The Hero Project:

What Does It Take To Be A Hero?

What does it take to be a hero? Is it all about doing deeds that help those in need? Does attitude or personality matter? Does it matter if you do good things for a reward? What if the way you help people can hurt other people? Can you be a hero if nothing bad is happening around you? What character traits are necessary to be a hero? What does a hero have to do to be properly called a hero?

You will be examining several texts about heroes in order to research what it takes to be a hero. Then you’ll be submitting your findings on ______.

Your Hero Project must include:

·  Your answer to the prompt: What does it take to be a hero? (Your Thesis/Introduction)- Be sure to include several key character traits, personal qualities, or actions in your definition.

·  3 Hero Sections (like Body Paragraphs)-

Each one should:

o  Tell the story of a different hero that you’ve researched

o  Explain, using 2-3 specific cited details from your research how that hero fits your definition of a hero.

·  A final call to action (like a conclusion)- How can we be heroes?

·  A written bibliography of sources (Use EasyBib.com to help!)

Format:

Choose one of the following. You must have your choice approved by the teacher.

·  Essay- 2+ pages or longer with pictures

·  Poster- at least 11x17 inches, bigger may work better

·  Storybook- with pictures and thoughtfully chosen evidence to suit the audience

·  Pamphlet- Self help guide for hero wannabes

·  Other! It must contain all the information above and be teacher approved.

***Students may be required to do an essay, with additional teacher help, if they have not yet demonstrated the skill to do so.

Hero Project Rubric

Category / 5- Exceeds standard / 4- Met standard / 3- Approaching / 2- Attempting / 1- Incomplete or no attempt
Format and Neatness / Format enhances content, and work is neat. / Format works with content, and work is mostly neat. / Content is all present, & work is mostly neat. / Most content is present, and work may be sloppy. / Little content is present, and work is sloppy or incomplete.
Introduction W8.2.a / Previews and organizes all main ideas / Previews all main ideas and may suggest an organization / Previews main idea, but not supporting points / Suggests a main idea / Incomplete or main idea totally unclear
Evidence
W8.2.b / Includes 6+ pieces of well chosen, correctly cited evidence / Includes 6+ thoughtful pieces of correctly cited evidence / Includes 4+ mostly thoughtful pieces of cited evidence / Includes some evidence, attempts to cite / Evidence is not cited, or there are fewer than 3 pieces of evidence or incomplete
Transitions and Clarity
W8.2.c / Well chosen transitions, explanations, & topic sentences clarify relationships among claims, evidence and thesis / Has transitions, explanations, & topic sentences that help clarify relationships among claims, evidence and thesis / Has transitions, explanations, & topic sentences, but a few claims or evidence are not related or connected to the thesis / Few transitions, explanations, or topic sentences, and several claims or evidence are not related or connected to the thesis / Incomplete or little clear connection among claims, evidence, and thesis and few or no transitions explanations, or topic sentences
Language and Vocabulary
W8.2.d / Use precise language and domain specific vocabulary & conventions / Uses carefully chosen language and some ELA vocabulary & conventions / Some awkward language choices or inconsistent conventions / Many awkward language choices and inconsistent conventions / Misused words, slang, poor conventions and other language problems or incomplete
Formal Style
W 8.2.e / Project style is appropriate to the Task, Purpose, & Audience (TPA) / Project style is mostly appropriate to TPA / Project has some mistakes in formality and TPA / Project doesn’t seem at all made for TPA / Project is incomplete or inappropriate for any school context
Conclusion
W8.2f / Conclusion clearly wraps up and adds something to project / Conclusion clearly flows from & wraps up project / Conclusion flows from project and complete / Conclusion has some off topic elements / Conclusion is incomplete, absent, or unrelated to project

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