ALEX Learning Activity

In this learning activity, students will focus on the rhetorical analysis of visual texts to determine an author's purpose and message. First, students will view a video on analyzing political or editorial cartoons. By identifying and analyzing labels, symbols, exaggeration, irony, analogy, and argument, students will be able to infer the artist's/author's intended message of the editorial cartoon. Then, students will practice analyzing other cartoons with the same process utilizing the tech tool Flipgrid (from Common Sense Education:  Flipgrid is a website that allows teachers to create "grids" of short discussion-style questions that students respond to through recorded videos. Each grid is effectively a message board where teachers can pose a question, and their students can post 90-second video responses that appear in a tiled "grid" display.)

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

Students will be able to identify and analyze labels, symbols, exaggeration, irony, analogy, and argument in an editorial cartoon to determine the author's/artist's point of view, message, and purpose.

Students will use evidence (labels, symbols, exaggeration, and irony) to support their analysis of inferences and arguments drawn from the cartoon. 

1. As a class, the students will view a YouTube video titled "Analyzing Political Cartoons" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyrMlkKTB3Y) and take notes on the steps the presenter uses to analyze the political cartoon in the video. (The video is approximately 8 minutes as it analyzes contemporary and historical cartoons; however, teachers may choose only to show the first 5 minutes, which analyzes the modern cartoon on steroid use in baseball.)

2. Divide students into groups of two or three. The students will use online search tools to find an editorial cartoon on a topic (examples: American Dream, gender inequality, pop culture, the economy, etc.). After students locate an editorial cartoon, the students will analyze the cartoon using the steps learned in the video (labels, symbols, exaggeration, irony, analogy, argument). Tying the topic to a theme you will study in class is best.

3. Then, using Flipgrid (see Advanced Preparation steps), the students will video their analysis of the cartoon. The cartoon should be on camera the entire time. They can circle the various features of the cartoon as they voice-over the analysis (much like the YouTube video but with less detail as they only have 90 seconds). Flipgrid videos can be shared with the whole class, in groups, or individually.

Use this rubric to assess students:

https://www.quickrubric.com/r#/qr/juliepowell/cartoon-analysis-rubric

***Device with internet access and projection capability is needed for the teacher. Devices with internet access are needed for each student group.***

1. Create a FREE Flipgrid account at https://flipgrid.com/

2. Create a GRID and title it Flipping Out Over Cartoons (You can only have one grid at a time for free accounts.) For topic details, enter the following: In a 90-second video, analyze your cartoon concerning labels, exaggeration, irony, symbol, analogy, and an argument. Be specific. Your cartoon should be showcased in your video the entire time. Circle the elements in your cartoon as you explain them. 

3. Share the grid code with students. Students will not need an account, only the code you give them. This will allow them to access the grid and record their video using a laptop or mobile device (with the Flipgrid app).

More information about getting started on Flipgrid:  https://resources.flipgrid.com/

Depending on time and student level, the teacher may want to pre-select editorial cartoons for students to analyze.

After viewing the video, the teacher may want to practice analyzing a few cartoons as a whole class to check for understanding before moving into group analysis.

This makes a great cross-curricular activity between ELA and history.