Hero Trading Card & Presentation
Name______ ____________
Modern Literature
Carothers/Hanson
Total _____/95 pts
Where Have All the Heroes Gone?
R
ecent surveys indicate that Americans have a tough time identifying a national hero who
is alive today. Most select historical figures of the past (Martin Luther King, President
Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, etc.) or a family member they admire. In addition, we
quickly forget those heroes who emerge from national catastrophes such as 9/11and Hurricane
Katrina. So why is this? Is there no one alive today who understands the needs of our society?
Have we all given up hope that a few noble men and women can capture our attention long
enough for us to give them any longevity as a hero?
You have two choices:
1. Create a national hero. In order to do so, you must consider what kind of hero our American
society needs. In other words, what is your hero going to do that will help us? You must
make sure that your hero is not a one hit wonder. He or she must be able to maintain his/her
hero status for as long as possible.
--OR-2. Research and promote an unsung hero. This person must be real and alive. While you don’t
have to know this person personally, choose someone who does not have a large celebrity
status. In other words, the majority of your classmates wouldn’t recognize this person’s
name.
This is a contest. Your panel of judges consists of your classmates and the teacher. The winner
will receive praise and glory beyond compare, along with a special prize.
Directions: In a formal presentation to class, you will introduce your hero and explain his/her
special powers/abilities and why these powers/abilities are important to our society. Consider
this a PR moment for your hero. In order to help “sell” your hero, put together a visual that
includes a picture of your hero and outlines his/her special abilities, accomplishments, and
personality. You must try to make your hero the best of the class through your creativity and
enthusiasm. Entertain us! This means that you should not just read off your visual. You will
certainly use this information, but you must transform it to create a powerful, persuasive speech.
You must also demonstrate good speaking skills such as appropriate rate and volume, good eye
contact, expressive tone, logical organization, and evidence of practice.
Time
Speech Skills
Use of
Visual
Quality of
Visual
Enthusiasm/
Persuasivenes
Idea Development
Organization
Hero Presentation Rubric
Excellent
Okay
Minimum
15 pts. Includes an introduction
with an attention getter and brief
outline of main points; includes a
conclusion that summarizes the
main points and brings closure to
the speech; order of details is
effective
30 pts. Piles on 4-5 clear,
specific, interesting/creative
background information about
hero’s powers to prove this
person is indeed a hero;
Elaborates thoroughly and
carefully on each supporting
detail and its relevance and
significance enlightening the
reader as to why powers are
important to society.
20 pts. Begins with an interesting
attention getter and ends with a
powerful closing; delivers speech
with an expressive tone; shows
confidence in hero; makes the
speech seems more than just an
assignment
15 pts. Includes all required
components (Picture, personality,
powers, reasons important) in a
neat and creatively organized
manner; is large enough for entire
class to see
5 pts. Effectively incorporates
visual by referring to it at
important times during the speech
12-11 pts. Includes a
recognizable introduction and
conclusion; order of details makes
sense.
9 pts. Lacks a clear introduction
and conclusion; speech is difficult
to follow
23-22 pts. Provides 2-3 clear and
accurate details and reactions but
needs to focus on moving from
general to specific examples,
providing more examples, and
providing more explanation of
how each example or detail helps
prove this person is a hero needed
in society
20 pts. Presents a limited
background of hero’s powers
and/or need for hero’s powers in
society. Needs several more
specific supporting details and
their explanations.
15 pts. Attempts an attention
getter and closing, but they may
be cliché or underdeveloped;
delivers speech with an interested
tone; shows confidence in hero;
fulfills the requirements of the
speech
12-11 pts. Includes all required
components; may be hard to
understand all of visual because it
is not neat, organized, or large
enough
12 pts. Gives no clear effort in
regard to attention getter and
closing; delivers speech in a
monotone manner; wants to just
get the speech over with/reads
speech to class
4 pts. Has a tendency to read off
of visual, but still refers to it at
important times during speech.
3 pts. Entire speech is based on
reading from visual or visual is
introduced as an afterthought
5 pts. Speaks at a volume and rate
that allow everyone to hear
everything throughout speech;
frequently looks at a variety of
audience members; few
hesitations show evidence of
practice
4 pts. Speaks at a volume and rate
that allow everyone to hear most
of speech; looks at audience
often, but typically looks in the
same direction or at no particular
people at all; may have
hesitations that show more
practice is needed
4 pts. 2-3 min; 4-5 min
3 pts. Speaks too softly or quickly
throughout most of speech;
inhibits understanding; barely
looks up during speech; shows
little practice
5 pts. 3-4 min
9 pts. Includes most required
information; does not demonstrate
attention to neatness or
organization; too small
3 pts. 1-2 min; 5-6 min
Example Card: This is only one possible layout for your visual. Don’t be afraid to add other
relevant graphics or add other informational sections not mentioned in the assignment. The best
visual will be neat, organized, and filled with details that make your hero someone we wished we
had in our world today. This is a small version for copying purposes; recommended size is 17x22
Hero’s Name
Profile
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Physical Strength: 6
Book Smarts: 9
Creativity: 10
Patience: 8
Diplomacy: 10
Perfectionism: 5
Society’s Need for this hero
This is where you would eloquently explain what
your hero is fighting for, why this is so important,
and why this is something that today’s
Americans would definitely want this person to
take care of. This section should be in paragraph
form, about 3-5 sentences.
Personality
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Powers
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This section will be a list of the hero’s
powers and abilities.
They do not have to be complete
sentences.
They should, for the most part, be
extraordinary—either individually or as
a collection.
They should make sense with the other
sections of the card.
Student Name
Class and Hour
Using lists in this section is okay, but
it will work best if the items are in
complete sentences.
Remember to briefly describe how
your hero handled a few situations.
This will demonstrate his/her
personality.
How you describe the personality
should make sense with the profile
and what he/she wants to
accomplish.
Heroic Deeds
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List the heroic deeds this person has
done.
These should be acts that required
the hero to risk his/her life or be
completely selfless.
These aren’t just nice things he/she
has done.
Don’t be afraid to elaborate on each
item in order to clarify why the deeds
are indeed heroic