English Literature

[Richard Stone]

Richard Stone walked into his classroom, with his briefcase in one hand and the uneaten portion of his lunch in the other. He placed the plate on his desk and took a bite out of the ham sandwich before he walked over to the board and wrote: BOOK REPORTS in the middle of the empty space in large letters. He enjoyed starting his English Lit class off with book reports.

He was normally pretty lax with what they did a report on, but this time, they were going to read Catch us if you Can, by Catherine MacPhail. He placed a copy of the book on each table, so that the students that arrived well before the tardy bell sounded could at least have a browse through the book before the lesson began.

Richard thoroughly enjoyed reading and teaching about books and he hoped that not too many of the students would groan about having to read the same book. He would give them time during each lesson to read a chapter (or as much of one as they could), before having a group discussion about the chapter. He didn't agree in making the students read out loud as not everyone could do this, and in his opinion it was cruel to make a student do something that they knew they struggled with.

[Oliver Pattersen]

"Catch ya later!" Oliver called as he grabbed his back pack, waved and headed away from the basket ball court. He didn't play in the school team, but that didn't stop him from shooting hoops during lunch.

He chomped on a chocolate bar as he headed to the academic buildings and then jogged up the stairs toward the English department. He threw the wrapper from the bar into the bin as he walked past and then strolled easily into the classroom. "Hey Mr Stone." He greeted the teacher with a cheery grin and headed down to a table at the back of the room. He only just stopped himself from throwing the bag onto the table as he saw a book lying there. Slumping into the seat, he looked up at the board and pulled a face - Oli hated writing book reports, more than that, he hated being called to read in class. He wasn't dyslexic or anything, but when he had to read to other people he stumbled over the words.

Dropping the bag on the floor, he picked up the book that was on the table and turned it over in his hands. He guessed that he would just have to wait until the class started, until then, he could at least start reading.

[Cortney Smit]

Cortney pushed her English folder into her shoulder bag. The bag had been alright for her old school, but she was coming to the conclusion that she was going to need a bigger one for being here. "Thanks for letting me share your table." She said to the group of girls she had been sitting with. After being at the Academy for the summer, she had settled into the place and was slowly coming out of her shell and returning to her old self, the person she had been before... She shook her head as her eyes filled with tears and it felt as though someone had driven a knife into her heart.

She dragged her feet as she walked up the stairs that led to the English rooms and forced herself to keep going rather than running to the girl's toilets. She kept her head down as she walked into the classroom. Then, swallowing hard, she looked up with a smile on her lips again. "Hi Mr Stone." She greeted. She hadn't been in any of his classes yet, but she had met him in the library during vacation.

Looking at the board, her eyes sparkled, he loved writing book reports. Heading through the rows of tables she sat down in one with a girl sitting in the next row over. She offered the girl a quick smile before she took her folder out of her bag. It was then that she noticed the book on the desk. Picking up the book, she placed the folder on the desk and turned her attention to the book.

[love]

Rianna rushed to her class room. Her other class had gotten out late. She looked at the board of her English Literature class. She smiled. It was a bookreport. Rianna sat down at a table with an empty seat in it. The book was called Catch Us If You Can. Rianna had already read it ocver her summer but she remembered only a little bit of it. She was exited. She loved Literature and English. She also loved to read. All good reasons why to do this class. Rianna had had a little trouble picking out her scheldule mainly because there was so many things she wanted to do but then she had reminded herself there weas next year to so it made it simpler. Her teacher was Mr.Stone. Rianna picked up the book which was by Catherine MacPhail. She scanned through the book and flipped it over to read the back. She scanned it quickly and opened the book to read a page or two. Well more like a chapter ot two. She quickly read the two chapters. A book like this would take her maybe an hour or less to read and then 2 hours or one on the book report. She wasn't sure if he wanted fancy or what. She remembered last year were hers was the fanciest in the class and yet she still got an 90 % on it were the others got 100%. That teacher hated her anyway but oh well. The past is the past and you can't change it.

