Hidden Heroes: Homelessness in America

Essential Question: Can we stop, or prevent homelessness in America? What should/ can we do about homelessness?

Description: We will be creating a newspaper that covers the issue of homelessness in San Diego, but specifically highlighting the people who work with homeless populations.

Products: Essay that explores solutions to ending homelessness and answers the question: Can we end homelessness? Interview of a “Hero” in the Homeless Community (volunteers, county workers, police officers, non- profit sector workers, shelter employees, educators, artists) High Resolution Portrait Photograph of the Hero Painting of Hero Read a memoir, biography, autobiography or fiction piece about homelessness or poverty in America (Options: Angela’s Ashes, A Girls’ Guide to Homelessness, The Glass Castle, Into the Wild, Of Mice and Men, Under the Overpass)

Exhibition: We will host a charity art auction and newspaper sale event raising money for either Father Joe Carrol’s Villages, or the San Diego Rescue Mission.

The 2013 Schedule:

Week One: Introduce the project, show a model Week Two: Volunteer, Write feature articles about volunteer, how to write an INTERVIEW Week Three: Guest speakers… news, shelters, CONDUCT interviews Week Four: transcribe the interviews in class Week Five: Sketch photos & begin painting Week Six: Continue working on Paintings Week 7 after winter break—finalize art pieces, set up for exhibition Thursday January 10th? How to Write an Interview Writing and conducting an interview is a difficult process. Like all good writing, an interview has a purpose and asks readers to think about important, meaningful questions. What makes an interview different than other types of school writing, is that you are likely going to publish the words of someone you have met; not some stranger’s writing from an internet source. For this reason, it is important to be VERY careful about not only your topic and questions, but also your publication.

Essential Question: What is your role (the person being interviewed) in helping the homeless population in San Diego? What makes you a hero in this community? Why is it important for people in San Diego to be aware of homelessness?

Questions to help you get started: What does your organization do? How long have you been at this organization? What is your role in the organization? What is something that has surprised you in your line of work? Who has impacted you in this field? What are the benefits/ drawbacks of this kind of career? What is the most challenging thing you have had to experience in working with this population? What is something all San Diegans should know or do for the homeless population?

*** RECORD your interview. You can use cell phones, iTouch, iPhone,

What YOUR interview must have to receive a grade:

Image (portrait) of person being interviewed (or relevant image)____

Introductory paragraph about person being interviewed ____

20 Prepared questions(be flexible in case the interview doesn’t go the way you thought) ____

Intermingled follow up/ clarifying questions _____

Recorded and SAVE (we will use voices for the exhibition)____

Title _____

Typed ____

Accurate transcription _____

Email to Angie by December 6th _____ Interview Preparation Basic background of person being interviewed (this does not count as any of your questions and should be done BEFORE the interview) Name: Title/ Position/ role: Years in the field: Years at organization: Background of Organization: Schooling/ background: Where From?: Interview Topic/Point of interview______

Question 1:______

Question 2:______

Question 3: ______

Question 4:______

Question 5:______

Question 6: ______

Question 7: ______

Question 8: ______

Question 9: ______

Question 10:______The Essay Outline

Homelessness Solution Outline Assignment

I. Thesis: Answer to the question, “Can we end homelessness” or “What should we do?”

II. Reasoning or sub-point #1

a. Evidence from articles or research to support this sub- point

b. Evidence from articles or research to support this sub- point

III. Reasoning or sub-point #2

IV. Reasoning or sub-point #3

V. Conclusion Paragraph sums up all major points and leaves a final though