Back to the lesson plan builder
Lesson length30 min45 min60 min
Questions🔀 New questions

Print the plan for yourself; the student sheet prints on its own page after it.

English lesson plan · 12th grade (Year 13 in England) · 60 minutes

Satire, parody, caricature and deadpan

Reading Comprehension

CCSS RL.11-12.6CCSS RI.11-12.6England: A-level English LiteratureEngland: AP LanguageEngland: Media literacy

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Satire, parody, caricature and deadpan.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Words for tone and attitude: indignant, sardonic, conciliatory…; Euphemism, oxymoron, paradox and understatement; Literary analysis: theme, symbol, ambiguity

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: A short text or extract (one copy each), Highlighters, Question cards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Words for tone and attitude: indignant, sardonic, conciliatory…; Euphemism, oxymoron, paradox and understatement; Literary analysis: theme, symbol, ambiguity). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which tone word matches this description? trying to end a disagreement and restore goodwill (detached / nostalgic / conciliatory / sardonic) → conciliatoryPrompt: Think about whether the attitude is positive, negative or neutral, then how strong it is.
  2. Which figure of speech matches this description? A statement that seems to contradict itself but reveals a deeper truth. (oxymoron / understatement / euphemism / paradox) → paradoxPrompt: Ask: does it soften, combine opposites in two words, seem self-contradictory as a whole idea, or downplay?
  3. Which word best describes the speaker's tone? I truly believe that if each of us does a small part, we can make this town a fairer place. (indignant / apprehensive / optimistic / earnest) → earnestPrompt: What feeling do the speaker's word choices and punctuation reveal?

Hook · 6 min

  • Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
  • Share the objective: Satire, parody, caricature and deadpan. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which comic or satirical technique matches this description? Imitating the style of a particular work or genre for comic effect.
  • Step 1: Satirists use imitation (parody), exaggeration (caricature, reductio ad absurdum) and tone (deadpan, irony) to criticise and amuse.
  • Step 2: parody: Imitating the style of a particular work or genre for comic effect.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: parody
  • Answer: parody
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Which comic or satirical technique matches this description? Exaggerating a person's features or traits to make them look ridiculous. (deadpan / parody / caricature / reductio ad absurdum) → caricaturePrompt: Is the technique about criticising society, copying a style, exaggerating a person, a straight-faced delivery, or pushing an argument to absurdity?
  2. Which comic or satirical technique is used here? If the school bans running because someone might trip, it should also ban walking, standing and, to be safe, breathing. (caricature / parody / satire / reductio ad absurdum) → reductio ad absurdumPrompt: What is being made fun of: a society or policy, a style or genre, a person's looks or traits, or an argument?

You do: independent practice · 17 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which comic or satirical technique matches this description? Taking an idea to its logical extreme to show that it is ridiculous. (satire / deadpan / caricature / reductio ad absurdum) → reductio ad absurdumPrompt: Is the technique about criticising society, copying a style, exaggerating a person, a straight-faced delivery, or pushing an argument to absurdity?
  2. Type the comic or satirical technique (in English) that matches this description. Using humour, irony or exaggeration to criticise people, institutions or society. → satirePrompt: Is the technique about criticising society, copying a style, exaggerating a person, a straight-faced delivery, or pushing an argument to absurdity?

Watch out for

  • Answering from memory or opinion instead of evidence in the text.
  • Copying a long quote without explaining what it shows.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Words for tone and attitude: indignant, sardonic, conciliatory….
  • Use concrete materials: a short text or extract (one copy each).
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-12.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

eurekami

Satire, parody, caricature and deadpan

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which comic or satirical technique matches this description? Delivering something absurd or funny in a completely serious, expressionless way.

    • A. satire
    • B. reductio ad absurdum
    • C. deadpan
    • D. parody

  2. Question 2

    Which comic or satirical technique is used here? If the school bans running because someone might trip, it should also ban walking, standing and, to be safe, breathing.

    • A. deadpan
    • B. satire
    • C. reductio ad absurdum
    • D. parody

  3. Question 3

    Type the comic or satirical technique (in English) that matches this description. Taking an idea to its logical extreme to show that it is ridiculous.

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    Which comic or satirical technique is used here? The cartoon shows the famously proud mayor with a head three times the size of his body, admiring himself in a mirror.

    • A. caricature
    • B. reductio ad absurdum
    • C. satire
    • D. deadpan

  5. Question 5

    Type the comic or satirical technique (in English) that matches this description. Using humour, irony or exaggeration to criticise people, institutions or society.

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    Which comic or satirical technique matches this description? Exaggerating a person's features or traits to make them look ridiculous.

    • A. caricature
    • B. satire
    • C. reductio ad absurdum
    • D. deadpan

  7. Question 7

    Which comic or satirical technique is used here? A short film copies every cliché of superhero trailers — slow-motion explosions, a deep-voiced narrator — but the 'hero' is a librarian returning overdue books.

    • A. caricature
    • B. satire
    • C. deadpan
    • D. parody

  8. Question 8

    Type the comic or satirical technique (in English) that matches this description. Imitating the style of a particular work or genre for comic effect.

    Answer

Free from eurekami.com

for the adult only

Answer key: Satire, parody, caricature and deadpan

  1. 1. C. deadpan

  2. 2. C. reductio ad absurdum

  3. 3. reductio ad absurdum

  4. 4. A. caricature

  5. 5. satire

  6. 6. A. caricature

  7. 7. D. parody

  8. 8. parody