Developed by the College Board as a method of rhetorical criticism, the OPTIC Method is a strategy for visual analysis and is commonly seen on AP Language and Composition and AP History end-of-course exams.  Textual analysis can be intimidating to some learners, but the OPTIC Method can be a pressure-free technique and fun way to introduce students to textual analysis via visual analysis.

In this class, learners will be introduced to the OPTIC Method and how it is used to analyze political cartoons, photographs, paintings, advertisements, and other visual media. This class introduces the OPTIC Method via lecture and PowerPoint.  As a class, we will then analyze an image and discuss it by paying particular attention to the parts of the OPTIC strategy.  Students will then be given their own image to analyze.  Because the end goal of the OPTIC strategy is a cohesive paragraph on the visual text presented, this class gives students an opportunity to work on their writing skills in a timed environment.