfect trees don’t exist…Be the tree” (p. 153).

 

6. How does Melinda begin to assert herself and find her voice?

 

7. What happens when Melinda decides to talk to Rachel?

 

8. What do the entries under Melinda’s initial graffiti in the bathroom reveal?

 

9. What is the correlation between Mr. Sordino’s treatment and explanation of the diseased tree with Melinda’s “survival?”

 

10. What happens at the Prom? 

 

11. What is the resolution to the story?

 

Warning Signs of Abusive Relationships

Warning Signs of Abusive Relationships:

By Jack Brunson

I’m not all too much able to think of any signs right off the top of my head. So I will get some off the Internet and tell you the web page I found them from if that’s OK. No it won't really be a paragraph just a list. I got this information from: http://www.recovery-man.com/abusive/abusive_signs.htm

You may be in an abusive relationship if he or she:

Is jealous or possessive toward you. (Jealousy is the primary symptom of abusive relationships; it is also a core component of Sexual Addictions and Love Addiction.)

Tries to control you by being very bossy or demanding.

Tries to isolate you by demanding you cut off social contacts and friendships.

Is violent and / or loses his or her temper quickly.

Pressures you sexually, demands sexual activities you are not comfortable with.

Abuses drugs or alcohol.

Claims you are responsible for his or her emotional state. (This is a core diagnostic criteria for Codependency.)

Blames you when he or she mistreats you.

Has a history of bad relationships.

Your family and friends have warned you about the person or told you that they are concerned for your safety or emotional well being.

You frequently worry about how he or she will react to things you say or do.

Makes "jokes" that shame, humiliate, demean or embarrass you, weather privately or around family and friends.

Your partner grew up witnessing an abusive parental relationship, and/or was abused as a child.

Your partner "rages" when they feel hurt, shame, fear or loss of control.

	Both parties in abusive relationships may develop or progress in drug or alcohol dependence in a (dysfunctional) attempt to cope with the pain.
	You leave and then return to your partner repeatedly, against the advice of your friends, family and loved ones.
	You have trouble ending the relationship, even though you know inside it's the right thing to do.

Speak 1 Vocabulary

Speak 1 : Vocabulary By Jack Brunson

1. Obscene – offensive to morality or decency, repulsive

The construction worker used obscene language when he hit his thumb with a hammer.

2. Abstinence – denying self any form of indulgence, appetite, or craving.

Many Catholics practice abstinence from various foods, pastimes, or indulgences as part of the season of Lent.

3. Savant – a person of learning; especially: one with detailed knowledge in some specialized field (i.e. science, literature)

The young man was considered a savant because he was a mathematical genius at an early age.

4. Thespian – dramatic actor

The international Thespian Society is an honorary organization for high-school and middle-school theatre students

5. fascism – a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as the Fascists) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a government headed by a dictatorial leader.

Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor in 1933, and quickly established a totalitarian and fascist dictatorship.

6. predator – one that preys, destroys, or devours

To human predators, you are prey, and they have no conscience about harming or killing others.

7. indoctrination– instruct, with doctrines, theories, beliefs. Can also be brainwashing.

Cult leaders often indoctrinate their followers with beliefs that give the leaders a place of power over them.

8. morphing – a special-effects process used in film or video production in which persons or objects seem to change shape, form, etc., in a smooth way, created in a digital environment.

The movie, Willow (1988), introduced the technique of morphing and transformed a goat into a woman.

9. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - PTSD is an anxiety disorder that occurs in the aftermath of a traumatic event. Examples are combat, rape and natural disaster. PTSD is diagnosed six months after the traumatic event. Three major symptoms are: heightened startle response, easily scared, and irritability.
   
10. potpourri- a mixture of flowers, herbs, and spices that is usually kept in a jar and used for scent.
    
11. Paparazzi - a freelance photographer who aggressively pursues celebrities for the purpose of taking candid photographs.

The paparazzi surrounded Lindsey Lohan when she wrecked her Mercedes and was falling out of the car because she was impaired.

12. Sun Shadow Mandala- Mandalas are symbolic, circular designs that represent outer (sun) and inner (shadow) dimensions of a person’s personality.
    
13. Redemption- the act or process of redeeming or the state of being redeemed.
    
14. Redeem – to buy or pay off; to recover what has been lost; to discharge in full; to deliver from sin and the consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the sinner.
    
15. abysmal – extremely or hopelessly bad or severe: abysmal ignorance; abysmal poverty.
    
