SPEAK

SPEAK

READ THE NOVEL, SPEAK.

Students MUST refer to the Speak outline for work during this unit. All students are advised to keep track of what they have handed in by crossing-off on their Speak outline itself any complete/submitted assignments.

Preliminary Activity

1. Every school has groups with whom students may associate. List the groups that you would find in Chestermere High School and identify qualities, traits, codes (dress, attitude, etc) that each group has.

Group name	Qualities, traits, codes (dress, attitude, activities)

Section A: "First Marking Period"

1. Vocabulary: Define each word in your own words AND use it in a sentence.

2. Journal #1: After you read the first section of the novel, determine what the quote, "I am Outcaste" means (minimum 1/2 page single-spaced).

3. Make a list of the groups found in Melinda's new school:

Group name	Qualities, traits, codes (dress, attitude, activities)

3. Using a similarities/differences chart, compare this list with the list you made of the groups found in Chestermere High School.

Similarities

Differences

4. Why do you think Melinda needs a "sanctuary"? (minimum 1/2 page single-spaced)

5. Look on page 5 at "The first 10 lies they tell you in high school" and make up your own list of 10 lies "they" tell you in high school.

6. On an 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of blank paper, Create a Picture of Melinda -- initial impressions -- you can draw or cut a picture from a magazine on what you think Melinda looks like. On the top left side, describe her physical features. On the right top side describe what she is thinking. On the bottom left side, list the "good" comments about her from her fellow students. On the bottom right side, list the "bad/negative" comments about her from the other students.

Section B: "Second Marking Period"

1. Vocabulary: Define each word in your own words AND use it in a sentence.

2. Journal #2: Write about a bullying situation in which you have been involved, or one that you have witnessed or read about. Explain in detail what you saw, how you felt, and what you heard. BE DESCRIPTIVE AND DETAILED. (minimum 1/2 page single-spaced)

3. Using your Business Letter Handout, write a letter to the principal regarding bullying in the school. What is going on, who is a target, what is/isn't being done about the problem, and present a possible solution to the problem of your own.

4. "Fresh meat, that's what IT whispers" (86). What do you think the author means with this statement and why does Melinda call him "IT" rather than by his own name?

5. Choose THREE titles from this section. Write the titles down and summarize the contents of that section. Then provide a "better" or more descriptive title for each of these sections.

Section C: "Third Marking Period"

1. Vocabulary: Define each word in your own words AND use it in a sentence.

2. Vocabulary Activity: Using and THREE vocabulary words, write poems that use the First letter in each word and tell something about the story or something about a character in the story. Give your poem a title. For example:

Melinda

R - Really miserable

A - Always getting into trouble

N - Never tells anyone what is the problem

T - Too much pressure to be someone else

3. Journal #3: If you could give advice to teachers, principals and/or parents about how to deal with someone who is experiencing some of the same problems as Melinda, what advice would you give? Be specific and detailed. (minimum 1/2 page single-spaced)

4. Go back to Section A and read the instructions for Create a Picture of Melinda. Create an updated picture with the same four sections now that you have gotten to know her better.

Section D: "Fourth Marking Period"

1. Vocabulary: Define each word in your own words AND use it in a sentence.

2. Vocabulary Activity: Individually or in pairs choose ONE of the following.

a. Draw pictures to represent the words. Put the vocabulary word on the page and draw a picture showing what the word means or is about.

b. Write a descriptive story using all 10 of the vocabulary words in your story.

3. Journal #4: Now that you have finished the novel, write a critic's novel review. (minimum 1 page single spaced)

Paragraph 1: List the things you liked about the story and explain why.

Paragraph 2: List the things you didn't like about the story and explain why.

Paragraph 3. Discuss characters in the novel: what you liked about them or disliked; who you can relate with, or explain how a friend/teacher/parent from the novel reminds you of a friend/teacher/parent you know -- and ALWAYS EXPLAIN WHY.

4. MAJOR ASSIGNMENT -- Personal response to literature: We will go to the computer lab and you will answer the following question in a 500 word (2 page, typed, double-spaced) response:

Should Melinda have bottled up what happened to her at the party? Explain your answer with a great deal of thought and detail. Provide possible alternatives.

Before you begin writing, fill out the following essay writing template to help you organize your thoughts in proper essay writing format:

Introductory paragraph & thesis

List your three reasons

THESIS: Melinda should/should not (circle) have bottled up what happened to her at the party.

First premise/reason that supports your thesis

Give examples of why

Melinda should/should not (circle) have bottled up what happened to her at the party because...

Second premise/reason that supports your thesis.

Give examples of why

Melinda should/should not (circle) have bottled up what happened to her at the party because...

Third premise/reason that supports your thesis

Give examples of why

Melinda should/should not (circle) have bottled up what happened to her at the party because...

Concluding paragraph:

Restate all three points and tie them back to your thesis

Discuss some possible alternatives to how Melinda acted.

In closing,

Post-Reading Activities on Speak

1. Write a movie review of Speak (2005). What did you like about the movie? What did you dislike? What did they add to the movie that wasn't part of the book? What did they leave out? On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the movie and WHY? (2 paragraph reflection)

2. MAJOR ASSIGNMENT: Complete the compare/contrast assignment for the novel Speak and the movie Life as a House.