CLASSROOM LAW PROJECT
Empowering Democracy
Youth Summit 2008
LESSON 8
What do cartoonists see in this election?
Objective
Review presidential election issues through political cartoons.
Handout
(8-1) Political Cartoon Analysis Guide and Worksheet
Backgrounders
Refer to Backgrounder used in Lesson 7, “Additional Instructional
Strategies…Gallery Walk”
Online Resources Many websites are listed below!
A. Daily Warm-up
What questions do you think political cartoonists asking (or posing) about this
presidential election season? Or, what have you heard (read or seen) about the election?
B. What do cartoonists have to say about voting?
Collect or create editorial cartoons related to voting (see websites below). What is the
cartoonist saying about voting? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Strategy: Gallery Walk. Display an art gallery of cartoons throughout the room. Use
cartoons found online and/or suggest that students try their hands at simple cartoons
using clip art if they do not like to draw. Each cartoon should have its own votingrelated question posted under it. For more detail on how to do the Gallery Walk, see
Backgrounder in Lesson 7, Additional Instructional Strategies…”, also found at
http://www.ccsso.org/content/pdfs/FINAL%20CCSSO%20Additional%20Strategies.
doc.
C. Political cartoon online resources
The following websites and brief descriptions will help teachers narrow their search for
appropriate political cartoons.
The American Bar Association Division for Public Education has lesson plans for
teachers. The Voting Law lesson depicts a donkey and elephant commenting on Adam
and Eve nearby, “next they’ll want the vote!”
http://www.abanet.org/publiced/youth/sia/cartoons/voting.html
Super-delegates: The Ultimate Voting Power. This is a complete lesson from ClassBrain
& Cagle Cartoons: http://www.cagle.com/teacher/5.asp.
For a political cartoon about topics we have studied, try these:
Issues
On Obama’s level of experience, see Ich Bin Ein Beginner!:
politicalhumor.about.com/od/barackobama/ig/Barack-ObamaCartoons/Obama-Berlin-Rally.-6TQ.htm
Media
Obama and the media: politicalhumor.about.com/od/barackobama/ig/Barack-
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CLASSROOM LAW PROJECT
Empowering Democracy
Youth Summit 2008
Obama-Cartoons/Obama-and-the-Media.-6TS.htm
Youth vote
See Obama arm-in-arm with stylish Spears and Hilton while McCain walks with
dumpy elephants: politicalhumor.about.com/od/election2008/ig/2008-ElectionCartoons/Obama--Paris-and-Britney.-UfK.htm.
See old people who think Hilton is a hotel:
politicalhumor.about.com/od/election2008/ig/2008-Election-Cartoons/ObamaHilton.-UfL.htm
Technology, internet
See McCain sending Morse code:
http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/election2008/ig/2008-ElectionCartoons/McCain-Texts-VP-Pick.-UfB.htm
See McCain online: politicalhumor.about.com/od/election2008/ig/2008Election-Cartoons/McCain-Goes-Online.-2ZC.htm
Electoral College
See Your Ballot as a Post-a-Note:
www.cartoonistgroup.com/store/add.php?iid=8330
Flip-flops
See both McCain and Obama do gymnastic-like flip flops:
politicalhumor.about.com/od/election2008/ig/2008-ElectionCartoons/Olympic-Flip-Flop-Team.-UfN.htm
Both candidates wearing flip flops:
politicalhumor.about.com/od/election2008/ig/2008-Election-Cartoons/FlipFlop-Season.-2ZO.htm
Topic of your choice
A great site for political cartoons is About.com.: Political Humor:
http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/election2008/ig/2008-Election-Cartoons/
D. How do I analyze political cartoons?
See Handout 8-1, Political Cartoon Analysis Guide and Worksheet; it will help students
understand how political cartoonists use persuasive techniques such as symbolism,
exaggeration, and irony. This guide makes a great companion piece with the cartoons
above.
Alternatively, go to the following url to find a scoring rubric to understand political
cartoons: www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson794/rubric.pdf.
E.
Extended Activities
Homework / Journal/Weblog Entry
Which was your favorite political cartoon and why? Least favorite and why?
Draw (or describe in words) the political cartoon you did not see but wish you had.
