...Literary Analysis: Speak Imagine not having a voice to speak out for yourself, your thoughts, and your opinions. In the book “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson, the main character Melinda tries to do what she believes is the right thing for herself, but eventually looses everything that's important to her all because she spoke out. Though her high school experience wasn't the best, the one thing that was valuable is the fact she found a voice to speak out about what happened to her. Though it may seem impossible to do, try your very hardest to find that voice, speak out for yourself. The author of “Speak”, Laurie Halse Anderson, was born on October 23rd, 1961 in Potsdam New York. She is most know for young adult and children's novels. Laurie’s...
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...Peer pressure may force teenagers to drink and ditch school. I think the author of “Speak”, Laurie Halse Anderson is saying that teenagers tend to get in trouble when they are pressured to undertake tasks they do not want to execute. Melinda was forced to ditch school because she was being bullied by her friends and other people who are also pressured to bully her. (Halse).I was pressured to drink at my friends house because he would release out my personal secret. When I am having trouble with bullying, I just want to conceal myself from the outside world just like Melinda did when she was hiding in the old janitor's closet because she was being bullied. (Halse).Melinda handled the pressure by confronting towards her friends and art teacher...
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...traumatizing event in someone’s life that takes time and patience to get over. The victim may need a lot of help to cope with their rape. The books “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson and “You Against Me” by Jenny Downham are both examples of what occurs before and after a rape. They explain how someone would feel if it really did happen, and they explain the importance of providing an ear for the victim so they can cope with their situation. They are good examples because on shows it from the victim’s point of view and the other from a family member’s point of view, so you can get both people’s perspectives on the state that person is in. They give you an idea on the actions you should take if something like this occurs to either you...
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...Lost One’s Weeping Turned to a Found One’s Smile “When people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time.”- Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak. This statement is especially true for Melinda in Speak, because the longer she keeps her past to herself, the more she destroys herself. Her problem roots from her trust issues, and while in good reason, it clearly blocks her progress in moving on. Melinda is a girl of few words, but she does try to communicate through her art, body language or posture, and speech, even if it is rare. One of the first methods Melinda used to express her thoughts and feelings to other people was through her art. This method was considered ‘safe’ for Melinda because she didn’t have to spell anything out to anyone, so anyone could interpret it they way they saw her art. That...
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...In life there would be many people who are going to be intolerant to you just because how you look and how you act. In the book Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, the characters experience intolerance when they can't find friends. The story talks about 14 year old girl who is named Melinda and she is considered to be different. Ultimately, Melinda, narrator, develops throughout the book by speaking up what happened to her. People are intolerant to her because they understand too little about Melinda. Eventually, when Melinda speaks up people start understanding and accepting her. In the beginning, Melinda had no friends because most people isolated her from them because they understand too little about her. For example, Melinda states, ''I don't have anyone to sit with. I am Outcast.''(page #4) This shows that at...
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...clothes the wrong attitude. And I don't have anyone to sit with” (pg.4) “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson is about Melinda who is the main character in the book . The quote above mentioned that Melinda started school on the wrong foot and that was because she was sexually assaulted at a party. She did call the cops which was the right thing to do, but now everybody is mad at her. It is all because of Andy Evens it wasn't even her fault. First, Melinda starts High School as a freshmen with no friends. A group of people were laughing at her when she didn't do anything. Mels ex best friend Rachel was the reason why the group was making fun of her. “I turn around. Its Rachel surrounded by a bunch of kids” (pg.4) Rachel is really mean to Mellie and nobody knows why she called the cops, and she is too shy to talk about it or tell anyone. Melinda when she comes to the cafeteria for lunch she always runs out at lunch because she has nowhere else to go. That has a big effect on Melinda because she is so lonely and wishes she wishes she had just one friend. There is a girl who follows Mel around, and she doesn't really like her that much because she talks too much. “Heather from Ohio sits with me lunch” “She can talk for...
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...American Pop: Popular Culture Decade by Decade. Ed. Bob Bacthelor. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press 2009. 978-0-313- 34410-7. 4 vol. 1,604p. $375.00. Gr. 9-12. This four volume set gives students a broad and interdisciplinary overview of the many and varied aspects of pop culture across America from 1900 to the present. The volumes cover the following chronological periods: V 1. 1900-1929, V 2. 1930-1959, V 3. 1960-1989 and Vol. 4. 1990-Present. There is an Introduction for each volume focusing on the major issues during that period. There is a Timeline of events for the decade which gives extra oversight and content to the study of the period and an Overview of each dcade. Chapters focus on specific areas of pop culture (Advertising, Books, Entertainment, Fashion, Food Music and much more) supplemented with sidebars containing stories, photos, illustrations and Notable information. There are endnotes for each decade and a Resource Guide and Index. Volume 4 also contains a Cost of Products from 1900-2000, and an Appendix with Classroom Resources for teachers and students and a Cumulative Index. Students, teachers and the general reader will love sifting through the experiences of Americans as they easily follow the crazes, technological breakthroughs and the experiences of art, entertainment, sports and other cultural forces and events that influenced each generation. Reference– Popular Culture ...
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...the intention of becoming an Episcopal Priest. He never attended divinity school, however, because his experience working in the hospital with children suffering from life-threatening illnesses inspired him to become a writer. He lived in Chicago for several years, writing book reviews, writing for radio, and working in publishing. During this time he wrote his first novel, Looking for Alaska (2005) to immediate, and increasing, success. He followed that first novel with An Abundance of Katherines (2006), Paper Towns (2008), and The Fault in Our Stars (2012), which reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list for children. Green currently lives in Indianapolis with his wife and two kids, where he continues to write, produce videos, and speak publicly about an array of topics. chronicle his artistic journey in making the film adaption of his novel. The film's trailer gained over 3 million views in less than 24 hours after it was released. PLOT SUMMARY PLO Hazel Grace Lancaster is a seventeen-year-old living with cancer. At the request of her mother, who believes she is depressed, Hazel attends a cancer support group in the basement of a church. Hazel does not like the support group, but goes to make her mother happy. One day upon...
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