[Lindsey Bradshaw]

As Lindsey finished placing Titan in his stall, she kissed him goodbye and then started to walk out of the barn, grabbing her bag. Taking out the crumpled white paper, Lindsey could barely make out the words, "English Lit.", as they were written in her messy handwriting.

Lindsey walked across campus to the Main buuilding, where most classes were held. In this case English Lit, Lindsey thought to herself but kept walking up the steps now, into the long hallways. Stepping inside the long corridor, Lindsey searched for the classroom, along with the rest of the English classes. Finding a room marked, English Lit, Lindsey walked into the room and headed over to the teacher's desk. "Hello, Mr.Stone." she greeted him and then started to read the board. Book reports.... Lindsey read the words in dread. Why on her first week do their have to be book reports?

Turning away from Mr.Stone's desk, Lindsey saw Roxie, Rihanna, and Ellie. At least theres a few people, she thought to herself. Smiling at Ellie as she took the seat next to her, Lindsey saw a book lying on the desk that read, "Catch Us if You Can", she picked it up and scanning through pages in it, waiting for other students to arrive.

[Olivia Cheyenne Kwinn]

Olivia tossed away her wrapper and put her tray away before she hurried up to her room to grab her backpack. She should have kept it with her, but she hadn't really felt like it, so she had dropped it off. As she grabbed it, she glanced at her clock and realized she was cutting it close. She jogged towards the classroom building and slipped inside. She hurried through the halls, although she didn't run, knowing that if a teacher saw her, she might get reprimanded. She made it into her English class on time, though, and slipped inside. She smiled at the teacher, "Hi Mr. Stone," then glanced around to see students sitting around already. She slipped into a seat in about the middle of the classroom, although towards the front, next to a girl that she had seen before in her classes. She smiled at the girl, thinking about whether or not she could remember the girl's name... She didn't think so, although she knew that they had been together in Hunter Jumper and Biology. Then she picked up the book that sat on the table in front of her and skimmed over the back. It seemed rather interesting, a kid and his grandfather on the run.

[Ryan Gallahill]

Ryan picked up his bag from where it lay, next to his chair in the cafeteria. He dumped his trash and then headed towards the direction of the classrooms. He walked through the halls and towards the English wing. He had English Lit next, to his dismay. He wasn't too much a fan of books, or reading, or writing, or anything like that. He walked into the classroom and glanced around it for someone he knew. Oh, there was that boy with the spotted horse, Ollie... No, the horse was Ollie. The kid's name was Oliver. He smiled at the teacher, then walked towards the back of the room, to where Oliver was sitting. He let himself down into the chair next to the boy and smiled at him, "Hello again." He put down his backpack and looked up at the board. Book Report? He was a moment away from rolling his eyes, but he didn't, instead looking down at the book on his table. Why did they have to do this on the first day of class? He really didn't feel like reading through a book, no matter what it was about, no matter how interesting it might be.

[Renee 'Rin' Finn]

The sixteen year old heard the bell ring, signaling that lunch was over. She sighed slightly, knowing that it was now time for afternoon classes. She picked up her light blue back-pack and hung it over her right shoulder. It wasn't yet heavy enough to need her full support. She rose from the empty bench she had been sitting on outside of the cafeteria and took another bite from the red apple she had been eating. She had wanted to give the core to Jo, but she obviously hadn't kept track of time. Taking a few more nibbles, Renee tossed it in a metal bin on the way to the classroom building.

The girl entered the cool hallway that was bustling with students, and she retreated into her shell. Why situations changed her, she would never know. Maybe she was only confident in herself when no one else was around. Either way, she slipped quietly into the class room and her blue orbs landed on the teacher. She offered him a shy smile, before quickly turning and taking a desk in a front row. She lowered her bag to the ground and scanned the book that was resting on her desk. It gave her something to do, as she looked at the cover and then held it in her hands, flipping it over, to read the back.

[Lucy Davis]

Lucy picked up her bag from beside Ticker's stall and started walking back down the aisle, hoping she wasn't late for class. Rushing to the huge main building, Lucy pratically ran up the steps into the large corridor. Revealing many students still wandering the hallway, Lucy slowed down a bit realizing she was still good on time.