16. demure - characterized by shyness and modesty; reserved.
    
17. Infante’s Paraphrased: chillaxed in a non-Xanax sort of way.
    
18. bigoted – utterly intolerant of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one’s own.
    
19. asphyxiated - to cause to die or lose consciousness by impairing normal breathing, as by gas or other noxious agents; choke; suffocate; smother.
    
20. conundrum – a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play on words. Anything that puzzles. We are in a pickle.
    
21. muse – to think or meditate in silence, as on some subject. Absorbed in thought.

After his meeting with the guidance counselor, Michael mused in class about what he wanted to do after he graduated.

22. classical – of or pertaining to; or characteristic of Greek and Roman antiquity.
    
23. cubism– a style of painting and sculpture developed in the early 20th century, characterized by the emphasis on formal structure – geometrical shapes.

Abuse Scenario By Jack Brunson

Abuse Scenario By Jack Brunson

Picture This:
You have a good friend who recently has acquired several cuts and bruises on different parts of her body. She says that she has been tripping and running into a lockers lately. You don't believe her. What do you do?

I have a friend, her name is Carlata, and I think she has a problem. She has been gaining new scratches, cuts, and bruises each week.i think that she is being abused by her new step-dad. She won’t talk to me and the our other friend. Every time we try to ask her whats happening she makes up something like, I fell on, I trip over, or I was hit by. I think she has a serious problem but she won’t talk about it. I try to get her to go to the school counselor but as always no one is there. Its like they get paid to do nothing. I offer to start driving her home after school, but she refuses. So I go to the school police and tell them what I think is wrong. He says he will look into it. The next day she arrives to school with even more cuts and bruises. During lunch I look for the policemen I talked to yesterday. He tells me that the parents weren’t home so he will try again today. So I wait once again for results. The next day she has more and I began to fear for my friend. Before I asked the policemen about what happened I drag my friend to him. I tell him to look at her, to examine the cuts and scratches. The policemen ask Carlata some questions and she finally confesses what her step-dad has been doing. The policemen takes us both to her house and the step dad is dragged out of the house in cuffs. I see what looks like a smile upon my friends face. My friend is back. J J

Discussion Qustions: Speak 1

Discussion Qustions: Speak 1

1. Analyze Malinda's reaction to the first day of high school and why her fears seem more intense than that of others. Analyze why she says," i am outcast."

2. Examine the meansings of the "clans" and the prevalence of high school cliques. Why do we sometimes not like people who are really good at things, like sports, music, are, or school?
Is this fair? Are adults like this?

3. Discuss the "fist ten lies they tell you in high school." Compare with your first day. So you think Melinda's assumption that they are "lies" is valid.

4. Examine melinda's chracterazation of the teachers. What do these descriptions reflect.

5. Discuss Mr. Freeman's approach to teaching art. Have you had similar experiences in classes with this type of teaching style?

6. Discuss Malinda's home life. How does communication break down in Melinda's family? What could each person do to improve it? If you were a parent, how would communication be in your family.

7. Discuss the interaction between Melinda and Heather. Are they friends? What brings them together?

8. Are we sometimes different people on the outside than we are in the inside? How? Why is this true, do you think?

Discussion Answers: Speak 1

Discussion Answers: Speak 1

1. No one wants to talk to her, the clan she was in has broken up. she has become an outsider, an outcast.

2. I think that we don't like others who are really good at things we aren't because we are jealous of their abilities.

3. More or less about 3 of them aren't lies.

4. The reflect the was that she sees them as well as the way that she has been treated by them.

5. He use life as an inspirational comparison to art. he has a care free creative teaching style. yes in mid-school.

6. They communicate through notes left behind for them to read. I the one thing that will help their communication is if they talk face to face instead of through notes.

7. Melinda just wants to tell Heather to shut up most of the time. Yes, they are friends. The thing i believe that attracts them is their different charge disposition. Melinda's has a negative attitude, and Heather has a positive attitude.

8.Yes, they can be different from their inside on the outside. I think this is true because most people try to change their outside look to match the popularity they needed.

Discussion Answers: Harrison Bergeron

1. I truly believe that the theme of the story was that you can do as you please in this world but with every action comes a price.



2. I think it reveals what the stories point was revolving around. The fact that some people think they are better then everyone else. i say this because as he came on to national TV he told the world that he was their emperor as if he was the best of everyone.



