IS GREED GOOD?
INQUIRY PROJECT FINAL ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY CHOICES
Directions: Working INDIVIDUALLY or with ONE PARTNER you will be responsible for completing ONE of the following
assessment activities highlighting your final thoughts related to our compelling question – “IS GREED
GOOD?”
ASSESSMENT OPTION ONE: “IS GREED GOOD?” POLITICAL CARTOON
Task: To create a POLITICAL CARTOON CLEARLY DEPICTING and EXPLAINING your opinion as to whether or not GREED
IS GOOD.
 Your political cartoon MUST include TWO PARTS. One part depicting whether or not greed was good
during the Industrial Era AND one part depicting whether or not greed is good in our current society.
 Your political cartoon MUST include a CLEARLY LABELED TITLE.
 The portion of your cartoon related to the Industrial Era/Gilded Age MUST reference at least 3 of the
sources that you have examined during the inquiry. (Remember you have 3 packets to choose from!)
 The portion of your cartoon related to modern society MUST clearly identify a current event relevant to
your perspective.
POLITICAL CARTOON DESIGN ELEMENT VOCABULARY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
EDITORIAL – an article presenting an editor’s point of view or opinion
CYNICAL – distrustful of people’s motives
SYMBOL – something that stands for or represents something else
CAPTION – title of drawing or illustration
CARICATURE – an exaggeration of personal characteristics, usually in picture form
PERSONIFICATION – attributing human characteristics to animals or objects
IRONY – the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning
SATIRE – wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit
GRADING RUBRIC
PROJECT CRITERIA
A. Political Cartoon
highlights both
PAST and PRESENT
views of the effects
of GREED
TOTAL POINTS
10
5 pts PAST
5 pts PRESENT
DESCRIPTION
Political Cartoon CLEARLY PORTRAYS both a PAST and
PRESENT view in regards to whether or not YOU
believe GREED is BENEFICIAL or HARMFUL to
SOCIETY.
Remember – we are focusing on the INDUSTRIAL
ERA/GILDED AGE as our historical context.
B. TITLE
10
CREATIVE and APPROPRIATE TITLE is given to the
political cartoon. – Title is easy to find. Title clearly
relates to the cartoon.
Title REFLECTS and HIGHLIGHTS the cartoonist’s view
of greed.
Points Earned
C. DESIGN
15
Cartoon is NEATLY drawn, free of eraser marks and
“scribbles.”
Cartoon incorporates COLOR to make images “POP!”
D. CARTOON
SPECIFICS
E. WRITTEN
INFORMATION
20
25
Cartoon incorporates at least THREE important
DESIGN ELEMENTS (refer to the political cartoon
vocabulary).
Industrial Era Component:
- Cartoon makes reference to AT LEAST THREE
of the sources used throughout the INQUIRY
regarding your view on greed. (Refer to your
packets!)
Modern Component:
- Cartoon clearly portrays a current
belief/situation/event regarding your view on
greed.
Minimum of THREE paragraphs explaining your
PERSONAL OPINION as to whether or not greed is
beneficial or harmful to society.
1st paragraph provides an explanation of personal
view point.
2nd paragraph specifically explains the symbolism
used in the Industrial Era portion of cartoon.
- You must SPECIFICALLY discuss what
SOURCES you referenced and their relevance
to your viewpoint.
3rd paragraph explains the symbolism used in regards
to a “current/modern” event.
Cartoon explanation MUST be TYPED and attached to
assignment.
TOTAL POINTS _________________/ 80 possible points
PROJECT DUE DATE: _________________________________________________________________________________
ASSESSMENT OPTION TWO: “IS GREED GOOD?” ODE to GREED
Task: To write an “ODE to GREED” CLEARLY DEPICTING and EXPLAINING your opinion as to whether or not GREED
IS GOOD.
An Ode is a lyric poem, usually addressing a particular person or thing. It originated in Ancient
Greece. (Typically written about something/someone that is admired.)
What is the structure of an Ode?
 Odes use similes, metaphors and sometimes a technique called hyperbole (great
exaggeration).



Begin by referencing the “Workingman’s Prayer” found in your packet focusing on the negative aspects of
industrialization. Notice how the author is sarcastically “praising” Andrew Carnegie and referencing examples of
how laborers suffered at Carnegie’s expense.
Develop an “ode” that highlights the POSITIVE or NEGATIVE aspects of greed using specific examples from the
inquiry resources.
