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Analyze a Cartoon

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Meet the cartoon.

  • Quickly scan the cartoon. What do you notice first?
  • What is the title or caption?

Observe its parts.

  • WORDS:
    • Are there labels, descriptions, thoughts, or dialogue?
  • VISUALS:
    • List the people, objects, and places in the cartoon.
    • List the actions or activities.

Try to make sense of it.

  • WORDS:
    • Which words or phrases are the most significant?
    • List adjectives that describe the emotions portrayed.
  • VISUALS:
    • Which of the visuals are symbols?
    • What do they stand for?
  • Who drew this cartoon?
  • When is it from?
  • What was happening at the time in history it was created?
  • What is the message? List evidence from the cartoon or your knowledge about the cartoonist that led you to your conclusion.

Use it as historical evidence.

  • What did you find out from this cartoon that you might not learn anywhere else?
  • What other documents or historical evidence are you going to use to help you understand this event or topic?

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