Culminating Project: Guidelines and Rubric
Project Directions
Using your prior knowledge and analytical skills of political cartoons, you are to create a political cartoon based on political issues during the Civil War. You are encouraged to use primary sources we have studied in class to help get ideas flowing. You will be assessed based on the rubric that follows.
You will design your own political cartoon that could have been published before, during or just after the end of the Civil War. Whatever you choose, it must be relevant to the times and be cohesive and consistent. You have the choice to use people, words, images, graphics etc. This is your time to be creative and critically think about what we have studied.
Visual Directions:
1. Ask yourself, “What is the issue that I want to target?” You want to figure out what you want to say and what you want portrayed through your cartoon.
2. The cartoon may be hand-drawn, computer generated, or a combination of the two.
3. You may use simple black and white colors to more accurately portray what it may have looked like during the Civil War, or you can get more creative with images and colors to make it look more modern.
4. Wit and humor obtained by exaggeration not just for comic effect, but to send a message about the characters, events, or articles must be included.
5. The cartoon must have a foundation in truth. It must relate to what we have studied thus far.
6. The cartoon should also have a moral purpose. In other words, the cartoon should inform the viewer about an issue and allow for CRITICAL THINKING.
7. This will be complete individually and will be shown in a gallery walk on the due date. Be prepared to discuss your cartoon with the class!
Written Directions:
1. You will then write a one-two paragraph summary answering these questions:
a. Why is this important?
b. What does this say about what you believe?
c. What is your argument/issue you portrayed?
d. Why is this relevant to the Civil War?
e. Why did you choose the colors/graphics/images you chose?
You will design your own political cartoon that could have been published before, during or just after the end of the Civil War. Whatever you choose, it must be relevant to the times and be cohesive and consistent. You have the choice to use people, words, images, graphics etc. This is your time to be creative and critically think about what we have studied.
Visual Directions:
1. Ask yourself, “What is the issue that I want to target?” You want to figure out what you want to say and what you want portrayed through your cartoon.
2. The cartoon may be hand-drawn, computer generated, or a combination of the two.
3. You may use simple black and white colors to more accurately portray what it may have looked like during the Civil War, or you can get more creative with images and colors to make it look more modern.
4. Wit and humor obtained by exaggeration not just for comic effect, but to send a message about the characters, events, or articles must be included.
5. The cartoon must have a foundation in truth. It must relate to what we have studied thus far.
6. The cartoon should also have a moral purpose. In other words, the cartoon should inform the viewer about an issue and allow for CRITICAL THINKING.
7. This will be complete individually and will be shown in a gallery walk on the due date. Be prepared to discuss your cartoon with the class!
Written Directions:
1. You will then write a one-two paragraph summary answering these questions:
a. Why is this important?
b. What does this say about what you believe?
c. What is your argument/issue you portrayed?
d. Why is this relevant to the Civil War?
e. Why did you choose the colors/graphics/images you chose?
