FIRST MARKING PERIOD

FIRST MARKING PERIOD
.INCONSPICUOUS: (adj.) not conspicuous, noticeable, or prominent.
"And it gives me time to scan the cafeteria for a friendly face or an inconspicuous corner." (PG 7)

2. PSEUDO: (adj.) not actually but having the appearance of; pretended; false or spurious
pg.22 "Just a pseudo-friend, disposable friend." (PG 22)

3. MAYHEM: (n.) random or deliberate violence or damage
"We will wander underneath them and commit mild acts of mayhem." (PG 30)

4. DEGRADING: (adj.) that degrades; debasing; humiliating
“The Ecology Club is planning a rally protest the ‘degrading of an endangered species.” (PG 41)

5. VOILA: (interjection) Also
“And voila-an idea!” (PG 41)

6. VAGUELY: (adj.) not clearly or explicitly stated or expressed
“I vaguely recognize a couple; the rest must have gone to the middle school.” (PG 27)

7. BLATHERS: (n.) foolish, voluble talk
“Heather paints her nails on her desk blotter and blathers.”

8. IRONY: (n.) the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning
“She doesn’t think the Clan Leaders, Meg ‘n’ Siobhan, understand irony.” (PG.43)

9. SIMULTANEOUSLY: (adj.) existing, occurring, or operating at the same time; concurrent
“It’s as if they operate in two realities simultaneously.”(PG30)

10. INTERIM: (n.) an intervening time; interval; meantime
“The interim reports came today.” (PG 35)

11 .BATTERES: (v.) to beat persistently or hard; pound repeatedly.
“Metal folding chairs surrounded a battered table.” PG(43)

12.WAN: (adj.) of an unnatural or sickly pallor; pallid; lacking color
“She’s smudging mascara under her eyes to look exhausted and wan.” (PG 20)

Literary Terms:


Plot: All events in a story particularly rendered towards the achievement of some particular artistic or emotional effect or general theme.


Character: A person who is responsible for the thoughts and actions within a story, poem, or other literature.


Setting:The time, place, physical details, and circumstances in which a situation occurs. -"We pass janitors painting over the sign in front of the high school."

Irony:A literary term referring to how a person, situation, statement, or circumstance is not as it would actually seem.

Motif: A recurring object, concept, or structure in work of literature.

• Who is a real American? In your answer, discuss Mr. Neck’s views of a real American and if you think there are some people who are not really Americans, and how that seems to you.
-In this part of the story Melinda talks about the time when Mr. Neck walks into class talking about immigration.


• Why is it that sometimes people like us more when they can get something out of us? In your answer discuss why you think The Marthas may or may not be good friends to Heather.


The First Ten Lies They Tell You In High School



1. We are here to help you
2. You will have enough time to get to your class before the bell rings
3. The dress code will be enforced
4. No smoking is allowed on school grounds
5. Our football team will win the championship this year.
6. We expect more of you here
7. Guidance counselors are always available to listen
8. Your schedule was created with your needs in mind
9. Your locker combination is private
10. These will be the years you look back on fondly