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Biography is a course that asks students to read biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs of literary and historical merit, discuss them in seminars, and complete portfolios as primary demonstrations of understanding. Students will meet national and department standards in conjunction with the following expected school learning results:
The essential question for this course is, “What makes a hero?”
This requires more than a simple answer, because you will need to examine
related issues, such as, "What is heroic
about this individual? What impact
has this person made on society, on human history? What has enabled
this person to make a difference? How
do I make a difference?"
In addition, you will need to research characteristics of heroism.
My favorites are those of Joseph Campbell (reprinted below), and I urge
you to make frequent reference to his criteria, or others that you find of a
similar nature: 1.
A hero gives his life to something higher than oneself, to some higher
end. 2.
A hero performs a courageous act either physical or spiritual. 3.
A hero is usually someone from whom something has been taken or who feels
there's something lacking in the normal experience available or permitted to
members of his society. 4.
A hero embarks on a series of adventures to recover what is lost or to
discover some life-giving information. 5.
The hero usually moves out of the known, conventional safety of his own
life to undertake the journey. 6.
The hero undergoes trials and tests to see if he has the courage, the
knowledge and the capacity to survive. 7.
A hero has to achieve something. 8.
A hero's journey usually consists of a departure, a fulfillment, and a
return. Very often, those who are heroic in words or deeds can also teach us something about leadership, and we will examine the characteristics of leadership enumerated by Kouzes and Posner in their book, The Challenge of Leadership. There will be NO objective testing. However, there will be a final project or exhibition, and testing will be only of the essay variety. In addition, portfolios based upon the above approaches, will be completed individually, in pairs, and in groups. Materials: Into
Thin Air by Jon
Krakauer
The Blind Side/Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis Ice
Bound/A Doctor’s Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole
by Dr. Jerri Nielsen Three Cups of Tea/One Man's
Mission to Promote Peace. . .One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David
Relin Endurance/Shackleton’s
Incredible Voyage
by Alfred Lansing Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand Firehouse by David Halberstam Spiral
notebook for journal entries (kept in class 2-3 times per week) Three
ring binder for assignment and portfolio data Pens,
paper
Grading
Scale
1.
Bring materials to class every day including laptop,
pen, paper, and book. I f you
don’t have these tools, you are not participating. 2.
Journal keeping is the most important tool we have for building and maintaining
fluency. As such, I take them
VERY SERIOUSLY! So
should you! Entries will be based on texts, seminars, and personal
reflections. They will be written
in class, and as homework. More
information to follow on homework entries. 3.
NO LATE
WORK!
Portfolios and essay tests will be penalized one full grade per day when
late. Don’t be satisfied with
that. Revision is encouraged. 4.
Behavior is important. 5.
Academic honesty is integral to a Maryknoll education.
In any case of
verifiable academic dishonesty or plagiarism, the office will be informed, and
your parents will be notified. Course
Schedule Approximations: August
24......................................Course Introduction
August 24-September 1................The Blind Side September 6................................ The Blind Side Pair Quotation Portfolio Due September 7-14........................... Three Cups of Tea September 15................................Three Cups of Tea Seminar September 16-27..........................Endurance September 29...............................Endurance Group Portfolio Due September 28-October 12............Into Thin Air October 14.................................. Into Thin Air Individual Portfolio Due October 14-24............................ Seabiscuit October
24...................................Seabiscuit Seminar October 25-November 4..............Icebound November 7.................................Ice Bound Group PowerPoint Due November 7-10...........................Firehouse and Final Exhibition November 14...............................Firehouse Final Exhibition Portfolio Due November 15-16.........................Autobiography Presentations November 14-16.........................Readings in Leadership
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