3. The society that they lived in had laws and limitations for all who had special differences. The government believed that if there were nothing but average people in the country that it would become peaceful and ductile.



4. I believe that he is trying to say the government has all the power in our country and they can do as they please to us without our consent. The government goes too far when they began putting contraptions onto those who have special differences, when they start to kill people just for being special.



5. There are many ways that we have conflict and tension among each other through equality and opportunity. Some ways are with work, others are with talents, and most are with popularity, but conflict is only part of being human.

Discussion Qusetions-Harrison Bergeron

1. What is the theme of the story?

2. What do you think Harrison’s rebellion reveals about his character and values? Support your opinion with references to the text.
3. What conclusions can you draw about the society in which the characters live
4. What do you think Vonnegut might be trying to say about today’s society and the role a government can play in achieving equality among people? At what point does government go too far?
5. In what ways is there tension between equality and opportunity in our country today?

Harrison Bergeron Vocabulary Sentences

Harrison Bergeron Vocabulary Sentences


1. To have vigilance you must always be alert and attentive at all times.

2. He tried to avoid my point by saying, "I haven't the vaguest idea of what your talking about."

3. As I passed Julie she wince at me and gave me a type of look.

4. The phantasm we saw had such a luminous glow we thought it was real.

5. Before we could watch the movie our teacher had to calibrate the projector.

6. As my teacher handed me my test grade she said, "your disposition seems to be your hindrance."

7. As we watched the movie the theater had a consternation like feeling to it.

8. Every time I pet my friends dog he cowers to the ground as if I'm gonna hurt him.

9. My friend joined synchronized swimming class, but i never see them in symmetry.

Harrison Bergeron Vocabulary words

Harrison Bergeron Vocabulary words



1. Vigilance -n- alert attention; watchfulness

2. Vague -adj- unclear; hazy

3. Wince -v- to shrink or flinch involuntary, especially in pain

4. Luminous -adj- bright; brilliant

5. Calibrated -adj- marked with measurements

6. Hindrance -n- something that interferes with an activity; obstacle

7. Symmetry -n- a similarity between the two sides of something; balance

8. Consternation -n- a confused amazement or fear

9. Cower -v- to draw back in fear; cringe

10. Synchronizing -v- matching the timing of synchronize

Discussion Questions for The Black Cat

Discussion Questions for The Black Cat

Questions



1. Discuss the significance of the following quote: 'There is something unselfish and self-sacrificing love of a brute, which goes directly to the heart of him who has had frequent occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of man."


2. What is the significance of the cat's name, Pluto?


3. Why did the narrator initially restrain himself from maltreating the cat while maltreating the other animals?


4. Why does he eventually mistreat the cat.


5. Describe the narrator's feelings after abusing the cat. why is that significant?


6. How does the narrator define "perverseness"? Do you agree with his definition? Do you agree that it is human nature?


7. Discuss the significance if the following quote: "[I] hung it because i knew that it had loved me, and because i felt it had given me no reason of offense; because i knew that in doing so i was committing a sin."







My Answers


1. This quote is stating that your pet companion is able to give back to you in such an unselfish and self-sacrificing way that it touches the human heart.


2. Pluto the cat was given this name due to the fact that the main character felt distant from his cat. He felt that Pluto was the smallest and most insignificant animal in the house.


3. I have no answer for this question.

4. His shame keeps him from stopping maltreating the cat.


5. He says that it doesn't touch his soul. He is showing his hatread of this cat.


6. He believes that "perverseness" is at man's core, that we are Naturally evil. yes, i do agree with his definition. I also agree that it is human nature.


7. He hung the cat cause he hated what he loved and he saw the cat as a part of his-self he hated.

The Black Cat Vocabulary Sentences

The Black Cat Vocabulary Sentences

1. We often solicit our own feeling and thoughts before we would another’s.
2. The very thought of spontaneous combustion seems mad to me.
3. We may ask questions but the answers are always succinct.
4. The phantasm of his past hunted his dreams and turned them into nightmares.
5. What would the world be like if it was docile?
6. The disposition of the mood was not all too comfortable.
7. The court judge must always be sagacious if not he/she will be strip of their position.
8. After the due date passed my essay I worked so hard on became paltry.
9. Such a beautiful creature watch as the gossamer butterfly floats by.
10. A truly dedicated worker is always a fidelity worker.
11. He said, “Lets just say I procured it for mysterious reasons”, then I knew it was trouble.
12. Most magicians give use the allusion of disappearing.
13. The intemperance of most bars is very intoxicating.
14. The animal police accused my neighbor with maltreating their family pet.
15. The scruple of my consequences kept me from proceeding with the plan.
16. The Malevolence of a family member is one of the worst types of feelings.
17. Such atrocity can be seen in prisons on the internet.
18. The debauchery of happiness is one of the best ways to get drunk.
19. The sentimental value of an apology is worth more to me then anything else.
20. The remorse I feel after loosing a someone close to me is the worst feeling I can feel.

