Picture Writing

Appendix

Appendix 1: Standards

Delaware Content Standard

This unit was created to meet the Delaware Social Studies Civics Standard 1a for 6 ^th through 8 ^th grade stating, "Students will understand that governments have the power to make and enforce laws and regulations, levy taxes, conduct foreign policy, and make war." The enduring understanding for this unit is, "Governments are structured to address the basic needs of the people in a society." The unit I created fulfills the content standard and enduring understanding with the use of the graphic novel The Girl who Owned a City. The graphic novel introduces the required concepts of leadership, laws, dues, foreign policy, and war. Throughout the unit, the novel is supplemented with some nonfiction readings designed to illustrate the application of the concepts in modern life.

Common Core Standards

The graphic novel A Girl who Owned a City provides an opportunity for me to incorporate the Common Core Standards into this unit of study. I focus on CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1 that states, "Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources." This standard was addressed through the close reading of the "Social Compact" and the discussion questions throughout the reading of the graphic novel. I also incorporated CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.5 that states, "Describe how a text presents information (e.g., sequentially, comparatively, and causally)." This standard is met through the close reading of the "Social Compact," by sequencing R. Crumb's comic, and through the discussions during the reading of the graphic novel.

Appendix 2: Close Reading Resources

The Social Compact

John Locke and other philosophers developed a solution to the problems that exist in a place without government. In a state of nature, people might feel free to do anything they want to do. However, their rights would not be protected and they would feel insecure.

Locke argued that people should agree with one another to give up some of their freedom in exchange for protection and security. They should consent to follow some laws in exchange for the protection these laws would give them. This agreement is called a social compact or social contract. A social compact is an agreement people make among themselves to create a government to rule them and protect their natural rights. In this agreement the people consent to obey the laws created by that government. ²⁶

Text-Dependent Questions: Teacher's Guide

Teacher modeling question: What does the author mean when he/she says "their rights would not be protected and they would feel insecure"? The students should explain that without leadership, in the form of a government, people would be living in a state of nature. Individuals would be free to act and do as they please. This would pose a problem as people's belongings and safety would not be protected. This would leave the people of this society feeling uneasy.

Where does government get its right to govern, according to the natural rights philosophers? The students should explain that the government is given its right to govern by the people. The government's power comes from the consent of the governed.

How does the author help the reader understand the meaning of social compact? Use examples from the text in your analysis. The students should explain that the author first gives an example of a social compact ("They should consent to follow some laws in exchange for the protection these laws would give them.") and then defines social compact in a sentence ("A social compact is an agreement people make among themselves to create a government to rule them and protect their natural rights.")

An important contrast in the text is between ____ and ____. The students should identify the contrast between a state of nature and life with a social compact. In a state of nature, people would be allowed to do as they please. With the institution of a social compact, people would give up some of their freedom to create a more secure society.

Problem/Solution Short Essay: Teacher's Guide

In two paragraphs, with at least five to eight sentences in each, answer the following questions using The Social Compact text, your notes, and The Girl who Owned a City.

Paragraph 1: What problem does the author introduce in the text The Social Compact? What is one solution to the problem? Do you think it has been successful? Explain your answer with an example. What are some other concerns you think the author should have mentioned in the text?

Paragraph 2: How does the concept of the social contract relate to The Girl who Owned a City? Give specific examples of the way the social contract theory is depicted in the novel.

Student writing should reflect:

What problem does the author introduce in the text The Social Compact? The students should identify the problem as living in a state of nature can cause a lack of security and protection.

What is one solution to the problem? The solution to the problem was the formation of government.

Do you think it has been successful? Explain your answer with an example. The answers to this portion of the prompt will vary. Students should state whether or not the institution of government has had a positive impact on societies. They should provide an example such as improved relationships between individuals, property rights, and laws to protect people.

What are some other concerns you think the author should have mentioned in the text?

The answers to this portion of the prompt will also vary. The author could have mentioned the misuse of power, the fair creation of laws, due process, etc.

How does the concept of the social contract relate to The Girl who Owned a City? In the novel, the children decide to give up some of their freedom to go under the leadership of Lisa. They feel more protected under Lisa's care, so they allow her to make decisions and rules for them in hope that they have a better chance of survival.

Appendix 3: Teacher and Student Resources