Mrs. Randall
Government
Political Cartoon Mini-Research Project
Step 1: You must choose a political cartoon—no comics (Garfield, etc.) Choose one that you
understand. They are usually based on current event issues so my suggestion would be to use a
topic of a recent current events analysis you have done. Each cartoon must have been published
within the month prior to the due date. Copy and paste the political cartoon into your analysis
along with the publication name and date to your final product.
Step 2: Find your research. Research is required for this analysis and explanation. You must use
a minimum of 3 sources. Use newspaper articles or other library or internet materials. These
must be credible sources – Wikipedia sources will not be accepted. Be sure to print and/attach
all source materials with your response. If you are using a book – use proper bibliographical
citations.
Step 3: The write-up. Below are 3 questions that you must answer. At a minimum, you must use
4 facts per question (quotes, statistics, examples) from your research. You must know and be
able to explain the event that inspired the cartoon. In paragraph format, address the following
questions:
 What/who are the images portrayed/inferred in the cartoon? Be specific and do
some research on who the people/items are. Because popular people (Obama)
tend to appear in several cartoons, look for a variety of different subjects
throughout the course of the semester. Also, look at all of the images – cartoonists
will sometimes use very subtle images to prove a point. If there is a person
referenced but not shown in the cartoon – discuss this person as well.
 What domestic/foreign policy issue/event is being addressed in the cartoon?
Describe the inspiration for the cartoon in detail. This requires researching news
reports associated with the cartoon. Details associated with the event/issue include
but are not limited to facts, statistics, timelines, and quotes.
 What message/bias is associated with the cartoon? Bias is the cartoonist’s opinion
on the issue/event. The depiction of people and objects in the cartoon will give
you an idea of the bias. Cartoons are editorials with pictures instead of words –
therefore there is always a bias. This can be liberal/conservative or simple pro/con
a certain issue. This element of the analysis and explanation can be very difficult
for students – please see me if you are having difficulties.
Step 4: Turn in the paper ON TIME!!! If you are in school at all on the day an
assignment is due or if you have a planned absence (example: field trip) – you are
expected to hand in your work the day it is due.
Papers will not be accepted late. You can turn in a printed out copy of your analysis paper or
submit it electronically by e-mail to me at randka@elkhorn.k12.wi.us if you have internet access
available.
Political Cartoon Analysis Due Dates:
Cartoon #1—October 7th
Cartoon #2— November 11th
Cartoon #3— December 16th
The following links are also found on my government website. In parenthesis you will find
where on the website the cartoons can be found.
http://www.ap.org/ -- Associated Press
http://www.csmonitor.com/ --Christian Science Monitor (Commentary tab)
http://www.jsonline.com/ -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (News tab and then
Editorials)
http://www.nytimes.com/ -- New York Times (Cartoons/humor tab on left side)
http://www.newsweek.com – Newsweek (Cartoon tab at the bottom of the page)
http://www.thenation.com/ -- The Nation
http://www.tnr.com/ -- The New Republic
http://www.time.com/time/ -- Time (Specials tab)
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/home.htm -- U.S. News and World Report (Opinion)
http://www.usatoday.com/ -- USA Today (News tab and then Opinion tab)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ -- Washington Post (Opinion tab)
http://www.madison.com/wsj/ -- Wisconsin State Journal (Opinion tab)
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/Cartoons.aspx Investors Business Daily
http://editorialcartoonists.com/ Association of American Editorial Cartoonists (can
search for cartoons by date or topic)
http://www.cagle.com/politicalcartoons/ Daryl Cagle’s Political Cartoonist Index
(can search for cartoons by date or topic)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15444066/ The Week in Political Cartoons (this link
tends to change, so you might have to search for this)
Grading:
If you score below 12 Points, the assignment must be re-done to earn credit. It does not have to
be done in my presence. If it was turned in prior to or on the due date, you do not have to
complete it in my presence, but you should come to me for help in how to do the assignment
properly. The corrections must be done within 3 days of the assignment being returned to you. If
it is not turned in within the given time frame – it will be considered a late assignment and you
will have to use a cartoon of my choice in my presence. Consult the rubric for a specific set of
grading criteria.
Questions??
