HERO PROJECT BIOGRAPHIES

LITERATURE CONNECTION

In completing a report, or in a class discussion, Students should address these questions:

1.                  How was the individual a person of character?

2.                  What pillars are evident in their story?

3.                  How was the character tested?

4.                  How did others respond to the choices made?

5.                  What were some of the positive results of choosing to uphold a pillar of character? Any negative results?

Trustworthiness

<        Kofi Annan – the first black African Secretary General of the United Nations where he was known for his integrity, likeability and calm manner.

<        Cochise – a 19^th century Apache chief. The whites who knew him respected him, and most considered him to be a man of his word

<        My Brother, the Thief – Marlene Fanta Shyer (Scribner, 1980). Twelve-year old Carolyn suspects her 15-year old half-brother and his friend of stealing team jackets for the town swim club. Carolyn struggles with the ethical dilemma of loyalty.

<        The Bad Times of Irma Baumlein -  Carol Brink (Macmillan, 1974). Irma, unhappy living with a strict great-uncle gets caught in a terrible lie.

Role play:

You've made a commitment to spend the weekend working on your part of a class project that's due Monday. Then, friends invite you to go to an all day baseball tournament. You can't do both, so you decide to go to the baseball game. Try to explain your decision to the other people working on the class project. After the role play, have the class analyze what each person did to accomplish his/her objective. What general principles or guidelines can be drawn from this incident about responsibility?