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ORC Resource Number #6409
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Analyzing the Stylistic Choices of Political Cartoonists
Best Practice
PROFESSIONAL COMMENTARY

Students learn terminology that describes comics and political (or editorial) cartoons and discuss how the cartoonists’ choices influence the messages that they communicate. After discussing several cartoons as a full class, each student analyzes the techniques that the same cartoonist uses in five or more cartoons. They consider text, layout and design, and angles. Students compare the techniques in the group of cartoons and draw conclusions about why the cartoonist chose the specific techniques to communicate their messages.

This lesson points to contemporary political cartoons but can also be completed with historical political cartoons. Resources for historical cartoons are included in the Web Resources section. (author/sec)

OHIO STANDARDS
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English Language Arts Standards
Reading Process: Concepts of Print, Comprehension Strategies and Self-Monitoring Strategies Standard
Reading Applications: Informational, Technical and Persuasive Text Standard
Communications: Oral and Visual Standard
NATIONAL STANDARDS
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Standards for the English Language Arts
Range of materials and purposes for reading
Reading strategies, language use, and conventions
Write, speak, and visually represent to create text
Purposes for using spoken, written, and visual language
RESOURCE TYPE
Instructional Resource
PRACTICE LEVEL
Best Practice
STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
Grades 9–10
TOPICS
English Language Arts --
Communication;
Viewing;
FOUND IN
KEYWORDS
political cartoons;
comics;
media literacy;
visual literacy;
editorial cartoons;
critical thinking
Publisher: IRA/NCTE
Author: Traci Gardner