Satire: Write a News Article in the Style of the Onion (75 Points)

English 3 Honors Mr. Phelan Satire Satire: Write a News Article in the Style of The Onion (75 Points)

Due Date: B Day 2/11; A Day 2/12

Directions: You will write a satirical article in the style of The Onion, utilizing some of the literary techniques associated with this genre.

Pick a topic that you find of interest to satirize. Try to think of issues or trends in our world that you think are stupid or detestable. You may choose to satirize something personal, local, national, world-wide, historical, etc. The options are truly limitless.

Guidelines:

1. Make sure to have a provocative/ hilarious headline.

2. Your article should be between 250-500 words

3. Include a picture with a caption.

4. Must be typed! But format is loose. Make it readable/attractive.

5. Include a brief analysis of your satire[developed-paragraph in length , labeled, can be on separate or same sheet]:

A. What did you satirize?

B. What is your purpose? Explain.

C. What literary techniques did you rely on? (Should include at least 2)

Tips on getting started:

 Take a look at the news and attempt to rethink stories in a subversive way.  Think of trends and events in High School that are worth satirizing.  Take a gander at the following tips from Onion co-founder Tim Keck:

1. Include The Elephant Keck said that The Onion is famous for “including the elephant.”

“This is the thing that everyone is thinking about, but that you would never see in an article,” he said. “Then, you write it as straight news.”

For example, The Onion poked fun at former president Bill Clinton with the headline: “New President Feels Nation’s Pain, Breasts” [Clinton is famous for his sex scandal/s] Also: “Amputee Children of Cambodia Award Peace Prize to Henry Kissinger.”

2. Not included..

3. The Honest Character “Nobody speaks honestly,” said Keck. So, The Onion decided to do it on behalf of everyone and then compile stories based on that.

“If you say exactly what the person is thinking, write it in character and force them to write it completely honestly, it becomes funny,” Keck explained.

Examples: “You Know, I Used To Be Kind Of Cool Once,” written by “Sting,”

4. The Big/Small Switcheroo

This step focuses on talking about big things in a small way, and vice versa.

“Write about a big event as if you were a regular person,” Keck said. “It’s like a third of The Onion articles.”

You can also write about something we all recognize, change it to AP Style [Associated Press, journalistic language] and “magically, it’s funny,” Keck said.

Examples: “Holy S***, Man Walks On F****** Moon,” and “Sales Manager Gets A Little Crazy At Office Party.”

5. Write Something As Mean As Possible

Finally, to write an Onion article, you can be as mean as possible.

“This is something writers love,” Keck said.

Keck said that since The Onion wasn’t really “subversive,” it needed something that gave the publication energy.

“Being incredibly mean is that thing,” he said.

It also helps that The Onion’s writers can pen stories under a pseudonym, which gives them the freedom to write as mean as possible.

Example: “Katy Perry Drops Hints That Super Bowl Halftime Show Will Be Awful"

HAVE FUN; BE CREATIVE.