Unit 3 The Importance of Satire

Due Date: March 30th

Statement of Inquiry: Authors can purposefully use literature to make

connections and comment on contexts and communities

Significant Concept: CONNECTIONS

Assessed Against: Criteria A, B and C Word Count: 500 -1000 words

Requirements You must submit a works cited page and follow MLA formatting for your essay.

Further Details As part of your unit on Connections and Satire you will complete an analytical essay,
where you analyse the play, The Importance of Being Earnest. You will have one week of class time to
plan, draft and write the analytical essay. You will need to respond to the following question:

How has Oscar Wilde used comedy for the purpose of social commentary in his play, The Importance
of Being Earnest?

Heres how to be successful with this task

Criterion A Criterion B Criterion C

You identify and discuss the elements
of satire being used by Wilde.
You identify and discuss how the
elements of satire are used to create
comedy within the play.
You demonstrate an awareness of how
dramatic function and conventions
adds to the use of comedy.
You discuss the choice of these
dramatic techniques and how they
connect to other elements of the play
like characterization.
You discuss the impact on the reader.
You refer frequently to the play in
your analysis, quoting directly from
the text.
You develop your analysis in depth
ensuring that you explain how the
evidence you are using supports your
claim.
You show a meaningful personal
response to the play through your
analysis.
You use dramatic terminology
correctly within your essay.
You have a clear thesis
within your introduction.
You organize your body
paragraphs from weakest
to strongest.
Each body paragraph has
a clear topic sentence.
You use MLA citation to
cite from the play both
within your essay itself
but also within the
bibliography.
You use inverted commas
to identify the title of the
play.
You use linking
statements and
sentences to transition
between paragraphs.
You use a conclusion to
reiterate your thesis and
discuss the concept of
CONNECTIONS.
You maintain a formal
register throughout
your essay; specifically
you respond in third
person.
You use an analytical
tone throughout.
Your vocabulary and
sentence structure is
interesting and varied.
You use a wide range
of adjectives to
describe the comedy
and the effect on the
viewer.
You use punctuation
effectively.
Your word order,
syntax and grammar
are correct and allow
you to present a clear
argument.

IBMYP Language A English K Brotherton 2014

Unit 3 The Importance of Satire

Criterion A

How well can the student:

Understand and analyse language, content, structure, meaning and significance of both familiar
previously unseen written texts?
Compare and contrast works?
Analyse the effects of the authors choices on an audience?
Express an informed and independent response to literary texts?
Apply Language A terminology in context?

0 The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below.
1-2 The student demonstrates very limited understanding of the text and topic, and little or
no awareness of the authors choices. There is little or no detail, development or
support. In creative work, pieces show very limited imagination or sensitivity; the
student rarely employs literary features, or employs literary and/or nonliterary features
that do not serve the context or intention.
The use of terminology is missing, inconsistent and/or incorrect.
3-4 The student demonstrates limited understanding of the text and topic, and sometimes
shows an awareness of the authors choices, although detail, development and/or
support are insufficient. In creative work, pieces show limited imagination or sensitivity;
the student attempts to employ literary and/or non-literary features; these sometimes
serve the context and intention. The use of terminology is sometimes accurate and
appropriate.
5-6 The student demonstrates a sufficient understanding of the text and topic, and an
awareness of the authors choices, using adequate detail, development and support. In
creative work, pieces reflect some imagination and sensitivity; the student generally
employs literary and/or non-literary features that serve the context and intention.
Terminology is usually accurate and appropriate.
7-8 The student demonstrates a good understanding of the text, topic and the authors
choices, using substantial detail, development and support. In creative work, pieces
reflect imagination and sensitivity; the student employs literary and/or non-literary
features that serve the context and intention. Relevant terminology is used accurately
and appropriately
9-10 The student demonstrates a perceptive understanding of the text, topic and the authors
choices, consistently using illustrative detail, development and support. In creative
work, pieces reflect a lot of imagination and sensitivity; the student employs literary
and/or non-literary features effectively that serve the context and intention. The
student shows a sophisticated command of relevant terminology, and uses it
appropriately.

IBMYP Language A English K Brotherton 2014

Unit 3 The Importance of Satire

Criterion B

How well can the student:

Create work that employs organizational structures and language specific conventions
throughout various text types?
Organize ideas and arguments in a sustained, coherent and logical manner?
Employ appropriate critical apparatus?

0 The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below.
1-2 The student rarely employs organizational structures and/or language-specific
conventions, or uses those that do not serve the context and intention.
The work is generally disorganized, unclear and/or incoherent.
The student employs critical apparatus inappropriately or not at all.
3-4 The student sometimes employs organizational structures and/or language-specific
conventions that serve the context and intention.
The work shows the beginnings of organization but lacks coherence.
The student employs critical apparatus with limited success.
5-6 The student usually employs organizational structures and/or language-specific
conventions that serve the context and intention.
The work is generally organized, clear and coherent.
The student generally employs critical apparatus correctly.
7-8 The student consistently employs organizational structures and language-specific
conventions that serve the context and intention.
The work is usually well-organized, clear and coherent and the ideas expressed build on
each other.
The student employs critical apparatus correctly.
9-10 The student consistently employs sophisticated organizational structures and language-
specific conventions that serve the context and intention.
The work is consistently well-organized, clear and coherent and the ideas being express
build on each other in a sophisticated manner.
The student integrates critical apparatus correctly and effectively.

