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From: "Barbara Garner" <b.garner4@verizon.net>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:1262] Political cartoon...Cross Posting from AALPD
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Reply to: RE: [NIFL-AALPD:1906] RE: FW: political cartoons
Hello, all -
I use political cartoons quite regularly in my GED classroom. In fact, we
do something with them at least one time per week. I usually use Cagle.com
and, on occasion, Newsweek or other print material. I generally use them as
a wam-up/discussion activity. And I usually use current event-related
cartoons but not always.
While I agree to some extent with Bryan that context is important, I
actually feel that it is important to NOT let understanding context be a
litmus test. More imporant, I feel, is that students learn the skills
needed to decipher and decode meaning. In this way, they can learn to "read
the word, to read the world" in terms of Freire.
I focus on skills required to read and decipher political cartoons and
remind the students of what they need to use each time they read one. I
speak about condensed meaning (using analogy of condensed milk - i.e. "thick
with meaning" so they have to look at all parts), symbolism, and thinking
about what you already know about something. We practice talking through
the cartoons so that we can all see the understanding evolve; that is the
goal anyway. My thinking about all of this is that, even if they do not
know context, being able to narrow down meaning and to decipher part of
context, will equip them better to do well when they do have to make an
educated guess.
It is impossible to know all contexts for all political cartoons (or
anything, for that matter). It is possible to learn to employ skills, like
parachutes, when necessary. Evolving the skills and improving the ability
to understand political cartoons is not something that can be taught in a
few short sessions; the skills can be taught, the practice is a process. I
view my role as equipping people for the process.
I like this topic. Very refreshing! Melissa Monti
Melissa Monti
Professional Developer
IU-13/SEPDC
Instructional Services Dept.
1110 Enterprise Road
East Petersburg, PA 17520
tele. (717)519-1012
fax (717)560-6150
email: melissa_monti@iu.13.org
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