Project on Refugees: Opinions and Facts Name: ____________________

A) Analyzing a Current Political Cartoon

Group: ViewsMideast Credit: TUNIN Source: Moscow, Russia Keywords: COLOR LIBYA GADHAFI ITALY REFUGEES SARDINES LAMPEDUSA NO FLY ZONE NATO BOMBING GADDAFI 033011 Provider: CartoonArts International / The New York Times Syndicate

Step One: Preliminary Checklist

DIRECTIONS:

Circle whether or not the characteristic below is evident in the cartoon. Next describe the characteristic in the space provided. Are there any Symbols present in the cartoon? What are they: Can you think of any "deeper meaning" inherent Symbols: Sardine tin/ can
in the symbol. Was the symbol placed in the cartoon for a particular purpose? To convey a some point or to make the reader feel one way or another about the cartoon? Can: crammed Figures: like getting onto a boat

yes or no

Small figures getting onto / into

yes or no

Is anything exaggerated in the cartoon? Overly dramatic to make a point? What are they: tin is as big as a boat, figures are schematic. Sardines (or whatevers) in tin a very small.

Is anything distorted? Are any symbols, pictures, people made to look funny, ugly etc.? What are they: people made to look fragile, grotesque in their effort to get onto boat yes or no

Are any stereotypes present? Is a too-simple version of a group present? Is a group treated unfairly or are they simply used to make a point in the cartoon? What are they: yes or no People look alike, schematic.= category of refugees

How are individuals portrayed? Is an individual exaggerated or distorted? What type of message do you get about this person based on the caricature? What are they: (see above) yes or no

Step Two: Background Knowledge

DIRECTIONS:

You may need to do some research on the historical topic to fully understand a cartoon. (For instance, read the article below) Once you understand the topic, answer the question below.

Based on prior knowledge as well as class study, what type of historical information could help you understand this cartoon?

Step Three: Express the point of view in the cartoon

DIRECTIONS:

This step asks you to describe the authors bias in creating the cartoon in Brief Constructed Response Format. Fill in each of the sections below in full sentences. You will be asked to state the author's thesis, give four proofs that the thesis is valid and then wrap up your conclusions in a final sentence.

Sentence one: (state the name of the cartoon and point the author is attempting to make through it.) Lampedusa is like a crammed boat, yet attracting more and more refugees. Body Sentences: (your sentences should be linking items in the cartoon (step one)
with information from the historical time period (step two.) At present (Spring 2011), the island belonging to Italy is attracting a large number of asylum seekers from African Arabic countries, which are in political turmoil. About 150 kms from the African coast, the small island of Lampedusa is the closest target for people looking for a safe place. Most often they risk their lives by taking this long jorney on a stormy sea in small boats. The island is now full and Italy has not done much to help these people, who are there without food, water, housing and toilets.

Last sentence: (restate your point from sentence one)

If you see a person drowning, you will help; likewise, the large number of asylum seekers in Lampedusa must not be left alone.

B) Analyzing a Current Article

DIRECTIONS:

This step asks you to read the current article below and describe the authors bias in Brief Constructed Response Format. Read the article and make a list of unknown expressions below it, explaining in English & providing a Hungarian expression ONLY if there is one / required. Some expressions are highlighted for you. (Learn them for Final test) First do an analysis based on your readings in EAP Now! Ch 5. 124-131. Fill in each of the sections below in full sentences. You will be asked to state whether or not there is bias in the writing.

Boat with refugees capsizes near Lampedusa, 130 people missing April 7, 2011 http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14969054,00.html

The Italian coast guard continues to look for survivors

A boat carrying over 200 people has capsized near the Italian island of Lampedusa. Search teams have rescued some 51 people. Meanwhile, calls are growing for the EU to grant migrants temporary resettlement rights. Around 130 people are missing after an overloaded boat carrying immigrants from Libya capsized off the Italian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean. Rescuers say they have picked up around 51 survivors and spotted at least 15 bodies of people who presumably drowned. Officials said that strong winds and heavy seas were hampering the rescue operation and likely contributed to the accident. "Some are being treated for hypothermia after spending hours in very cold war," Italian coast guard officer Pietro Carosia told the news agency dpa. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the migrants aboard the vessel came from a range of impoverished and war-torn developing nations. "The vessel, which was laden beyond capacity, had left the Libyan coast with migrants and asylum seekers from Somalia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Cote dIvoire, Chad and Sudan," the IOM said in a statement Wednesday.

EU reaction In recent months, Lampedusa has been inundated with refugees from North Africa. Many are fleeing the ongoing standoff in Libya between forces loyal to ruler Moammar Gadhafi and anti-government rebels. "This moment is one of those moments where you say: 'Thats it, thats enough,'" Spanish EU parliamentarian Antonio Masip Hidalgo said. "I am sick of the incapacity of this parliament, this European Union to do anything, just talk and talk. Its criminal."

Call are growing for the EU to grant migrants temporary resettlement rights

The EU has put increased pressure on member states to take in refugees. The European Commission, the blocs executive body, is set to lobby for the move during a meeting of interior ministers next Monday in Luxembourg. The European Parliament asked the 27 member states to activate the EUs temporary protection mechanism, which would grant housing and employment opportunities and schooling to refugees for up to three years. However, a qualified majority of member states would have to approve such a move and skepticism remains. "The problem is that weve got a big mixture here - asylum seekers, refugees, immigrants," said Portuguese EU parliamentarian Rui Tavares. "They should all be respected, but there are differences. Refugees are the most vulnerable people in the world." Author: Spencer Kimball, Matt Zuvela (AFP, Reuters, AP, dpa) Editor: Michael Lawton

List of expressions (to learn):

An editorial (in EAP Now!) is an opinion-based article in a paper. What kind of writing is this? A news article What is the technique the author uses to provide opinions instead of formulating his / her own? He quotes people. Can opinions be easily separated from factual parts? Why / why not? Yes, because all the opinions are said by people and are the facts are provided by the author of the article.

What do you think about bias in this article? Cannot spot bias (because of the technique above) Thank you!