Knowing that she was heading to English Lit. Lucy started to look at all the classrooms, trying to find the one she was suppose to head to. Finally seeing the door that marked English Lit. Lucy walked in to see many students already there, reading books, and scanning pages. Seeing, Book Reports, written up on the board, Lucy walked up to the teacher's desk and gave him a "hello Mr.Stone" that is, it was marked on her schedule. She then walked back to one of the tables that was alligned in a row and sat down in the chair. Seeing people scan through the books on their desk, Lucy decided to do so as well. Picking up the book that read "Catch Us If You Can", Lucy began to read the back of the book cover.

[Tyson Grant Wilcox]

The brunet held the strap to his back pack that was sung over one shoulder. It was the last year of school, since he was a senior, but it felt like it would never end. He sighed as his casual sneakers trudged down the hallway and he entered the room for his English class. His hazel orbs flew to the professor first, "Mr. Stone," he nodded light dipped his head and turned to the desks, seeing rows of students. Hmm, only two other boys in the class. And, Tyson didn't know either of them.

He sighed and took a seat in the middle of the room that was left open. About to say something to a student next to him when his eyes landed on a book. He snorted through his nose and picked it up. Then, he looked up at the board. He gave a quizzical look at the words. Seriously? A Book Report! That was a sin!! Well... maybe not, but it came close, the boy was sure of it. He sighed quietly to himself and scanned the cover with pursed lips. Yes, this class was not going to be fun. Not at all.

[Koye Bennett]

Koye walked down through the hallway towards his English Lit. class. All of his classes so far have taken what felt like forever. English was one of his favorite classes, brightening his day. When he reached the door he took a deep breathe and smiled, before shifting his bag around. First thing his eyes flew to his teacher. "Hello Mr. Stone." His eyes then flew towards some of the students in the room. The girls weren't bad looking at all, causing him to grin. He shot a few smiles at students as he walked by. Taking a seat more towards the middle of the room.

He looked down at the book lying on his desk. Everyone knows what that means. His eyes closed quickly, and he sighed. Then his blue orbs flew up to the board, confirming his fear. Oh, yay, a book report. Book reports were the last thing he wanted to think about, since after all, it was his first day in English Lit. It may turn out to not be as fun of a class as he thought. After a few minutes of scorning the book, he flipped it over to read the back. Nope, not an interesting book, to him. He continued scorning his book while he waited for other students to arrive.

[Richard Stone]

Koye, you're signed up for the Language Arts class, but I can change it if you want (PM me if the answer is yes)

Richard smiled and greeted each of the students who entered the room. Once the tardy bell sounded, the teacher rose from his chair and walked to the centre front of the room. "Good morning students." He greeted the class as a whole. "As you would have read on the board, we are going to start the year by reading Catch us if you Can by Catherine MacPhail." He held up a copy of the book. "I'm not going to go all middle school on you and make you read out loud in class, so you can read the book at your own speed, in and out of class." He placed the book down on the ledge in front of the dry erase board. "Now, just to make sure you aren't doing the report via cliffnotes, I will be handing out worksheets for you to work through during that day's class."

He looked around the class. "Let's start off by taking about the structure of a novel; A novel is a skilfully crafted and deliberate piece of writing. Most novels have a story sequence, structure or frame. It is around and within the frame that which the plot is woven and characters move and play out their roles.

According to someone called Gustav Freytag, a novel has a definate structure." He picked up the eraser and rubbed book report off the board, then picking up the marker, he wrote down the name he had just mentioned.

"1. The scene is set (exposition). Most stories start with the setting of the scene. The background of the story is set out and the characters are introduced.
2. Something happens to set the story in motion. This event usually causes complications or conflict and the novel is all about the resolution of this.
3. Action builds up (action rising) and the story gains speed and the reader is now fully engaged in the plot.
4. Climax. The action builds up to a climax or the most interesting part of the story where the conflict or complication presented becomes most acute and things look really hopeless and the reader is led to think their is no way out of the situation.
5. Action slows down (falling action) and begins to stabilise and the reader loses that feeling of desperation of hopelessness brought about by the climax.
6. Resolution (dénouement). Questions answered and problems solved. The unexpected happens and the problem or conflict is resolved. Everything falls into place and peace and stability reigns once more.
7. The final outcome. In the final stages, everything falls into place. Confusion and questions are answered and settled. Everything reaches closure in a satisfactory way for the reader.

