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Speak – 2nd Marking Period Section Handout

Vocabulary

  1. abysmal

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  1. anthropologist

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  1. buccaneer

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  1. chisel

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  1. demented

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  1. demure

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  1. dormant

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  1. ecology

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  1. eloquent

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  1. harried

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  1. incompetence

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  1. intolerant

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  1. menacing

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  1. patriarch

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  1. refurbish

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  1. retention

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  1. rummage

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  1. tentacle

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  1. wince

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  1. xenophobic

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Characters: Write down what is taking place with these characters during Marking Period 2.

Melinda Sordino ______

______

Mom & Dad ______

______

Heather ______

______

Rachel/Rachelle ______

______

IT ______

______

The Martha’s______

______

“Speak”- 2nd Marking Period- Questions – Answer on a separate sheet of paper!

Chapter “Closet Space” and “Job Day”

  1. When Melinda wakes up in the morning, does she get a good, restful night’s sleep? How does she feel when she wakes up?
  2. What does Melinda claim to have in her gut and what is it doing to her?
  3. The “thing” in her gut is symbolic of what?
  4. Where is her quiet place where she can keep the thoughts inside her head?
  5. What is Melinda’s goal right now in life?

Chapter “Giving Thanks” and “Wishbone”

  1. Describe characteristics of Melinda’s mother. Give an example of one sentence from this chapter that offers characterization of her mother.
  2. How much effort does Melinda’s mother put into cooking Thanksgiving?
  3. Is it important for her mother to make a Thanksgiving dinner for the family? Give an example of a sentence that tells us the answer to this question.
  4. What kind of doughnut does Melinda get from the bag and why is that significant?
  5. Explain the significance of the following quote: “I want another doughnut, but don’t feel like wading through the fight to get it”.

Chapters “Wishbone” and “Peeled and Cored” and “First Amendment…”

  1. Chapter “Wishbone”. Explain the significance of the following quote: “I place a piece of tape over Barbie’s mouth.”
  2. Page 66 Paraphrase the memory Melinda discusses about her childhood. Paraphrase at least 3 specific pieces of imagery.
  3. Page 67. Why do you think Melinda says: “Biology is so cool” and it is the only class she gets a B in?
  4. Page 68. Why is David Petrakis Melinda’s hero?

Chapter “Winter Break” and “Hard Labor”

  1. This chapter discusses another childhood memory of Melinda’s, what is it?
  2. Who puts up the Christmas decorations and tree at Melinda’s house?
  3. Why do you think Melinda feels as though her parents would be “divorced if she hadn’t been born”?
  4. Describe the significance of this quote: “We lived in a different house then, a smaller house. Mom worked at the jewelry counter and was home after school. Dad had a nicer boss and talked all the time about buying a boat. I believed in Santa Claus.”
  5. Why does Melinda want to “borrow a kid for a few days”?
  6. What does Melinda get for Christmas?
  7. What makes Melinda’s eyes swell up in tears?
  8. What do you think meant more to Melinda as her Christmas receiving: the answer to #7 or #8?
  9. What evidence from this chapter would give us a clue as to whether or not the above quote in #3 could be true or not?
  10. Page 74. What triggers Melinda to have IT’s face pop into her head? Why do you think this triggers her to think of IT? Does this give us a clue about anything?

Chapter “Foul” and “Dead Frogs”

  1. What kind of basketball player is Melinda? What sentence lets you know this?
  2. Describe the significance of the following quote: “If basketball had a designated foul-shot shooter, maybe I’d consider it. The other team fouls you, you get to pay them back. Boom. But that’s not the way it works, in basketball or in life.”
  3. Page 82. What do we learn about Melinda’s strategy to “silence her memory” by not talking about it; what is her goal in doing this? Is it working?

Chapter “Naming the Monster”

  1. What is Melinda helping Heather with?
  2. What happens to Melinda when she is hanging posters outside the metal-shop room?
  3. What does IT say? Is IT a male of female?
  4. Why do you think this happened outside of the metal-shop classroom?
  5. Is this interaction with IT real or imaginary?

Chapter: “Rent Round 3”

  1. What does Melinda do with a paper clip to herself? Was it on purpose or accident?
  2. When and why does she stop?
  3. What is the name of the book Melinda’s mother bought for her? What lierary device is the book’s title?

Chapter: “Can It” and “Dark Art”

  1. What name is finally given to IT?
  2. How do the Martha’s describe IT?
  3. What bodily reactions are caused to Melinda by IT?
  4. What does IT do to Melinda? Is this real or imaginary?
  5. Page 92. What happens physically to Melinda in art class? Was this on purpose or an accident?