AP Language and Composition Recognizing and Analyzing Satire

Agenda Notes on recognizing satire AP satire rhetorical analysis prompt I can recognize a satirical text when I encounter it. I can analyze the use of satirical devices to create an argument.

Recognizing Satire Before we can analyze satire, we first have to RECOGNIZE satire when we see it. Sometimes, it’s harder than you think, so here are some tips.

Recognizing Satire Question 1: Is it from The Onion? Yes? Questions you should ask yourself when trying to recognize satire: Question 1: Is it from The Onion? Yes?

Recognizing Satire Question 2: Is it from The New Yorker with a highly liberal slant? Yes?

Recognizing Satire Question 3: YOU NEED TO CHECK! Is it from a site you don’t recognize? With a name that has slapped together any permutation of "News," "Daily," "Viral," "Report," "Record," "Science," and "World?"  YOU NEED TO CHECK! A site MUST tell you if it is presenting false info, but they will bury that!

Recognizing Satire Question 4: Is it about a high-profile politicians or celebrities? Ann Coulter, Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Michele Bachmann, John McCain, Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi, Kim Kardashian, Rush Limbaugh, Kanye West, Hillary Clinton, Donald Sterling, Barack Obama, etc. Yes? Move on to the follow up questions (next slide)

Recognizing Satire Question 4: Follow up: Is it about a high-profile politicians or celebrities? Examples: Ann Coulter, Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Michele Bachmann, John McCain, Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi, Kim Kardashian, Rush Limbaugh, Kanye West, Hillary Clinton, Donald Sterling, Barack Obama Follow up: Does it involve an ironic misfortune befalling them? E.g. "Kanye West Breaks His Nose Trying To Kiss His Reflection“ Does it take the easiest possible approach to its subject, without any hint of original thought? E.g. "Donald Trump Reveals He Wears Wig"? Is it a context-free, incendiary/idiotic pull quote by a public figure who only ever appears in the news next to context-free, incendiary/idiotic pull quotes? E.g. "Sarah Palin: 'I'd Let Putin Motorboat Me To Save Ukraine'

Recognizing Satire Question 4: Yes to any of the follow up questions: Is it about Ann Coulter, Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Michele Bachmann, John McCain, Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi, Kim Kardashian, Rush Limbaugh, Kanye West, Hillary Clinton, Donald Sterling, or other high-profile politicians or celebrities? Yes to any of the follow up questions:

Recognizing Satire A Note: We are overdue for a satirical piece on the AP exam. You may or may not be given the source (Onion, New Yorker, etc). You MUST remember to ask yourself these questions!

Practice

Is it Satire?

Is it Satire?

Is it Satire?

Is it Satire?

AP Language Satire Rhetorical Analysis Prompt We will now look at the 2005 Rhetorical Analysis prompt. Let’s read and annotate the prompt together. Then, you will have 30 minutes to write the essay.

AP Language Satire Rhetorical Analysis Prompt If time: Let’s read some student response samples for this prompt and do some scoring.

Reminders Finish scoring the student samples (if we get there) Remember to contribute to the collaborative satirical device PowerPoint. Be thinking about what you might want to ridicule for your satirical summative assessment. We will watch Idiocracy next class. If you are absent, you will either have to find a way to watch it on your own or do the alternative assignment.