READ: Manuel Quezon – Graphic Biography

Manuel Quezon was the leader of the Philippines during the Second World War. He took in victims of the Holocaust, against critics who saw Jews as a threat to the country.

The Graphic Biography below uses “Three Close Reads”. If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: 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?

Second read: 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:

Where did Manuel Quezon live, and what was his position in 1935?
Why, according to the author, did Quezon decide to admit 1300 Jewish refugees in 1935?
What evidence does the author provide that it was Quezon’s conscience that led him to accept refugees?
The artist says that the cards on the table of the poker game represent “a paper wall” that restricted the ability of Jewish refugees to find a place to live. How does she use the art to signify that Quezon was moving that paper wall to the side?

Third read: 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:

To what extent does this article explain the various causes and consequences of mass atrocities in the period from 1900 to the present?
How does this biography of Quezon support, extend, or challenge what you have learned about the Holocaust and the atrocities of the Second World War?

Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to read! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished reading.

Manuel Quezon (Graphic Biography)

Writer: Sean Bloch

Artist: Liz Clarke

Manuel Quezon was the leader of the Philippines during the Second World War. He took in victims of the Holocaust, against critics who saw Jews as a threat to the country.

Download the Graphic Biography PDF here or click on the image above.

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