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Roles
All: look for resources
A: Dictionary; looks on library catalogue (others give advice)
B: Looks on E Library Canada (others give advice)
C: Recorder
D: Looks on Grolier Multimedia Online (others give advice)

PART A – WHAT IS A HERO?

1. As a group brainstorm (discuss) what you think a hero is, and write your definition of a hero below (3 marks).
2. List three names of people you consider heroes. Briefly explain your choices. (3 marks).
3. Look up “hero” in the dictionary. Copy the definition below (2 marks).
4. Compare the dictionary definition to the literary definition below. What is the main difference between them (3 marks)?

   Literary Definition of a Hero Hero/Heroine – The main character in a piece of literature. Hero may be used instead of the term protagonist. As we are already aware, a protagonist does not have to be an admirable or “good” person, and therefore neither does a hero.

PART B – FINDING HEROES IN THE LIBRARY CATALOGUE

5. One of you log into a computer. Use a keyword search on the library catalogue (book icon on the desktop) to find books on heroes. Choose one of the books from the list you find, and get it from the shelf. List the title and call number below (2 marks):
6. Examine the book and decide how and/or why the concept of “hero” is used in the book. Does this use fit with your definition, the dictionary definition, or the literary definition? Explain (5 marks).

PART C – HEROES IN ONLINE DATABASES

7. Another one of you log onto a computer. Go to the Alberta Learning Online Reference Centre. Use Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia Online and find information on one hero from a Greek or Roman myth (Hercules, Jason, Perseus, Odysseus, Theseus, Achilles, Ajax). Print the article. On the back of the printed article, write a brief explanation of why this individual is considered to be a hero.(5 marks)
8. Go to the Alberta Learning Online Reference Centre. Use ELibrary Canada and print one article on a real life hero such as
   1. Terry Fox
   2. Martin Luther King
   3. Mother Teresa
   4. d. Nelson Mandela
   5. Mahatma Gandhi
   6. Other (your choice)

   On the back of the printed article, write a brief explanation of why this individual is considered to be a hero.(5 marks)

9. Go to the Alberta Learning Online Reference Centre  Click on Grolier Online, use Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia Online, and print an article on one of

10. Explain how you can e-mail articles from ELibrary Canada or Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia to yourself without opening your email program. (2 marks).
11. Explain how you can access the Alberta Learning Online Reference Centre from home (give the URL, login name, password) (3 marks) Hint: look at Online Databases page of the MEL Library web site.
     

 PART D – WHAT IS A HERO?

13. Based on the information you found today, go back to your definition and revise it in light of what you have learned about heroes. Write your revised definition below. (3 marks)
14. Look at your original choices for heroes in question #2, and decide if these individuals fit the job description. In the space provided below, list your three choices and explain why each is or is not a hero (9 marks).
15. Bonus question: use the library catalogue to find a book of quotations. Look up “hero” in the book of quotations. Write down your favorite quote and the book of quotations you used. (add 5 % to your score).
16. Hand in your work to Mrs. Peterson for marking

TOTAL: ______/50

This site is the property of M. E. LaZerte High School, Edmonton Public Schools. While you are most welcome to use this site, its organization, all annotations, and most activities are copyrighted, and permission must be sought for their reproduction. E-mail questions to C. Peterson, M. E. LaZerte High School Teacher Librarian, at cynthia dot peterson at epsb dot ca (replace the word "at" with the @ symbol; "dot" with a period). Last updated Sept. 6/07