Speak DQ 2

Discuss Melinda’s decline, including physical symptoms.

She always looks depressed, hygiene issues, and the way she dresses.

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?
Dave P.; I think it can affect some people, Mr.Neck is wrong; sometimes

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?

anyone who pays taxes and lives in America, i think his opinion is racist and wrong; no

Discuss the Thanksgiving dinner for Melinda’s family and why this is significant.
It wasn't successful; she could create from the turkey bones.

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?

her self esteem is in between, but dropping.

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?
when she came home , her parents didn't notice she was gone, she was raped.

Discuss Melinda’s athletic ability, her attitude toward being on the basketball team, and the comparison she makes between basketball and life.

she's very athletic; she compares them on how life has its ups and downs.

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?

they want to know more about you; no, they don't treat her like she's part of the clan, they treat her more of a maid.

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?

the way they are; attitude, and how they take things; the way they dress, not really

Examine Melinda’s reference to IT. Pages 85-86 & 89-90

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?

Speak Vocabulary Words

Obscene-offensive to mortality or decay, repulsive.

Abstinence-denying self any form of indulgence, appetite, or craving.

Fascism-a political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a government headed by a dictaional leader.

Predator-one that preys, destroys, or devours

indoctrination- instruct, with doctrines, beliefs; can also be brainwashing.

morphing-a special effect that makes people or objects seem to change form, shape in a smooth way.

potpourri-mixture of flowers, herbs and spices that is usually kept in a jar and used for scent

paparazzi-a free lance photographer who aggressively pursues celebrities for the purpose of taking candid photos.

inperstion-an inspiring animating action or influence.

expiration-a coming to and end termination.

floundering-to make clumsy to move or regain balance.

blathers-to talk without making sence

interim- a temporary arrangement, stopgap, make shift.

drone-a male bee, especially a honey bee, that is characteristically stingless, performs no work, and produces no honey; its only function is to mate with the Queen Bee.

xenophobic-a person who is very fearful or disliking of foreigners, people from other countries, or strangers.

Sun Shadow Mandala-symbolic circular designs that represent outer and inner demensions of a persons personality.

redemption-the art or process of reedeming or the state of being redemed

redeem-to buy or pay off.

abysmal-extremely or hopelessly bad or severe.

demure-characterized by shyness and modesty.

bigoted- utterly intolerent of any creed, belief, or opinoin that differs from ones own.

asphixiated-to cause to die or lose consciousness by imparing normal breathing, as by gas or other noxious agents; choke, suffocate, smother.

classical-of or pertaining too;characteristic of Greek and Roman aniquity.

cubism-a style of painting and sculpting developed in the early 20th century, characterized by the emphasis on formal structure, geometrical shapes.

200 word sceneario

The 10 signs of an abusive relationship would be when your friend and her boyfriend are together, he acts very controlling and puts her down in front of other people. This would probably be the most common sign, because guys, and sometimes girls, like to act different in front of either people to see who has the upper hand. Another sign would be if the boyfriend/girlfriend acts extremely jealous toward others who pay attention to him/her. He/She is quiet when they're boyfriend/girlfriend is around, the fear of making him/her angry might cause a fight. More signs would be wearing long clothing, becoming quiet and isolated, cancelling plans at the last minute. The reasons of abusive relationships maybe because they're afraid of the other gender.

150 word scenario

If my friend had cuts and bruises all over her body, I would know that she hasn't been falling and running into lockers, because she's no where near as clumsy as I am. I would text her and ask if she's OK, she doesn't reply. So I ask some kids who hang around with her, and they're not too sure what the problem is either. The next day she comes to school with a black eye. I text her boyfriend if he knows whats going on, he doesn't know either but he is furious. On the way home from school I finally ask her how she got a black eye, she doesn't open her mouth or even look in my direction. It starts to aggravate me that my best friend wont even make a peep to me. The next day I ask her boyfriend to help me out and find out whats going on. He already finds out before me me, it turns out her dad is turning into abusive alcoholic, if he gets mad at the smallest thing he punches her, he even cut at her a few times with knife. Later on that same day she ran away from home and we never saw her again.

Speak Discussion Questions 3-46

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

Because of something that happened over the Summer, there was a party that everyone went at school went to, she called the police on the party, and a lot of people were busted; she's now an outcast, her friends don't want to hang with her, and now she doesn't fit in any of the 'clans.'



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?



Clans are groups of people who have things in common, there close like family, some maybe be enemies to other clans; the clans may be enemies with others because they might be jealous of the other persons talent or just hate the way they are; i ts not fair because its not there fault that there good at things others aren't; Adults can be just the same way.



Discuss the "first 10 lies they tell you about high school." Compare with your first day. So you think Melinda's assumptions that they are "lies" is valid?



Yes i think Melinda's "10 lies" are valid, because they're like empty promises.



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



They reflect on how Melinda sees through things through her eyes and in her world.



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



No; but it would be good to have one.



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?



They communicate through notes; to improve they could talk to each other; If i were a parent, my family would communicate through texting, and talking.


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

Heather talks a lot while Melinda agrees with simple replies; I think they're friends and the thing that brings them together is that they're opposite.


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

Yes, sometimes people act different or wear certain clothes to be someone they're not on the outside, and on the inside they're feel smothered, depressed, or confused.

Harison Burgen DQ

1. What is the theme of the story?

2. What do you think Harrison's rebellion reveals about his character and valves? support your opinion with refrences to the text.

3. What conclusions can you draw about the society in which the characters live?

4.What do you think Vonnequt might be trying to say about todays society and the role a government can play in achieving equality among people? At what point does the government go to far?

