Chapters 3-4 for Killing Mr. Griffin

Chapter Three:

1.The members of davids family are introduced. briefly identify them.

• grandma- very dependent, mom- kind, distent, dependent

2.Why doed david think he needs a good education?

• he feels that he is the one that needs to support his family.

3.Find the metaphor in this chapter that helps issustrate the emptiness of davids life.

• his living room is depressing and lonely, he is this super populay guy at school

4.Support or refute the following statement: david goes along with mark because he dislikes Mr. Griffin and needs a better english grade to get into law school.

• he wants to go to college and that is the only class he has left to pass

Chaapter four:

1.

Chapter 1-2 for Killing Mr. Griffin

Chapter One
1. Briefly identify the children in the McConnell family.

• Susan, Melvin, Francis, Craig

2. What does Susan mean by "someday"?

• she wants everything to be normal and exactly the way she wants her life to be.

3. Who is David Ruggles? How does Susan feel about him?

• The president of the senior class. She has a huge crush, and dreams about him.

4. Several other students of Room 117 are introduced. Briefly identify them.

• Betsy Cline, David Ruggles, Mark Kinney, Jeff Garrett

5. In the classroom scene, what emphasizes Susan's feelings of being an outsider?

• She feels so alone, sickened, alienated, and afraid. She doesn't fit in with her classmates.

6. Two teachers are introduced. Briefly identify them.

• Mr. Griffin, Mrs. Dolly Luna

7. Mr. Griffin is very strict and stern with the students. Do you think these qualities make him a good teacher? Briefly explain your answer.

• Probably not, because he gives no student extra credit, and most of all he gives them so many F's for a late paper. making them fail a lot.

8. An allusion is when a writer refers to a person, place, poem, book, or movie that the reader, is expected to recognize. Find an example of allusion in this chapter.

• Susan's song she wrote.

9. In what ways does Susan think she and the dying female in Hamlet are similar?

• She didn't do her best in her work. Felt so depressed that she cried, and felt so ashamed.

10. A metaphor is a comparison of two things that are basically unlike, in order to create a sharp picture. In this first chapter find the metaphor involving a bird that helps the author define how Susan is feeling about her life.

• She had a sudden, irrational urge to put her head down on the desk and weep for all of them, for the whole world, for the awful day that was staring so badly.

11. Jeff says, "That Griffin's the sort of guy you'd like to kill." Why doesn't Susan think he is serious?

• Because Jeff really hated Mr. Griffin so much that he had a plan to do that, but Susan thought that he was bluffing which he wasn't.

12. Frequently, objects which seem inconsequential when first mentioned become an important part of the plot later. In the last six paragraphs do you noticed any object that might be foreshadowing?

• Yes that Jeff explained to the gang how to kill Mr. Griffin by tying him with some rope, and blindfolding him.

Chapter Two

1. Why does Mark say the following? " Jeff's done a neat job of lining us up for a mass flunk out."

• Because Mr. Griffin keeps on giving Jeff F's all semester.

2. Explain Mark's special dislike of Mr. Griffin.

• He had to take the English course again for the second time, and he wanted to him since he came to Mr. Griffin class.

3. "Jeff had seen that look before, and it always meant something." What look does Jeff see? What does Jeff think it means?

• That killer look that Mark had when he wanted to do something for the pleasure of it. He really wanted to kill Mr. Griffin so badly.

4. Why do Jeff and Betsy go along with the plan?

• They were tired of flunking his class all the time, but they weren't trying to fail. They were trying to pass and get out of his class for good.

5. Why does Mark believe Dave will go with the plan?

• He likes a challenge, also Mark knows too much about David.

6. What does Mark know about Susan that makes him think she will be their decoy?

• Because she's Mr. Griffin's teacher pet, and plus on the mid- semester she made good grades in his class.

7. A flashback is a scene that interrupts the ongoing action to show an event that happens earlier. Briefly describe the flashback in this chapter. Explain why the author chooses to include it.

• It's how Susan and David met each other when they were in middle school. The humiliation that Jeff has been through, it was the first thing that the plan would work.

