S+Smart,+Darren

Office Phone:** (207) 975 4108 ** E-mail: ** darren.smart@maine.edu
 * Teacher:** Mr. Darren Smart
 * Office:
 * Office Hours:**

=Summary of Unit:= In this unit, students will read and analyze Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon's graphic novel, //Watchmen//. The story's themes and characters investigate both the subjectivity of justice and the role of heroism in culture. Whether the hero is entirely fictional or rooted in reality, there is a strong connection between the character, justice, and media. By reading the novel, students will discover how and why popular media highlights heroes for the general population. A hero reflects cultural perspectives in the time and setting they are created, and students will have the chance to create their own hero that relates personally to their lives. Furthermore, the role of icons and symbolism in //Watchmen// allows the student to examine the images of their own lives and the significance of these icons.

=Establish Goals:= Maine Learning Results: English Language Arts- A. Reading A2 Literary Texts Grades 9-Diploma Watchmen Students read text, within a grade appropriate span of text complexity, and present analyzes of fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry using excerpts from the text to defend their assertions. Evaluate the theme or themes, whether explicitly stated or implied, in a literary text. = = =Students will understand that...= Achieving justice is relative to the persons or characters involved. During their time, heroes reflect cultural perspectives on important current events. The use of symbolism and imagery emphasizes tone and important plot elements = = =Essential Questions:= Why is it important for artists and the media to create heroes? To what extent is justice considered altruistic? Why is symbolism and imagery able to emphasize aspects of a story? = = =Students will know...= = = =Students will be able to...=
 * //Vocabulary:// graphic novel, holism, reductionism, justice, moral, hero, villain, mood, tone, icon, imagery, repetition, and symbolism.
 * //Important people//: Minutemen, Rorschach, Ozymandias, Doctor Manhattan, Comedian, Silk Spectre, Nite Owl, and The Tales Of The Black Freighter
 * //Critical details//: character reactions, relationships, perspectives, sequence of plot, and subplots
 * Justify each character’s perspective on justice.
 * Evaluate the themes found in //Watchmen//.
 * Design a creative work that utilizes symbolism, imagery, and the aspects of a hero.
 * Compare and contrast each character’s moral ideals
 * Consider the role of symbolism and imagery in the interpretation of a story
 * Reflect on //Watchmen// and determine which characters can be considered heroes.

**Performance Task Overview:** The podcast Comic Geek Speak is hosting a contest called “X-Ray Vision.” The hosts of the show are looking for a hero who is new and personal, someone who is easy to relate to. They want artists to consider their lives as the launching point for the creation of their hero. CGS is tired of the big-name stars and their cliché story lines; they want a hero rooted in things that appeal to a modern, intelligent audience. In the contest, artists can submit a hero of their design for consideration by CGS. In the “X-Ray Vision” contest, participants will have their work judged on the hero’s story and symbol, creativity, and the character’s marketing ability. The CGS hosts expect more than one hundred entries in their contest, and the winner will be awarded a contract with DC Comics and a spot on CGS’s next podcast interview.

=Expectations:= A large portion of the //Watchmen// is a cumulative project in which the students will create their own hero or villain, and this project will be presented to the class. Therefore, it is important that the student attends class to gather information and ideas essential to the complete understanding of the unit. However, if days of class are missed, the teacher and student will work together to create a plan for staying current with the assignments. It is the student's responsibility to arrange this meeting with the teacher.

In this unit, participation will play a large factor in the student's final grade. For each assignment, students will have the opportunity to gain 15 participation points. These points will reflect the student's ability to turn assignments in at the time they are required, the student's attitude and behavior during the segment of each assignment, and their cooperation during class to listen and discuss the appropriate topic(s).

Much of this unit will require brainstorming and student opinions. It is important for each person to be able to comfortably voice his/her thoughts and ideas during class discussion and group activities. The teacher will hold each student to display a high level of respect for both his/her teacher and peers. Furthermore, the teacher will certainly model and maintain the same level of respect expected from the students. Failure to maintain this expectation will be reflected in the students' participation grades for each topic.

=Benchmarks:= Below is a list of assignments that students will be asked to complete throughout the course of the unit. Each benchmark has been assigned a point value. //The student's final grade will be determined by dividing the total number of points earned by the amount of **800 possible points** (710 points for assignments and 90 for participation)**.**//

In the unit, each student will be asked to write at least two blog entries concerning a particular aspect of the novel or class discussion. At least one entry will concern the students' personal experiences with symbolism and icons in their lives. Another blog or podcast entry will be created by considering which character in the graphic novel the student finds the most interesting and why. //Additional entries may be required//. In class, the teacher will give tutorials on the software, and rubrics will be given that detail the particulars of the assignments.
 * Two blog or podcast entries (45 points each):**

Each student will be asked to create a presentation through either Comic Life or Glogster that shows and explains why a particular character is a hero, a villain, an antihero, or an ordinary person. Students can use ideas and opinions that they gather during the class activity to help further their presentation. Tutorials on the new software and a rubric will be provided during class for this assignment.
 * Comic Life or Glogster presentation (110 points):**

For this assignment, students will be asked to create a Comic Life about their origins. Students can create the project from a number of perspectives: as if they were a hero today, as a regular student, or as a person considering where they will be in the future. This project will be handed to the teacher and graded based on the rubric given during class.
 * Comic Life: Origins (75 points):**

The online software, Mixed Ink, allows a group of people to collect and redistribute ideas as a whole. Each student will be asked to submit their own definition of justice and identify how each main character of //Watchmen// fits within their definition. As a whole, the students will mix their opinions and vote on each submission until a final definition and discussion of the characters is complete. A tutorial for Mixed Ink and a rubric for the assignment with be given during class.
 * Mixed Ink: Definition of Justice (60 points):**

A WebQuest assignment will be given in which students will be asked to use Comic Life to create their own heroes or villains. In this project, the teacher will be looking for the inclusion of the hero or villain's origins and for the student to both show and tell the fictional character's attributes. This assignment will require thinking about previous class discussions and assignments. A rubric will be given in class to guide the assignment.
 * Comic Life: Hero Or Villain? (205 points):**

After the students complete their //Comic Life: Hero Or Villain?// assignment, they will be asked to present the project to the class. In addition to the completed project, an aspect of the rubric will require that students relate the character they create to a hero or villain from the //Watchmen// graphic novel. This presentation will last between five and ten minutes. A rubric will be given in class to guide the assignment.
 * Oral Presentation: Hero (170 points):**

//15 Participation points per assignment (90 points): refer to Expectations.//

=Grading Scale=
 * **A** (93 -100)
 * **A-** (90 - 92)
 * **B+** (87 - 89)
 * **B** (83 - 86)
 * **B-** (80 - 82)
 * **C+**(77 - 79)
 * **C** (73-76),
 * **C-** (70 - 72)
 * **D+**(67 - 69)
 * **D** (63 - 66)
 * **D-** (60 - 62)
 * **F** (0 - 59)