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CLASSROOM LAW PROJECT
Empowering Democracy
Youth Summit 2008
Handout 8-1
Political Cartoon Analysis Guide and Worksheet
Political Cartoons: Pictures with a Point
A political cartoon is a cartoon that makes a point about a political issue or event. You can
find them in any daily newspaper, but they won’t be in the comics section. Instead, look on
the editorial pages – they’re right next to the editorial columns, and across from the opinion
essays. You can also find them in newsmagazines and on political Web sites.
Political cartoons can be very funny, especially if you understand the issue that they’re
commenting on. Their main purpose, though, is not to amuse you but to persuade you. A
good political cartoon makes you think about current events, but it also tries to sway your
opinion toward the cartoonist’s point of view. The best political cartoonist can change your
mind on an issue without you even realizing how he or she did it.
Cartoonists’ Persuasive Techniques
Cartoonists use several methods, or techniques, to get their point across. Not every
cartoon includes all of these techniques, but most political cartoons include at least a few.
Some of the techniques cartoonists use the most are symbolism, exaggeration, labeling,
analogy, and irony.
Once you learn to spot these techniques, you’ll be able to see the cartoonist’s point more
clearly. You should also be aware of any political slant, or bias, that he or she might have.
When you know where the cartoonist is coming from, it’s easier to make up your own mind.
You might also start watching out for the persuasive techniques used in other media, such
as political ads and TV news programs. There are a lot of people out there trying to change
your mind – it’s a good idea to be aware of how they’re doing it.
Symbolism
Cartoonists use simple objects, or symbols, to stand for larger concepts or ideas.
After you identify the symbols in a cartoon, think about what the cartoonist means each
symbol to stand for.
Exaggeration
Sometimes cartoonists overdo, or exaggerate, the physical characteristics of people or
things in order to make a point.
When you study a cartoon, look for any characteristics that seem overdone or overblown.
(Facial characteristics and clothing are some of the most commonly exaggerated
characteristics.) Then, try to decide what point the cartoonist was trying to make by
exaggerating them.
Labeling
Cartoonists often label objects or people to make it clear exactly what they stand for.
Watch out for the different labels that appear in a cartoon, and ask yourself why the
cartoonist chose to label that particular person or object. Does the label make the meaning
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CLASSROOM LAW PROJECT
Empowering Democracy
Youth Summit 2008
of the object more clear?
Analogy
An analogy is a comparison between two unlike things. By comparing a complex issue or
situation with a more familiar one, cartoonists can help their readers see it in a different
light. After you’ve studied a cartoon for a while, try to decide what the cartoon’s main
analogy is. What two situations does the cartoon compare? Once you understand the main
analogy, decide if this comparison makes the cartoonist’s point more clear to you.
Irony
Irony is the difference between the ways things are and the way things should be, or the
way things are expected to be. Cartoonists often use irony to express their opinion on an
issue. When you look at a cartoon, see if you can find any irony in the situation the cartoon
depicts. If you can, think about what point the irony might be intended to emphasize. Does
the irony help the cartoonist express his or her opinion more effectively?
Once you’ve identified the persuasive techniques that the cartoonist used, ask yourself
these questions:
•
What issue is this political cartoon about?
•
What do you think is the cartoonist’s opinion on this issue?
•
What other opinion can you imagine another person having on this issue?
•
Did you find this cartoon persuasive? Why or why not?
•
What other techniques could the cartoonist have used to make this cartoon
more persuasive?
Source: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/learn/features/political_cartoon/cag.html
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CLASSROOM LAW PROJECT
Empowering Democracy
Youth Summit 2008
Political Cartoon Analysis Worksheet
Name:
Period:
Date:
1. What is the event or issue that inspired the cartoon?
2. Are there any real people or places in the cartoon? If not, what images are portrayed in
the cartoon?
3. Identify the specific artistic techniques used in the cartoon (i.e., symbolism, analogy,
exaggeration, labeling, and irony). What is the artist trying to show the reader by using
these techniques?
4. What is the cartoonist's point of view about the topic portrayed in the cartoon? Give
examples to support your interpretation.
5. Is this cartoon persuasive? Explain why or why not.
6. What other techniques could the artist have used to make this cartoon more persuasive?
Source: http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson794/analysis.pdf. Copyright 2005 IRA/NCTE.
All rights reserved. ReadWriteThink materials may be reproduced for educational purposes.
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