Political Cartoons

By: Ms. Astle

Political Cartoonists’ Persuasive Techniques

• Political cartoonists use the following techniques to persuade you the reader:

• Symbolism—Cartoonists use simple objects, or symbols, to stand for lager concepts or ideas.

• Exaggeration—Sometimes cartoonists overdo, or exaggerate, the physical characteristics of people or things in order to make a point.

• Labeling—Cartoonists often label objects or people to make it clear exactly what they stand for.

• Analogy—An Analogy is a comparison between two unlike things. By comparing a complex issue or situation with a more familiar one, cartoonists can help their readers see it in a different light.

• Irony—Irony is the difference between the way things are and the way things should be, or the way things are expected to be. Cartoonist often use irony to express their opinion on an issue.

Political Cartoons• The Cartoon should cause an

emotional response—laughter, smile, or anger.

• Editorial cartoons are meant to persuade the viewer to feel a certain way about an issue or event.

• Cartoons clearly express the artist’s opinion on a current issue or event.

Political Cartoons• Once you you’ve identified the persuasive

techniques that the cartoonist used, ask your self these questions:

• What issue is the political cartoon about?• What do you think is the cartoonist’s opinion on the

issue?• What other opinion can you imagine another person

having on this issue?• Did you find this cartoon persuasive? Why or Why

not?• What other techniques could the cartoonist have

used to make this cartoon more persuasive?

A Grand Match

General Jackson Slays Monster

The King Can Do No Wrong

Head In the Sand

American Citizenship

Electing Leaders

Hydro-Fracking

Airport Security

Airport Security

Airport Security

Social Security & Medicare

Immigration

War

Baseball

Trump

Education

America First

Cruises

AIG Bonuses

Sarah Palin

Stimulus

TSA

Immigration Bill

Climate

Banks Bailout

Gadhafi

Immigration

Bush Vs. Gore Recount

Gore and Bush Election

Standardized Testing and Schools

Michael Phelps

Presidential Campaigns

Obama’s Promises

Michael Phelps Olympics

Obama’s Promises

Banks Bailout

Auto Industry Bailout

Auto Industry Bailout

Auto Industry Bailout

Election

Presidential Debates

Florida

Army’s Lack of Troops

Saddam’s Trial

Don’t Follow the Leader

Take Them for All Their Worth

Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover

Jackson’s Cabinet Resignations

Uncle Sam’s Pet Pups

Avian Flue

Resources• Daryl Cage’s Political Cartoonists

Index (2009) Daryl Cage, PoliticalCartoons.com at URL: http://www.cagle.com/politicalcartoons/

• Dr. Suess Went to War: A Catalog of Political Cartoons (2000) U.C. Regents at URL: http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dspolitic/