8. What is implied, but never stated, about Mark's "transformation"?

• He was sort of a psychic when he heard the call roll. He set a cat on fire, and he also had a special beauty, something too strange to explain about him.

Speak 4 D.Q.'s

1. Discuss the evolvement of the name of the Merryweather High mascot and the debate over each name.

• Their team is not athletic and they are not very good so they need a new team name and they try to show how a democrasy works.

2. What draws Melinda and Ivy together?

• Because Ivy is going out with Andy Evans.

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

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

• Because she doesn’t want her hurt.

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 tree don’t exist…Be the tree” (p. 153).

• Depending on her mood determines what she draws.

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

• When she tells off Heather about her room.

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

• She gets mad at Melinda and calls her insane.

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

• Tells her story about how the party went.

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

• How poorly her home life is when she is with her parents.

10. What happens at the Prom?

• She went along with David Petrakis.

11. What is the resolution to the story?

• She tells her parents what went on with Andy.

Speak 3 D.Q.'s

1. Discuss what precipitates Melinda’s skipping school and what she does.

• i think she needs some quit time alone

2. Was being a child better than being a teenager? In what ways? In what ways is it better to be older? Why is it hard to be in between childhood and adulthood?

• I think being a teenager is better, but the school work is a lot harder, but I have more freedom, and a later curfew.

3. Analyze the reference to the symbols in The Scarlet Letter and how Melinda would adapt the letter “A.”

• Because that Is the grades that she needs to get.

4. Discuss the dissolution of Melinda and Heather’s friendship and the effect it has on Melinda. What is the meaning of friendship?

• Heather tried to say that thay are not really friends. And friendship is when you can rely on some

5. Analyze the events and effects of Valentine’s Day on Melinda.

• She gets a card from heather. And is very upset.

6. Melinda wishes her science teacher would teach them about love and betrayal instead of about the birds and the bees. Where do we learn about things like that? Can we learn about love from a book? Explain?

• No I just think that she is wanting to try and be kind and outgoing.

7. Discuss what happens when Melinda is placed in In-School Suspension. How would you react to this situation?

• I would be afraid like Melinda, but know what to do.

8. Analyze Mr. Freeman’s effect on Melinda, inside and outside the art class. Do you agree with his statement, “When people don’t express themselves, they die one piece at a time.”

• No because they might have low self esteem.

9. Mr. Freeman tells his class, “You must walk alone to find your soul.” What does this mean? Is it true? What is a soul?

• It means like you are the only one who can find your soul, and your soul is like your personality.

10. Mr. Freeman also says that “art is about making mistakes and learning from them.” What else is like this? Explain.

• He is talking about life, and art is like art.

11. Examine Melinda’s self-image and her survival techniques after Heather’s rejection.

• She finds her voice.

12. Examine Melinda’s revelation about the night of the party and its residual effect on her.

• Everybody hates her because they don’t know why she called the police.

DQ's for Antwone Fisher

1. Antwone gets into a lot of fights. Do you think that he fights because people have made him angry, or is he angry already?

• I think that people make him angry. Like for example his mom had him and she didnt even tell the father that he had a son. She gave him up for adoption because she didnt want him. He didnt have any family. His adopted parent beat him and he just had alot of anger built up inside.

2. When Antwone first goes to see the therapist, he is very vague with info about his background. Why would he not just come out with all of his histtory? Is he hiding something? How is Antwone different or the same as Melinda Sordino in Speak?

• He had so much anger towards everyone that he didnt like talking about his background. Melinda and him are the same because they both didnt speak about there problems. They didnt have any friends. They also both didnt talk about there backgrounds.

3. Why does Antwone say that he should just go to the brig? How would that be easier for him than the alternative that he is given?

• He is not going to open up to anyone. There is no point. People should just let him go and do his own thing because thats what he has been doing for pretty much all there life.

4. When his shipmates are talking about going home for the holiday, Antwone ignores the question. Why?

• He ignore the question because he doesnt have a family to go home to.

5. During the Thanksgiving dinner at the doctor's house, Antwone is put into an awkward situation when the doctor's father asks him questions. Why was it awkward for him?

• He felt awkward because they were asking him questions about his family and childhood.