A note on Academic Honesty

As part of this assessment you will be expected to cite ideas as well as quotations. If you have used any
secondary sources to support your interpretation of the poems these must be included within your
bibliography

You must have as part of your notes a works cited page or bibliography. This will be formatted using
MLA.

IBMYP Language A English K Brotherton 2014

Unit 3 The Importance of Satire

Criterion C

How well can the student:

Use appropriate and varied register, vocabulary and idiom?

Use correct grammar and syntax?
Use appropriate and varied sentence structure?
Use correct spelling/writing?
Use language to narrate, describe analyse, explain, argue, persuade, inform, entertain and
express feelings?
Use language accurately?

0 The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below.
1-2 The student employs a very limited range of appropriate vocabulary, idiom and
sentence structure. There are very frequent errors in grammar and syntax, which
persistently hinder communication. There is little or no evidence of a register and style
that serve the context and intention. There are very frequent errors in punctuation and
spelling/writing, which persistently hinder communication.
3-4 The student employs a limited range of appropriate vocabulary, idiom and sentence
structure. There are frequent errors in grammar and syntax, which hinder
communication. There is some evidence of a register and style that serve the context
and intention. There are frequent errors in punctuation and spelling/writing, which
hinder communication.
5-6 The student generally employs a range of appropriate vocabulary, idiom and sentence
structure. Grammar and syntax are generally accurate; occasional errors sometimes
hinder communication.
The student often uses a register and style that serve the context and intention.
Punctuation and spelling/writing are generally accurate; occasional errors sometimes
hinder communication.
7-8 The student employs a range of appropriate vocabulary, idiom and sentence structure.
Grammar and syntax are accurate; occasional errors rarely hinder communication. The
student consistently uses a register and style that serve the context and intention.
Punctuation and spelling/writing are accurate; occasional errors rarely hinder
communication.
9-10 The student employs a wide and effective range of appropriate vocabulary, idiom and
sentence structure. Grammar and syntax are accurate; very infrequent errors do not
hinder communication.
The student demonstrates mastery of a register and style that serve the context and
intention. Punctuation and spelling/writing are accurate; very infrequent errors do not
hinder communication.

IBMYP Language A English K Brotherton 2014

Unit 3 The Importance of Satire

Essay Template
The satirist uses irony to make the reader uncomfortable, to shake him out of his complacency,
and to make him an ally in the battle against the worlds stupidity.

Introduction

Hook Sentence to
engage the reader
Introduce the text
and the author.
Thesis Answer the
question ensuring
you state clearly
your three topics.

Body
You need to think carefully about your body paragraphs and how you order them remember to start
weak and end strong.
Remember to use the paragraph structure required SEXI (Statement, Evidence, eXplanation,
Implications)

Statement How does Wilde use

comedy for social commentary?

Evidence this should be a direct

quotation from the play, which is
embedded within a sentence. You
should try to use more than one
piece of evidence per paragraph.
eXplanation This is where you
explain how the quotation is an
example of comedy (refer to
introduction to satire). You also
need to explain what Wilde is
commenting on through this
quotation.
Implication What did Wilde want
to achieve through this element of
comedy/drama? What is Wildes
purpose in making fun of this part
of society?
How does this impact/influence
readers and viewers?
How does this connect to other
parts of the play?

IBMYP Language A English K Brotherton 2014

Unit 3 The Importance of Satire

Statement How does Wilde use

comedy for social commentary?

Evidence this should be a direct

quotation from the play, which is
embedded within a sentence. You
should try to use more than one
piece of evidence per paragraph.
eXplanation This is where you
explain how the quotation is an
example of comedy (refer to
introduction to satire). You also
need to explain what Wilde is
commenting on through this
quotation.
Implication What did Wilde want
to achieve through this element of
comedy/drama? What is Wildes
purpose in making fun of this part
of society?
How does this impact/influence
readers and viewers?
How does this connect to other
parts of the play?

Statement How does Wilde use

comedy for social commentary?

Evidence this should be a direct

quotation from the play, which is
embedded within a sentence. You
should try to use more than one
piece of evidence per paragraph.
eXplanation This is where you
explain how the quotation is an
example of comedy (refer to
introduction to satire). You also
need to explain what Wilde is
commenting on through this
quotation.
Implication What did Wilde want
to achieve through this element of
comedy/drama? What is Wildes
purpose in making fun of this part

IBMYP Language A English K Brotherton 2014

Unit 3 The Importance of Satire

of society?
How does this impact/influence
readers and viewers?
How does this connect to other
parts of the play?

Conclusion

Reiterate thesis
often reversal is
the best way to do
this.
Significance of the
play and satire as
a genre Why are
they important?
What ideas
expressed in these
can be CONNECT
to other subjects?
Any unanswered
questions that
remain.

How to cite using MLA

Within your essay depending on the sentence you have used to embed the quotation you can use the
following methods:

(Wilde 178) or
(Act 3 178) or
(178)

Within a bibliography or works cited page you should use the following format for citing books:

Last name, First. Title in Italics: Traditional Title Capitalization. Place of Publication. Publisher. Year
Published. Medium.

For example:

Wilde, Oscar. The Importance of Being Earnest. New York. Signet Classic. 1985. Print.

A note on web based sources although you can access web sources for this essay ultimately the text
itself should be your focus.

IBMYP Language A English K Brotherton 2014