SPEAK
Pre-Reading Activities
Pre-Reading Activity 1
While reading, you will journal how you feel (find this activity in Guided Reading
Activity 1). But for now, to start you off, choose 3 out of the 5 following prompts to
answer in three separate journal entries:
1. Write about a time when either you or someone that you know has been outcast or
alone. How did you/the person you know feel?
2. Write about some of your teachers, or other adult figures in your life, and how
they impacted your life either positively or negatively.
3. Write about a time when you had something happen to you, or you witnessed
something that you felt that you could not talk about.
4. Write about someone you’ve felt has been there for you or would be there for you
no matter what. What are the characteristics/qualities of this person? Why are
they so special to you?
5. Write about a time in which you overcame one of your greatest fears, stood up for
yourself, or spoke clearly and honestly about something that you didn’t believe in.
Pre-Reading Activity 2
Answer the following questions in a group discussion.
Look at the cover of your copy of Speak. Without opening the book, make predictions
about what you think it will be about.
 What colors do you see? Why do you think that these colors were used? What
might they represent?
 What images are used? What might they symbolize?
 What can you already tell about the girl on the cover by
looking at her eyes? What type of character do you think
she is?
 Based on what you see on the cover, what clues do you
have about the book’s plot and characters?
Now look at the title:
 What role do you think the word “speak” plays in this
book? Think about your own life. How do you speak on
a daily basis? Is speaking important? Why or why not?
 Think about speaking and listening. Are they related?
How? Can one exist without the other?
Pre-Reading Activity 3
Every day you experience a range of emotions. These emotions play a major role in who
we are as people. Think about the different emotions that you have experienced today.
Using a magazine, find words and images that represent you and how you feel on a daily
basis. Your emotions may be similar. For example, you may be happy, joyful, playful,
and excited. But they may have a wide range as well. For example, you may wake up
grumpy, then you find yourself frustrated because it’s raining outside, but then you walk
into your kitchen and your mom is making your favorite breakfast so you’re instantly
happy.
Find a magazine and cut out images and words that represent your daily emotions. Fold a
piece of paper in half. Using only one side, create a collage using your magazine cut-outs.
Keep this collage to use later.
Pre-Reading Activity 4
Create a book of synonyms for the word “speak.” Include definitions with the synonyms
that you find. Be as creative as you can be. Use artwork and different symbols that
might also tie into the synonyms you find.
Below is an example of how to create a book:
Pre-Reading Activity 5
Research the author of Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson.
In your journal, answer the following questions, as well as any additional information
that you find interesting or helpful.
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What type of literature does Laurie Halse Anderson write?
o What influences her writing?
o Who does she write for? (Who is her target audience?)
What do you like about her and her writing style? Why?
What might you dislike about her and/or her writing style? Why?
Which, of the books that she has written, would you like to read? Why? What
makes these books seem interesting to you?
If you could meet Laurie Halse Anderson, what is one question that you would
like to ask her?
When you came across the book Speak in your research, did you find yourself
excited about the prospect of reading it? Why or why not?
Did you have any expectations about Laurie Halse Anderson before researching
her? If so, were your expectations met? How or how not?
Pre-Reading Activity 6
Read the following poem by Laurie Halse Anderson.
You write to us
from Houston, Brooklyn,
Peoria,
Rye, NY,
LA, DC, Everyanywhere
USA to
my mailbox, My
Space Face
Book
A livejournal of bffs
whispering
Onehundredthousand
whispers to
Melinda and
Me.
years
i loved him
i didn’t even know him.
He was my best friend’s
brother,
my grandfather, father,
mommy’s
boyfriend,
my date
my cousin
my coach
i met him for the first time
that
night and —
four guys took turns, and –
You:
I was raped, too
sexually assaulted in seventh
grade,
tenth grade, the summer after
graduation,
at a party
i was 16
i was 14
i was 5 and he did it for three
i’m a boy and this happened
to
me, and —
… I got pregnant I gave up
my
daughter for adoption …
did it happen to you, too?
U 2?
