Chapter Three Q's



1. The members of David's family are introduced. Briefly identify them.

There is a grandma, mother, & father. The grandma is a mother inlaw to Davids mom she wan taken in even though her son left her duaghter in law. the mom is a young looking elder that works for a living trying to make money for the family. and the father is the one who left the family.



2. Why does david think he needs a good education.

David thinks he needs a good education so he could get a good job and support his family.



3. Find the meaphor in this chapter that helps illustate the emptiness of david's life.

The metaphor made about the living room is the one that helps.

4. Support or refute the following statement:
David goes along with Mark becuase he dilikes Mr. Griffin and needs a better English grade to get into law school.
I disagree with this statement, David didn't go along with the idea becuase of his low English grade. He went slong with the idea becuase Mark made it sound fun and like a harmless prank.

Speak 3 DQ: Answers

Speak 3 DQ: Answers

 

 1. I would say that the fact she feels everyone in school hates her, she wanted to just get away from all of it.

 

2. In my own opinion i would say that being a child is way better than being a teenager. Well adults don't expect you to have any responsibilities. you can drive, you can get money, you can have a life, you can have freedom. Parents always say we are too old for something then turn right around to say we are too young for another thing, i just want to yell at the "well what do i do for fun listen to my music all day.

 

3. ?????

 

4. It would seem to me that the dissolution is how Melinda always lets Heather walk all over her, for instance when ever Heather needs help she always draft, notice how i didn't say ask, Melinda immediately. this type of friend ship is when a social climber becomes attached to a depressed person ans uses them for their own needs. Such as a social parasite.

 

5. she actually becomes overwhelmed by the annual holiday and hopes she gets a valentine.

 

6. most of the time our parents try to talk to us about these concepts of life around the time we start Mid school. What i believe is that we cant learn that type of thing from a book, we must either experience it of learn about it from an experienced person.

 

7. I'm not so sure what happened to her in the ISS room, but i can tell you about my reaction to the room. In mid school i hated the ISS room, it sucked literally, all we did was do book work, just book work.

8. He is like the father she never had, he is more in-touched with her, and she feels like she can tell him anything. Yes i do agree with his saying.

 

9. I believe it means that to find your true self you must take a path of hardships and over-comings. most of the times it is true, but for some of the unfortunates its not. In my opinion a soul is the mental embodiment of thought, feelings, and emotions.

 

10. well......umm..... i cant really think of anything but life's lessons.  

11. She sees herself as a young beautiful lady. And she is goes to the Art Room to help comfort her-own self.

 

12. Haven't gotten that far in the book. sorry but this is the only answer i have.

 

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?