Speak 2

Speak 2

Discussion/Study Question

Pp. 49-92

 

 

1. Discuss Melinda’s decline, including physical symptoms?

 

Melinda’s symptoms include sore throat, raw lips, headaches from tightened jaws when she wakes up in the morning.  She has a hard time talking with her teachers because she stammers or freezes.

 

 

2. Analyze the social studies “debate” and its aftermath. Note who challenges the teacher and the position each person takes. How do you feel about the type of debate? Is the teacher right or wrong? Do students have the right to challenge a teacher?

 

A class debate should not be about personal problems of people in the class.  I think the teacher should not stop the debate because he did not like the comments that were made.  I think students have a right to challenge a teacher if it is done respectfully.

 

 

 

3. 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?

 

A “real” American is someone born in the United States.  I do not agree with Mr. Neck’s opinion.  I think people coming to the United States from other countries legally are alright.   Using Mr. Neck’s definition, some of us are not really Americans. 

 

 

 

4. Discuss the Thanksgiving dinner for Melinda’s family and why this is significant.

 

The Thanksgiving dinner for Melinda’s family is not a traditional holiday as most of us know it.  If the mother’s business does not go well, she is not interested in preparing a Thanksgiving dinner.  Having a good Thanksgiving dinner shows that they do celebrate as a family. 

 

5. Analyze Melinda’s statement about her parents, “I bet they’d be divorced by now if I hadn’t been born.” What does this reflect about her self esteem?

 

Melinda’s statement about her parents explains that she thinks they do not love each other.  They just stay together for her sake. This gives Melinda a low self esteem because she thinks she is in the way of her parents loving each other.

 

 

6. Examine Melinda’s references to her secret and what this reveals about her relationship with her parents. What do you think happened at the party?

 

Melinda’s secret reveals that she does not communicate with her parents.  This causes them not to trust her.  I think she was abused at the party and when no one helped her, she finally called the police.  This caused everyone who was at the party to get in trouble.

 

 

7. Discuss Melinda’s athletic ability, her attitude toward being on the basketball team, and the comparison she makes between basketball and life.

 

Melinda’s is a good basketball player.  Since she has bad grades, I do not think she really wants to play on the team.  The comparison she makes between life and basketball is that when you get fouled, you should be able to foul them back.  That is not how it works in basketball or in life.

 

8. Analyze the deterioration of the relationship between Melinda and Heather. 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?

 

Melinda and Heather’s relation got worse when Heather met new friends and joined the Marthas.  People like to take advantage of things they think they can get easily.  I do not think the Marthas are very good friends because they still give her an attitude with what she wears to school and she is the newest member of the group.

 

 

9. What should we value in other people? What qualities are important in a person? What do you usually notice first about people? Does that really matter?

 

Friendship is about respect, loyalty, and truthfulness.  Those are the qualities that I value.  The first thing I notice about a person is their attitude about what is going on around them. It does not matter since you do not know what kind of day they have had.

 

 

10. Examine Melinda’s reference to IT.

 

Melinda does not like IT because he is always trying to follow her.  He also reminds her about the night of the party. 

 

 

11. Discuss the school conference with Melinda’s parents and the aftermath. What do you think about Melinda’s suicide attempt? Was it real? What does it indicate? What do you think about her mother’s reaction?

 

Melinda’s parents learned of her bad grades and behavior at the school conference.  This caused an argument with her when they got home.  I don’t think she really tried to commit suicide because she did not actually cut her wrist. Suicide attempts indicate sadness and depression.  I think her mother’s reaction was appropriate because I also believe suicide is for cowards.