The ode must be long enough that it references AT LEAST 3 different reasons on why greed was beneficial or
harmful in the past (Industrial Era/Gilded Age) and AT LEAST 2 reasons on why greed is beneficial or harmful
today. (Refer to your 3 blue packets!)
GRADING RUBRIC
PROJECT CRITERIA
A. Ode highlights both
PAST and PRESENT
views of the effects
of GREED
TOTAL POINTS
10
5 – Past
5 - Present
B. TITLE
10
C. Context
10
D. Use of Sources
25
DESCRIPTION
Ode CLEARLY PORTRAYS both a PAST and PRESENT
view in regards to whether or not YOU believe GREED
is BENEFICIAL or HARMFUL to SOCIETY.
Remember – we are focusing on the INDUSTRIAL
ERA/GILDED AGE as our historical context.
TITLE is creative, appropriate, and reflects the overall
THEME of the “ode.”
Ode reflects the complexities of both the Industrial
Era/Gilded Age AND modern society and expresses a
strong and easy to understand perspective.
Ode addresses AT LEAST 3 historical
references/sources used in the inquiry packet related
to your view.
Ode addresses AT LEAST 2 “modern/current” events
related to your view.
Remember – YOU ARE ONLY PICKING ONE VIEW
POINT and addressing it in both the historical context
of the Industrial Revolution and today.
Points Earned
F. WRITTEN
INFORMATION
25
Minimum of THREE paragraphs explaining your
PERSONAL OPINION as to whether or not greed is
beneficial or harmful to society.
1st paragraph provides an explanation of personal
view point.
2nd paragraph specifically explains and addresses the
historical context references made throughout the
ode.
- You must SPECIFICALLY discuss what
SOURCES you referenced and their relevance
to your viewpoint.
3rd paragraph explains and addresses how the
current/modern event that you referenced relates to
the beneficial or harmful effects of greed.
Ode explanation MUST be TYPED and attached to
assignment.
TOTAL POINTS _________________/ 80 possible points
PROJECT DUE DATE: _________________________________________________________________________________
ASSESSMENT OPTION THREE: “IS GREED GOOD?” COMIC STRIP
Task: To create a 6-8 segment COMIC STRIP clearly DEPICTING and EXPLAINING your opinion as to whether or not
GREED IS GOOD. (Feel free to make it longer if need be.)





Your comic strip MUST include TWO PARTS. One part depicting whether or not greed was good during the
Industrial Era AND one part depicting whether or not greed is good in our current society.
o 3-4 segments specifically referencing the Industrial Era/Gilded Age
o 3-4 segments specifically referencing modern times
Your comic strip MUST include a CLEARLY LABELED TITLE
The segments of your comic strip related to the Industrial Era/Gilded Age MUST reference at least 3 of the
sources that you have examined during the inquiry. (Refer to your 3 blue packets for sources!)
The segments of your comic strip related to modern society MUST clearly identify a current event relevant to
your perspective.
The comic strip MUST include some type of “dialogue” in each segment.
Grading Rubric
PROJECT CRITERIA
A. Comic strip
highlights both
PAST and
PRESENT views of
the effects of
GREED
B. TITLE
TOTAL
POINTS
10
5 pts PAST
5 pts PRESENT
DESCRIPTION
Political Cartoon CLEARLY PORTRAYS both a PAST and
PRESENT view in regards to whether or not YOU believe
GREED is BENEFICIAL or HARMFUL to SOCIETY.
Remember – we are focusing on the INDUSTRIAL
ERA/GILDED AGE as our historical context.
10
CREATIVE and APPROPRIATE TITLE is given to the comic
strip. – Title is easy to find. Title clearly relates to the
comic strip.
Title REFLECTS and HIGHLIGHTS the cartoonist’s view of
greed.
C. DESIGN
10
Comic strip is NEATLY drawn, free of eraser marks and
“scribbles.”
Comic strip incorporates COLOR to make images “POP!”
D. Comic Strip
SPECIFICS
25
Industrial Era Component:
- Comic makes reference to AT LEAST THREE of the
sources used throughout the INQUIRY regarding
your view on greed. (Refer to your packets!)
Modern Component:
- Comic clearly portrays a current
belief/situation/event regarding your view on
greed.
Each cartoon segment contains some type of dialogue.
