Editorial Cartoons
On the Social Studies subtest, you will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of aspects of history through the interpretation of political cartoons.
Steps to Interpreting an Editorial Cartoon:
Each time you look at an editorial cartoon, think of four aspects of it to aid your understanding. You can print the frame found below to help you keep your thoughts organized and practice writing.
First, take an overall look. What do you see? Describe it.
Second, look for the word clues. The words the artist includes always add meaning to the cartoon.
Third, ask yourself, "What do these images represent?" Use your knowledge of the political
or societal situation depicted to draw a conclusion. Here's where your understanding of history
may come into play.
Lastly, determine what point the author wanted to make. Remember, this is not about what you
think; it is about what the author of the cartoon thinks. You may not agree with their perspective,
but this is a reading exercise. You are reading what the author is writing, just in a different format.
Each time you look at an editorial cartoon, think of four aspects of it to aid your understanding. You can print the frame found below to help you keep your thoughts organized and practice writing.
First, take an overall look. What do you see? Describe it.
Second, look for the word clues. The words the artist includes always add meaning to the cartoon.
Third, ask yourself, "What do these images represent?" Use your knowledge of the political
or societal situation depicted to draw a conclusion. Here's where your understanding of history
may come into play.
Lastly, determine what point the author wanted to make. Remember, this is not about what you
think; it is about what the author of the cartoon thinks. You may not agree with their perspective,
but this is a reading exercise. You are reading what the author is writing, just in a different format.
This editorial by Lisa Benson appeared in January 2013 when gun control discussions ramped up after the Newtown - Sandy Hook shootings.
Gary McCoy has a statement about gun-control here. Can you figure out who this man in the museum represents? What clues did you use to figure it out?
Signe Wilkinson created this cartoon in January 2013 when policies changed to allow women in combat. What else do you need to know to understand this cartoon?
Take a look at Victor Ndula's editorial cartoon below. Victor Ndula is a Kenyan cartoonist known for his cartoons of African politics. Do you recognize the man depicted here?
In June of 2008, Adam Zyglis published this cartoon. What is this saying? What was happening in 2008?
Here are two different editorial cartoons from many years ago depicting children. Can you name the issue they are highlighting?
Notice the inconsistency between the men and their shadows in this editorial. There is not a single word clue. Can you still determine the author's point? Visit Authentic History Center to find more primary sources, including editorial cartoons, from history.
I believe this editorial cartoon is from the early 1900's. Has anything changed since this cartoon was published?
Has anything changed since this cartoon was originally published?
Use your background knowledge or the internet to find out who the main character in both of these political cartoons. What point of view do the two cartoons have in common?
View the work of Edmund Valtman, an editorial cartoonist who lived from 1914 - 2005. He came to the United States from Estonia in 1949. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1962 for his work. In the later part of his life, he lived in Bloomfield, Connecticut.
This site has a large variety of editorial cartoons by many different contributing cartoonists. Many of them are based on the most recent news. First, listen to the world news. Then click the link below to practice reading the cartoons. You may find it easier to understand them when you know the news story they are referencing rather than relying on your history knowledge. Give it a try! (You don't have to sign up if you click the small "No Thanks" in the bottom left corner of the pop-up window.)
On this site, you can choose to look at the archives of political cartoons by author (scroll way down for the political cartoon section to the left) or to sign up for a daily email containing a cartoon. What a great way to practice on a regular basis!
Here's some GED-type practice questions containing editorial cartoons. These questions aren't easy, but you can expect the GED to have even more complex questions. Try these: