You will have the opportunity to create your own original opinion cartoon. The cartoon must illustrate your opinion on a current topic. The image must be creative, be easy to understand, have good craftsmanship, and be your own unique creation. Remember that you should use proper etiquette and be considerate of others’ opinions because this is a school-related assignment and your audience is other students. For this exercise, your audience will be the other members of your class. Brainstorm a list of topics that are relevant to that group. On a scrap piece of paper, list at least five different topics. This can range from wanting the right to vote to the warning label on video games. Whatever topic that is appropriate and relevant to your age group is suitable for the list. After you have created your list, pick the topic that is most important to you and determine your opinion on it. Then, list all of the symbols that could be used for that topic, what type of scene would present your opinion, and what type of imagery would convey your opinion. If you are going to use text, determine what words will be present. But, your cartoon does not have to use words—you can communicate a lot of information through images alone. The following image is an example of the power images have to communicate. Once you have determined the topic and opinion you are going to convey as well as the imagery and text you will use, create your original cartoon. Consider all of the elements of art and principles of design to ensure that your artwork is dynamic. The art elements of unity and emphasis should be key factors. You can use any medium to create your original cartoon, including a computer drawing program, pencil, colored pencils, or oil pastels to create your original cartoon. Once you have finished it, use the Process worksheet to discuss the steps you took to develop your original cartoon. Select the links to access the Process worksheet and the Opinion Cartoon Portfolio rubric. This rubric will help you better understand how your project will be graded.

Answer 1

Brainstormed Topics

1. Climate Change: Effects & Responsibilities
2. The Right to Vote: Young Voices Matter
3. Mental Health Awareness in Schools
4. The Impact of Social Media on Self-Esteem
5. Environmental Conservation: Save Our Oceans

Selected Topic

Mental Health Awareness in Schools

Opinion

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and schools should prioritize mental health resources and education to support students.

Symbols to Use

1. Open Books - Representing education and the need for information about mental health.
2. Hearts and Brains - Illustrating the connection between emotions and mental well-being.
3. Students - Diverse group showing different backgrounds, representing inclusivity.
4. School Building - A school that mirrors a supportive and nurturing environment.
5. Lifebuoy or Help Sign - To symbolize support and resources (like counselors).

Scene Description

The cartoon will depict a school setting with a large, welcoming school building in the background. In the foreground, a diverse group of students sits together, looking engaged and happy. Each student can be holding symbols related to their emotions, such as hearts or stress balls. There will also be an open book with a heart and brain on its pages, illustrating the importance of educating students about mental wellness. A large sign reading “Mental Health Matters!” will be displayed prominently.

Imagery

• Color Palette: Bright and warm colors to convey positivity and inclusivity.
• Characters: Cartoon-style students with varied expressions that reflect happiness, curiosity, and support.
• Emphasis: Highlight the open book and the sign with bright colors to draw attention to the message.

Text

The main text will read: “Mental Health Matters!” Smaller text could include phrases like “Let’s Talk!” and “Support Each Other!”

Process Worksheet

1. Conceptualization: I started by thinking about what issues matter to my peers and what I feel passionate about. I settled on the importance of mental health awareness in schools.

2. Research: I gathered information about current mental health resources available in schools and the impact of mental health on student performance and well-being.

3. Drafting Ideas: I sketched different scenes involving students in various activities related to mental health—discussing, reading, and supporting one another.

4. Finalizing Elements: I decided on the symbols I wanted to use, ensuring they were representative and relatable for my audience.

5. Creating the Cartoon: I used colored pencils to create a vibrant and engaging cartoon, paying special attention to the expressions of the characters and the layout of the elements to ensure clarity and emphasis.

6. Review and Edit: I reviewed the cartoon and made adjustments to colors and details to enhance the overall message and visual appeal.

By following these steps, I was able to create a cartoon that effectively communicates my opinion on the importance of mental health awareness in schools.

Answer 2

what does the description express
the paper shows a tree with 2 signs saying "money kill's trees" and "#save the trees" in the front of the art piece, on the left side shows three hills with 7 tree stumps and a black factory called "money logs" while releasing smoke, on the right shows 4 hills, 2 stumps, 8 cut-down logs stacked on top of each other, a truck with a dollar bill sign (suggesting they're holding money), a chopped down tree, and another factory named "cash.co" while also releasing smoke. the sky is blue but the smoke is covering half of it

Answer 3

The description of the artwork expresses a strong environmental message about the destructive impact of deforestation and industrialization driven by profit. Here's a breakdown of the themes and elements conveyed through the imagery:

1. Conflict Between Nature and Industry: The presence of two factories, "Money Logs" and "Cash.co," highlights the idea that economic pursuits (represented by the factories and the dollar bill sign) are harming the environment. This contrast underscores the tension between the need for economic growth and the preservation of natural resources.