Points Earned
E. WRITTEN
INFORMATION
25
Minimum of THREE paragraphs explaining your
PERSONAL OPINION as to whether or not greed is
beneficial or harmful to society.
1st paragraph provides an explanation of personal view
point.
2nd paragraph specifically explains the meaning behind
historical portion of the comic strip.
- You must SPECIFICALLY discuss what SOURCES
you referenced and their relevance to your
viewpoint.
3rd paragraph explains the meaning/context of the
“current/modern” event.
Comic explanation MUST be TYPED and attached to
assignment.
TOTAL POINTS _________________/ 80 possible points
PROJECT DUE DATE: _________________________________________________________________________________
ASSESSMENT OPTION FOUR: “IS GREED GOOD?” CAMPAIGN SPEECH
Task: Put yourself in the role of a candidate running for president at the turn of the 20th century OR for the upcoming
2016 presidential campaign. Write a campaign speech highlighting how, if elected as president, you will
either support or oppose the benefits or harms of “big business.”
.
 Create an “Election Motto” that reflects your viewpoint and that would catch the voters’ attention.
 The beginning of the campaign speech must clearly identify YOUR personal view of the benefits or harms
related to greed.
 If choosing to run for president during the Industrial Era/Gilded Age:
o Your speech MUST identify AT LEAST 3 specific examples from our Inquiry resources of how greed is
harming or benefitting society during this time period. (Refer to the packets!)
o Then identify AT LEAST TWO WAYS in which greed will either harm or benefit future generations. (This
will force you to think about modern/current events.)
 If choosing to run for president in the upcoming 2016 presidential race:
o Your speech MUST identify AT LEAST TWO WAYS in which greed is currently benefitting or harming
society.
o Then make reference to AT LEAST 3 specific examples from our inquiry resources of how greed harmed
or benefitted society during the Industrial Era/Gilded Age. (Refer to the packets!) Think of this portion
as using HISTORICAL EVIDENCE to back your viewpoint.
 Closing paragraph of speech must identify how you will either support the rise of “big business” or work to
eliminate “big business.”
GRADING RUBRIC
PROJECT CRITERIA
A. Campaign speech
highlights both
PAST and
PRESENT views of
the effects of
GREED
B. Campaign Motto
TOTAL
POINTS
10
5 pts PAST
5 pts PRESENT
DESCRIPTION
Campaign speech CLEARLY PORTRAYS both a PAST and
PRESENT view in regards to whether or not YOU believe
GREED is BENEFICIAL or HARMFUL to SOCIETY.
Remember – we are focusing on the INDUSTRIAL
ERA/GILDED AGE as our historical context.
10
CREATIVE and APPROPRIATE MOTTO is identified at the
beginning of the speech. Motto is easy to find. Motto
clearly relates to the candidate’s viewpoint regarding
greed.
Motto REFLECTS and HIGHLIGHTS the candidate’s view of
greed.
C. Context
10
Speech reflects the complexities of both the Industrial
Era/Gilded Age AND modern society and expresses a
strong and easy to understand perspective.
Author places himself in the particular time period. Use
of “I” is acceptable when writing a speech.
Points Earned
D. Use of Sources
25
Speech addresses AT LEAST 3 historical
references/sources used in the inquiry packet related to
your view.
Speech addresses AT LEAST 2 “modern/current” events
related to your view.
Remember – YOU ARE ONLY PICKING ONE VIEW POINT
and addressing it in both the historical context of the
Industrial Revolution and today.
Depending on what time period you are running for
president, you will address the sources differently. (Refer
to bulleted notes listed under “task” description.
Closing paragraph states how you will work to support or
oppose “big business.”
F. WRITTEN
INFORMATION
15
Write an additional paragraph explaining how your
analysis of our inquiry documents and class discussions
led you to develop your own PERSONAL OPINION as to
whether or not greed is beneficial or harmful to society.
Paragraph MUST provide an explanation of your personal
view point.
Paragraph MUST address the specific documents you
used in your speech.
G. VISUAL
COMPONENT
10
Personal opinion paragraph MUST be TYPED and attached
to assignment.
Create a BOLD, EYECATCHING campaign motto poster
reflecting your viewpoint. (This can be done on the
computer or on an 8x10 piece of paper.)
This will be attached to your speech and personal opinion
paragraph.
TOTAL POINTS _________________/ 80 possible points
PROJECT DUE DATE: _________________________________________________________________________________