Englisch-Blog.com

Before you describe the cartoon:

• Keep in mind that a cartoon is a visual text!
• Therefore the picture and the text are equally important!
• Look at the cartoon carefully!
• Make sure you understand the situation and context of the cartoon.

Ask yourself some questions before you describe the cartoon:

• What would be normal in the situation?
• What is strange or unexpected and why?
• Does the text clash with the picture?
• Is there exaggeration, irony?
• Are there puns (plays on words), or symbols?
• Why is it funny? (If it´s not funny you didn´t understand the joke, or the joke was lame)
• do I get the joke?

The message of the cartoon:

• If you got the joke you´ll get the message. The message can be political, or just funny, or thougt-provoking in some sense.

When you write a description of a cartoon:

• remember that for describing a cartoon you will mostly need the present progressive.
• comment on the cartoon use expressions such as: “In my opinion the cartoonist wants to express…”