Option #1: Analysis of an Individual Comic Strip or Political Cartoon

Choose one comic strip or political cartoon. If you visit the website of a newspaper such as The Baltimore Sun, The New York Times, The Washington Post, etc., you should be able to search for comic strips or political cartoons easily.

Whichtechniques does the creator of the comic strip use? How does thecreator make his/her point in the comic strip? What do we learn aboutthe characters and/or ourselves from this comic strip or politicalcartoon? If colors are available, what do they tell us about this comicor cartoon? What language is used and how can that be interpreted?

And importantly, which of the key terms from the topic lesson can you discuss in your analysis? For example, how of elements of imagery, symbolism, metaphor, and/or irony help reveal the cartoon’s message?

As with all academic essays you write in this course, this essay should have a well-defined introduction with a thesis statement, body, and conclusion.

In essence, what are some of the physical elements present in the cartoon¹ – characters, text, colors, etc., along with figurative elements such as metaphor and symbolism, that help to explain the cartoon’s message?It can be helpful to focus on a single element in the cartoon in itsown body paragraph (including the element in the topic sentence and inthe thesis) and describe how it portrays the cartoon’s message beforemoving to the next cartoon feature in a new paragraph.

Sample Thesis Statement: “JohnSmith uses (add one element from the cartoon), (add a second elementfrom the cartoon), and (add a third element from the cartoon) to show(add the cartoon’s message).”

Asuccessful analysis will go beyond the obvious, literal elements of thecartoon and will analyze figurative elements, too. Use the course topiclessons to inform your analysis.

Option #2: Analysis of Multiple Comic Strips or Political Cartoons

Choose two political cartoons or comic strips createdby the same person. Which techniques does the creator of the politicalcartoons use? How does the author make his/her point in the politicalcartoons? What do we learn about the characters and/or ourselves fromthese political cartoons? How does the language transmit the creator’smessage? Using a comparison or contrast mode of development, drawconclusions about the techniques the author uses in the politicalcartoons and how they apply to our lives. As with all academic essaysyou write in this course, this essay should have a well-defined introduction with a thesis statement, body, and conclusion.

Use the point-by-point or subject-by-subject structure tocompare and contrast about three to five elements found in the cartoonsthat help to explain how they apply to our lives or to a messagepresent in today’s society. After you compare and contrast eachparagraph, be sure to explain the message those elements and thecartoons help to depict.

Sample Thesis Statement: “John Smith’s cartoon strips Cartoon 1 and Cartoon 2 use(add one element from the cartoon), (add a second element from thecartoon), and (add a third element from the cartoon) to explain (add thecartoon’s message).”

Be sure to document the cartoon or comic strip on a Works Cited page. Please visit the following source for citing an electronic image: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/

The guidelines for this assignment are as follows:

Length: The assignment should be at least 500 words.

Header: Include a header in the upper left-hand corner of your writing assignment with the following information:

• Your first and last name
• Course Title (Composition II)
• Assignment name (i.e., Cartoon Analysis)
• Current Date

Format:

• MLA-style source documentation and Works Cited²
• Your last name and page number in the upper-right corner of each page
• Double-spacing throughout
• Standard font (Times New Roman, Calibri)
• Title, centered after heading
• 1″ margins on all sides
• Save the file using one of the following extensions: .docx, .doc, .rtf, or .txt

Underline your thesis statement in the introductory paragraph.

²This resource may be helpful as you are making MLA formatting decisions: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/