Speak Independent Reading Assignment
Explanation: You will read the novel Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson independently. Speak is a
modern novel with modern high-school problems, however while you are reading take note of the
universal conflicts that the characters face. At the end of the unit you will have a comprehensive test
on Speak. While reading, you will complete the tasks detailed below.
Part One: Literary Elements (typed)
Define the following literary elements and provide one example of each from the novel. Each
element is worth 2pts (26 pts total TEST GRADE).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Static character
Dynamic character
Flat character
Round character
setting
theme
point of view
tone
metaphor
simile
irony
symbol/symbolism
motif
Part Two: Journal Entries (typed)
Complete the following journal entries following the appropriate portion of reading. Each entry should
be detailed and include both personal reflections and details from the novel. Please submit entries
in order. All entries should be typed! Each entry should be set-up as follows:
Name:
Prompt and Number:
Entry:
1. First day of high school (3). Compare your first day of high school to the main character’s first day.
Can you relate?
2. High school clans (4). Are there clans in FPM? Explain the clan system.
3. Lies they tell you (5). Make an honest list of the lies they tell you in high school. Explain your
reaction to those lies.
4. Humiliations, embarrassing moments (8). What are your most embarrassing moments? If not, what
is your worst fear regarding this and why?
5. Family communication: 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? (14)
6. What does Melinda's room say about her? How does your room express who you are? (15)
7. 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? (20)
8. What clubs, sports, or activities are you involved in? Is it true that 9th graders "hang back" and don't
join groups? Why? (23)
9. Are we sometimes different people on the outside than we are on the inside? Which characters from
the novel fit this description? Why do you think this is true about people? (32)
10. Melinda's parents tell her that she's too old to go trick or treating and she pretends to be mad. Why
do you think Melinda is both relieved and sad not to go trick or treating? What does it feel like to
leave childhood traditions behind? (39)
11. Who are the Marthas and how is their club both good and bad? What qualities should a service club
have? How would you "fix" the Marthas? (42)
12. 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? How does that seem to you? (54)
13. Is school a place where you can really say what you think, or not? Explain and give examples(55).
14. 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? (82)
15. What should we value in other people? What qualities are important in a person? What do you
usually notice first about someone? Does that matter or not? (83)
16. 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? (99)
17. 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 issues like that? Can we learn about love from a
book? Explain? (109)
18. Mr. Freeman tells his class, "You must walk alone to find your soul." What does this mean? Is it
true? What is a soul? (118)
19. Mr. Freeman also says that "art is about making mistakes and learning from them." What else is like
this? Explain. (122)
20. Have you ever felt like there were two "yous" fighting inside you? (132)
21. Lies they tell you (148). Has your opinion changed from the beginning of the book? Do you have
anything to add?
22. Mr. Freeman, again! He tells Melinda that "nothing is perfect. Flaws are interesting." He's literally
talking about a drawing of the tree, but what do you think he really means? (153)
23. David is a true friend to Melinda, but he tells her something she may not want to hear. He says that
people have to speak up for their rights, referring to the suffragettes. What should his words mean
to her? (159)
24. Melinda's father explains to her that the arborists are cutting off disease and damage to make it
possible for the tree to grow again. How can the pruning of the tree be compared to Melinda's life?
(187)
25. Being cool: when is being cool really "un-cool"? Is it ever? Who defines what is cool and how do you
know?
26. What should we value in people? What's important? Do the standards change from person to
person.
27. What do report cards really say about students?
Each Journal Entry will be graded based on the following rubric
3 – Excellent
2 – Somewhat
1 – Hardly
0-Irrelevent/Unreadable
Has student addressed each element of the prompt clearly?
_____
Has student offered his/her own ideas clearly?
_____
Has student directly referenced text (Speak) as support?
_____
Has student considered GUM (grammar, usage, mechanics) and
made clear transitions connecting ideas within writing?
_____
Name: ________________________
Grade Total: _____/12
*** One point will be deducted per late day per entry***
Grading: Journals will first be individually graded as a homework grade. Each section of journals
completed and submitted on the same date (ex: 1-8, 9-13 etc) will then be averaged together for a quiz
grade. This means you are getting a 2-part grade for your journals.
Schedule
Date…
Read up to…
Journals completed…
Tues. Feb. 28, 2012
Page1- 99
1-16
Tues. March 13, 2012
Page 100-end
17-27
Fri. March 16, 2012
Part 1 Literary Elements 1-7
N/A
Tues. March 20, 2012
Part 1 Literary Elements 8-13
N/A
Tues. March 27, 2012
Final Test
**Please use the reading schedule to your advantage and PLAN, a quiz is always a possibility based
on the part of the reading you should have completed. Additionally, if you foresee a problem in the
schedule, please discuss it with me at least 1 class prior to the deadline. Missed deadlines will receive
a late penalty.**