Black Cat DQ

1. Discuss the significance of the following quote: "There is something unselfish and self-sacrifising love of a brute, which goes directky to the heart of him who has had frequent occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of man."

Because a dog is loyal no matter, what you call or do to it.

2. What is the significance of the cat's name, Pluto?

Its a smallest, furtherest, and most insignifacant planet in our galaxy.

3. Why did the narrator initially restrain himself from maltreating the calt while maltreating other animals?

He loved the cat, because he hated it.

4. Why does he eventually mistreat the cat?

Beacuase the cat loved him.

5. Describe the narrator's feelings after abusing the cat. Why is that significant?

It didnt bother him that much that he hung the cat, because he lost his concience.

6. How does the narrator define "perverseness"? Do you agree with the definition? Do you agree that it is human nature?

He defines it as self destructive and wants to destroy himself; yes i agree with the definition; no, people choose to move tword that mature because its bad.

7. Discuss the significance if the following quote: "[I] hung it because i knew it had loved me, and because I felt it had given me no reason to offense; because I knew that im doing so I was commiting a sin"

He hated what he loved.

Harison Bergeon Vocabulary

Calibrated-check, adjust, settings on instruments used for measurement.
The teacher tried her best to calibrate her smart board, but it would not properly sync.

Consternation- sudden, alarming amazement resulting in confusion.
The alarm clock's alarm woke the whole family up in consternation.

Cower- crouch, recoil, flinch.
The young children in the house cowered in a closet and covered their ears, so the could not see lightning and hear the thunder.

Hindrance-stopping; preventing.
Almost all the girls in the class thought Rei was a hindrance, because she would not do any work.

Luminous-radiating or reflecting light.
The art work had so many bright luminous colors, that the viewers had to wear shades.

Symmetry-Equal proportions.
If you cut a circle in half, it would have a symmetrical even half.

Synchronizing- causing to work or operate at the same time, unison.
Due to the girls soar throat, she had to synchronize her lips to the music.

Vague-unclear.
The sky was so cloudy and vague that you could no longer see the clear blue sky.

vigilance-watchful, alert, paying attention.
In any sport, you should defiantly have enough vigilance, and be on guard.

wince- to draw back or tense the body as if experiencing pain.
As the nurse began stitching his wound, the boy kept wincing and groaning with each stitch.

The Black Cat Vocabulary

Solicit: (v)- to seek for (something) by earnest or respectful request, formal application

The man solicitly searched for work, so he can pay off his rent.

mad: (adj)-mentally disturbed; deranged, insane

The woman ran around screaming to the top of her lungs, everyone in the room thought she was mad.

succinct: (adj)- expressed in few words; terse

The little girl wouldn't talk, only succinct words could express her

phantasm: (n)- an illusory likeness of something

The house was so old and run down, that you might see a phantasm like image.

Docile: (adj)- Easily managed or handled

The conflict was docile and resolved so smooth, that the two enemies became friends.

disposition: (n)- the predominant or pervading tendency of ones spirits; natural mental and emotional outlook or mood; characteristic attitude.

The boy's disposition was made him seem like a problem child.

sagacious: (adj)- having or showing keen discernment, and sound judgement

The kids sagaciously ignored the movie that the teacher played.

Paltry: (adj)- lacking in importance

Paltriously sleeping in class will cause you to fail.

Gossamer: (n)- something delicate, light or flimsy.

The boy thought all girls were gossamer and nice until he moved to another school.

Fidelity: (n)- faithfulness to obligations, duties, or observations

The girl's fidelity was so rare that she was promoted on the first day.

procure: (v)-to get by special effort; obtain or acquire

Everyone was so dedicated to there work that they procured more money than what they usually get.

Allusion: (n)- the act of alluding; indirect reference

Everyone's alluding cause them to go the wrong way.

Intemperance: (n)- excessive use of alcoholic beverages

The friends had intemperance, and were alcohol abusers.

Maltreat: (v)- to treat rough or cruel way; abuse

The boy maltreated his reports, because he didn't care what happened to it.

Scruple: (n)- a moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a restraining force or inhabits certain actions

The kids were scruplling to keep the man from going out and destroying another mans car.

Malevolence: (n)- ill will; malice; hatred

All the kids were malevolence towards the girl in the back of the room, because she was different.

Atrocity: (n) - the quality of being extremely or shockingly wicked, cruel, and brutal.

The woman was in such a rage that she atrociously beat the other woman.

Debauch: (n) -a period of wanton self-indulgence, and excessive party which includes consumption of alcohol

The debauched party was filled with so much alcohol that anyone and everyone who stepped in had a drink.

Sentiment: (n) -a mental feeling; emotion.

The man felt no sentiment towards what he had done.

Remorse: (n) -deep and painful regret for wrongdoing

At the funeral, everyone felt a terrible remorse for murdering the victim.

The Best Thing That Happened This Summer...

The best thing that happened to me this summer, was from June 29th, my birthday, to July 4th. Those days were the best because my dad came to visit, and he gave my brother and I 200 dollars each. After that, we went to my grandmas house for a combined birthday party of four. Since me, my brother, and two younger cousins have birthdays in June and July, we decide to a pool party on the fourth of July. The best part was when my auntie brought out the balloons, some were blown until I put one to the water jet and made a water balloon. After my bigger cousin and I made the water balloons we started throwing them at each other, the house, and the little kids. when the night came, my grandma brought out fire works, I only got to ignite one since I'm not trusted with fire. The fire works made tons of sounds and it had bright red, green, and yellow colors. hours later we left and went home, but the next day i was sore!