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.

12th Grade Satire 1540L
A Modest Proposal
  • Jonathan Swift
  • 1729

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.
9th Grade Satire 1700L
Natural Selection Kills 38 Quadrillion Organisms in Bloodiest Day Yet
  • The Onion Staff
  • 2015

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?