Lutz 2015
Hero Book Sale
Name________________________
As part of your study of the hero concept, you are to make a sales pitch for the book that you chose
to read. This must utilize some visual medium that enhances your presentation and that addresses
each item on the rubric below.
Notice that a portion of your score will be earned from how many books that you are able to “sell,”
so it is imperative that your presentation be as persuasive as possible for your particular audience.
This means that you must be aware not only of whom they are, but also of whether or not you are
reaching them throughout your presentation. You are, in essence, selling the appeal of the author’s
style, the merits of the book, and its relevance to this particular audience.
After all of the presentations are completed, people will have an opportunity to “purchase” from
the vendors of their choice. Each book costs $5, and each student has $25 to “spend.” When the
buyer makes a selection, s/he must write the name of the vendor on the back of the “Lutz Bucks”
(i.e., your currency) AND a justification as to why they are choosing that book from that vendor.
You may use any medium you choose for your visual, but it should enhance (i.e. not echo) your
presentation. Presentations should be no longer than five minutes, so you should practice so as to
transition smoothly and to include all information that you hope to in the time allotted.
Blast from last year’s past to help you in your persuasion:
Some helpful strategies that you can employed to make sales:
Obligation
Pathos
Benefit
Logos
Bandwagon
Ethos
Cause / Effect
Presentations will occur on ____________________
Purchases will after the final sales pitch (although you may make notes as you listen).
Your presentation will include the following for the customers:
Lutz 2015
Hero Book Sale
Oration /
Substance of
presentation
Poise / control
Name________________________
5
Projection
consistently projects to all parts
of the room
-consistently
professional and
somewhat
confident
-focused
-may be fidgety
-occasional
breaks in e.c.
usually projects
to entire room
Articulation
consistently clearly
understandable
usually clearly
understandable
Awareness of
audience /
Engagement
-attends to the entire room
-enthusiastic
-consistently maintains focus
of audience
- comfortable pace, not rushed
- purposeful pace
- smooth, effective
transitions
attends to most of
the room; usually
maintains focus
of audience
consistently
purposeful pace;
may feel a bit
rushed at times;
effective
transitions
1. Why this book
is relevant / why
it matters
literarily and thematically,
appropriate to this audience
2. Premise of the
book
2-3 sentence focused overview
that summarizes the conflict
3. Hero type
accurately addresses the hero
type with several specific
examples
4. 2/4 essential
questions
addressed
5. Controlling
theme relative to
the hero cycle
explored
2 questions are explored in
depth
literarily OR
thematically,
appropriate to
this audience
slightly longer
overview that
summarizes the
conflict
accurately
addresses the
hero type with at
least one specific
example
1 question is
explored in depth
6. Primary
Characteristic /
tendency in the
writing style –
and its effect
accurately notes and
exemplifies style and
accurately and thoughtfully
explores its effect
7. merits of the
book that make it
worth reading
3 merits are thoughtfully
targeted to the audience
2 merits are
thoughtfully
targeted to the
audience
Quality of the
persuasion
sound, deep; logical and
thoughtful
Time:
No more than 5 min
Pacing /
momentum /
transitions
Subtotal
-consistently professional
-confident
-focused
-comfortable body language
- consistently maintains e.c.
4
accurately and thoughtfully
explores theme which stems
from the hero cycle
accurately and
superficially
explores theme
but only loosely
stems from h.c.
accurately notes
and exemplifies
style and
superficially
explores its effect
3.5
3
2.5
-somewhat
professional
-occasionally
distracted focus
-fidgeting becomes
a distraction
-sporadically
makes e.c.
inconsistently
projects to entire
room
-inconsistently
understandable
-occasionally not
understandable
attends to parts of
the room; attempts
to maintain focus
of audience
inconsistently
purposeful pace;
may occasionally
distract or break
momentum
unnecessarily;
functional
transitions
literarily and
thematically, less
appropriate to this
audience
overview with
some irrelevant
details
-less professional
or at times
inappropriate
-visibly
uncomfortable or
distracted
-rarely makes e.c.
-unprofessional
-uncomfortable,
distracted
-seemingly
unprepared
-does not make e.c.
generally projects
to front of
audience
generally less
understandable
does not project
attends to parts of
the room; may
lose audience
focus
frequent
distractions or
unnecessary
breaks / pauses in
momentum; a few
awkward
transitions
attends to parts of
the room; does not
maintain audience
focus
slow pacing gives a
sense of
disorganization /
unpreparedness;
frequent breaks;
awkward / missing
transitions
literarily or
thematically, less
appropriate to this
audience
unfocused and /or
overly detailed
summary w/ many
irrelevancies
vaguely addresses
the hero type with
general or no
examples
missing (0) OR
inappropriate to
this audience
1 question is
explored
superficially
simply states the
theme w/ no
exploration OR
theme is not
relevant to h.c.
notes style and
may or may not
exemplify; does
not explore its
effect
0 questions are
explored (0)
accurately
addresses the hero
type with general
examples
2 questions are
explored
superficially
accurately but
cursorily explores;
may not relate to
h.c.
accurately notes
the style but may
not exemplify;
superficially
explores its effect
1-3 merits are
presented but are
not fully relevant
to the audience
sound and fairly
deep
1-3 merits are
presented but are
less thoughtfully
targeted to the
audience
inconsistent in its
logic, is superficial
Just over 5 min
6 min
7 min
somewhat
illogical and very
superficial
consistently
difficult to
understand
long, rambling, and
unfocused
summary
inaccurately
addresses or does
not address the
hero type (0)
theme is not
addressed or
explored (0)
notes style but may
inaccurately
exemplify or
explore OR does
not address
style/effect (0)
no merits presented
(0) OR not relevant
to the audience
consistently
illogical and
profoundly
superficial
More than 7 min
/ 70
Lutz 2015
Hero Book Sale
Name________________________
Visual Aid
7
Aesthetic appeal
Vibrant, colorful, dynamic, and
engaging
Enhances oration
Easy to follow; clearly and
consistently supports oration
Correctness
few to no errors; ready for
publication
Subtotal
Sales
6
Vibrant and
colorful;
engaging
Easy to follow;
usually supports
oration
5
4.5
Somewhat colorful
and engaging
Relatively plain
Somewhat easy to
follow; may not
always support
oration
consistent minor
errors; needs more
editing
Sometimes
difficult to follow;
rarely supports
oration
3.5
Unattractive,
sloppy, messy, or
careless
Does not support
oration or is
consistently
difficult to follow
rife with distracting
errors; unready for
publication
/ 21
8+ sales ($40+) = 9
6-7 sales ($30-$35) = 8
4-5 sales ($20-$25) = 7
2-3 sales ($10-$15) = 6
0-1 sale ($0-$$5) = 0/5
/9