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Political Cartoons
Randi Dorman
United States Constitution_Dorman
The students will examine primary sources of political cartoons during the early period of American history. The activity could be a whole group activity or a center established within the classroom. The students will identify the persuasive techniques used in political cartoons in order to create their own political cartoons of major issues that were debated at the Constitutional Convention, such as the rights of states, the Great Compromise, and slavery.
Internet access/computer printer
http://www.gadsden.info/snake.html
http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/1500/1526/ratification_1.htm
Teacher-made signs for center (optional) of the persuasive techniques given within the lesson.
Art supplies for creating student-made political cartoons.
Social Studies trade books/textbooks for research on political issues
Whole group-50 minute period and/or Center Work
2
How do political cartoons persuade people to accept the voice of the cartoonist?
What were some political issues that were debated during the Constitutional Convention?
As an Interest Center, colorful signs such as "picket" signs or banners should be displayed with the following persuasive techniques written on them.
Symbolism: Use simple objects to stand for larger ideas.
Exaggeration: Often, cartoonists overdo to demonstrate a viewpoint.
Labeling: Usually, objects or people are labeled to make it clear.
Analogy: There is a comparison between two unlike things such as a difficult issue with a normal situation.
Irony: This is the difference between the ways things are and the way things are expected to be. The cartoonist gives an opinion.
The Interest Center should have a place to display students' finished products.
This activity can easily be adapted to a whole group activity through a teacher-directed lesson on persuasive techniques and political issues of early American history.
In the Interest Center, make a sign-in sheet to become a political cartoonist (Attachment #1). Provide Attachment #2 in the center for the student to read. The student will be given persuasive techniques to use as a political cartoonist with a background of some historical political cartoons from early American history.
1. Using the primary sources of historical political cartoons, the student will examine
Ben Franklin's cartoon of the snake "Join or Die". Student will analyze the
cartoon with persuasive techniques provided by the Cartoon Analysis Guide,
(attachment #2).
2. A Constitution Ratification Cartoon (attachment#3) will allow the student to
continue to analyze a primary source of a political cartoon from early American
history.
3. Student selects a political issue of the Constitutional Convention and creates an
original political cartoon. A student checklist is provided (attachment#4).
4. Suggestions for political issues should be within the center. Resources should be available for research of the following:
a) rights of states according to the Constitution
b) Great Compromise
c) slavery according to the Constitution
d) Federalists
More information concerning these issues is found in the introductory essay as a link.
The teacher may decide to prepare index cards with the information about each political issue.
As student-made political cartoons are displayed in the Interest Center, the class should discuss the individual cartoons and the political issues. Students should be encouraged to "revisit" the Center and produce more political cartoons. Perhaps, a hallway bulletin board could display the entire project.
None
Constitution Student Checklist for Political Cart
Constituion LP2 File_1 Sign in sheet_Dorman
Political Cartoon_Dorman
Cartoon Analysis Guide_Dorman