Izzy, Willy Nilly

Grade 8 Reading

Name:__________________

 

   You will be doing research into the life of a person who overcame a physical disability brought on by an accident, illness or genetic condition. You will also compare this person’s life to Izzy’s. You will want to use at least three different resources. Besides the regular Internet, locate one source using either Badgerlink or an online news service like CNN, Yahoo news or something similar.  Finding an actual interview with the person or someone who is close to the person would be very useful.

Here are the facts you should find:

Ø      The person’s name

Ø      The person’s current age (if alive), or age when person died

Ø      Where the person currently lives, or has lived (if dead)

Ø      What the person’s life was like before the accident or onset of illness

Ø      Describe what happened to the person (the incident and the disability it caused)

Ø      Where and when did this take place

Ø      What the immediate feelings of the person were in reaction to this change in their lives

Ø      How friends/family reacted

Ø      What treatment/therapy the person underwent (if any)

Ø      How the person dealt with the disability

Ø      Accomplishments of the person after becoming disabled

Ø      Your personal reaction to what this person was able to accomplish

Ø      Summarize in one paragraph your person’s similarity and differences to Izzie and her situation.

Ø      You will need a small color picture of the person, and a complete bibliography.

 

You will be making a short oral presentation to the class about your person. You may have short video clips and/or pictures ro accompnay your talk. If you choose to use these, see Mrs. R beforeehand so we can place the clips in a special place on the network.

 

 

 

**Write in complete sentences in your own words. Try to use one or more quotes from the person or someone who knows/knew the person. Use specific incidents/examples and not just general statements.

 

 

 

 

Places to find information:

Yes, the Internet., but avoid Wikipedia and MySpace. Be wary of blogs. Try to find accurate, authentic information. Newspaper and journal articles are an excellent source of information (Hint—Badgerlink!)

 

The people: Bethany Hamilton, Kelly Cartwright,  Christopher Reeves, Chris Waddell, Mark Wellman, Brooke Ellison. Mattie Stepanek, Marla Runyan, Mike Utley, Heather Whitestone, Tom Whittaker, Ted Kennedy, Jr., Aimee Mullins, Oscar Pistorius, Jessica Cox, Erik Weihenmayer, Elitsa Storey

 

Evaluation:

You will be evaluated on completeness of information, spelling and grammar, writing in your own words, bibliography, and summary of comparison to Izzy.

 

Sample

 

    Stephen Hawking is probably the most brilliant person on earth. This 67 year old British physicist has written over a dozen books, and given important lectures around the world. Yet, he has been bound to a wheelchair for almost 30 years, and has been unable to speak for over 35 years. Hawking suffers from a progressive neuro muscular disease.

   Hawking was born in 1942 in Oxford, England. His family wanted him to become a doctor, but he was more interested in math. He entered the university at age 11, and in three years he received a degree in physics. He continued to study the field of cosmology—science in astrology—and received a PhD. At age 21, Hawking began to become uncoordinated. He had trouble walking and talking clearly. After many tests, doctors told him that he had a fatal neurological condition. He was devastated.

“Not knowing what was going to happen to me…I was at loose ends. I felt somewhat of a tragic character.” Hawking felt sorry for himself, and began to drink.

   Then a strange thing happened. He began to dream that he was going to do something important in life. Even with the cloud of death hanging over his head, he plunged back into his research.  He met his future wife, and got married. His condition gradually worsened, but he found himself enjoying life more than ever. He got an important position at Cambridge University. Then by 1973, he could no longer feed and dress himself. Graduate students lived in their home free in return of helping Steven get out of bed, dressed and fed each morning. His speech was slurred, and only his family and a few friends could still understand what he said. A bout with pneumonia led to surgery that totally took away his speech. Soon he could only communicate by raising an eyebrow when someone pointed to the correct letter. Communication was painfully slow. Still, he managed to write 14 books, several best sellers, and hundreds of articles.

   Hawking continued to write research reports on black holes. His disease would not kill him, but took away control of his body. He used computer-assisted programs to communicate. A computer was attached to his wheelchair, and a voice synthesizer was hooked up.  That is the way he “talks” now. Using eye movement he chooses words from a program and then lets the program put them into sentences that the synthesizer turns into speech. In 2008 he gave a speech to NASA about the future of space travel.   

   I cannot imagine how a person with this degree of paralysis could continue to be so productive. Here is a man who was just presented the National Medal of Freedom from President Obama. Hawking has shown incredible courage and perseverance. His body may be unable to function, but his mind continues to operate at top level.  “ Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change, ” Hawking once noted. If that is true, he is truly the most intelligent man on earth.

   If Izzy could read about Stephen Hawking, maybe it would inspire her to overcome her disability. When life changes, you must adapt. Hawking was fortunate that he had the strong support of friends and family, and had technology to help him adapt. Izzy does not seem to have that level of support. Izzy also was injured in an accident caused by someone else, while Hawking developed a disease.  She labels herself a “cripple” and thinks that everyone else sees her that way, too. Hawking, a little older and more mature, sees his mind as the tool to compensate for a body he no longer can control. Both start out as being depressed and wanting to give up. Although Izzie's story is not finished, we see hope at the end of the story that she can accept herself.

 

Stephen Hawking’s web page

http://www.hawking.org.uk/index.php/disability/disabilityadvice

Oct. 8, 2009   

 In search of next Stephen Hawking http://wn.com/stephenhawking

Oct. 8, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barneveld

Izzy willy nilly

Name: ________________________ Teacher Dyreson/Roenneburg

Date : ___________________ Title of Work: ___________________

Criteria Points       0 1 2 3   Completeness of information (this assumes information is original) DOUBLE POINTS Most of my information is missing 0 points About half of my information is missing 2-3 points I am missing a few things from my information 4-5 points My information is complete 6 points ____ Writing in your own words Almost everything is copied About half of my information is copied. A few spots are copied I wrote completely in my own words     Spelling and grammar I have lots of spelling and grammar mistakes. I have 5 or 6 spelling and grammar errors. I have a couple of spelling and grammar mistakes. I have no spelling and grammar mistakes. ____ Comparison to Izzy I did not compare my person to Izzy. I compared the two, but only had 1 or 2 examples, and/or was too general. I compared the two, but needed a few more specific facts. My comparison was complete and well thought out.     Correct bibliography I don't have a bibliography I have a lot of mistakes in my bibliography. I have a few mistakes in my bibliography. My bibliography is perfect!!             Total----> ____                     ____

 

18 points—A, 17—A-, 16—B+, 15—B-, 14—C, 13—D, 12—F, do over