1. How to Analyze the Rhetoric of Satire

2. SATIRE LINKS: http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/

3. Claims Are the claims believable? Are they exaggerated?
In my essay “Setting the Expectations,” I ridicule the educational system by suggesting that we fault teachers for not setting thousands of clear expectations. This claim is clearly ridiculous and tongue-in-cheek
In “A Modest Proposal,” Jonathan Swift advocates eating the young as a solution to hunger problems caused by poverty.

4. Evidence
Is the evidence biased? Does it have a “spin” to it? Is it even credible?
Colbert refers to Bush’s 36 % percent approval rating as a sign that “67 % approve of the job he’s not doing.”
In my article, I use mock interviews as evidence. Each “interviewee” provides a ludicrous explanation for the Columbine tragedy, blaming themselves and the educational system, but never the actual killers.

5. Diction
Look for loaded diction—words with heavily positive or negative connotations that are clearly intended to persuade.
Claims of “evil” or “goodness” and similar terms suggest conscious exaggeration and verbal irony.
Check for bias—are the connotations mostly positive or mostly negative?

6. Syntax
Short sentence structures cause the speaker (his or her persona, in actuality) to often appear thoughtless or simple-minded.
Conversely, these types of sentences can, depending on the piece, cause the speaker (persona) to seem straightforward and truthful.
Lengthy sentences either:
Cause the speaker to seem thoughtful and considerate OR
Confusing, overly academic, and pedantic

7. Imagery and Details
Does the speaker attempt to evoke pathos through sensory details and description?
Is the imagery humorous or exaggerated?
Colbert describes “drinking crude oil out of Keith Olberman’s skull” in Dowd’s preface to his column. This is a highly exaggerated image.

8. Rhetorical Appeals
Satire is basically a logical argument, because we are supposed to disagree with the ridiculousness of the idea under scrutiny.
However, the logic often masquerades as pathos
In my essay I use the fake interviews to ostensibly cause the reader to feel sorry for the Columbine killers and angry with the teachers and faculty.

9. Jargon and Technical Language
Is there a heavy use of highly specific terminology?
Terminology can be a clue as to who or what is the target—think “who uses these terms in reality?”
I repeat “expectations” ad nauseum. It’s a jargony educational term.
Colbert coins mock terms like “truthiness” and “factinista” in his White House Press Corps speech.

10. Persona Determine whether or not the speaker is taking on a persona
Satirists often assume the personality and viewpoint opposite their own.
Stephen Colbert takes the role of a highly conservative journalist to ridicule biased journalism, particularly right-wing biased journalism.
In my essay, I take the viewpoint of a journalist who advocates setting thousands of excessively obvious, overly specific expectations that no faculty or student would even need.
Swift certainly does not support eating children.

11. Look For Symbolic Representations
FROM THE INTRO TO The Simpsons:
Bart writing on the blackboard: Public education
Bart on his skateboard: The riddles of childhood
Homer leaving and driving home from work: Plight of the working man
Marge at the supermarket checkout: Consumerism (Note: Maggie costs $847.63)
Lisa playing the saxophone: Restrictions of public education and free thought
The family racing for the couch in front of the television: Impact of television on the modern family

12. Tone What is the tone of the piece?
Use a tone word list for help (there’s one on my website—put it in your binder!)
Satire is usually critical in some way—look for tone words that indicate this.

13. Finally… Decide who/what is being mocked/ridiculed
A person, type of person, and/or idea or viewpoint is the target
Specify who or what is being targeted and for what reasons.
Link the previous elements (diction, etc. ) to the argument—how does the satirist (speaker or writer) create the humor and ridicule?
Ex. “Stephen Colbert demonstrates the bias and foolish partisanship of news media pundits by assuming a hyperbolically conservative persona.”