2. Environmental Destruction: The depiction of tree stumps and cut-down logs symbolizes the irreversible damage done to forests. The stumps indicate that trees have been removed, suggesting deforestation, while the logs stacked high emphasize the scale of this destruction.

3. Pollution: The factories releasing smoke contribute to an atmosphere of contamination and environmental degradation. The smoke obscuring half the blue sky illustrates how industrial activities are polluting the air and diminishing the quality of the environment.

4. Call to Action: The signs stating "Money Kills Trees" and "#Save the Trees" serve as a direct appeal to the audience, urging them to recognize the consequences of prioritizing profit over environmental conservation. This messaging encourages viewers to take action in support of tree preservation.

5. Visual Contrast: The juxtaposition of the healthy aspects of nature (the tree and the blue sky) against the grim aspects of industrial actions (stumps, smoke, and factories) creates a striking visual narrative. It emphasizes the loss that comes with economic development at the expense of nature.

Overall, the artwork powerfully communicates the urgency of addressing environmental issues linked to industrialization, urging viewers to think critically about the relationship between money, consumerism, and the preservation of our planet's trees and natural resources.

Answer 4

in the front

Answer 5

The front of the artwork, as described, serves as the focal point and introduces the central theme of the cartoon. Here’s an analysis of how the elements in the front contribute to the overall message:

1. Signage:

   • "Money Kills Trees": This sign conveys a clear and direct message that economic pursuits, particularly those relating to profit from deforestation, are harmful to the environment. It establishes the theme of the artwork right away.
   • "#Save the Trees": This sign not only reinforces the urgent need for action but also employs a contemporary social media motif with the hashtag, suggesting that awareness and activism can occur in today’s digital age. It implies a call to collective effort and community action.

2. Tree:

   • The central tree can symbolize life, nature, and the beauty of the environment. Its presence juxtaposed against the industrial elements in the background highlights what is at stake in the economic activities depicted—essentially representing nature's fragility.

3. Foreground vs. Background:

   • By placing these signs and the tree prominently in the front, the artist creates an immediate emotional connection with the audience. The imagery invites viewers to consider what is happening behind them (the factories and destruction) with the tree serving as a reminder of what is being lost.

4. Overall Composition:

   • The placement of the signs and the tree in the foreground draws the viewer's eyes first to the messages conveyed. This positioning emphasizes the importance of awareness and activism in protecting nature against the encroachment of profit-driven motives represented by the factories and industrial symbols behind them.

In summary, the front of the artwork set with the tree and impactful signage delivers a poignant message about the need to recognize and combat the destructive forces of capitalism on nature. It serves as both a warning and a rallying cry for environmental advocacy.

Answer 6

sorry i accidentally pasted the wrong message, here is the real one
Use as many rows in the table needed to describe the steps in your process. Be sure to complete the Reflection
section at the end of the worksheet.
Step Step Description
1
2
3
4
© 2014 Connections Education LLC. All rights reserved.
Step Step Description
5
6
7
8
Reflection
What successes did you have?
What challenges did you face?
What would you do differently?
What did you learn as an artist?

Answer 7

Here's a detailed guide on how to fill out the worksheet for your cartoon project using a table format, along with prompts for the reflection section:

Process Steps Table

| Step | Step Description | |------|------------------| | 1 | Brainstorming Ideas: I brainstormed various topics related to environmental issues and their effects on our community. After discussion with peers, I focused on the theme of deforestation and its economic causes. | | 2 | Research: I gathered information about deforestation, its impact on ecosystems, and the role of industry and profit in tree removal. This helped shape my understanding of the topic. | | 3 | Concept Sketching: I created initial sketches to visualize the main components of my cartoon, including the tree, factories, and the signs. I focused on how to represent the destruction and the call to action. | | 4 | Finalizing Composition: Based on my sketches, I organized the layout of my cartoon, deciding where to place the tree, signs, factories, and stumps for maximum visual impact. | | 5 | Creating the Artwork: I began the process of drawing the final piece using colored pencils, focusing on details such as expressions on the factory smokestacks and how to convey the destruction. | | 6 | Adding Color: I colored in my artwork, using bright colors for the signs and deep greens for the tree while using grays and browns to depict the factories and stumps. This contrast helped convey the message. | | 7 | Incorporating Text: I added the text on the signs, ensuring it was bold and clear, making it easy for viewers to read and understand the message even from a distance. | | 8 | Review and Adjust: I reviewed the piece, made adjustments for clarity, and enhanced elements as needed, ensuring the main message was communicated effectively. |

Reflection

• What successes did you have?
  I am proud of how the artwork turned out, especially the balance of color and the clarity of the message. The cartoon effectively captures the importance of trees and the impact of deforestation in a visually appealing way.

