Speak 1 D.Q.'s pgs. 3-46

1. Analyze Melinda's reaction to the first day of high school and why her fears seem more intense than that of others. Analyze ahy she says, "I am Outcast.

• People dont like her and people bump into her an the hallways. Also everybody is mean to her except Heather. Nobody really wants to hang out with her at school or after school.

2. Examine the meanings of the "clans" and the prevalence of high school cliques. 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?

• Some peopledont like it when people are good at things because there jealous of them. They want to be good at something too but cant. No its not fair to the people that others treat them wrong just because there good at something. Yes adults do this sometimes too.

3. Discuss the "first ten lies they tell you in high school." Compare with your first day of school. So you think Melinda's assumption that they are "lies" is valid?

• Some of the lies that they told her werent true because the football team may not win state championship. Also sometimes the councelers may want to help the students. My first day of high school was not like that at all. I got to see all my old friends and I made some new friends.

4. Examine Melinda's characterization of the teachers. What do these descriptions reflect?

• Her English teacher had orange hair and she was really quiet and shy. She really didnt know what to do with the class. The art teacher was really loud an bright and he basically gives the academics to his class.

5. Discuss Mr. Freeman's approach to teaching art. Have you had similar experiences in classes with this type of teaching style?

• He was bright and he put everything out in the open. Mrs. Bray was really loud and outgoing and she was also really hyper. She introduced everything to us the first day of school and she gave us lectures.

6. Discuss Melinda's home life. How does communication break down in Melinda's family? What could each person do to improve it? If you were a parent, how would communication be in your family?

• There family dont really talk to each other that much. They want Melinda to make good grades. They also use notecards to talk to each other but they only tell each other important things. They should all start talking more and doing stuff together as a family. My communication with my family would be good. We would talk to each other about everything and do family things together.

7. Discuss the interaction between Melinda and Heather. Are they friends? What brings them together?

• Heather kinda gets on Melinda's nerves and she is always talking and she just never shuts up. she always wants to do something and she wants to be somebody in highschool. Yes they are friends. Heather was a new student and thats the only person that will talk to Melinda.

8. Are we sometimes different people on the outside than we are in the inside? How? Why is this true, do you think?

• Yes. people may do something that they really wouldnt do, but they did it to be cool or make an impression.