1. Political Cartoon Analysis
Introduction

2. Key Terms
Political Cartoon (P.C.): An interpretive (your own idea or definition of an event, situation or person[s]) which makes use of symbols/symbolism, which are usually exaggerated to present a message or point.
Symbolism: Using a picture to represent an idea.
Exaggeration: To make something bigger (most times in size but not always) than it really is.
In P.C.s cartoonists overdo, or exaggerate, the physical characteristics of people or things in order to make a point.

3. Steps to Analyzing a P.C. Step 1
Describe the picture (1-2 sentences)
Tell me what you see
Pretend to be describing the p.c. to someone who cannot see the picture
Who is in the picture
What is happening
What is the current event or personality being “made fun of?”
Is it social or political or both?

4. Steps to Analyzing a P.C. Step 2
Analyze part 1: Symbolism
Identify the symbol
What symbol(s) do you see?
The symbols are…
Explain the symbol
What does the symbol represent
This symbol represents…
***If there is a caption or slogan, state it and explain it too!
It is full of written symbolism!

5. Steps to Analyzing a P.C. Step 3
Analyze part 2: Exaggeration
Identify the exaggeration
What exaggeration(s) do you see?
The exaggerations are…
Explain the exaggeration
What does the exaggeration mean?
This exaggeration means…

6. Steps to Analyzing a P.C. Step 4
Message (5 sentences): Answer the following questions-
What does the artist want to say about the situation, event or person?
Is it favorable or unfavorable?
Give 3 supports to back up your conclusion.
Explain each support

7. Steps to Analyzing a P. C. Final Step, But 1st Section of P. C
Steps to Analyzing a P.C. Final Step, But 1st Section of P.C. Analysis!!
What is the topic of this p.c.?
What subject is this about?
Why learn it last when it is the first section of your p.c. analysis?
Once you gather all the information through the previous steps, you can make an educated statement of what the topic of the p.c. is.

8. RE-CAP 1st: TOPIC and SUBJECT of p.c. 2nd: DESCRIBE in detail the p.c.
3rd: Analysis of SYMBOLS
4TH: Analysis of EXAGGERATIONS
5TH: MESSAGE

9. Who is this? U.S. President Barack Obama (2008-Present)
Major campaign poster used to help win the presidential election

10. Analysis-Choose 1 & answer Q
Cartoon 1
describe
2 symbols & meaning
1 exaggerations & meaning
Decide if: Favorable or Unfavorable?
Cartoon 2
describe
2 symbols & meaning
1 exaggerations & meaning
Decide if: Favorable or Unfavorable?

11. What is the message?
Choose one of the cartoons and write what you think is the message.
What does the artist want to say about the situation, event or person?
Give 3 supports to back up your conclusion.
Explain each support

12. Exit Slip
1. Think of different problems/issues that affect you, your community/school, or world/society
2. Come up with a web/mindmap
3. How can you turn it into a P.C.?
4. After the test 2morrow, you will receive a rubric to create a P.C. about a problem/issue

13. So, What is the topic of this P.C.?
1 sentence saying what the topic of this p.c. is.
Help: The topic of this political cartoon is… Fill in the Blank.