Cartoon Analysis Worksheet
Source
Occasion
1a. Who is the person who produced this work?
2a. What is the time and place of the cartoon?
1b. Who published this work?
2b. Why is the time and place of the cartoon important?
(Historical context)
Subject
3. What is the general topic of this cartoon?
Symbols/Metaphors/Distortion
4a. Identify any symbols and what they
mean.
4b. Identify distortions,
stereotypes, and caricatures
within the cartoon and what they
represent.
4c. List clues (words, places,
numbers) used in the cartoon.
Purpose
1. In a formal response, use your analysis from questions 1-4 on the front to:
1. Identify the perspective of the artist.
2. Use evidence from the cartoon to support your claims.
3. Evaluate the impact of the historical context on the artist’s perspective.
Cartoon Rubric
Not Met
Approaches Expectations
Meets Expectations
Exceeds Expectations
0
1
2
3
Perspective
Perspective is inaccurate
or absent.
Attempts to identify
perspective but may describe
the cartoon.
Accurately identifies
perspective in basic terms.
Accurately identifies cartoonist’s
specific perspective with detail
or depth.
Evidence
Evidence supporting
perspective is inaccurate
or absent.
Vague evidence supporting
identified perspective is
included.
Evidence supporting
identified perspective is
included.
Well-chosen evidence with
concrete details supports and
explains the identified
perspective.
Vague historical context is
included.
Specifics about relevant
historical context are
included.
Historical context is accurate
and clearly stated and an explicit
connection between perspective
and historical context is
included.
Scoring
Elements
Context
Historical context is
incorrect or absent.
“It’s Okay…We’re Hunting Communists”
Herb Block, "It's okay – We're hunting Communists," October 31, 1947.. Published in the
Washington Post (18) LC-USZ62-127327 . Depicted above is HUAC committee member J.
Parnell Thomas driving the car with fellow member Robert E. Stripling in the passenger seat.
This cartoon was published after a week of testimony by Hollywood screenwriters that included
John Howard Lawson.