Speak Essay Assignment
Over the course of this week, we will be working on writing a 5 paragraph essay. You
will choose a topic, complete a graphic organizer to develop your three points, tying one
quote from the novel to each of your 3 points, learn how to incorporate and cite direct
quotes, draft your intro paragraphs, participate in a peer editing workshop or your
introduction paragraph and graphic organizer, and complete the rest of your 5 paragraph
essay in class in a timed setting.
The following is a list of your choice for your Speak essay:
Choice 1: How does the cover art of the novel display one of the themes of “the process of change”?
Dissect the cover to represent Melinda and how she changes throughout the novel. You can choose to
connect to the cycle of life and seasons for this one, if you choose. You will choose 3 main reasons which
will become your body paragraphs. If you choose to connect Melinda to the seasonal changes of a tree,
you would focus on fall, winter, and spring/summer (these 2 will go together).
Choice 2: Explain the phases her tree art went through, over the course of her freshman year, and how do
they represent her. Connect each phase to her own changes and transformation. Be specific. This would
focus on her art project instead of the seasonal changes or cycle of life stated in choice 1. You would pick
3 distinct phases and discuss them while showing how they connect to Melinda. For example, you could
discuss her confused phase, her dead, and her healing stage or you could pick specific pieces such as trees
struck by lightening, the turkey bone sculpture, and her final project with the imperfect tree and birds.
Choice 3: Which character helps Melinda find her “voice” the most? Explain. In other words, which
character helps her find her inner strength to help her change and evolve into the person she becomes?
Choose one person and provide three main points or reasons that will turn into your body paragraphs. You
could choose to take a positive outlook and choose Ivy or Mr. Freeman. However, you could choose
Andy, Heather, or Rachel and prove how their own negative treatment of Melinda actually helped Melinda
free herself from the chains of her secret. Use the novel to support your response.
Choice 4: One major theme of Speak is alienation. Provide an in-depth explanation of
what alienation means and how it connects to Melinda. You will choose three examples
how she was alienated either by herself or by others and how this affected her (the
outcome)..
Choice 5: Family relationships are a very important part of a person’s emotional, social,
and physical growth. Explain how family relationships can help or hurt a person’s
development. In connection, provide 3 examples/reasons how Melinda’s lack of family connection played
a role in how she handled “her secret,” what she went through her freshman year, or other connection you
choose to make. Make sure you discuss how her disconnected family affected her emotional, social,
and/or physical growth. You can choose one or all 3 to discuss.
Choice 6: Symbolism was prevalent throughout the entire novel to further develop Melinda’s emotional,
social, and physical struggles caused by what happened to her the summer before her freshman year.
Choose ONE symbol from the novel and explain its significance to Melinda throughout the entire novel.
You could choose the letter S and three of the words she said the letter could stand for and display how
This was Melinda’s own scarlet letter of torment and pain and how she dealt with this. You could choose
the custodians’ abandoned closet and choose 3 ways this represented Melinda from the beginning, middle,
and end of the novel.
Your five paragraph essay will consist of the following:
Paragraph 1—Intro paragraph
A. Attention grabber
B. Brief introductory statements connecting to your three points
C. Your thesis statement—main focus of paper—last sentence of intro
Paragraph 2—Body Paragraph 1
A. Topic sentence stating your first reason/example/point
1. You will provide details to explain your first connection to
support your thesis
2. You will connect one direct quote to the novel to support your
points and provide an accurate citation at the end of the quote.
3. You will interpret or analyze the quote in your paragraph to
show a connection to Melinda and to your thesis.
4. Remember, your focus is to thoroughly explain, develop, and/or
prove your thesis statement.
5. End paragraph by reconnecting to point (thesis) and
transitioning to the next body paragraph.
Paragraph 3—Body Paragraph 2
A. Topic sentence stating your 2nd reason/example/point to support your
thesis
1. You will provide details to explain your first connection to
support your thesis.
2. You will connect one direct quote to the novel to support your
points and provide an accurate citation at the end of the quote.
3. You will interpret or analyze the quote in your paragraph to
show a connection to Melinda and to your thesis.
4. Remember, your focus is to thoroughly explain, develop, and/or
prove your thesis statement.
5. End paragraph by reconnecting to point (thesis) and
transitioning to the next body paragraph.
Paragraph 4—Body Paragraph 3
A. Topic sentence stating your 3rd and final reason/example/point to
support your thesis
1. You will provide details to explain your final
connection to support your thesis.
2. You will connect one direct quote to the novel to support your
points and provide an accurate citation at the end of the quote.
3. You will interpret or analyze the quote in your paragraph to
show a connection to Melinda and to your thesis.
4. Remember, your focus is to thoroughly explain, develop, and/or
prove your thesis statement.
5. End paragraph by reconnecting to point (thesis) and
transitioning to conclusion.
Paragraph 5—Conclusion
A. As your introduction opens your paper, your conclusion
effectively closes your essay.
1. You need to restate your thesis but be creative—use
different word choice and structure so you are not being
repetitive or identical to introduction.
2. You can give a final example or mention the significance
of your topic.
3. You summarize your essay here.
4. Always end with a clincher—a creative, effective closing
statement or question that shows closure but leaves the
reading saying “wow”
B. NEVER INTRODUCE NEW INFORMATION IN THE
CONCLUSION!!!!
****No use of first person (I, me, my, mine, us, we, our) in your paper
****No use of second person (you, your, and your) in your paper
****No contractions (don’t is do not; can’t is cannot)
You will receive a demon sheet as a guideline of the NO NOs in formal writing. Please
keep it next to you while drafting your thesis and intro.
Remember, you will come to class on Friday with an edited, rewritten (not typed) intro,
your graphic organizer with your three points and your three selected quotes (one quote
per body paragraph). YOU ARE NOT TO HAVE ANY OTHER PARAGRAPH
WRITTEN. YOU WILL CONSTRUCT PARAGRAPHS 2-5 IN CLASS WITHIN A 45
MINUTE TIME CONSTRAINT. I ALLOW A FEW MINUTES FOR ATTENDANCE
AND FINAL INSTRUCTIONS.