How to Write and Teach Satire: Fake News Fun
Writing the Satire
Fake news is satires tall tale – it fakes to flay. Target a trend: “Study: socks cure colds – feet rejoice!” Hit the absurd – a pol: “Mayor bans clouds – sunny bribes.” Keep it plausible – too wild, its noise. “The Onion” masters it. Start small: “Dog barks at moon – lunar feud!” Practice spins facts into farce, funny and fake.
Teaching the Technique
Teach fake news with a headline hack. Give “rain falls” – twist: “Rain quits, joins sun union.” Show Onion bits – real, wild. Steps: fact, twist, fake. Assign “bus late” – spark: “Bus lost in time warp!” Discuss hook: believable wins. Warn off crazy – ground it. Fake-off: pitch a lie, best tale wins. Fakes a fib – teach them to spin it.
