Example workshop:

Workshop - Satire and "Fake News" Writing
Length of workshop: 1 hour (plus future revisions and follow-up)
Number of participants: Unlimited
Supplies: Overheads and projector, writing materials, newspapers (one per student), TV/ DVD / VCR (optional)

Goals:

• To promote a critical approach to reading news (media literacy)
• To engage students in creative and analytical thought
• To teach the basics of journalistic reportage
• To introduce satire, irony and parody as literary tools
• To work on grammar, sentence structure, spelling and general writing skills
• To work on developing persuasive arguments
• Fun!

Method:

• A "fake ad" from The Onion (satirical newspaper) is placed on the overhead projector. Students are asked to comment on what they see. Discussion that follows will focus on how the ad adopts the techniques of "real" advertising to subvert and critique the material.
• Time permitting, clips from The Daily Show and Weekend Update (satirical TV news programs) are shown. Compare the "fake ad" and the "fake news" style - what techniques they share, etc. Stress how satire operates within the parameters of an established medium - the news-anchor at a desk, in this case.
• Hand out several articles from The Onion . ("Canada has own government, laws," "Harry Potter books spark rise in Satanism among children," etc.). Read and discuss the articles as a group; identify which issues are being subverted through satire, and how. Have students suggest definitions for satire, irony, sarcasm, hyperbole and parody, and ask how each can be used to critique an issue.
• Students look through newspapers in pairs and find an article that they think has the potential to be critiqued. Have students volunteer to present their article to the class and explain what they think is anomalous or worthy of satire.
• In groups, students will begin writing a "fake news" piece. Have them model their piece on an actual article, using the journalistic 4 W's as a starting point.
• Continue working on the articles in future classes. Eventually, students can have the option to present their work to the class in the "fake news" style. Discussion about each piece can follow.