If you have any questions about whether or not your cartoon qualifies as a political cartoon,
please ask! Also, if you have any doubts about what an image represents, what your political
cartoon is about, or the bias of the cartoonist, please ask!!
Please see me early regarding any concerns (the week before it is due) – do not wait until Sunday
evening to find a cartoon and complete your analysis!
Political Cartoon Response Form
Name: _______________________________________
Date: ___________________
Name of Website: ___________________________________
Copy and paste the cartoon here:
(or staple a copy of the cartoon to this worksheet if handing it in)
Date that the Cartoon was Published: ____________________
1. List all of the images portrayed in the cartoon and provide some background information
on each: (must use at least 4 facts)
2. Describe what domestic/foreign policy issue/event is being addressed in the cartoon and
provide some background information about it: (must use at least 4 facts)
3. What is the cartoonist’s message and/or bias in creating this cartoon? (must use at least 4
facts in this question and the last question combined)
How do you know? (include examples from the cartoon itself)
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/american-airlines-us-airways-merger/story?id=18427166
http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/08/doj-november-trial-date-in-us-airwaysamerican-airlines-antitrust-case-would-rush-things-so-lets-start-in-march-2014.html/
http://www.justice.gov/ag/
Paragraph #1: Who
The main person in this cartoon is Eric Holder. He is the current Attorney General of the United States.
He is the first and only Attorney General of the Obama administration. AG Holder also served in the
Clinton administration as Deputy Attorney General. He is the first African American AG of the United
States. He attended Columbia law school and also worked for the NAACP’s legal defense fund. He was
also a lawyer for a prominent Washington D. C. Law firm prior to becoming AG.
Paragraph #2: What is the issue?
The issue here is the government’s involvement in the merger between U.S. Air and American Airlines.
This merger was first announced in January of 2013. If they were to merge, the new airline would be the
nation’s largest airline carrier. American Airlines has declared bankruptcy and they have been trying to
decide for about 2 years now how to tackle their financial situation. The merger with United Airlines
would be one way of securing themselves financially. The government wants to get involved because in the
long run, a merger of these 2 airlines could result in higher prices for consumers. The government is
preparing for a trial that they would like to begin in March of 2014. They would be pursuing the
companies on violations of anti-trust legislation which prevents a company from getting too much of the
market share thereby raising prices on consumers.
Paragraph # 3: Bias
This cartoon is negative toward the Obama administration. It is basically calling Holder and the Obama
administration hypocrites for their policy toward the airlines. They are using “Obamacare” as proof that
the administration is inconsistent. In the cartoon, Eric Holder states that he and the administration will
fight the merger because it will limit competition for consumers. Critics of “Obamacare” claim that the
Affordable Care Act will do the same this in terms of the health care industry. We have already seen
companies such as AETNA and Blue Cross/Blue Shield raise the price of insurance premiums for
consumers. The article that we read about UPS dropping 15,000 employee spouses from their health
insurance serves as evidence that companies are resorting to drastic measures to deal with the rise in
health care costs.
Eric H. Holder, Jr. was sworn in as the 82nd Attorney General of the United States on February 3, 2009
by Vice President Joe Biden. President Barack Obama announced his intention to nominate Mr. Holder
on December 1, 2008.
In 1997, Mr. Holder was named by President Clinton to be the Deputy Attorney General, the first AfricanAmerican named to that post. Prior to that he served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. In
1988, Mr. Holder was nominated by President Reagan to become an Associate Judge of the Superior
Court of the District of Columbia.
Mr. Holder, a native of New York City, attended public schools there, graduating from Stuyvesant High
School where he earned a Regents Scholarship. He attended Columbia College, majored in American
History, and graduated in 1973. He graduated from Columbia Law School in 1976.
While in law school, he clerked at the N.A.A.C.P. Legal Defense Fund and the Department of Justice's
Criminal Division. Upon graduating, he moved to Washington and joined the Department of Justice as
part of the Attorney General's Honors Program. He was assigned to the newly formed Public Integrity
Section in 1976 and was tasked to investigate and prosecute official corruption on the local, state and
federal levels.
Prior to becoming Attorney General, Mr. Holder was a litigation partner at Covington & Burling LLP in
Washington.
Mr. Holder lives in Washington with his wife, Dr. Sharon Malone, a physician, and their three children.