Year 11 - English
Writing humorously
Non-fiction: teenage kicks
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils develop their non-fiction reading and writing skills by looking at a collection of non-fiction texts about the theme of teenagers. They first build towards writing an open letter, before then looking at how they can write nuanced and sophisticated articles in an original voice.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to identify and use a range of technique for creating humour.
Key Notes
- 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.
Vocabulary To Learn
- 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 Mistakes To Avoid
- Students sometimes think that that some people are just naturally funny and that being funny can't be taught.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
When we satirise something, we use humour to criticise it. Humorous writing involves carefully deploying specific writing techniques.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'satire'
use of humour or exaggeration to criticise or mock social practices or ideas.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Students sometimes think that that some people are just naturally funny and that being funny can't be taught. Correction: Explain that humour is a skill that can be developed and practised by using words and phrases deliberately.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Analysing a dramatic description of an event Study Guide
- Analysing and improving an article Study Guide
- Applying reading strategies to non-fiction texts Study Guide
- Comparing ideas and advice on love in different centuries Study Guide
- Exploring attitudes to teenagers across time Study Guide
- Exploring how love has changed over time Study Guide
- Exploring vivid childhood accounts Study Guide
- Planning an effective article Study Guide
- Structural methods in a dramatic account Study Guide
- Understanding and planning open letters Study Guide
- Using and understanding irony in non-fiction writing Study Guide
- Using credible expert views in a non-fiction article Study Guide
- Using dialogue effectively Study Guide
- Using juxtaposition and foreshadowing in childhood accounts Study Guide
- Withholding information and timing revelations Study Guide
- Writing an effective article Study Guide
- Writing an open letter Study Guide
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