Using Humor to Persuade . . .

2. Satire Using Humor to Persuade . . . From Reading to Writing In “A Modest Proposal,” Jonathan Swift uses wit and irony to draw attention to the serious social problems in 18th-century Ireland.

3. Satire Using Humor to Persuade . . . Swift was a master of achieving biting social criticism through satire, a form of persuasive writing that uses humor to attack human vice or folly. By using satire, a writer can expose problems or argue for change in a way that is powerful but not preachy.

4. B a s i c s i n a B o x of Satire Object Takes aim at a particular person, institution, or idea to call attention to a problem, folly, or vice. Uses humor, wit, and irony to attack the problem. Satire at a Glance Criticism Humor RUBRIC Standards for Writing A successful satire should • poke fun at people, ideas, customs, or institutions to persuade readers to change • use a tone that matches the goal • use humor, exaggeration, understatement, and specific examples to reveal the subject in a more critical light • make clear the object of the satire, but make the reader discover the writer’s true perspective on the issue • use a form that enhances the writer’s purpose

5. Prewriting 1 Writing Your Satire What really bugs you? Make a list of everything from your personal pet peeves to global concerns. Include such things as rude drivers, ridiculous dress codes, gender stereotyping, air pollution, and ethnic wars.

6. Planning Your Satire 1. Dissect your victim. Satire depends on a careful analysis and evaluation of the target subject. Pick apart those aspects of your subject that seem weak or absurd and plan to highlight these in your piece. 2. Choose a form. Satire comes in all sizes, shapes, and forms. It can be a letter, a proposal, an advice column, a report, an essay, a speech, or a story. Select a form that you think fits your subject.

7. Planning Your Satire 3. Match your tone with your goal. Do you want to poke gentle fun or offer biting criticism? Your goal should determine your tone. 4. Flaunt your attitude. Satire enables writers to go too far. You can make absurd and ridiculous suggestions. You can exaggerate the importance of trivial events or facts. You can understate critical truths. It’s all part of your attitude, and with the right use of satirical techniques you can pull it off.

8. Drafting 2 Writing Your Satire Freewriting can help you discover your satirical voice. Just start writing and don’t worry about how it sounds yet. Keep going until you begin to develop a sense of how your ideas are taking shape. You can go back later and revise your piece so voice is consistent throughout.

9. Drafting 2 Writing Your Satire Keep in mind that satire needs to hit the topic hard so your readers have no doubt about the issue you are addressing. You want, however, to be subtle and indirect about where you really stand on the issue. Let your readers mull over your ideas and figure out your true feelings.

10. Revising 3 Writing Your Satire Target Skill USING APPROPRIATE DICTION Keep in mind that diction—the words you choose—helps set the tone for your satire. Diction can be formal or informal, technical or general, depending on the purpose. As you revise, choose words that best suit your tone and subject.

11. Editing and Proofreading 4 Writing Your Satire Target Skill PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT Check to see that all personal pronouns agree with their antecedents in number (singular or plural), gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter), and person (first, second, or third).