The Black Cat vocabulary words

The Black Cat- Vocabulay Words

1. Solicit – (v) – to seek for (something) by earnest or respectful request; formal application
2. Mad – (adj) – mentaly disturbed; degranged; insane; demented
3. Succinct –(adj) – expressed in few words; concise; terse
4. Phantasm –(n) –an illusory likeness of something
5. Docile –(adj) –easily managed or handled
6. Disposition –(n) –the predominant or prevailing tendency of one’s spirits; natural and emotional outlook of mood; chracter’s attitude
7. Sagacious –(adj) –having or showing keen discernment and sound judgement
8. Patry –(adj) –lacking in impartance or worth; trivial
9. Gossamer –(n) –something delicate, light, or flimsy
10. Fidelity –( n) –Faithfulness to obligations, duties, or observances \
11. Procure –(v) –to get by special effort; obtain or aquire
12. Allusion –(n) –the act of alluding; indirect inference
13. Intemperance –(n) - excessive use of alchoal beverages
14. Maltreat –(v) –to treat in rough or crule way; abuse
15. Scruple –(n) –a moral or ethical consederation or standard act as a resisting force or inhabits certain actions
16. Malevolence –(n) –ill will; malice; hatred
17. Atrocity –(n) –the quality of being extremely or shockingly wicked, crule, or brutal
18. Debauch –(n) –a period of wanton self-indulgence, an excessive party which includes consumption of alchoal
19. Sentiment –(n) –a mental feeling; emotion
20. Remorse –(n) –deep and painful regret for wrongdoing

Exposition

The Story of Little Critter: My Trip to the Hospital is a story about the littlest critter who takes a trip to the hospital. It all starts at the soccer field. Lil critter and his friends are playing a soccer game. Lil critter is the lead shot.

Rising Action

As he is about to kick the winning shot inside to goal the goalie gets in the way. He makes the goal, but as everyone yells, “GOAL!”, he yells, “OUCH!.” He sits on the ground clutching his leg telling his mom and his dad it hurts, but he barely cries. His mom and dad are very supportive and tell him that he is very brave for not crying.

Climax

An ambulance comes and takes the lil critter and his mom to the hospital. As the Nurse begins to examine his health he gets very interested by the nurses tools. When she gives him an x-ray he compares the machine to super critter, one of his comic book heroes. The doctor comes in to examine his leg and check to see if it’s broken or not.

Falling Action

The Doctor tells his mom that he does have a broken leg. He gets a cast and is taught how to use crutches. His st try he couldn’t use them right and almost fell. When the doctors tried to help he told him that he could do it him self. After more tried he finally got it right. He was very proud .

Resolution

After they leave the hospital papa and lil sis are both waiting outside for them in the car. Once they get home little critter gets to eat his favorite food in the whole world: spaghetti and meatballs in front of the TV. Once he gets to school the next day all of his class mates and friends call him a hero and brave for winning the game. All of his friend get to sign his cast. He compared it to a rainbow after they all signed it.

Elements of Fiction Brochure

Little Critter:

My Trip to the Hospital

By Jack Brunson

The Best thing that happened to me this summer was…

The Best thing that happend to me this summer was....

Well there are a lot of things that happend to me this summer. One of them is i got a new pet spider. he's a wolf spider and he has been defanged. Also i was able to help my da down at his shop, he let me be the prep man. so, i was incharge of getting the car's ready to paint by sanding them and taping them up. ohh another thing i got to do was scare my lil sister and her friends while they were having a sleepover. i used my new spider to do it. i hid him inside one of the lil girl's bag and waited till they found him. when they did they screamed so loud, they all sounded like lil fire trucks. it was so funny it made me laugh till i cried. but. the good times ended when my da found out after that night, and well it was not pretty. i still have alo0t to say but this was only meant to tell about one good time. so, bye for now ill be blogging agian real soon.