Writing humorously
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify and use a range of technique for creating humour.
Key learning points
- When we satirise something, we use humour to criticise it.
- Humorous writing involves carefully deploying specific writing techniques.
- Techniques for humorous writing include irony, parody, bathos and hyperbole.
- A how to article can be structured in the form of a list or a step-by-step guide.
- When planning your humorous writing, it is important to identify the techniques you will use as well as the ideas.
Keywords
Satire - use of humour or exaggeration to criticise or mock social practices or ideas
Hyperbole - exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
Irony - a form of deliberate mockery in which one says the opposite of what is obviously true
Bathos - a sudden change from a beautiful or important subject to a silly or very ordinary one
To parody - to copy the style of someone or something in a humorous way
Common misconception
Students sometimes think that that some people are just naturally funny and that being funny can't be taught.
Explain that humour is a skill that can be developed and practised by using words and phrases deliberately.
Teacher tip
Students may want to pick their own topic in Learning Cycle 2. Mindmap ideas so that they are clear that they are clear that the primary intention is humour not self help. So, the best ideas will be something that is easy to do or something that isn't usually advised.
Equipment
You will need a copy of ‘How to look busy while doing absolutely nothing’ which can be found in the additional materials.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does it mean to write humorously?
Q2.What would you expect from a text whose title begins with "How to..."?
Q3.What is the best definition of anti-climax?
Q4.When we talk about writers' techniques, what do we mean?
Q5.Why might we analyse a model answer?
Q6.If a piece of writing has a 'twist' at the end, what does this mean?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is a synonym for "humorous"?
Q2.Match the keywords to their definitions.
where the intended meaning is opposite to what is actually being said
the use of humour to criticise and expose flaws in society
a sudden drop from the serious to the trivial
a literary technique involving exaggerated statements
imitation of a particular style or genre, made funny by exaggeration
Q3.Which of the following is an example of parody?
Q4.Why might we use a numbered list in our writing?
Q5.Which technique is being used in the following statement: "I've told you a million times to tidy your room."?
Q6.Which technique is being used in the following sentence: "He gave a heartfelt speech about the importance of world peace and then reminded everyone to pick up their dry cleaning."?
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Writing humorously, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Writing humorously, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Non-fiction: teenage kicks unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.