Political Cartoon Assignment

Assignment: Log on to http://cagle.slate.msn.com// and print out a political cartoon on a current political topic of your choice, or cut out a current political cartoon from a newspaper or weekly magazine. Carefully consider and write responses to the eight questions below. Use complete sentences reflecting your analytical thinking.

In the Computer Lab: Locate your political cartoon from the above web site. Paste your cartoon and this Political Cartoon Assignment form into your word processor. Be sure to answer all the questions in dark blue, and print out your assignment. Be ready to share with a partner.

1. Look at the cartoon and describe what you see. Be literal, and list only physical items.

2. What symbols or techniques are used in this political cartoon? (Look at labels, symbols, metaphor, satire, exaggeration….)

3. What subjects, issues or topics are illustrated in the cartoon? What is the evidence which makes you identify these subjects, issues or topics?

4. What is the overall message or theme of the cartoon? (Try to capture the message of this cartoon in a one sentence generalization.) What evidence made you draw this conclusion?
*One sentence generalization:

*Evidence from the cartoon supporting this generalization:

5. Which groups of people would probably agree with this cartoon? Why would they agree with it?

6. Which groups of people would probably disagree with this cartoon? Why would they disagree with it?

7. What issues, events, or people should you have knowledge about to thoroughly understand this political cartoon? What questions could you ask to further understand the issues of the political cartoon?

8. And now for another point of view: Neatly draw a political cartoon on another piece of paper, which would illustrate an alternative point of view to this political cartoon.

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