Introduction
What has happened to Melinda?
Throughout the entire novel, our character Melinda has been battling with a secret that acts like a beast inside her gut. She cannot face the events of the summer party she attended before school started and she stays silent, spiraling further and further away from her friends and the girl that she used to be.
Finally, at the end of the Third Marking Period, we are let in on Melinda's secret: a senior boy, the star of the school, takes advantage of her at an upperclassmen party after she had consumed alcohol. Hurt, dazed, and a little drunk, Melinda stumbled to the phone and called 9-1-1, which caused many students to get in trouble. She becomes the outcast at school, drawing deeper and deeper into herself, sleeping most of the day away in her closet.
What happened to Melinda is something that happens frequently in the United States and around the world. Was it rape? What are the rules of consent? Is Melinda depressed? How do I do I know if someone is depressed? Answer these questions and more by completing this webquest.
Task
The Task
Become a researcher (40 pts):
The novel Speak introduces readers to a lot of issues, including sexual assault and depression. Today, you will be the researcher and learn more about these issues. Was Melinda really raped? Who was at fault? How can I recognize depression? Use the Process tab for the links to the websites I want you to explore. Follow along with the webquest handout and answer the questions for each of the websites.
Process
Copy and paste the following links into the address bar and answer questions on the worksheet.
What is date rape and consent?
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/relationships/date_rape.html#
http://savp.vassar.edu/information/consent.html
What is dating violence?
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/teen_dati…
The facts on rape in Ohio
http://www.rccmsc.org/resources/get-the-facts.aspx
Real life applications
Richmond
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fLkigp77Jk
Carry your weight movement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cZKNR2KhGU
Walk a mile in her shoes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBLpw_bon5c
Teen Depression
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/depression.html#
http://teenshealth.org/teen/your_mind/friends/talking_about_suicide.htm…
Conclusion
Congrats!
You are now finished with the webquest and have become a more informed citizen of the world! Make sure to turn in your comprehension questions worksheet at my desk.