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Course: Big History Project > Unit 6

Lesson 4: How Did the First Humans Live? | 6.3
Arts and humanities
Big History Project
Early Humans
How Did the First Humans Live? | 6.3
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READ: George McJunkin - Graphic Biography

Google Classroom
George McJunkin was born into slavery, but he became a cowboy and a self-taught naturalist who made a revolutionary archeological discovery.
The Graphic Biography below uses “Three Close Reads”. If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

Reading 1: Skimming for gist

This will be your quickest read. It should help you get the general idea of what the graphic biography will be about. Pay attention to the title, headings, images, and layout. Ask yourself: what is this graphic biography going to be about?

Reading 2: Understanding content

For this reading, you should be looking for unfamiliar vocabulary words, the major claim and key supporting details, and analysis and evidence. You should also spend some time looking at the images and the way in which the page is designed.
By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:
  1. In the early 20th century, what was the prevailing belief among archeologists regarding human history in the Americas? How was that different from beliefs held by Indigenous Americans?
  2. Why was McJunkin's discovery at the Folsom site significant?
  3. The professional archeologists who first came to the Folsom stie years after McJunkin's death never gave him credit for his role in the discovery. How then, decades later, did his contribution begin to be acknowledged?
  4. Throughout the graphic biography, McJunkin's face is covered in shadow. Why do you think the artist chose to represent his image in that way?
  5. There are two quotes from George Agogini in this biography. Do the two quotes agree with each other? Why do you think these two quotes are significant?

Reading 3: Evaluating and Corroborating

In this read, you should use the graphic biography as evidence to support, extend, or challenge claims made in the course.
At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:
  1. How does this biography of George McJunkin support, extend, or challenge what you have learned about collective learning and the way stories and knowledge are passed through generations?
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to read! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished reading.

George McJunkin: Graphic Biography

Writer: Bennett Sherry
Artist: Thomas Muzzell
George McJunkin was born into slavery, but he became a cowboy and a self-taught naturalist who made a revolutionary archeological discovery.
Download the Graphic Biography PDF here or click on the image above.

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