Political Cartoon Analysis

Instructions:

· Browse different reliable sources and select 5 different political cartoons that catch your attention.

Suggestion: The more elaborated the cartoon is, the easier it will be to complete this assignment. Read the 12 questions below before you start your search so you have an idea of what you are looking for.

· The cartoons must be political in nature and current (maximum 1 year old).

· Each cartoon must be related to different political topics and characters. The cartoons cannot portray the same political figure(s), even if the content is about different topics.

· Each answer must be 3 complete sentences long (Times New Roman font, size 12, double-spaced).

· Do not re-type the questions. Identify each answer with numbers and separate each answer in small paragraphs. Do not put all your answers in one paragraph.

· You MUST copy and paste the image of the cartoon before you answer the questions so I can see it while I am grading.

· Include your sources.

· The analysis of the 5 cartoons must be put together in ONE paper (one attachment submission only, not 5 separate ones).

· You must use Microsoft Word or pdf. Do not use .pages or zip files.

· Answer ALL of the following questions for EACH cartoon (There are a total of 12 questions for each cartoon).

Observation Phase: Describe What You See

· What do you notice first? Explain.

· Are there any text bubbles and/or caption? How important are they? Explain.

· Do you see an exaggeration? What does the exaggeration mean? Explain.

· Does the cartoon portray any emotions? Which ones? Explain.

· What minor details are there? How important are they? Explain.

Note: If your answer is “No” to 2 of the questions above, you MUST choose a different cartoon. You will lose points if you don’t.

Reflection Phase: Generate Hypotheses

· What political event was happening when the cartoon was made? Explain.

· What is the cartoonist trying to say with this cartoon? Explain.

· Is there anything controversial about the cartoon? Explain.

Evaluation Phase: Assess the Effectiveness

· Do you think the cartoon is effective in the message it tries to convey? Explain.

· Were you persuaded by the cartoonist’s point of view? Explain.

· If you were asked to modify something in the cartoon what would it be? Explain.

(Note: Answers such as “I wouldn’t modify anything.” will not be accepted)

· Did the cartoon encourage you to look deeper into the political issue it portrayed? Explain.