In your essay, be sure to:

• Present a clear, defensible claim about what Anderson's portrayal of silence ultimately reveals regarding the process of healing and reclaiming oneself.
• Back up your argument with specific textual evidence (direct quotes, scenes, and narrative details) from the novel.
• Analyze how literary devices such as symbolism (for example, the tree art project), first-person narration, and imagery help convey Anderson's broader message.
• Address a counterargument: consider whether Melinda's silence might be interpreted as a sign of weakness or complicity, and either refute or complicate that view.
• Conclude by linking Anderson's themes to a broader universal truth about trauma, survival, or the importance of finding one’s voice.

Scoring Focus

Clarity of thesis, quality of textual evidence and analysis, handling of counterarguments, and overall coherence of the argument.

In your essay, be sure to:

• Present a clear, defensible argument about what Anderson conveys regarding the significance (or consequences) of silence and the importance of speaking out.
• Support your argument with specific textual evidence, including Anderson's use of symbolism (like the tree art project and the motif of lips/mouth), narrative perspective, and characterization.
• Address a counterargument: think about whether Melinda's silence might be interpreted as a form of agency instead of victimhood, and engage with that perspective.
• Conclude by linking Anderson's themes to a wider social or literary context (for example, the #MeToo movement, the Bildungsroman tradition, or survivor narratives in literature).