You:
i wasn’t raped, but
my dad drinks, but
i hate talking, but
my brother was shot, but
i am outcast, but
my parents split up, but
i am clanless, but
we lost our house, but
i have secrets – seven years
of secrets
and i cut
myself my friends cut
we all cut cut cut
to let out the pain
… my 5-year-old cousin was
raped –
he’s beginning to act out now
…
do you have suicidal
thoughts?
do you want to kill him?
You:
Melinda is a lot like this girl I
know
No she’s a lot like
(me)
i am MelindaSarah
i am MelindaRogelio i am
MelindaMegan,
MelindaAmberMelindaSteph
enTori
PhillipNavdiaTiaraMateoKris
tinaBeth
it keeps hurting, but
but
but
but
this book cracked my shell
it keeps hurting I hurt, but
but your book cracked my
shell.
You:
I cried when I read it.
I laughed when I read it
is that dumb?
I sat with the girl —
you know, that girl —
I sat with her because nobody
sits with
her at lunch
and I’m a cheerleader, so
there.
speak changed my life
cracked my shell
made me think
about parties
gave me
wings this book
opened my mouth
i whispered, cried
rolled up my sleeves i
hate talking but
I am trying.
You made me remember who
I
am.
Thanks.
P.S. Our class is gonna
analyze this thing to death.
Me:
Me:
Me: weeping
Write a response to this poem in your journal. Your response can be a poem, too. Or you
can just write about your reaction to it.
Pre-Reading Activity 7
What is setting? How do authors typically introduce setting in their books? Why is
setting so important? Can you think of a book that you have read that might have been
completely different if the setting changed? Why is that the case?
Scan the book Speak and find words that could describe its setting. Create an artistic
representation of what your idea of the setting is. Don’t worry about getting it
completely right. Just use what you find to create what you think might be an important
aspect to the setting of Speak. We’ll compare representations in class and determine once
you have finished the book how your idea played into the book as a whole.
Pre-Reading Activity 8
You will be divided into groups. Within your groups, you will choose phrases (that the
teacher has already written). You will then play the “telephone game.” Only the person
who chooses the phrase will know exactly what it says. That person will then whisper
the phrase to the second person in the group. He/she may only say it once before the
second person repeats what he/she heard to the next group member. After the phrase has
been passed along, the final group member will announce to the group what he/she heard.
In most cases, the final phrase is not what is started as.
This activity is to show you how information can be skewed as it is passed along. After
playing the game, discuss within your group the following questions:
 Have you ever experienced gossiping at your school?
 Have you ever been the subject of a rumor?
 Have you ever been the instigator?
 How can gossiping hurt people? Why?
SPEAK
Guided Reading Activities
Guided Reading Activity 1
As you read Speak, you will be maintaining a journal. Each time you read, or we read a
selection of the book as a class, you will be required to journal your
feelings/thoughts/questions. If you have a reaction to any particular quotation, you might
include the quote and your reaction. If something that Melinda (or any of the other
characters) says/does strikes you, write about it!
The teacher will not read your responses, as they may be personal. BUT, the teacher will
be scanning your journal to make sure that you include at least one entry for each time
that you read.
Guided Reading Activity 2
Give the characters a chat screen name. Create a dialogue between two of the characters
as if they were chatting online. Make sure that you designate (before you create your
dialogue) which characters have which screen name. Make the conversations relevant to
the story and meaningful.
To get you thinking:
 What would they talk about?
 Who, of the characters in Speak, would be most likely to talk to each other?
 What would the tone of the conversation be (i.e. angry, friendly, concerned…)
Type your dialogue using a chat format. An example is found below:
Silentartist: hey how are you toady?
Silentartist: *today
Pretty_n_Pink: Im SOOOOO gr8!!! How r u???
Silentartist: I’m sad. I have a horrible secret that I can’t tell anybody…
Pretty_n_Pink: Oh no! What’s your secret???? I promise I won’t tell
anybody!
Guided Reading Activity 3
Create an alternative book cover for Speak. Make sure you include important symbols
and that the cover accurately embodies the overall tone of the book.
Write one to two paragraphs explaining why you chose the elements that you chose for
your cover design.
Guided Reading Activity 4
“Art without emotion is like chocolate cake without sugar. It makes you gag." He sticks
his finger down his throat. "The next time you work on your trees, don't think about trees.
Think about love, or hate, or joy, or pain- whatever makes you feel something, makes
your palms sweat, or your toes curl. Focus on that feeling.”
–Mr. Freeman, Speak
In the above quotation from Mr. Freeman, Melinda’s art teacher, he speaks to Melinda
about her frustration with drawing trees. Throughout the entire novel, Melinda almost
obsessively draws trees. Why do you think that is?
Think about the quotation from Mr. Freeman and then think about what you know about
Melinda. Compare those things to your own life. Then, draw a tree that is most
representative of you: who you are and what you are going through.
Write a few brief sentences, a poem, a song/rap, or journal entry describing your tree in
context with your life.
Guided Reading Activity 5
The Ten Lies They Tell You…
In the beginning of the book Speak, Melinda references “The Ten Lies They Tell You in
High School.” Can you relate to these “lies?” Are Melinda’s assumptions correct? Why
or why not?
Now, think of other falsities that you may have been told in various contexts. Like
Melinda, you can think about these misconceptions in reference to high school. Or, you
can think about them in other contexts; for example, misconceptions about the country,
you, your friends, people your age, race…
Be prepared to share your list with the class. We will vote on the top ten best
misconceptions, and discuss why these things aren’t what one necessarily expects.
Guided Reading Activity 6
Think about Mr. Freeman’s role in Melinda’s life. How and why was he important?
Now, think about a person in your life who is as important to you. What
traits/characteristics does this person have? Is he/she similar to Mr. Freeman? If so, in
what way?
You will be required to interview that person who is important to you. Create a list of ten
questions to ask him/her. Make sure you obtain his/her permission before interviewing
him/her. Make sure you tell your interviewee about your assignment, too.
Ask questions that would prompt insightful answers. As readers, we want to get to know
the person you admire!
Once you have interviewed the person who means the most to you, write a two to three
page paper describing this person. Include the information that you gathered during your
interview, but also include personal experiences with that person.
You will be required to submit the questions, your interviewee’s answers, and the essay
that you have written.
Guided Reading Activity 7
Throughout the novel Speak, Melinda consistently gives herself a report card. For
example, she gives herself the following report card for the first grading period:
Plays Nice B
Lunch
D
Clothes
C
Social Studies C
Biology
B
English
C
Spanish C
Algebra C+
Gym
C+
Art A
Write your own personal report card in which you “grade” yourself in several different
areas of life. Include this in your journal, and if you wish, you may share your report
card with the class. Make sure that you include an explanation for your grade in at least 5
of the subject areas. Also, you won’t be including actual grades that you receive in your
academic classes. You’re giving yourself a “life grade!”
Guided Reading Activity 8
For this activity, you will be divided into “teams.” Within your teams, you will create a
mascot. Think about why the symbol of a mascot is important within the context of the
novel Speak.
Along with the creation of your mascot, your team will create a chant. You’re
encouraged to be as creative and entertaining as possible. Once you all have created your
chant/cheer and mascot your team will share your creations with the class. After
everyone has shared, the class will vote on which mascot and chant will represent the
class. (Teams may not vote for their own mascot and chant).
SPEAK
Post-Reading Activities
Post-Reading Activity 1
Research the topic of sexual assault. Find as much information as you can.
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How can a person protect themselves?
What are precautions that a person could take to avoid date rape?
What laws exist pertaining to date rape within your state?
What is the definition of date rape?
Who is at risk?
What are some statistics related to date rape?
What resources are available for people who experience date rape and sexual
assault?
Using the information that you find, create a pamphlet informing people your age about
the issue of date rape. Think about what might have been helpful for Melinda. What
information would you include that could have helped her avoid the situation altogether?
