Freedom Writers Hero Project

Introduction

     The Freedom Writers Diary shows the progress of a new teacher that entered a new teaching environment with kids who live in a savage environment with no stable learning foundation. For this reason, these children were labled the "unteachables." Ms. Gruwell, the teacher, faced challenges with her students such as the literacy levels that she had to build up from. However, she also had to deal with little to no support from her co-workers and family. Even through all of these challenges, Ms. Gruwell set them aside and nurtured her students and started turning their lives around. 

     Mr. Gruwell decided to have all of the students keep a journal to keep their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. These diary entries are what the whole Freewom Writers book is filled with. It shows the differences of their lives from the beginning of freshman year all the way to the end of senior year. 

Task

     

     As you are completing this webquest, you will answer multiple questions on events that occured in the book. There will also be short answer questions about who you connected to most in the book the most whether from because of things that have happened in your life or because their life experiences touched you the most.  You will also complete a shorter essay about what makes a hero a... Well, a hero! In addition, you will also write an essay about someone in your life who you think is a hero and why. This will help you put into words your reasoning for why this person is a hero and hopefully make you realize that doing those things aren't all that difficult. 

Process

Section 1:

Please answer questions 1-3 in complete sentences.

     1.) What did Ms. Gruwell say her reason for not becoming a lawer was? 

     2.) Explain why you think Miep Gies tells all of Ms. Gruwell's students that they are all heros? 

     3.) Why does Eva think that she needs to "protect her own?"

Section 2:

Based on your knowldge, please answer the following question by writing a complete essay to describe your thinking.

  • What charachteristics do you think make up a hero? Do you think of yourself as a hero? If so, why? If not, what do you think you could improve on?

Section 3: 

Answer the following in 3-6 sentences.

  • Who, out of all the people introduced in the book, did you connect to the most? Why?

Section 4:

Complete an essay with an introduction, body paragraph, and conlusion for the following question. 

  • Out of anyone in the world, alive or dead, who would you consider your ultimate hero? Explain the characteristics of this person that qualify them to be your hero.

Evaluation

Section 1:

Each question is worth 2 points each.

Section 2-4:

Essays and/or paragraphs will be graded with the following rubric.

Criteria

4 – Advanced

3 – Proficient

2 – Progressing

1 – Non Proficient

Mechanics

  • Writer makes no errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

  • Needs little or no editing

  • Good word choice

  • Writer makes 1-2 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

  • Needs editing but doesn’t distract from reading

  • Good word choice

  • Writer makes 3-5  errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

  • Needs editing

  • Decent word choice

  • Writer makes more than 5 errors in grammar or spelling that distracts from understanding/communication

  • Needs major editing

  • Poor word choice

Content

  • There is one clear, well-focused topic.

  • Main idea stands out and is supported by detailed information.

  • Topic sentence is well written

  • The conclusion sentence is well written and sums up the paragraph.

  • Main idea is clear, but the supporting information is general.

  • Attempts topic sentence

  • Conclusion attempts to sum up the paragraph

  • Main idea is somewhat clear, but there is a need for more supporting information.

  • Topic sentence is poorly written

  • Poor attempt at conclusion

  • The main idea is not clear. There is a seemingly random collection of information.

  • No topic sentence

  • No conclusion.
Conclusion

    Crangratulations!!! Your have completed this Webquest! You now know what makes up a hero and, hopefully, you can bring this knowledge into your everday life!