Scoring Guide
Student Name___________________________________
Category
Required Graphic
The cartoon includes all required elements as well as additional information____/4
All required elements are included on the cartoon___/3
All but one of the required elements are included on the cartoon___/2
There are zero requirements met___/1
Content
Content is historically accurate, shows analytical interpretation and uses available sources___/4
Content is historically accurate for the most part and interpretation is evident___/3
Content is historically accurate but lacks historical interpretation. Sources are limited___/2
Content is historically inaccurate and lacks interpretation. No sources used___/1
Argument
The cartoon has a clear, creative argument with a strong unique voice___/4
The cartoon has a clear argument with a strong voice___/3
The cartoon has an argument but lacks a strong voice___/2
The cartoon has no argument or voice___/1
Attractiveness
The cartoon is exceptionally attractive in terms of design, layout, and neatness___/4
The cartoon is attractive in terms of design, layout, and neatness___/3
The cartoon is acceptably attractive though it may be a bit messy___/2
The cartoon is messy and unclear___/1
Grammar
There are no grammatical mistakes on the cartoon___/4
There are 1-2 grammatical mistakes on the cartoon___/3
There are 3-4 grammatical mistakes on the cartoon___/2
There are 5+ grammatical mistakes on the cartoon___/1
TOTAL_____/20
Category
Required Graphic
The cartoon includes all required elements as well as additional information____/4
All required elements are included on the cartoon___/3
All but one of the required elements are included on the cartoon___/2
There are zero requirements met___/1
Content
Content is historically accurate, shows analytical interpretation and uses available sources___/4
Content is historically accurate for the most part and interpretation is evident___/3
Content is historically accurate but lacks historical interpretation. Sources are limited___/2
Content is historically inaccurate and lacks interpretation. No sources used___/1
Argument
The cartoon has a clear, creative argument with a strong unique voice___/4
The cartoon has a clear argument with a strong voice___/3
The cartoon has an argument but lacks a strong voice___/2
The cartoon has no argument or voice___/1
Attractiveness
The cartoon is exceptionally attractive in terms of design, layout, and neatness___/4
The cartoon is attractive in terms of design, layout, and neatness___/3
The cartoon is acceptably attractive though it may be a bit messy___/2
The cartoon is messy and unclear___/1
Grammar
There are no grammatical mistakes on the cartoon___/4
There are 1-2 grammatical mistakes on the cartoon___/3
There are 3-4 grammatical mistakes on the cartoon___/2
There are 5+ grammatical mistakes on the cartoon___/1
TOTAL_____/20
Student Cartoon Example
Student Written Example
Jared Trainer
Social Studies
Period 5
15 March 2014
Political Cartoon Analysis
The Civil War was the most devastating conflict in American History. More than 600,000 soldiers died in battle. One of the biggest misconceptions that came out of the Civil War was this idea that African Americans were actually “free men”. The end of slavery, however, did not solve the problems that the newly freed African Americans were about to face. No one yet knew what the status of African Americans would be in Southern Society. By the end of 1865, all the former Confederate states except Texas had new governments and were ready to rejoin the Union. But the question remains, were African Americans ever really free?
I chose to do my political cartoon focusing on the end of the Civil War and the start into the Reconstruction Era. This is important because it is a common misconception that when the Civil War ended everything was roses for recently freed slaves and that was not the case. I chose to draw a picture of President Lincoln congratulating a slave saying, “Allow me to proudly shake the hand of a free man”. However in my second image I chose to show their hands shaking and how he is only shaking one finger. I chose to do this because I want the viewer to look at this and understand that they were still not completely accepted into society. President Lincoln would only shake his one finger. I also wanted to relate it to the 1787 3/5 compromise, in that they were only seen as three-fifths of a person. Lastly, I chose to complete this cartoon in black and white to stay consistent with the times. This was a very heavy issues so I did not want it to be masked by the colors surrounding it.
Social Studies
Period 5
15 March 2014
Political Cartoon Analysis
The Civil War was the most devastating conflict in American History. More than 600,000 soldiers died in battle. One of the biggest misconceptions that came out of the Civil War was this idea that African Americans were actually “free men”. The end of slavery, however, did not solve the problems that the newly freed African Americans were about to face. No one yet knew what the status of African Americans would be in Southern Society. By the end of 1865, all the former Confederate states except Texas had new governments and were ready to rejoin the Union. But the question remains, were African Americans ever really free?
I chose to do my political cartoon focusing on the end of the Civil War and the start into the Reconstruction Era. This is important because it is a common misconception that when the Civil War ended everything was roses for recently freed slaves and that was not the case. I chose to draw a picture of President Lincoln congratulating a slave saying, “Allow me to proudly shake the hand of a free man”. However in my second image I chose to show their hands shaking and how he is only shaking one finger. I chose to do this because I want the viewer to look at this and understand that they were still not completely accepted into society. President Lincoln would only shake his one finger. I also wanted to relate it to the 1787 3/5 compromise, in that they were only seen as three-fifths of a person. Lastly, I chose to complete this cartoon in black and white to stay consistent with the times. This was a very heavy issues so I did not want it to be masked by the colors surrounding it.