"Sometimes the writer ends with a question for the reader. This is the way sequels or another story follows the first one. Or the writer lets the reader form their own conclusion of the story." The teacher had written down on the board each of the number structures, but the last he didn't bother to write down.

He looked out over the class. "Does anyone have any questions?"

[Taylor Westin]

<sub>Taylor walked in his frame briefly filling the door as he peered into the room. He glanced down at his schedule and double checked...yup...English Lit.

He felt extremely bad that he had entered the class late, but then again it was his first day here and he still wasn't quite familiar with the layout of the land. Azure eyes took in the scope of the class. As expected not very many known faces. One thing he did notice is that was was one of a few guys in the class. He tried to withhold a sigh, but he didn't know how successful he'd been. He shifted the weight of his backpack and walked in the classroom making a bee-line for the back, to quickly get out of the way so the teacher could continue.

The schedule had said that his name was Mr. Stone, he dipped his head in respect and apology to the teacher, as he quickly settled in and pulled out a spiral notebook and a pen and began to furiously copy down the material on the board...

I'm going to have to get notes from a classmate later of what I missed....</sub>

[Rose Hoff]

Rose walked through the halls of the English department, worry creased on her brow. She was late for her first class on her first day at Blue Ridge Academy. This was not up to par with Rose's standards, and she she positive that her English teacher would not be pleased either. She hugged her leather book bag to her chest, trying to calm herself down as she searched for the right room. She finally found it and paused a moment before opening the door, taking a deep breath.

She opened the door slowly, darting into the classroom and taking the closest seat to the door and looking up apologetically at the teacher. She reached into her bag and took out her notebook and pen, jotting down a note to herself as a reminder to get the notes she had missed later. She swept her white blonde waves away from her face, refastening it into her clip and tucked her feet under her chair, turning her attention back to the teacher. She then noticed the writing on the board and paraphrased it into her notebook as quickly as possible, so she wouldn't miss anything else. 'Just calm down' she told herself silently, 'Academics are the last thing you have to worry about...that has always been your strength.'

[Leonardo Jacobs]

Eyes watched as the boy ran down the hallways of BRRA. The tardy bell had rung and boy; was he late for class. Leo had seriously been losing his mind these first days of school. The seventeen year old searched frantically, blue eyes looking at each sign on the door searching for the “Mr. Stone”. That had been the only name he had been given as to his English class. He was close to mad at himself for being late, and this fact scared him. Leo was almost never mad. He never even got close to being mad. The boy sighed and took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus.

After what seemed like forever, the map was held dutifully in his hands. Leo looked down, trying to spot where he was and where he needed to be. Finally, the class popped up. To his unsurprised and annoyance, the whole class was pretty much already there. Leo let out a soft smile as he snuck in after another girl who seemed to have come late as well. That much was good; at least he wouldn’t be the only kid in shameful eyes as he strolled in. Carefully, his gaze went to the teacher as he gave him an apologetic nod of greeting before moving to a seat.

A wince came across the boy’s face as the writing caught his eyes. Great. Thinking of it like one of his track meets, Leo grabbed his pencil and notebook, copying down in record time. The writing looked mainly like scribbles, though he supposed he could find some way to read it later.

[white]"Catch us if you Can" by Catherine MacPhail

1. Exposition
2. Action Rising
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
5. Resolution
6. Final Outcome[/white]

Leo sighed at his lack of notes and decided he would have to actually come out of his shell and grab the notes later. The boy slowed his breathing down as he focused back on the teacher, hoping to miss anything else. His eyes landed on the book in front of him, pleased to already be given reading material. He had always enjoyed reading anything.