Read the following

In this unit, we talked a lot about online threats. We discussed some different potential threats we might come across and how they could be dangerous to ourselves and the technology we use.
create a comic strip, depicting a situation where we may come across an online threat.
Start off by drawing out your panel. Include at least three boxes for frames, including a beginning middle, and end. You are welcome to get creative and use more than three frames-making a longer storyline. You can make as many frames as you want, just make sure that at least three are included.
In the first frame, create a scene, depicting someone using some form of technology.
In the final frame(s) show how the character (s) deal with this potential threat. How do they handle this situation and come up with a resolution?

Then….

write a brief paragraph ( in a 8th grade response) about the comic strip. Make sure to answer the following questions in your paragraph:
Explain, in detail, the situation that is being displayed in the comic strip
What was the potential threat that the character(s) came across?
What did the character(s) do to avoid a potentially dangerous situation?
What are some other actions that the character(s) could have taken to deal with this potentially dangerous situation?
What other potentially dangerous situations might come up using the piece of technology that your character was using?

1 answer

Comic Strip Concept:

Frame 1: A teenage character named Sam is sitting at a desk, using a laptop. The room is dimly lit, and the glow from the screen shows that Sam is chatting with friends online. Speech bubbles from the screen say, "Hey, check out this link!" with an excited emoji.

Frame 2: Sam’s eyes widen as a pop-up ad appears on the screen that says, "Congratulations! You've won a gift card!" alongside bright and flashy graphics. Sam looks overwhelmed and curious, but there's a small thought bubble above Sam's head showing a warning sign (⚠️) indicating concern about clicking unknown links.

Frame 3: Sam quickly shuts the laptop and thinks aloud, “I should check with Mom first.” The scene now shows Sam at the kitchen table with their parent, explaining the situation. The parent is looking concerned but supportive.

Frame 4: Sam and the parent are now looking up information about the pop-up ad on a safer device (a phone). The parent says, "Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!" Sam nods in agreement.

Frame 5: In the final frame, Sam is back at the desk, using a secure website about online safety. There's a checklist visible titled “How to Spot a Scam,” with Sam's thumbs up, indicating relief and understanding about how to handle such threats.


Paragraph Response:

In this comic strip, the character Sam is happily using a laptop to chat with friends when he encounters a potential online threat. This threat comes in the form of a pop-up ad claiming that he's won a gift card, which is designed to lure users into clicking on suspicious links. Recognizing the danger, Sam wisely decides not to click on the link and instead consults his parent for advice. They research the situation together, reinforcing the important lesson that if something sounds too good to be true, it often is. Some other actions Sam could have taken include reporting the ad, blocking the website, or using security software to prevent pop-ups from appearing. Additionally, other dangerous situations might arise, such as sharing personal information online or encountering phishing emails trying to steal sensitive data. Overall, the comic serves to educate about the importance of online safety in a fun and engaging way.