According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a parody is "a literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule." A parody is a respectful yet critical satire, takeoff, or spoof of an original. In literature, a parody is when a person imitates an author's style or work to ridicule or…

This project posits that incorporating political humor into the classroom can have a positive effect on learning in higher education. Specifically, we present preliminary findings from a quasi-experiment in which a humorous, "mock" textbook titled America (The Book) (Stewart, Karlin, and Javerbaum 2004) was incorporated into Introduction to…

A satire of traditional algebraic word problems. (MKR)

Asserts that recognizing and analyzing satire in the media is a thought-provoking and enjoyable way to teach current events. Provides an eight-step student guide for analyzing and discussing satire. Includes suggestions for teachers who want to use satire in the classroom. (CFR)

Encouraging students' use of satire, irony, and parody in college writing assignments is recommended to help students voice their concerns, think critically, and discover how a form of discourse contributes to both form and substance of the writing. Samples of student work illustrating the effectiveness of this approach are offered. (MSE)

To shift the focus away from the writing instructor as the primary audience for written compositions, these writing assignments address the issue of audience directly. The assignments include the following: (1) select a magazine and analyze its audience; (2) compose a letter to the editor; (3) write an article for the selected magazine about an…

This guide contains a detailed, six-section curriculum that frames the debate over Mark Twain's novel "Huck Finn," asks students to think critically about it, and helps them to see the novel in a richer historical and literary context. The first section introduces students to the history of the controversy surrounding "Huck…

Utilizes a 1775 political cartoon as the centerpiece of a lesson on political controversy and violence in Colonial America. The cartoon, printed in Britain, lampooned the coercive measures directed at Tory merchants. Learning activities include an extensive analysis of the cartoon, discussions, and timelines. (MJP)