Laughter and Political Cartoonist's Power of Persuasion

Your Student News Support Staff, Online School Newspaper Support

Ann Telnaes, Pulitzer Prize Winning Cartoonist


"Political cartoons can be very funny, especially if you understand the issue that they’re commenting on. Their main purpose, though, is not to amuse you but to persuade you. A good political cartoon makes you think about current events, but it also tries to sway your opinion toward the cartoonist’s point of view. The best political cartoonist can change your mind on an issue without you even realizing how he or she did it."

Learn about a political cartoonist's techniques for making a point about political / societal issues and events with this interactive online lesson from the Library of Congress.

No Laughing Matter Interactive Lesson