Discussion Questions: (In a large group or in small groups)

• Is this a book about making intelligent decisions? List three decisions that Melinda makes in the book. Tell why you think she made the decisions and consequences of the decisions. Were there any consequences of her decisions that she could not have reasonably expected?
• Is this a book about friendships? Cliques? Who are Melinda's friends? How do her friendships change? Why do they change?
• How would you describe Mr. Freeman? What qualities does he possess that make him a good teacher? Have you ever known any teacher similar to Mr. Freeman?
• Is this a book about life in a high school? In what ways is Merryweather High School similar to your school? In what ways is it different?
• How would you characterize Melinda's relationship with her family?
• In what ways do you conform to what is expected of you? In what ways do you rebel against what is expected of you?
• Melinda demonstrates many of the symptoms of clinical depression. What behaviors does she manifest that would cause you concern if you were her friend or teacher? What would you do to help her?

Journal Assignment
As you read the book, keep a journal of your responses to Melinda's story. Include in your journal ANY of the following:

• After you finish a chapter, try to predict what will happen next to Melinda.
• Choose one passage from a chapter and write about why that passage caught your attention. Did it surprise you? Puzzle you? Impress you?
• Have you ever been in a situation similar to Melinda's - - ostracized from the members of your school or neighborhood? If so, what did you do? Have you known anyone who was excluded from being a part of your school or community? What did you do in that situation?
• Have you ever been in a frightening situation similar to Melinda's where you no longer felt you had control of what was happening around you? Describe the event and how it was resolved.
• Draw a picutre of how you feel after you have finished reading SPEAK.

Choose one of the following essay topics.

Write an essay explaining how Melinda demonstrates any or all of the following effects of being sexually abused. Include page numbers from the book to support your claims.

• Psychological:

1. Fear of an authority figure
2. Fear of being threatened
3. Sense of not being believed
4. Being blamed for others' actions
5. Feeling of the pervasive reality of sex discrimination in the culture
6. Sense of helplessness
7. Depression

• Physical:

1. Sleep disruption
2. Eating disorders
3. Headaches
4. Stomach ailments
5. Listlessness
6. Inability to concentrate
7. Attempts to injure self
8. Suicide attempts

• Write an essay on a time in your life when you stood up for what was right. This essay may take the form of a personal narrative, an illustrated poem, or a two or three - act play.
• Write an article for your school newspaper on any issue related to SPEAK: date rape, teen-age parties, sexual harassment, alcohol abuse, cliques.
• Write a summary of any of the additional readings provided to the class. Include in your summary your personal response to the article: what you learned, why you disagreed with the author, how you connected the article to your personal experience.
• Do some research on teenage depression. Write a two-to-three page essay on your research.

There will be no exams for this unit. The students will be assessed by how well they complete the assignments: class participation, journal responses, essay, and problem solving.