(Hook) Abuse is a overly toxic action that causes many pushbacks in ones life. (Bridge) In Laurie Halse Andersons’s novel Speak, Melinda, the protagonist, experiences abuse and readers see just how much it is displayed in her everyday life. (FS) From as early as the beginning of the novel, readers see Melinda is an outcast. (FS) Traumatized and alone from what happens during the summer, Melinda enters highschool, with a not so good start. (FS) In the end, readers see Melinda change for the better, after seeing her suffer for so long. (Thesis) Readers are shown that abuse can affect its victims through (P1) grades (P2) relationships (P3) and the point of view given on the outside world.
(Topic) Throughout the Speak novel the author gives readers
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(Point) Melindas supposed friends leave her when she is going through so much in her life. (Evidence) Melinda sees, “ a few friends—people [she] used to think were [her] friends—but they look away.”(Anderson 8). (Explanation) That summer night did not only change Melinda it changes the way her friends look at her. They exclude Melinda at school and were obviously not real friends to begin with. (Link)In spite of Melinda not having friends at school, even at home, her parents do not make it any better. (Point) Her relationship with her parents does not make her situation any easier.(Evidence) In ‘Dinner Theater’ Melinda says “Deprived of Victim, Mom and Dad holler at each other. I turn up my music and drown out the noise.” (Anderson 36). (Explanation) Despite the fact that readers dont know how close Melinda and her parents were before, readers can infer that it wasnt the best before the rape. She does not feel as if she can tell her parents what happens to her because of they way they act towards her which says a lot about the way they are. After the rape her grades drop which means her parents are not only disappointed but they are frustrated with her. (Link) Nevertheless, Melinda is going through other thoughts and feelings inside