This is how you should read a document, political cartoon, novel, song etc. Keep
this in mind as you read your book and view other materials that I will be
assigning to you.
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S = Subject of the piece
O= Occasion, time, place, setting
A=Audience, who is this directed to
P=Purpose, why was this piece written, painted, etc.
S=Speaker, who’s voice is telling the story
TONE=Attitude or emotional characteristics of the piece
Please take a look at the following documents/songs to help you understand your
book, the historic period which your book covers, and the project you will have
to complete:
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The Land – Political cartoon “One Vote Less” Richmond Whig (www.learnnc.org/onevoteless)and
“Worse Than Slavery” Thomas Nast from Harper’s Weekly
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/reconstruction/nast/sf_nast.html There are several other political
cartoons on this ling that all deal with how white Southerners “handled” their slaves’ new freedom.
Library of Congress Political Cartoon Collection 1865-1900, and the National Archives Political
Cartoon Collection.
My Antonia Homestead Act of 1862, Freeman’s Homestead Application, Proof of Improvements, and
Certificate of Eligibility from the National Archives, photo of the Central Pacific Train 1880’s National
Archives, History of the American West Photographs from the Denver Public Library, Library of
Congress Political Cartoon Collection 1865-1900, and the National Archives Political Cartoon
Collection.
Answer the following questions by 1/11/16. You will be turning these in so do not
answer in your notebook.
 How does the writer get you to identify with him/her? Give me examples.
 Does the writer assume you have particular interest or values about these issues?
 What does the writer want you to believe? And what supporting evidence does the author provide?
 What information do you have about the writer? Is he/she knowledgeable? Why/why not?
 What biases (prejudice, unfairness, favoritism, and preconception) might be present? You will need to
look at the background of your author.
Create the diamond fold and answer the following questions by 1/11/16:
 Center: State and explain the major conflict(s) ________vs. ___________. Is it External or Internal?
Man v Man? Man v Nature? Man v Himself? Man v Society? Can be multiple.
 Upper left triangle: Compare and Contrast with actual historical events.
 Upper right triangle: What are the solutions to the problems (multiple) in the book?
 Lower left: Traits of the major characters, Compare/Contrast, and do they overlap?
 Lower right triangle: How does the book taste, feel, smell, look, sound – use imagery from the book to
answer.