Select the key difference between a proper and common noun. common nouns are general; proper nouns are specific. common nouns are always capitalized; proper nouns are not. common nouns name people, places, or things; proper nouns name specific people places or things.

The cartoon is effective for several reasons. First, it is on a familiar topic. The overuse of tablets and smartphones is an issue that many people know about. Having a child with his face buried in a tablet satirizes the priorities of children today. Also, readers can easily grasp the cartoonist’s perspective that these gadgets keep us from enjoying the world around us. As the boy studies his tablet, he misses the total eclipse in the background. The cartoon is also amusing, which engages readers. At the same time, it makes us think and persuades us that children should use technology only on a limited basis.