Student Learning Plan
English Education
Designer Brian Cannavo
Teaching Date
Topic: Intro to Satire
Grade Level:
12
Time Frame
90 minutes
Description of Students:
A2 – Ten boys and ten girls. Three
students identified as AfricanAmerican, two males and one female.
One student with an IEP.
A3- Fifteen boys and five girls. Two
students with IEPs. All Caucasian.
B2- Twenty one students, eighteen
white and three African-American.
Nine males and twelve females.
B3- Twenty-one students, fourteen
boys, seven girls and one AfricanAmerican male.
Lesson Objectives:
SOL: 12.4 The student will read, comprehend, and analyze the development of British literature
and literature of other cultures.
Specific Content Objectives for Lesson:
 Students will understand and be able to identify four types of satire
 Students will apply knowledge of satire to clip from Shrek
 Students will understand the role of satire in British literature
 Students will understand historical situations and conditions that led to prevalence of
satire in British literature
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Assessment: Formative and Summative
Formative: Exit quiz on satire
Summative: Unit portfolio of satire writing assignment
Resources:
-Shrek clip from 51:20
-Satire PowerPoint
-The Duchess clip showing party scene
-History of the World, Part I clip from
YouTube titled “History of the World
Part 1 by Mel Brooks PART 7” from
7:50.
Student Learning Plan
English Education
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Lesson Content:
1. Common Elements of Fairy Tales

Damsel in distress

Happy ending

Ogre-ish monster or beast

Fantasy elements

Royalty

Moralistic or didactic
2. Satire

Four elements of satire: exaggeration, incongruity, reversal and parody.

Exaggeration: To enlarge, increase, or represent something beyond normal bounds so that
it becomes ridiculous and its faults can be seen.

Incongruity: To present things that are out of place or are absurd in relation to its
surroundings.

Reversal: To present the opposite of the normal order (e.g., the order of events,
hierarchical order).

Parody: To imitate the techniques and/or style of some person, place, or thing.

Can be used to try and change social, historical or political conditions

A way to send a message or commentary
3. Satire in British Literature

18th century England featured sharp divides in social economic classes

The wealth gap was extraordinary
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
Some writers sought to criticize the way in which the high class ignored or patronized the
plight of the poorer classes

Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift both used satire to achieve their goals.

Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” attempted to solve the issue of the hungry, starving and
homeless in Ireland through a particularly novel suggestion.
Instructional Strategies and Timing:
1. Students brainstorm elements of fairy tales (5 mins)
2. Teacher leads class discussion about student volunteer answers of elements of fairy tales.
Type a word document on projector as you go. Tell students to take notes in discussion
section of notebook. (5 -10 mins)
3. Introduce Shrek clip. Ask students to note parts of clip that differ from list of
conventional fairy tale elements. (5 mins.)
4. Teacher leads discussion of student volunteer answers. (5-10 mins.)
5. Teacher mini-lecture about how clip makes fun of fairy tales and incorporates elements of
satire. Introduce four main elements of satire. Pull up word document with four elements
definitions. (10 mins)
6. Reintroduce Shrek clip and ask students to note an example of each element in the clip.
Watch a third time if necessary. (5-10 mins)
7. Teacher gives second mini-lecture. Introduce satire with powerpoint. (15 mins)
8. Show clip from The Duchess to demonstrate 18th century high society lifestyle. (15 mins)
9. Show clip from History of the World, Part I to demonstrate satire of high society’s
aloofness to poverty. (15 mins)
10. Exit Quiz (10 mins)
Student Learning Plan
English Education
Multi-disciplinary Connections
World History
European History
Adaptations:
-Student A allowed to take notes on laptop or
smart phone.
-Student B granted extended time if requested.
Differentiation Strategies:
Visual reinforcement of notes on projector with
PowerPoint and Microsoft Word, along with
movie clips.
Audio reinforcement with movie clips and minilectures.
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Reflection/Recommendations for Future Use:
SOE Student Teaching Competencies:
2.Learning Differences
3.Learning Environments.
4.Content Knowledge.
7.Planning Instruction
8.Instructional Strategies
9.Professional Learning and Ethical Practice