1. What Makes a Hero? subject Autopsy

2. Who Is Your Hero? We’ve talked a lot about defining heroes, and who our personal heroes are, over the last few weeks. This is the culminating ‘visual essay’ for this unit. So please treat it as such. To guide you in starting the activity: What are the qualities of a hero? Who is your personal hero? – Consider: Political Figures (local, federal, etc.) “Big Names” (Bono, Oprah, That Guy on the Child-Hunger commercials) People in your field (Doctors, Lawyers, Greenpeace) subjects in books or stories you’ve read Why would you choose that person? – Note: this MUST be a real person or a character from a book. No movies, comic book characters, etc. are allowed.

3. Hero Autopsy Steps 1.Draw or trace an outline of a body on the provided paper*. Then choose the best way to represent each of the following aspects symbolically for your subject. *Paper will be provided Tuesday, when I get back 2.Support EACH answer with evidence from the text. These are concrete details and should include titles, page numbers, article titles, and any other available documentation. 3.Explain EACH answer, in detail.

4. Parts of the Body: Core The Heart: should represent what the subject loves most. Decide what it should look like (red, blue, black, broken, made of stone, etc.). What symbols should be included? The Spine: should visually convey what motivates the subject. Think about ways to show why your subject does what he or she does.

5. Parts of the Body: Extremities Hands: should be holding literal or figurative traits associated with the subject. Feet: should be a symbolic representation of the subject’s most fundamental beliefs about life. Arms: should show the change the subject undergoes during their life (or what we see of it). – Left Arm: subject in the beginning – Right Arm: subject in the end Legs: represent the actions of the subject that show us who they are.

6. Filling the White Space The Background: should suggest the subject’s environment, background, or struggles. Include at least five direct quotations that sum up the subject and your understanding of the subject.

7. Time and Grading You will work on your subject/Figure Autopsy during class this week. – Wed/Thurs will be half of the period. We will be doing a timed writing that day. Groups may contain no more than four people. You and your group will present your subjects to the class on Friday. – Feel free to supplement your Autopsy poster with additional visuals/music/explanation-get creative! This is practice for the Stepping Stone and Film Unit presentations. – This will be a competition (for fun). We will be voting, as a class, on the following categories: The Cape Award: best choice of hero (overall) Silver-Tongue Award: best job persuading the class of your hero’s heroic qualities Picasso Must Be Jealous Award: best looking presentation