You will create your pamphlet in groups of two to three. You will also be required to
submit a list of resources that you used along with the pamphlet that your group creates.
Finally, your group will be asked to present your pamphlet to the class.
Post-Reading Activity 2
Laurie Halse Anderson, the author of Speak obtains a great deal of her inspiration from
her readers. As you already gathered from the Pre-Reading Activity – in which you read
Anderson’s Poem “Listen,” she receives numerous letters from her readers. These letters
are often in response to the books that she has written.
You will be required to write a letter to Laurie Halse Anderson explaining your reaction
to her book Speak. You can make it a personal letter, or you can just explain what the
book meant to you in general terms. As a class, we will actually be mailing our letters to
Mrs. Anderson.
Post-Reading Activity 3
In Pre-Reading Activity 3, you were asked to create a collage made of magazine cut-outs
that represented your personality and emotions. You used only one half of a page to
create this collage. Now that you have completed reading Speak, you are asked to finish
the collage by creating a representation of Melinda’s character and emotions. You will
use the same technique as you did previously (by finding magazine pictures and words).
Your final product will show similarities and differences between yourself and Melinda’s
character.
Post-Reading Activity 4
Imagine that you are a character from the novel Speak. You’re watching Melinda and
writing about your reactions to her.
Choose a scene from Speak and re-write it from a different character’s perspective. What
do you notice about Melinda? What is your reaction to her, and what is your reaction to
some of the same situations that Melinda finds herself in?
Post-Reading Activity 5
Now that you have finished reading Speak, imagine that you have been hired by a top
literary magazine. Your expertise is highly sought after, and you have been asked to
write a review for the book by Laurie Halse Anderson.
In order to live up to your prestigious reputation, make sure that you research several
novel reviews.
 What information do novel reviews include?
 What is your opinion of the novel and what information do you have to support
your opinion?
Once you have written your review, you will be asked to read it to the class, and the class
will decide whether or not they would like to read the book based on your review.
Post-Reading Activity 6
Talk Show
You and your classmates will take turns role playing. Below is a list of the different roles
that you might play:
 Host
 Laurie Halse Anderson (Author of Speak)
 Melinda Sordino
 Mr. Freeman
 Andy Evans
 Heather
 Ivy
 Rachel
 Nicole
 Melinda’s mom
 Melinda’s dad
 Mr. Neck
 One of “The Marthas”
Your character will be featured on a talk show. As a class, prior to the talk show, each of
you will come up with at least one question that you would like to ask each of the
characters. These questions will then be given to the host, and the host will ask the
assigned characters the questions that he/she is given. At any time, the host may ask for
additional questions/input from the audience, so be prepared!
Post-Reading Activity 7
Toward the end of the book, Melinda talks about her experience with yearbook day. As
you probably experience in your own school, it is common for peers to write messages in
each other’s yearbooks.
Now that the novel Speak has concluded, much as a school year ends, write a message to
Melinda in her yearbook.
The teacher will have already created a board that will serve as Melinda’s yearbook.
Grab a pen and write her a message!
Post-Reading Activity 8
You and your classmates will be separated into groups of four or five. One member of
your group will be designated as the person who cannot speak, no matter what is said to
them. The other members of your group will attempt to break this silence, and get your
silent group member to speak. After taking turns being the silent member, create a poem
or rap song about how you felt in both situations. You will have two different pieces of
work. Have fun with it, yet take this seriously!
Further Reading
If you liked Speak, you’ll probably like this stuff…
Suggested Reading:
Define Normal by Julie Anne Peters
Cut by Patricia McCormick
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
Twisted Laurie by Halse Anderson
Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
Identical by Ellen Hopkins
I Hadn’t Meant to Tell You This by Jacqueline Woods
Suggested Media:
Speak (2004)
“Laurie Halse Anderson- Speak Poem” –YouTube
Related Songs:
“Vienna” by Billy Joel
“Stand” by Rascal Flatts
“Just a Girl” by No Doubt
“Shock the Monkey” by Peter Gabriel
Helpful Resources:
RAIIN.ORG : Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network