Analyzing and Creating

Political Cartoons

Lisa Monroe

1. How can images and text work

together to deliver a message?

2. In what ways do political cartoons

explain or capture public opinion?

3. How does interaction with text

provoke thinking and response?

4. How do I interpret a political cartoon?

Did you ever wonder?

1.1.4- Students will explain roles and analyze

strategies individuals or groups may use to initiate

change in government policy and institutions.

1.1.8.3- Find, interpret, evaluate, and organize

primary and secondary sources of information

including pictures, graphics, maps, atlases,

artifacts, timelines, political cartoons, videotapes,

journals, and government documents.

Maryland Government Learning Standards

R3.5 -Read and understand complex texts (e.g.,

newspaper and magazine articles, technical materials,

literature)

R3.11- Make connections between related information

across different sections of a text

R6.7- Increase reading fluency (accuracy, speed)

R7.2- Identify the main idea of a multi-paragraph text

R7.3 - Identify supporting points or details for a

statement, position or argument on a familiar topic

CASAS Reading Basic Skills Content Standards

W6.4 - Write the main idea of a multi-

paragraph text

W6.8 - Use details that elaborate on main

ideas: examples, descriptions, personal

experiences

W8.2- Summarize a text

CASAS Writing Basic Skills Content Standards

Diagnostic Assessment

Reading Interest Inventory

Pre-Test

KWL Chart

Let’s Begin

1. Do you like to read?

2. How much time do you spend reading?

3. What are some of the books you have read lately?

4. Do you have a library card? How often do you use it?

5. Do you ever get books from the school library?

6. About how many books do you own?

7. What are some books you would like to own?

8. Put a check mark next to the kind of reading you like best and topics you might like to read

about.

_____history _____travel _____plays

_____sports _____science fiction _____adventure

_____romance _____detective stories _____war stories

_____poetry _____car stories _____novels

_____biography _____supernatural stories _____astrology

_____humor _____folktales _____how-to-do-it books

_____mysteries _____art _____westerns

9. Do you like to read the newspaper?

Reading Interest Inventory

10. If ‘yes’, place a check next to the part of the newspaper listed below you like to read.

_____Advertisements _____Entertainment _____Columnists

_____Headlines _____Comic Strips _____Political Stories

_____Current Events _____Sports _____Editorials

_____Others: (please list)

11. What are your favorite television programs?

12. How much time do you spend watching television?

13. What is your favorite magazine?

14. Do you have a hobby? If so, what is it?

15. What are the two best movies you have ever seen?

16. Who are your favorite entertainers and/or movie stars?

17. When you were little, did you enjoy having someone read aloud to you?

18. List topics, subjects, etc. which you might like to read about:

19. What does the word ‘reading’ mean to you?

20. Say anything else that you would like to say about reading:

Reading Interest Inventory (cont.)

KKnow about

Political Cartoons

WWant to know about Political

Cartoons

LLearned about

Political Cartoons

KWL Chart

1. Identify the five elements of a political cartoon

2. Use higher level thinking skills to analyze visual

and language clues to determine the meaning of

political cartoons

3. Identify the main idea of a cartoon by reading the

captions and putting the message in their own words

4. Create a political cartoon based on a current event

using the five elements of a political cartoon

Student Objectives

Five Elements of a Political Cartoon symbolism – using an object to stand for an idea. captioning & labels – used for clarity and emphasis. analogy – a comparison between two unlike things that share some characteristics. irony – the difference between the way things are & the way things are expected to

be. exaggeration – overstating or magnifying a problem or a physical feature or habit:

big nose, bushy eyebrows, large ears, baldness, etc.

Symbols used in Political Cartoons peace – dove, olive branch, victory sign, scales of justice. United States – Uncle Sam, flag, stars and stripes, shield, lady liberty. Democrats – donkey. Republicans – elephant. death – vulture, skeleton w/ shroud, skull and crossbones, grim reaper. love – heart, Cupid, Venus money – dollar bill or dollar sign

Building Background Knowledge

I Do/We doAnalyzing Political Cartoons

1. a. Start by looking at the visual elements of the cartoon. Who are the two men pictured? The drawings of the two men are not realistic. In what ways are they distorted? Why did the cartoonist choose to distort them in that way?

b. Read the text. What is Cheney referring to? What is inappropriate about Bush’s answer? What does the answer imply about Bush?

c. What do you need to know in order to understand the cartoon?

d. What makes this cartoon funny?

2. This cartoon mocks George W. Bush. Use the analysis you completed in Part 1 of this activity to identify two techniques the cartoonist uses to attack Bush

You will be divided into small groups and

each group will receive a political cartoon.

