Speak Free Write assignment

Welcome back – this time with English Answer (Wo)man!  As you continue to read Speak, you need to respond to each of the Free Write Journal Topics below.  You can post these to your blog, but you must also turn in a hardcopy at the end.  I recommend you complete these as you read and not all in one sitting.  Each response needs to be around 100-300 words.

Continue doing excellent work!

1.    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).

2.    Mr. Neck doesn't understand Free Speech as David Petrakis does, but through this part of the novel, the reader can think about what it means to have the freedom to say what one believes. What does free speech mean to you?

3.    Are we sometimes different people on the outside than we are on the inside? Which characters from the novel fit this description? Why is this true about people, do you think?

4.    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).

5.    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).

6.    Write about one of Mr. Freeman’s “words of wisdom” and how it is either true or false, based on your learning and experience: (choose another quote if you like)

                                    -"You must walk alone to find your soul" (118)

            -"Art is about making mistakes and learning from them" (122).

-"Nothing is perfect. Flaws are interesting" (153).

7.    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).

8.    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).