Satire: Voltaire did it, and so can you! Be creative!
(LESSON FROM English 10 Mr. Ambrose
ADAPTED/Revised BY MR. HERCEK AND MS. LACZNY)
Candide Creative Project: Song or The Eggplant
Using Candide’s style as a model, choose a topic or issue in our society and create a Candidestyle satire or parody.
Choice One: The Eggplant: America’s Second Finest News Source
Assignment: Create a two-page newsletter
Write your own classroom publication The Eggplant. This satirical newspaper will be created in
the style of The Onion, “America’s Finest News Source.”
Website: www.theonion.com
Be sure to look at articles from The Onion as a model. Each student should write two types of
pieces:
a. A one to one-and-a-half page article that could be featured in The Eggplant.
b. Three news briefs for The Eggplant. (headline with one paragraph summary of a
story) **Note: the news briefs should not just be shortened versions of the longer
article!
Be sure to look to articles from The Onion as models.
Alternate Eggplant Assignment: Instead of creating a print newspaper, you can create an
online newspaper using your own web space. (Google sites, etc.) Speak with me first before you
move forward with this option, just so I know what to expect.
Process:
1. Examine examples of articles from The Onion. Note how trivial matters are made to
seem very important, and how very important matters are made to seem trivial.
Additionally, take note of how the writers employ a ridiculous and sarcastic tone. Lastly,
note how the writers use a blend of actual and concocted facts and quotations to tell the
story. Here are some examples of headlines:
c. “New Wearable Feedbags Let Americans Eat More, Move Less”
d. “Cryptic Bill Belichick Insists He’s Never Heard of a Man Named Tom Brady”
e. “Stolen Bus Tour Leads Police on Chase of Historic Downtown Philadelphia”
Brainstorm for article ideas. You may want to list issues in and around New Jersey or pop
culture, current events, even IB…(but stay away from the BTHS community and students)
2. Write your article and three news briefs.
Present your articles in a graphically interesting way. Be sure to include relevant photos,
graphics, and headlines. Each article and each news
brief should have a headline and an image.
3. Write a brief “meta-cognitive” reflection about your articles. In this response (which
should be about a paragraph in length) state how you used satirical techniques
(exaggeration, reversal, humor, sarcasm, irony, etc.) in your pieces.
Rubric for Choice One: The Eggplant
One to one-and-a-half page article
Three news briefs
Presentation (headlines, fonts, title and logo, images, format)
Meta-cognitive reflection on satirical techniques used
40 points
30 points
15 points
15 points
Total value
100 points
Extra Credit Opportunity: Up to five points of extra credit will be awarded for “extras,”
such as original political cartoons, graphs, advertisements, man-on-the-street interviews, etc.
The Eggplant
Your Score
One to one-and-a-half page article; satirizes an
issue; creative headline; mechanics
Three news briefs; satirizes an issue; creative
headline; mechanics
Presentation (headlines, fonts, title and logo,
format, images for article and briefs)
Meta-Cognitive reflection on satirical techniques
used; names and explains techniques and the
context in which you used them; clearly states the
issues being satirized; mechanics
Total Score
Comments:
Possible Points
40
30
15
15
100
Choice Two: Parody of song lyrics
Decide upon the topic or issue you are satirizing.
Choose a song that you would like to use as the “original” for your parody.
Choose two characters (one must be Candide).
Song Lyrics:
 The characters should be reflected in your created lyrics, satirizing an issue or topic in
our society.
 You should have Candide and one other character (Pangloss, Martin, Cacambo,
Cunegonde, the old woman, etc.). Make sure their views on the issue come across,
but in your own words.
 In a Word doc write a paragraph telling me what you’re satirizing (be specific) and
explaining your choices for characters, topic, and original song.
Extra Credit Opportunity: Extra credit will be awarded if you present and perform your song in
class (up to five points depending on quality of performance and preparation).
Your Score
Possible Points
Title and artist of the original song provided
5
Original song lyrics provided; mechanics
20
Title and artist of YOUR song provided (the title should
be altered from the original; you should state who is
performing your parody version)
10
YOUR song lyrics (with characters highlighted);
mechanics
Minimum requirements:
 3 Verses (# of lines modeled on original song)
 1 Chorus (# of lines modeled on original song)
 Optional: 1 Bridge (2-3 lines)
Explanatory paragraph – clearly explains what you’re
satirizing (be specific), why you chose the original song,
why you chose the two characters you did, and why you
chose the performer you did for your version; mechanics
Total Score
45
20
100