Social Studies Common Assessment #2

POLITICAL CARTOONS

COATSCaptions (What textual clues are included?)Objects (List everything visible in the picture.)Action (What’s happening in this picture?)Time (When was this created / when is it set?)Summary (What is the message of this

cartoon?)

SAMPLE CARTOON #1 (COATS)

SAMPLE CARTOON #1 (FIRST COAT)C: “How ‘Incentives’ Work:” “For the Rich” “For the Poor” “Give Give Give…” “Take…”

O: Fat, short man in a suit. Holding money. Smiling/ smirking. Woman, kid, tray/plate. Big-eyed child.

A: Not much action.Two people standing.

T: Not Given

SAMPLE CARTOON #1 (SECOND COAT)

C: “How ‘Incentives’ Work:” “For the Rich” “For the Poor” “Give Give Give…” “Take…”

The quotation marks around “Incentives” suggests sarcasm or a similar tone. There’s repetition & emphasis on GIVE GIVE GIVE for the guy who already has plenty, and just one TAKE from the woman and child who have nothing.

The blocked titles “For the Rich” and “For the Poor” indicate the definition of “Incentives” is different for the rich / poor.

SAMPLE CARTOON #1 (SECOND COAT)O: Fat, short man in a

suit. Holding money. Smiling/ smirking. Woman, kid, tray/plate. Big-eyed childFat guy in suit represents wealth, opulence. His smile suggests evil / greed. Mom & kid look much smaller, thinner, worried, surprised.

The guy on the left is holding a bag of money and some other papers, maybe ‘incentives’ of some sort, which he doesn’t seem to need. Woman and child have need, but what little they had (food stamps) have been taken away. Everyone is white. (??)

SAMPLE CARTOON #1 (SECOND COAT)

A: Not much action.Two people standing…

SAMPLE CARTOON #1 (SECOND COAT)

T: Not Given

This is apparently recent, as one recurring issue this past year has been “corporate welfare” vs. “entitlement programs.” This is not always clearly divided along party lines, although we generally associate the Republicans with favoring the former and Democrats with the latter.

SAMPLE CARTOON #1 (SECOND COAT)

S: Summary

“It is absurd to give so many benefits – from both the government and the private sector – to those doing so well already while we reduce help to those without. There is hypocrisy in claiming these benefits promote a strong economy when we give them to the rich, but they encourage laziness and corruption when we help the poor.”

This is a “liberal” or “left-leaning” cartoon.

SAMPLE CARTOON #2 (COATS)

SAMPLE CARTOON #2 (FIRST COAT)

C:O:A:

T:

SAMPLE CARTOON #2 (SECOND COAT)

C:O:A:

T:

S:

OR…

SAMPLE CARTOON #2 (ELEMENTS)

ASSESSMENT RETRY INSTRUCTIONS

You’ll be given two new cartoons to analyze with either COATS or Common Elements

You will be allowed to take these home to discuss or to look up terms, symbols, or other elements you do not entirely understand.

Both are based on recent events, so if you do not recognize the current event, you may utilize CNN.com or other news sources to help.