For this assignment, use the novel or short story you chose to read for this module. Write a paragraph explaining the conflict and the perspectives of the protagonist and antagonist. Review the example in the lesson.
Be sure your paragraph
mentions the title and author in the first sentence
briefly summarizes the plot
identifies the main conflict
describes the protagonist’s perspective on the conflict
provides a line of dialogue that the protagonist says to support your idea (text support)
describes the antagonist’s perspective of the conflict
provide a line of dialogue that the antagonist says to support your idea (text support)
includes a closing line to summarize the character’s views
uses correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling

Erika’s Story: Pressure to Pass by Regina Rinaldi (Part 1)

The life of a high school athlete is filled with pressure. Pressure to do well in class. Pressure to win games. Pressure to fit in with friends. The combination of all three led Erika Fleet into a tough situation during her junior year at Weston High School. The choice she made hurt her relationship with a teacher she admired. It prevented her from playing for the county basketball championship. It left her wondering who her true friends really were. A freshman basketball star in college now, Erika looks back at the events and explains how they unfolded.

Erika’s story begins with science teacher, Leon Kelp. Mr. Kelp was not the most likeable teacher among many at Weston high. Interviews with former students revealed why. Mr. Kelp gave homework every night, even on the weekends. He graded the homework for correctness rather than just completion. He gave a quiz every Friday - no exceptions! Students never referred to Mr. Kelp as mean or unfair. He was just too serious and too difficult. He was particularly disliked by several girls on the Erika’s basketball team.

That year, the WHS basketball team’s chance to win the championship was in jeopardy. No one was worried that they might be beaten. Their on-court abilities were beyond compare. Their back-up players could have started for other schools. The danger was that they might get disqualified. Six of the eight players on the team had Mr. Kelp for science. Five of them were close to failing his class. Anyone who received an F on the mid-term exam would be ineligible to play. If they lost four players, the team would not be able to participate in the tournament.