1. After students have become acquainted with the goals of the TVA (See "TVA History" or other class resources), make a transparency of the cartoon entitled "In His Mind's Eye".

2. Organize your class into small groups. Distribute chart paper and markers. Choose a recorder.

3. Tell the class they should spend ten minutes or so discussing the answers to the following questions, with which they will now be familiar:
   • What current issue is this cartoon about?
   • Who are the real people in the cartoon?
   • What are the symbols in the cartoon?
   • Whose side is the cartoonist on? How do you know?

   When the group reaches consensus, the recorder should write the answers to the questions on the chart.

4. When all the charts are complete, they should be displayed. Similarities and differences should be discussed. In this particular case, it might be difficult for all students to agree about the cartoonist's point of view: While Roosevelt is portrayed in a respectful manner, standing high and looking toward the horizon and a better future for the US, private utilities are not portrayed as profit-hungry villains and impediments to a sure-fire antidote for the Depression. The cartoonist leaves open the possibility of a "wait-and-see " attitude.

5. Ask students why looking at political cartoons about the TVA might be helpful in learning about the issues and events of that period. Answers might include some of the following:
   • We can see what people looked like, even if they are cartoons.
   • We can understand more clearly what the issues were.
   • We can see that not everyone was in favor of the TVA.
   • They are entertaining and funny.

6. Now or in a later session, if there are a sufficient number of computers so that students can look at all the TVA cartoons at this site, ask them to browse the collection and to select three:
   • One that seems to be in favor of the TVA
   • One that seems to be neutral about the TVA
   • One that seems to be against the TVA

Again, this may be done by students in groups or as individuals. Students should answer the same four questions about each cartoon.

If there are not enough computers, the cartoons can be downloaded, printed, and reproduced.