Heroes in the World

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in conjunction with the Rockefeller Foundation, has instituted a
Greene Revolution to end hunger in Africa. The Clinton Global Initiative works in areas of health, economics,
and climate to improve human lives globally. Why do these wealthy and prominent individuals concern
themselves with matters outside the borders of America? Because, as we have discovered, matters outside the
borders of America affect not only America but the entire world. Our planet has now become a global
community. Those borders that we once thought separated and cocooned are rapidly disappearing.
As I stated in your policy statements, in order to make informed decisions regarding global issues we need to
become more knowledgeable about the world beyond America. Reading the stories of that world is one method
for gaining this knowledge. Learning of individuals and the cultures that nurtured them is a second method.
And this is the method you will implement in your next research/writing project.
The steps for completing this project are as follows:

Choose a country -- Your choice is a developing country. No North American country. No European
country, including Russia. No Japan. No Korea. No China. Get the global picture?
Choose an individual -- past or present -- who has played a positive and significant role in some area of
that countrys culture. Some areas to consider: education, medicine, technology, politics, arts (music,
painting, sculpting, literature, dancing), sports, science. Your individual should be one who has worked
for her or his countrys betterment, a national hero within the past fifty years (with one or two possible
exceptions).
Research the country and its culture, including its foods.
Research the individual
Answer the following questions as you research:
What are/were this individuals accomplishments?
What are/were the obstacles, cultural and personal, that this individual overcame to attain her or his
position?
Why does this individual hold a position of prominence in the country?
(More questions may arise as we progress through the project.)

Your final research-based essay of three to four pages (with a Works Cited page that does not count as one of
the three to four) will answer the question: How did your individual rise above her or his beginnings to
achieve a position of respect within not only the country of birth but also, possibly, the world?
You will also present your hero and her or his culture to the class in a three to five minute formal presentation.
We will discuss this portion as we draw closer to the time. But, part of your presentation will include bringing
food on the day of presentation that is particular to your country. The class will join you in this taste of the
world.

Tentative dates for completing your project are as follows:

B Day

Work

March

April

14

Introduce project/ Brainstorm

To library for research
Research two countries/heroes
Website credibility exercise

16

Website evals. due--TYPED!!

Summarizing and Paraphrasing
Bring two pieces of research to class
Paraphrase and summarizing ex.

18

Library -- Research
Effective essay writing--OWL at Purdue

22

In-Class work essay/ PBS video with worksheet

29

In-Class work essay

31

First Complete Draft due TYPED!!

Peer read

4, 6

Presentations + food

Final Draft

Project Assessment:
Essay -- three to four pages with three sources (in-paper cites required) = 100 pts.
Formal presentation + Food
_50 pts.
Total pts. possible
150 pts.
**Your sources must come from the following:
Two electronic
One magazine or journal (i.e., National Geographic, Biography, etc.)
One book -- (biography or other)
You may have more sources, i.e. movies, documentaries, etc., but you must have the above, all properly
documented.