Challenges

Course Challenge Guide

Welcome to the engaging and thrilling course challenge segment of our academic year! These challenges are crafted to infuse fun into our learning journey while allowing you to delve deeper into the expansive world of English language and literature.

Challenge Rules:

1. Each student can complete a maximum of two challenges throughout the year, challenges are shared between classes.
2. Challenges vary in complexity, and accordingly, prizes escalate with the level of challenge culminating with the option to skip a quiz or assignment.
3. Once a challenge has been completed by a student, it is considered “claimed” (and will look as below) and no other student can undertake it.

Embrace these challenges and engage your creativity and critical thinking skills to enrich your learning experience!

Challenge 1: Shakespearean Sonnet Memorization

Memorize any complete sonnet by William Shakespeare. Recite it in front of the class, demonstrating your comprehension and pronunciation skills. Prize: A packet of candy.

Challenge 2: Scene Reenactment

Reenact a scene from a play we’ve studied in class. This can be a monologue or a dialogue if you’d like to team up with a classmate (consider this as your challenge if you choose to team up). Prize: A stylish notebook for all your creative ideas.

Challenge 3: Baking Literary Delights

Bake cookies or cupcakes inspired by a character or theme from our readings. Bring them to class and explain your creative process. Prize: A recipe book.

Challenge 4: Creative Interpretation

Create an artwork (drawing, painting, sculpture, digital art, etc.) that represents a theme, symbol, or character in a book we’ve read. Present your art to the class. Prize: A sketchpad.

Challenge 5: Linguistic Detective

Research the etymology of ten words we’ve studied this semester and present your findings in an exciting manner. Prize: A mini book of word origins.

Challenge 6: English Through Music

Choose a song with meaningful lyrics, analyze its language, themes, and poetic devices, and present your analysis to the class. Prize: A CD of a popular artist.

Challenge 7: Public Speaking Extraordinaire

Deliver a 5-minute persuasive speech on a topic of your choice. The twist? You only have 30 minutes to prepare. Prize: A small desk speaker.

Challenge 8: Literary Fashion Designer

Design and create a piece of clothing or accessory inspired by a piece of literature we’ve studied. Prize: A DIY bracelet kit.

Challenge 9: Modernizing Shakespeare

Take a scene from a Shakespeare play and rewrite it in a modern context. Perform it for the class. Prize: A pocket-sized edition of a Shakespeare play.

Challenge 10: Building Worlds with Words

Write a short story (1,000 words or less) set in the world of one of the books we’ve read. Prize: A paperback book by a popular author.

Challenge 11: Literary Podcast

Create a 10-minute podcast episode about a topic related to our course. This could be an author profile, book review, thematic analysis, etc. Prize: Earbuds.

Challenge 12: “One Day in the Life of a Literary Character” Video

Create a short video (5-10 minutes) showcasing “one day in the life” of a character from a book we’ve read. Prize: A movie ticket.

Challenge 13: Unseen Poetry Analysis

Analyze a poem that we have not studied in class. Your analysis should focus on language, themes, and poetic devices. Prize: A poetry anthology.

Challenge 14: Historical Linguistics

Present a brief history of English, covering its evolution from Old English to Modern English, including significant influences and changes. Prize: A historical novel.

Challenge 15: Debate Leader

Organize and lead a debate on a contemporary issue related to one of the themes we’ve studied. You’ll need to set up the debate topic, rules, and manage the debate process. Prize: The opportunity to skip a quiz or an assignment.

Dive in, challenge yourself, and remember – the primary aim of these challenges is to learn while having fun! Good luck!