English 10HP

After viewing and discussing example of visual satire, we looked at another "modest proposal," regarding the mascot issue. In addition, I gave you the Final Satire Project / Final Exam options:


SATIRE UNIT – FINAL PROJECT OPTIONS


A MODEST PROPOSAL
Description: Write an original essay that provides an exaggerated or absurd solution to a problem experienced at your school, in your city, or by teenagers in general. Your title should include a creative title, followed by a colon, and then the phrase “A Modest Proposal,” as an immediate clue to your audience that you are alluding to Swift’s famous essay

Your essay should be well-developed enough to tackle the problem, and include humorous techniques like jargon, incongruity, hyperbole, understatement, specific details, and others to comment the problem and exaggerate its folly. Your essay should include the same steps that Swift uses in “A Modest Proposal”:
• Establish the problem
• Create suspense
• Drop the bombshell – an absurd solution
• Dismiss “other” solutions as ones that “clearly wouldn’t work” (but that actually are more realistic and probably would)
• End by saying you, the author, aren’t biased – and have nothing to gain or lose (not simply being opportunistic)

Examples: “A Modest Proposal,” “Let’s Spread the Fun Around,” student essays

“ONIONIZING” A CURRENT EVENT
Description: Find a news article that reveals some sort of problem with human nature or society, or that lends itself to an aspect of the ridiculous about it or to mocking people with some sort of power. Print out or clip the article. Then, using humorous techniques like jargon, incongruity, hyperbole, understatement, specific details, and others to comment on the same issue as the article and exaggerate its folly. Your article should include the same components as the articles from The Onion that we’ve examined in class:
• Include “interview” or “dialogue” from “experts”
• Include details – place, time, people involved
• Use journalistic diction and conventions
• Use diction from other realms as appropriate to make your point humorous
• Includes an image and a caption (photograph, graph, table, chart, timeline, etc.) for humorous effect

Examples: Articles from The Onion: “Fall Canceled After 3 Billion Seasons,” “3’ By 4’ Plot of Green Space Rejuvenates Neighborhood,” “Kitchen-Floor Conflict Intensifies As Rival House Cats Claim Same Empty Bag”



SATIRICAL IMAGE
Description: Create an original drawing or “Photo-shopped” image that makes a satirical comment about human nature or American society. You may use a parody to help convey your ideas. The image should contain the elements of visual composition, using color, lines, focal point, text, figures, contrast, and/or symbols for effect. Your image should also use humorous/satiric techniques like hyperbole (though your image may be grotesque rather than “funny”). Once your image is finished, complete an OPTIC analysis exploring the pieces of the image. Your conclusion paragraph(s) must include references to four details from the image and how they contribute to the overall satiric meaning of the work.

Examples: Gin Lane, mascot cartoons



COMMON ELEMENTS FOR SCORING GUIDE
Humorous techniques: incongruity, jargon, hyperbole, understatement, parody, irony, etc.
Satiric comment: exposing a folly of human nature or American society in a direct or indirect way
Production value: quality, demonstrates effort
Image/song: needs deconstruction/analysis in writing


Homework:
Read 100 pages of your independent book (due Thursday).