Speak 4 Discussion Questions (pg. 141-198)

Speak 4

Discussions/Study Questions

pp. 141-198

 

1. Discuss the evolvement of the name of the Merry weather High School mascot and the debate over each name.

 

• The school’s mascot started out as the Tigers.  They decided to change it because their football team was losing and they wanted a new name.  Some of the new names included:  Hornets, Wombats, Bees, Icebergs, and Hilltoppers.  The majority vote was the Wombats and then they became the Hornets.

 

2. What draws Melinda and Ivy together?

 

• Melinda and Ivy become friends again because they have Art class together.  Melinda spilt paint on herself and Mr. Freeman sent Ivy in the bathroom to check on her and to make sure she did not try to skip school.  They start talking after this.

 

3. Do you agree or disagree with “Ten More Lies…” Why?

 

 

• I do agree some and disagree with other of the “Ten More Lies”.   I do not think I will need Algebra in my career and that all bus drivers are professional. 

 

 

4. Describe Melinda’s inner turmoil when she discovers Rachel is dating Andy. What should she have done? Did she do they right thing?

 

 

• Melinda is scared for Rachel when she finds out that she is dating Andy. I think Melinda did the right thing telling Rachel what Andy did to her, and if Rachel didn’t believe her than that was Rachel’s problem.

 

 

5. What is the symbolism of Mr. Freeman’s statement, “….trees are flexible, so they don’t snap. Scar it, give it a twisted branch-perfect trees don’t exist…Be the tree”

 

 

• Mr. Freeman is symbolizing that we are like trees, which come in all different sizes and shapes, and that none of us are perfect either.  He talks about their flexibility and how they do not snap.  He wants us to be like trees and have the ability to be flexible and discuss things with each other.

 

 

 

6. How does Melinda begin to assert herself and find her voice?

 

• Melinda begins to talk to her mother when she has to stay home because she is sick.

 

 

7. What happens when Melinda decides to talk to Rachel?

 

• When Melinda decides to talk to Rachel, she tells her what happened with Andy at the party.   Rachel freaks out and accuses Melinda of being jealous of Andy and her.

 

 

8. What do entries under Melinda’s initial graffiti in the bathroom reveal?

 

• Melinda’s initial graffiti reveals that Andy Evans is a “Guy to Stay Away From”.

 

 

9. What is the correlation between Mr. Sordino’s treatment and explanation of the diseased tree with Melinda’s “survival?”

 

• Mr. Sordino’s treatment and explanation of the diseased tree means that if you cut down the dead or diseased branches, the tree will have a chance of survival.  Melinda’s survival depends on getting rid of the depression so she could become strong again.

 

10. What happens at the Prom?

 

• Rachel breaks up with Andy at the prom after she realizes that Melinda told her the truth about him.

 

11. What is the resolution to the story?

 

• The resolution of the story is that everybody in the school finds out that Andy raped Melinda.  Melinda’s friends come back to her.