You will identify the elements in, and analyze

the cartoon. Ask each group to share their

drawings and their findings with the class

You doAnalyzing Political Cartoons

Analyzing Political CartoonsGroup Assignment

1. List the objects or people that you see in the cartoon.

2. Which objects/people are symbols? What do you think each one means?

3. Are there any important clues (words, places, numbers) in the cartoon?

4. Describe what is happening in the four quadrants of the cartoon.

5. What is the political or social issue presented in the cartoon?

6. What is the cartoonist’s viewpoint on this issue? How do you know?

7. Who might agree/disagree with the cartoon? Why?

8. Describe how you were able to interpret this cartoon.

You are a cartoonist who has been asked to

create a political cartoon about a current

issue happening in the world today. Your job

is to use the five elements of a political

cartoon to elicit the opinions of newspaper

editors and the public. Your political cartoon

needs to include text, at least two symbols

and reflect your point of view on a specific

issue.

Performance Task

CategoryExceeds

Expectations4

Meets Expectations

3

Marginally Meets

Expectations2

Does Not MeetExpectations

1

Subject Matter Shows clear understanding of political concept/issue  

Mostly shows understanding of political concept/issue  

Shows some understanding of political concept/issue  

Shows no understanding of political concept/issue  

Way topic is conveyed

Point of view is clearly conveyed  

Point of view is mostly conveyed  

Point of view is slightly conveyed  

Point of view is poorly conveyed  

Presentation of Cartoon

Text and graphics are clearly legible; 2 or more symbols are used in the cartoon; Cartoon is of outstanding presentation quality  

Text and graphics are mostly legible; 2 symbols are used in the cartoon; Cartoon is mostly of presentation quality   

Text and graphics are somewhat legible; 1symbol is used in the cartoon; Cartoon is somewhat of presentation quality  

Text and graphics are not legible; no symbols are used in the cartoon; Cartoon is not of presentation quality   

Elements of a Political Cartoon

All 5 elements of a political cartoon is used   

4 elements of a political cartoon is used 

3 elements of a political cartoon is used  

None of the elements are used   

Creating a Political Cartoon Rubric

Once you have finished creating your cartoon, you are to analyze your own cartoon, write a paragraph referencing a news article about the issue you choose, and create a presentation for the rest of the class.

Political cartoons can be

hand drawn

created using the website www.toondoo.com

Presentation Ideas

PowerPoint

VoiceThread www.voicethread.com

Storybird www.storybird.com

Show your work off

Peer Review

Multimedia Presentation

Teacher Name:

Student Name:__________________________ Reviewer Name: ___________________________

Date: _________________

Project:

CATEGORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Appearance Text areas and graphic areas are balanced.

The words on the slides are easy to read.

The words on the slides are spelled correctly.

The graphics on the slides are easy to see.

The background does not compete with the text or

graphics.

Media Use I used original art and effects in my presentation.

The media I chose is related to the content of the presentation.

Navigation Users can find their way easily through my project.

Users can backtrack or stop the presentation if they desire.

The navigation tools are easy to see and click on.

Organization My presentation was a clear explanation of a topic.

My presentation was persuasive in presenting a point of view.

Resources I used resources that were reliable and credible.

Extended Constructed Response

Exit Slips

Cartoon Analysis Worksheet

Formative Assessment

Cartoon Analysis Worksheet Your Name: Name of Cartoon:

Class:

Date: April 12, 2014 Level 1 Visuals Words (not all cartoons include words) 1) List the objects or people you see in the cartoon. 1) Identify the cartoon caption and/or title.

2) Locate three words or phrases used by the cartoonist to identify objects or people within the cartoon.

3) Record any important dates or numbers that appear in the cartoon.

Level 2 Visuals Words 2) Which of the objects on your list are symbols? 4) Which word or phrases in the cartoon appear to be the

most significant? Why do you think so?

3) What do you think each symbol means?

5) List adjectives that describe the emotions portrayed in the cartoon.

Level 3 a) Describe the action taking place in the cartoon.

b) Explain how the words in the cartoon clarify the symbols.

c) Explain the message of the cartoon.

d) What special interest groups would agree or disagree with the cartoon’s message? Why?

e) Check any of the persuasive techniques used in this cartoon:

symbolism caricature captioning and labels analogy irony juxtaposition exaggeration

Adapted from: U.S. National Archives & Records Administration 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD, 20740-6001, • 1-86-NARA-NARA • 1-866-272-6272 Page URL: http://www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/lessons/analysis_worksheets/cartoon.html