Think about the novel or short story you read for Module Five. What is the theme? Cite quotations and page numbers from your novel or short story to support your ideas. (10 points)

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.