Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak

In Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, the majority of the conflicts are caused by silence of fearful children. Whether they’re afraid of backlash, judgment, or adults not listening to them, these people don’t speak out, and suffer as a result. The PSA intends to show the dangers of situations that are brought up in Speak. For instance, the presentation includes the fact that undergoing a stressful event can often cause depression. Andy Evans raping Melinda certainly qualifies as stressful, not to mention her starting high school and being bullied. Melinda’s story shows obvious indicators of her having depression, such as when she actively isolates herself. The depression and trauma section includes each form of rhetoric. The statistics regarding bullying and the reasoning for unreported depression are considered logos, while the story about the ten-year-old girl’s tragic suicide at the hands of her school and bullies is clearly …show more content…
The incident that incited Melinda’s mental health issues (namely depression) was her sexual assault. By including the facts and definition of sexual assault through logos, the presentation aptly provides a stronger context of Melinda’s mental state. The effects include depression, self-harm (her lip biting can be considered such), sleep disorders (Melinda says “I've been having trouble sleeping at home. I wake up because the covers are on the floor or because I'm standing at the kitchen door, trying to get out. It feels safer in my little hideaway. I doze off.”), and flashbacks/PTSD. Melinda certainly suffers from the latter, as her inability to speak is caused by the trauma she’s experienced. Once again, the statistics, including the fact the only 15.8-35% of sexual assaults are reported, are examples of logos. The section regarding how to help and receive help is ethos, appealing to the viewer’s moral side with points such as “don’t victim