6. The doctor at one point says that forgiveness is freeing yourself. Do you agree? Talk about Antwone and Melinda in terms of forgiving themselves. What would they be forgiving themselves for? Why?

• Yes I agree with freeing yourself because it makes you feel better. Melinda would be forgiving herself because she felt like it was her fault that she got raped. When it was not her fault. She should forgive herself because she finally spoke up at the end of the book. Antwone should forgive himself because it was not his fault that his mom gave him up and didnt tell his dad that she had him.

7. Discuss two possible themes in Antwone Fisher? Are there similar themes in Speak? Explain.

• Melinda and Antwone dont have anybody to talk to. They both are scared to speak up and tell people about there problems and situations.

S.A.T. Vocabulary Words

1. Abhor-hate.

• I abhor going to the dentist because it only means pain to me.

2. Bigot-narrow minded, prejuiced person.

• Adolf Hitler was both a bigot and insane.

3. Counterfeit-fake;false.

• It was obvious that the Michael Jackson impresonator was a counterfeit because the nose was real.

My Sentences:

1. I abhor checking my sugar everyday because it gets annoying.

2. People now days are very bigoted.

3. People now days try to make counterfeit money, so people at stores, restraunts, etc. check to see if the money is real or not.

Speak 2 D.Q.'s pg.49-92

1. Discuss Melinda’s decline, including physical symptoms.
• Melinda wore ugly old clothes. She also doesn’t wear any makeup. She tries to fit in but she doesn’t and nobody wants to be her friend. She is emotionally bruised and ill because she got raped by Andy Evans.
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 this type of debate? Is the teacher right or wrong? Do students have a right to challenge a teacher?
• The debate didn’t go very well and it caused some trouble afterwards. The student who challenges the teacher was David Petrakis. The teacher was wrong about stopping the debate just because it didn’t go his way. It was an opened debate and the students had a right to speak.
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 where they pay their duties for this country and they don’t break any of the rules or laws. They fight and try to do their best for the country. No I don’t agree with Mr. Neck because he is basically saying that only his family is real Americans.
4. Discuss the Thanksgiving dinner for Melinda’s family and why this is significant.
• Melinda’s mom tried to fix a turkey but they kind of messed up on it. Her mom got called into the store for an emergency. So Melinda’s dad tried to cook the turkey but that was a failure. So they finally went and ordered some pizza to eat for their Thanksgiving dinner.
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 doesn’t have any self esteem. If she wasn’t living then her parents would be done divorced because her parents don’t talk to each other and they don’t really show love for each other. To Melinda it seems like the only reason why their together is because of her.
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?
• She cant talk about important things with her parents because they don’t have communication and they just don’t listen to her. She got raped by Andy Evans at the party and she tried to tell her friends but they left her and wouldn’t talk to her anymore because she called the cops.
7. Discuss Melinda’s athletic ability, her attitude toward being on the basketball team, and comparison she makes between basketball and life.
• Melinda is a very good basketball player. The coach wants her to be on the team but Melinda doesn’t want to. She thinks it’s a waist of her time.
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 Martha’s good friends to Heather? Why or why not?
• Heather doesn’t want to be Melinda’s friend anymore because she is boring. People like us more when they get stuff because they know that they can use you and make you believe stuff just to get what they want. The Martha’s are not good friends to Heather because they don’t include her in anything. They make her do stuff like she is there slave. They tell her that Melinda cant sit with them so Heather blew her true friend off for the Martha’s.
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?
• We should value there personality and attitude. The most important qualities are there personality, attitude, and style, pretty much everything about a person. When I first meet a person I look for their attitude towards me and their personality. Yes this really matters because you want someone to be nice to you and not mean.
10. Examine Melinda’s reference to IT. Pages 85-86 & 89-90
• IT is Andy Evans. He is the boy that raped Melinda. He is tall and he was a senior. He goes out with Rachel/Rachelle. He is a bad person.
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?
• Both of her parents kind of ganged up on her. Melinda’s mom would say she is mute and she cant speak, even though she can speak. I don’t think Melinda’s suicide attempt was real. I just think that she was trying to get her parents attention, notice her, and listen to what she has to say.