1. The Obstacles of the Hero’s Journey
Do all heroes face the same obstacles? What obstacles must all humans face?

2. Dragons Let’s share our writings from last night:
What are your dragons?
What obstacles are you facing?

3. Find a reliable website that explains an initiation rite.
**Once you find one, write it down on the board so no one else reports on it.**
Using Microsoft Word, create a “mini poster.”
Include 1 picture
Explain the initiation rite (be sure to reword or use quotation marks)
Include the name of the people, time and place to which it belongs
On the back, write down the MLA citation for the website and the picture you used.
Also on the back, explain how you know the website is reliable.
Students will spend 45 mins in lab/media center to find an example of an initiation rite. Students must summarize findings, create MLA citation, and provide rationale for website chosen.

4. Let’s Draw Some Conclusions
Based on the examples
What is an initiation rite?
Is it important? Why or why not?
What do all these rites have in common?
In what ways do they differ?

5. Extend… What initiation rites do American teens face today?
What things have you done personally in order to “fit in” to a certain group or feel “grown up”?
Is initiation a part of the Hero’s Journey? Where?
Does an initiation story belong to the monomyth or is it something separate?

6. Reading Strategies Set a purpose Notice Text Structure Stop & Process
Determine what you want to know
Decide pace
Notice Text Structure
Stop & Process
Make connections
Notice diction

7. Diction Diction = word choice Denotation = literal meaning
Creates tone and mood
Denotation = literal meaning
Connotation = feelings associated w/ a word
Come up with some examples; explain diction creates tone & mood

8. Literature Circles Discussion Director Literary Luminary Illustrator
5-10 discussion questions
Literary Luminary
5 sentences/passages
Why you chose it (funny, important, etc.)
Illustrator
Draw picture related to story
Connector
5 connections to other stories, personal life, etc.
Vocabulary Enricher
5 new, important, strange, or interesting words
Write down sentence found in & definition
Instructions for short story here

9. “Initiation” Stories Choose a story Form a group (3-5)
Assign roles (1 role per person; MUST have discussion director)
Read the story and jot down 5 examples of diction. Write the word and its connotation. (20 mins.)
Prepare for literature circle (5 mins.)
Discuss & Share (10 mins.)

10. “Initiation” Stories “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing
A young boy wants to be able to swim through the tunnel like the older boys.
“A White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett
A young girl must decide whether or not to tell the hunter where the White Heron is.
“The Bass, The River, and Sheila Mant” by W.D. Wetherell (p. 25)
A young boy scores a date with an older neighbor. As they ride along in the boat, he must decide whether or not to reel in the big bass he has inadvertently caught.