You are going to create a satire in which you examine some aspect of social institutions, government (or government institutions), or human behavior that you firmly believe needs to improve significantly.
Your satire must have a specific focus, and must follow the steps of satire discussed in class, and must attempt to incorporate the elements of satire.
Your subject must be topical, meaning that the topic is something that your classmates would recognized (*although, in accordance with the elements of satire, your actual subject will be disguised or cloaked in some way).
YOU MAY NOT WRITE A SATIRE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT MHS. Thanks!
Your satire must be a minimum of 2 pages in length (double-spaced), and may not exceed 5 pages.
You must follow the four steps to creating a satire (as discussed in class).
Your satire must be a narrative (story).
Your satire must include the following:
A specific metaphor used to “disguise” the subject.
Hyperbole and litote to accentuate the aspects of the issue that you wish to emphasize
A clear contrast to the point that is targeted so that we may recognize the shortcomings or virtues that you wish to stress
Clear organization and presentation of “facts” that are designed to appeal to the reader’s sense of logic and order
The elements are all incorporated, though many of them are awkwardly integrated into the narrative.
More than 1 of the elements are not incorporated into the narrative, or they are very poorly incorporated.
More than half of the elements are missing from the narrative.
Effectiveness of Satire
Very effective! It is clear what the actual issue, is, and the point is made clearly, without offense or too weak or aggressive of an argument.
Nicely done! It is clear what the actual issue is, and the point is made clearly, without offense, though some refinement would polish the narrative well.
Good effort! It seems pretty clear what the main point is, thought the narrative may be too weak or too aggressive, but does not offend.
The general idea is clear, but the actual subject may be too vague or obscured, OR the narrative has an offensive tone.
It is very unclear as to what the actual subject of the narrative is.
Excellent construction of voice/tone through word choice and sentence structure. Very consistent.
A clear effort is made to develop voice/tone through word choice and sentence structure. Mostly consistent.
There is an attempt to use word choice and sentence structure to develop tone/voice, but it is inconsistent.
Some words and sentences are an apparent effort to create tone/word choice, but there is little consistency.
No clear attempt to use word choice or sentence structure to develop voice/tone.
Precise and well selected.
Words are generally precise, though a few may be slightly off with regards to meaning.
Word choice is adequate, but lacks consistent precision.
Word choice is vague, though an occasional word is very precise.
Word choice is vague and lacks any real clarity of meaning.
Excellent use of the patterns to keep prose engaging.
Consistent use of varied sentence structure and incorporation of patterns to help keep prose engaging.
Most sentences are varied, but the same structures are used repeatedly (e.g. many simple sentences).
Few sentences are varied in structure.
Sentence structures are bland and lack any variation.
1-2 mistakes that disrupt meaning.
3-4 mistakes that disrupt meaning.
5-6 mistakes that disrupt meaning.
7+ mistakes that disrupt meaning.
[Must be fully completed and attached to the satire for full credit on “Outline” section of the rubric.]
I) Topic: The topic of this satire is….
II) The Set-up: Explain your method to “set up” the target in this satire.
III) Exaggeration: Explain your efforts to exaggerate or distort your target.
IV) Irony: Explain how you have attempted to include irony/satiric irony in your narrative.
V) “Hook”: Explain how you have attempted to “wake up” or “hook” the audience without overstepping the line, thereby creating offense.
VI) Sentence Patterns
Indicate on your narrative your created patterns (1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 2). Yes, actually mark them on your paper.
VII) Other: Is there anything that you think the reader should know or understand in order to really understand your satire OR is there anything that you attempted to create, but think may require some explanation?