Political Cartoons

How do I begin to create a political cartoon?

First you must ask yourself, “What is the issue I want to write about?” There are so many choices, I’m going to try and help you narrow these down. Here is a brief list to help you think about what topic might be interesting to you, as well as some things to think about as you begin.

Topic Ideas:

·       Step 1 Find a Current Event – Choose a topic and find your voice. What is it you want to say about the topic? Once you select your topic, come up with a summary of what you are trying to get across to your audience.

Possible topics:

Health Care (Affordable Health care, Ebola, Obesity, Antivaxers, etc.)

Military/War (Conflict in the Middle East, ISIS, etc.)

Immigration (Immigration policy, Treatment of Immigrants, etc.)

Education (Education Policy, Importance of Education, etc.)

Current Event Topics (Elections, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc.)

·       Step 2 Summarize and describe your story  - writing will help you break down the important ideas

1)      What will the cartoon be about?

2)      Who are the main people involved in the event?

3)      How will you symbolize, exaggerate the groups or people involved to make them recognizable?

4)      What words or phrases (labelling) will you use to communicate the message?

5)      What side of the event are you on?

Requirements

1. Spend some time sketching, doodling, attempting to flesh out your ideas. (Begin trying to exaggerate, incorporate symbols, adding colour etc) You should have a few rough copies
2. Show your teacher before moving on to your good copy
3. One 8½ X 11 White non-lined sheet of paper (you must use the full sheet)
4. Hand drawn ( Photoshopped pictures are not acceptable)
5. Colored (please make sure it’s colored in some way to make it “pop”)
6. The BACK of the cartoon should have:
1. Title of Cartoon
2. Name
3. Date
4. Class period
7. It does not have to be one “big” drawing.  It can be a comic strip format with multiple panels if you would like