1. Political Cartoons Political Cartoons are a visual way to express an opinion. Political Cartoons are a visual way to express an opinion. A cartoonist uses symbols and caricatures to show his or her point of view. A cartoonist uses symbols and caricatures to show his or her point of view. A caricature is a drawing that exaggerates actions, parts or features of the subject. A caricature is a drawing that exaggerates actions, parts or features of the subject.

2. Analyzing a Cartoon Determine the main theme or subject Determine the main theme or subject Find out what the symbols and caricatures represent Find out what the symbols and caricatures represent Identify the issues that are addressed Identify the issues that are addressed Draw conclusions about the cartoonist’s point of view Draw conclusions about the cartoonist’s point of view

3. Exaggeration

4. Start by looking at the visual elements of the cartoon Who are the two men pictured? Who are the two men pictured? The drawings of the two men are not realistic. In what ways are they distorted? The drawings of the two men are not realistic. In what ways are they distorted? Why did he choose to distort them in that way? Why did he choose to distort them in that way?

5. Read the Text What is Cheney referring to? What is Cheney referring to? What is inappropriate about Bush’s answer? What is inappropriate about Bush’s answer? What does the answer imply about Bush? What does the answer imply about Bush?

6. What do you need to know in order to understand the cartoon? What do you need to know in order to understand the cartoon? What makes this cartoon funny? What makes this cartoon funny?

7. Irony Irony refers to a situation in which the outcome is the opposite of what you expected

8. There are two frames in this cartoon. What happens in the first frame? There are two frames in this cartoon. What happens in the first frame? What happens in the second frame, and how is it ironic? What happens in the second frame, and how is it ironic?

9. The cartoonist wants to make you laugh but also wants to convey a social and political message. What is the cartoonist’s opinion about videogames? What is the cartoonist’s opinion about videogames? What does the cartoonist believe about the role the government should play regarding videogames? What does the cartoonist believe about the role the government should play regarding videogames?

10. Juxtaposition Sometimes cartoonists make their points by putting together two people, two situations or two ideas that don’t belong together

11. What does Gore’s speech refer to? What does Gore’s speech refer to? What do you need to know to understand this cartoon? What do you need to know to understand this cartoon?

12. Complete Analyzing Political Cartoon Worksheet