Hendricks– VG 8th grade English
Hero’s Journey Project
We will be using our summer reading books to start off the year, connecting the different book
choices (Ender’s Shadow, Watership Down, and The Once and Future King) to the Hero’s Journey or
Hero’s Cycle. This is based on Christopher Vogler’s Writer’s Journey
(http://www.thewritersjourney.com/), and the 17 stages from Joseph Campbell’s Hero with a Thousand
Faces (Princeton Press: 1973). The Hero’s Journey is also referred to as the Monomyth, a story pattern
that returns again and again. Studying this cycle helps us recognize plot and character patterns and types
in literature and popular movies, create our own stories, and connect plot events and characters across
works.
You will be working on your project with others in class who read your same book. Remember
that each of you brings a different strength to the project. Recognize and support each others’ strengths.
Due Date: Thurs.-Fri., 9/24-9/25
Guidelines:
 You must create a written product (properly formatted Word document) of your book’s
connection to at least 2x (the number of people in your group)’s stages of the Hero’s Cycle. (For
ex., a group of 3 must show at least 6 phases.)
 For each phase, you must include:
o cited evidence (quoted lines and page numbers in MLA format)
o context and explanation of the evidence (at least three sentences): What is happening
in this scene? Who is involved? Where is he/she? What is he/she doing?
o connection of the evidence to the hero’s journey (analysis of at least three
sentences): How is this an example of phase x? Why is this a significant
moment/situation for the hero? How does this lead him/ her forward?
 You must identify at least 1x (the number of people in your group)’s archetypal characters or
settings in your story. (at least three sentences of analysis per archetype)
 Your evidence, context, connection, and archetypal analysis must be typed (Times New
Roman, 12 point font) and printed.
 You must include at least 1x (the number of people in your group)’s illustrations or symbols, each
illustration or symbol representing a distinctive archetype.
Symbols are worth more than literal illustrations. You need to be ready to explain your symbol if
it is not clear to the audience. The visual aspect of your project may be represented via a poster,
PowerPoint, Prezi, or portfolio.
Presentation:
 Your presentation should be oral as well as visual.
 Each member of your group must present part of the product.
 Your time should be no more than 2 minutes per person, plus up to 2 minutes for Q & A.
Grading: The final product/ presentation will count as a test grade and be based on:
 Completion and quality of required visual/ written elements
 Prepared, audible, shared oral explanation of product
 Group Participation Evaluation describing work efforts/collaboration efforts of each group
member
**Each group member is responsible for a written analysis of at least 2 the stages of the hero’s
journey (evidence, context, and connection), 1 written archetypal analysis, and 1 labeled illustration
or symbol representing a distinctive archetype present in the work. Each group member is
responsible for editing his/her own work as well as that of his/her peers. This project is a group
grade.
Presentation – 25 points
 Your presentation should be oral as well as visual.
 Each member of your group must present part of the product.
 Your time should be no more than 2 minutes per person, plus up to 2 minutes for Q & A.
*Each group member will present one archetype and one phase of the hero’s journey.
23-25 Wow!
Group members clearly articulate their message in a professional manner. Analysis is insightful and
backed by apt textual evidence.
Good! 21-22
Group members are mostly professional. Analysis is mostly insightful. A bit more depth of analysis is
needed. The volume of group members may need some adjustment. Textual evidence is mostly apt.
Okay. 18-20
Group members are somewhat professional. Literal summary may replace analysis. Textual evidence may
be confusing at times. Some group members may not speak loudly enough.
Uh-oh! Less than 18
See teacher for an individual conference
Artistic Elements (Visual) -25 points:
Illustration (neatness, creativity, connection to archetype): 15 pts.
Clearly visible phase or name of archetype: 10 pts.
*You may copy and paste images / symbols from the Web. Make sure to cite the web address beneath
your image. Example: www.imigion.com
Factors in evaluating the format and mechanics of written work:
Passage is properly indented (dialogue), punctuated (quotation marks, ellipses), and cited
(author page).
Comments about literature are in present tense.
Writer has avoided careless spelling or capitalization errors.
Product is typed (Times New Roman, 12 point font).
Rubric for Quote Sheets (Evidence, Context, Connection + Archetypal Analysis) – 50 points:
Wow! 45 - 50 pts:
All quote sheets are present and properly formatted (see above).
Passages are well-chosen and carefully "cut" and "spliced."
Summary sections are clear, specific to the scene, and thorough.
Insight/ analysis sections are insightful (!), thoughtful, and "deep".
Overall product contains few, if any, grammatical/ technical errors (see above).
Good! 40 - 44 pts.
All quote sheets (or all but 1) are present and (almost) properly formatted.
Passages are well-chosen and most cutting and splicing makes sense.
Summary sections could be more thorough in places, could give more specific details about
context of scene.
Insight/analysis sections contain some insight, but also seem in places to point out the
obvious and not go beyond that.
Overall product contains some minor grammatical/technical errors (see above).
Okay. 35 - 39 pts.
May be missing some quote sheets.
Some passages may be edited in a confusing way, or seem unrelated to the stage of the hero’s journey (at
least connection is not made clear.)
Summary sections and insight/analysis sections may seem blended together; the writer may not have
understood the difference between summarizing and analyzing.
Another possibility is that summary and insight sections are different, but very brief; the writer just
needed to take more time and put more thought into these sections.
Overall product contains a significant number of grammatical/technical errors (see above).
Uh-oh.... 35 < pts:
See teacher for individual conference.