Name__________________________________________
Period________________
Embedded Assessment #2- Satirical Essay
Assignment:
Your assignment is to write a satirical piece that critiques some aspect of
society. You have been studying and identifying the different forms of satire,
and now it is your turn to create your own piece of satire.
The rough draft for your satirical essay is due on_____________
The final draft for your satirical essay is due on______________
Step 1: Planning
1. Choose a topic that is relevant, current, and debatable. Remember that
you are commenting on a weakness or flaw in our society. Keep in mind
that satire isn’t only written to be funny!
2. Review the satirical article “How to Poison the Earth” on page 178 in
your Springboard book. You will write your own “how to” article for this
embedded assessment. Pay attention to the tone and use of different
satirical devices in the article.
3. Review the various samples of satire in your Springboard book. Determine
if your piece of satire will be more Horatian or Juvenalian.
4. Understand your audience. To whom will you address your satire and
why? What tone will be appropriate for this audience and your purpose?
Step 2: Drafting
5. Draft your piece.
6. Use all seven elements of satire in your text. Fill out the chart below with
the satirical elements that you will use.
1
Characteristic
Your example
Irony
(Opposite of what you
expect to happen)
Hyperbole
(An overstatement or
exaggeration)
Litotes
(An understatement using
double-negatives)
Wit
(Intelligent humor/clever
wordplay)
Sarcasm
(Stating the opposite of what
is really meant)
Ridicule
(Mocking)
Parody
(Imitating an author’s work
or style using ridicule)
Step 3: Writing Workshop
7. You and your partner will exchange satirical essays. Your partner will
confirm that you have included each form of satire in your satirical text
and edit any grammatical errors.
Step 4: Editing
8. Review your draft and use all available resources to correct errors in
grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Edit accordingly to prepare a
technically sound document.
9. Consider the broad satirical ideas in your text and brainstorm appropriate
titles. Choose one, and create a final draft. Your final draft will be 2-3
pages in length and double-spaced.
2
Name______________________________ ___
Period_________________
Peer Editing
You will now edit your partner’s satirical essay. *Remember the editing portion of the
assignment is worth twenty points!
#1. Identify each form of satire in your partner’s essay:
Irony
Hyperbole
Litotes
Wit
Sarcasm
Ridicule
Parody
#2. Is the satirical piece more Horatian or Juvenalian? Please provide two examples
from the text to support your reasoning.
#3. What aspect of society does the essay critique?
#4. What are the strengths in the satirical essay and how can the essay improve?
Strengths
Areas for improvement
#5. Check off the following components as you edit your partner’s essay:
_______ Spelling errors
_______ Capitalization errors
_______ Punctuation errors
3
Embedded Assessment Rubric
Satirical Essay
Includes a hyperbole
/5
Includes irony
/5
Includes a litotes
/5
Includes sarcasm
/5
Includes wit
/5
Includes parody
/5
Includes ridicule
/5
Critiques an aspect of society
/15
Typed
/10
2-3 pages in length
/10
No spelling or grammatical errors
/10
Peer Editing
Identifies all satirical elements
/10
Provides three recommendations for improvement
/10
Overall Total
/100
Comments:
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