Paired Texts > Wealthy Teen Nearly Experiences Consequences

by The Onion Staff

2008

We've identified these texts as great options for text pairings based on similar themes, literary devices, topic, or writing style. Supplement your lesson with one or more of these options and challenge students to compare and contrast the texts. To assign a paired text, click on the text to go to its page and click the "Assign Text" button there.

A Modest Proposal

A Modest Proposal

Jonathan Swift

In this famous work of satire, Jonathan Swift proposes a ridiculous and immoral strategy to deal with with overcrowding, overpopulation, and poverty in Ireland.

Pair "Wealthy Teen Nearly Experiences Consequences" with “A Modest Proposal” for a more in-depth look into how satire works.

12th Grade Satire 1540L
Natural Selection Kills 38 Quadrillion Organisms in Bloodiest Day Yet

Natural Selection Kills 38 Quadrillion Organisms in Bloodiest Day Yet

The Onion Staff

In this humorous faux news story from the satirical site The Onion, natural selection is personified as an unfeeling serial killer lacking in empathy.

Pair "Natural Selection Kills 38 Quadrillion Organisms" with "Wealthy Teen Nearly Experiences Consequences" and ask students to compare and contrast these two works of contemporary satire. How does the author of each work use humor and hyperbole to make a point?

9th Grade Satire 1700L
Soular

Soular

Peter Payack

In "Soular," a new invention is scrutinized by government organizations for its unintended capabilities. 

Pair “Wealthy Teen Nearly Experiences Consequences” with “Soular” to provide students with another example of how word choice can be used for satirical effect. What words or phrases in the article create a humorous tone? How does the author signal that their opinion is different from the ones expressed by those quoted in the article? Would the author of the article agree or disagree with the expressed opinion of authorities in “Soular”?

10th Grade Poem