• What challenges did you face?
  One challenge was making sure that the imagery conveyed the intended message without needing too much text. I also found it difficult to depict the factories realistically while making them appear menacing.

• What would you do differently?
  If I were to do it again, I would spend more time brainstorming different ways to represent the factories and their pollution, possibly experimenting with a variety of art styles to see what best fits the message.

• What did you learn as an artist?
  I learned the importance of planning and researching before starting an artwork. Understanding the message I wanted to convey helped me create more thoughtful imagery. I also realized how powerful visual art can be in raising awareness about critical issues, such as environmental conservation.

Feel free to modify any of the descriptions or reflections to better fit your experiences and insights!

Answer 8

Make it sound as an 8th grader

Answer 9

Sure! Here’s a version that sounds more like it would come from an 8th grader:

Process Steps Table

| Step | Step Description | |------|------------------| | 1 | Brainstormed Ideas: I thought about different topics related to the environment and why it matters. After talking with friends, I decided to focus on deforestation and how money affects trees. | | 2 | Did Some Research: I looked up information about deforestation and learned how it harms nature and why companies cut down trees. This gave me a better idea of what I wanted to show in my cartoon. | | 3 | Sketching My Ideas: I made rough sketches to figure out how I wanted my cartoon to look, including the tree, factories, and signs. This helped me organize my thoughts visually. | | 4 | Finalizing the Composition: I chose where to place everything in my cartoon—like putting the tree in the front and the factories in the back—to make sure it looked good and told the story clearly. | | 5 | Drawing the Artwork: I started drawing the final version with colored pencils, focusing on details like the factories and the tree to make them stand out. | | 6 | Adding Color: I used bright colors for the signs and different shades of green for the tree. I made the factories gray and brown to show how they’re polluting the environment. | | 7 | Adding Text: I wrote the words on the signs, making sure they were big and easy to read so everyone could understand what my cartoon is saying. | | 8 | Reviewing and Adjusting: I took a step back and looked at my cartoon to see if I needed to make any changes. I tweaked a few things to make sure the message stood out clearly. |

Reflection

• What successes did you have?
  I’m really happy with how my cartoon turned out. The colors are bright, and I think it really shows how important it is to save trees while making the message clear.

• What challenges did you face?
  One challenge was making sure that the pictures told the story without needing too much writing. I also found it tricky to draw the factories in a way that looked realistic but still made them seem harmful.

• What would you do differently?
  If I could do it again, I’d spend more time coming up with different styles for the factories to make them look even more menacing and to try out different ways to represent the pollution.

• What did you learn as an artist?
  I learned that planning and doing some research before starting is super important. Knowing what I wanted to say helped me create better drawings. I also discovered how powerful art can be for talking about important issues like protecting the environment.

Feel free to adjust any parts to make them sound even more like your own voice!

Answer 10

There was one challenge that I had which was trying to communicate the message that I want to communicate, but I learned that it can lead to a different message that is much stronger. I was originally going to explain something else, but then I made a mistake in communicating my message. Turns out, that mistake taught me that the message you want to make can lead you to a different message that can give me a better and stronger message than what you want to convey! So when I reviewed my artwork, it showed me a different message that gave me a bigger and better understanding than what I previously wanted to convey and showed me that message that I made can lead to different messages that have a bigger understanding and a stronger impact. In other words, art has no mistakes and if you make those mistakes, it can lead you and other people to understand them differently and explain something much bigger, better, and stronger than what you expected!

Answer 11

That’s a great insight! Here’s a revised reflection that incorporates your ideas while keeping the language appropriate for an 8th grader:

Reflection

• What successes did you have?
  I’m really happy with how my cartoon turned out. The colors are bright, and I think it really shows how important it is to save trees while making the message clear.

• What challenges did you face?
  One challenge I faced was trying to communicate the exact message I wanted. At first, I made a mistake in how I presented it, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise! That mistake actually led me to a stronger message than I originally intended.

• What would you do differently?
  If I could do it again, I’d spend more time deciding on the best way to share my ideas at the start. But that’s also part of the process, learning to be flexible with my message as I create.

• What did you learn as an artist?
  I learned that art doesn’t have mistakes; instead, those “mistakes” can lead to new ideas and deeper messages. When I reviewed my work, it showed me a different perspective that I hadn’t considered before. This made me realize that sometimes what I plan to express can evolve into something even bigger and more meaningful. So, creating art is all about exploring and being open to unexpected lessons!

Feel free to adjust any of the wording to make it feel more true to your own voice!