Revolutionary War Political Cartoon Project
Points: 50
Karnas
point Project Grade
Due: Monday,
November 16, 2015
Objectives: By the end of this project, students will be able to…
a. Analyze the various points of view that existed during the Revolutionary War
b. Comprehend the written and visual elements needed in creating emotional and persuasive political
cartoons
You are cartoonists for the “USA Today” that existed in the USA in the late 1700s. You are considered
some of the best political satirists in America. You are inspired by the escalation of tensions between
Great Britain and the American colonies..
Project Directions
1. You are to create a collection of political cartoons to evaluate events that occurred during the period of
the American Revolution.
2. What makes a political cartoon great? Check the hand out posted on the website and think on
cartoons/images/visuals we have discussed in class…
3. Possible topics for your cartoon include:
 British imperial policies before the War of Independence
 Role of certain populations in the war effort
 Events of the War (battles, decisions, etc.)
 Leadership of specific individuals
 Opinions on significant documents of the time period
 The general meaning of the American Revolution
 There are many possible topics out there! Use your textbook and do some research!
4. You are to create 4 cartoons for stories that took place during the Revolutionary War. Your story for
EACH cartoon must be told from a different perspective each time. Identified below are some examples of
different perspectives from this time period. You may choose different themes/topics for your different
perspectives/points of view to analyze or you could analyze the different points of view available on the
same issue—BUT, be aware of that you must make each cartoon radically different if you create four
cartoons on the same event.
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Second Continental Congress (Radicals
and Moderates)
Sons of Liberty
Militiamen
Continental Soldier
Royal Governors
Quakers
Loyalists
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Slaves
Free Blacks
Women
Native Americans
Members of British Parliament
Other European Countries (French,
Hessians, etc.)
5. Each Cartoon is worth 10 points. 4 cartoons x 10 points each = 40 points for the cartoons
Revolutionary War Political Cartoon Project
Karnas
6. The portfolio must have a cover page that provides the following information:
A. The pen name of your choosing (appropriate)
B. Your Name
C. Class Period
7. The 2nd page of the portfolio must have an outline that provides the following information (the cover
page and the 2nd page are worth 10 pts):
A. Your cartoon pen name (as the heading)
B. The topic(s) you have chosen
1. A short description of the event/issue each cartoon is describing (5-7 sentences)
a. There should be 4 of these
8. All cartoons must be drawn by hand. That is how it must have been done back then and it is still done
now. Points will be deducted if there are pages in the portfolio that have a printout of a picture from a
website. That shows a lack of effort. Find a way to simplify pictures so that you can draw them. If you
feel you must use an Internet picture, you must first consult the issue with the teacher.
9. You can draw your cartoon on computer paper, and staple your pages together when you are
completed. If you have special paper that you want to use instead of computer paper, that is fine.
However, make sure it will make your picture book large enough to read. Do not make this book out of
notebook paper, or paper that is smaller or larger than computer paper.
Cartoons will be graded on the following criteria
1. Correct understanding of the issues presented by the event/theme/topics you have chosen
2. Good cartoon writing using accurate and important historical information to make your
cartoon’s message persuasive.
3. Visually appealing Cartoon. Each cartoon should try to tell the reader your opinion of each
issue and how it concluded and how your perspective related to the topic
4. Clean artwork. Your art does not have to be elaborate, but clean and relevant to the issue you
are describing and each opponent’s motives for joining the war. Pencil drawings and/or stick
figures are not acceptable
5. No typos or mistakes. If your final product has errors, it shows a lack of editing and
proofreading.
Revolutionary War Political Cartoon Project
Karnas
Grading Rubric. Here are the criteria I will use when grading your cartoons.
1. Correct
facts & causes
Excellent
understanding
of PERS issues
of each issue
2. Good Cartoon
writing
-cartoon has very
clear, accurate and
convincing writing
to persuade the
reader
3. Artwork is
appealing
-Cartoon has clear
and convincing art
to persuade the
reader
-both art and writing
used very well
4. Clean
Artwork
-Drawings are
clean
-objects are
displayed clearly
-No sloppy art
-Paper used is
clean
B
Good
understanding
of PERS issues
of each issue
-cartoon has fairly
clear, accurate and
convincing writing
to persuade the
reader
-Cartoon has fairly
clear and
convincing art to
persuade the reader
-both art and writing
used fairly well
One of the four
criteria above are
not followed
C
Fair
understanding
of PERS issues
of each issue
-Cartoon has
somewhat clear,
accurate and
convincing writing
to persuade the
reader
-cartoon has
somewhat clear and
convincing art to
persuade the reader
-both art and writing
used somewhat well
Two of the four
criteria above are
not followed
D
Poor
understanding
of PERS issues
of each issue
-Cartoon does not
have very clear,
accurate and
convincing writing
to persuade the
reader
-cartoon does not
have very clear or
convincing art to
persuade the reader
-both art and writing
used poorly
Three of the four
criteria above are
not followed
F
No
understanding
of PERS issues
of each issue
-Cartoon is totally
unclear, inaccurate
and unconvincing
-or no writing is
included at all in the
cartoon
-cartoon does not
have art at all, or it is
not clear or
convincing at all
-blend of art and
writing is poor
None of the four
criteria above are
followed
A
5. Typos and
Mistakes
Writer follows all
of the directions
and no typos,
spelling errors or
serious
grammatical
errors can be
found.
Writer follows
most of the
directions and a
few typos, spelling
errors and serious
grammatical
errors are found
Writer follows
most of the
directions and a
few typos, spelling
errors and serious
grammatical
errors are found
Writer does not
follow most of the
directions and
many typos,
spelling errors and
serious
grammatical
errors are found
Writer does not
follow directions
and many typos,
spelling errors or
serious
grammatical
errors can be
found