LESSON PLAN 5.

2 Understanding Sarcasm
SELECTED STUDENT NEED

Social Skills Success for Students with Autism/Aspergers, copyright 2011 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Use of sarcasm is one of the dening features of early adolescence, and neurotypical teens are able to recognize and produce it. Teens with autism spectrum disorders are confronted with sarcasm in daily conversations with peers and sometimes with adults.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will learn how to identify when their peers are making sarcastic remarks. Students will learn to respond appropriately to sarcastic remarks.

STANDARD AND BENCHMARK Use the Socratic method outlined in this lesson plan, which will present material, and then assess a students abilities to detect sarcasm and identify the intent of the speaker.

MATERIAL AND RESOURCE

Handout 5.2, Examples of Sarcasm, is helpful for the lesson. It makes the contradictions inherent in sarcasm more obvious to the students: they can easily compare the sarcastic statement with the background information.

Introduction
Start by saying, Today we are going to learn about the more mysterious parts of conversations. These are the parts that make the least sense unless you know how to decode them. We are learning about how and why people sometimes say what they dont really mean. It is not necessary for you to learn to use sarcasm, just to understand when and why someone else is using it. Many people do not like sarcasm, and it isnt that humorous. A lot of kids have fun with it, but often they are the only ones having fun. Their listeners are not.

The Class Session

After passing out Handout 5.2, ask one student to read Toms lines and another to read Jamess lines. Then ask the rest of the students the questions for each of the ve topics that follow (acceptable answers are in parentheses). Present the parts of sarcasm in the following order to make the presentation easier for students to understand.

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LESSON PLAN 5.2 (continued)

1. Contradiction
Have students read example 1. Ask them what happened. (This is just a repeat of the story to ensure they were listening.) Ask, Whats wrong with what Tom said at the end? (Its inconsistent with the information we are given at the beginning. If students dont understand, read the example again, this time pointing out the contradiction.) Ask, Did Tom mean to thank James? (No.) Why did he say that? (He wanted to show James that he was annoyed. Dont accept answers like, He was lying, or He was trying to deceive James.) Does anyone know what this is called? (Sarcasm.) Tom was actually criticizing James. Does everyone see that? The way he said it was meant to show James that he was annoyed and to make James feel bad about not helping. If he had said, I wish you had helped me more, he wouldnt have been showing that he was upset.

2. Target
Have students read example 2. Ask them what happened. (Its a repeat of the story to ensure they were listening.) Ask, Whats wrong with what Tom said at the end? (Its inconsistent with the information we are given at the beginning.) Ask, Did Tom mean that the weather was nice? (No.) Why did he say that? (To be mildly funny.) Notice the difference between examples 1 and 2. Which one is funnier? (Example 2.) Why? (Example 2 doesnt try to make anyone feel bad. It doesnt target anyone.) Example 2 is an example of irony.

3. Speakers Intent
Have students read example 3. Explain to them that sarcasm is hard to understand, and many people miss it. The person who is sarcastic wants others to know he doesnt mean what he says. Otherwise they wont understand the point they are trying to make. Ask, What is Tom also trying to get James to understand about his feelings? (Tom is annoyed or upset that James got him to agree to play baseball.)

4. Extra Cues: Eye Roll, Voice Tone, Laughing, and Pointing

Take Toms part in example 4. Announce that you are going to read this twice. On the rst reading, say, Fine, in a neutral voice, with no facial expression. The second time, say, Fine, while rolling your eyes and using a sarcastic tone. Then ask students what happened. (Its just a repeat of the story to ensure they were listening.) Ask, Whats wrong with what Tom said at the end? (Its inconsistent with the information we are given at the beginning, that is, he didnt really want to sit by the door.) What unusual thing did Tom do as he spoke? (He rolled his eyes.) Why did he do that? (To show sarcasm.) Ask, Did Tom mean that

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Social Skills Success for Students with Autism/Aspergers, copyright 2011 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

LESSON PLAN 5.2 (continued)

sitting by the door was okay with him? (No. His use of the word Fine meant, I will reluctantly consent, but not with pleasure.) If Tom was really agreeable to sitting by the door, he would have said a lot more to show itfor example, Thats ne with me. So why did he roll his eyes and use a sarcastic tone? (To make James feel bad about getting his way.). Notice that Tom says exactly the same thing both times we read example 4. Whats the difference between Fine [saying it with a neutral tone] and Fine [saying it with rolling eyes and sarcastic intonation]? (The second is meaner than the rst. Tom is angrier in the second example.) End up in this way: See how the eyes and voice tone make a difference? Rolling eyes almost always means sarcasm. The word Fine almost always means sarcasm. Using them both helps to make sure that more people will understand that sarcasm is being used. Read the other two examples and have students discuss them to ensure that they understand sarcasm.

Social Skills Success for Students with Autism/Aspergers, copyright 2011 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

5. Extra Cues for Electronic Communication

Say, On the Web, it is impossible to tell if someone is being sarcastic unless they tell you thats what they are doing. But there is no universal sign for sarcasm. The section at the end of the handout shows how people try to tell you they are using irony or sarcasm on the Web. Then explain each of the examples in Handout 5.2.

6. How People Use Sarcasm on the Web

Its hard enough for many people to understand that others are using sarcasm when they are speaking. Its almost impossible when they are communicating on the Web. The handout has some signs people put at the end of sentences to let others know they are using sarcasm.

Homework Assignment
Students are to bring to the next class at least ve examples of sarcasm or irony they heard in conversation. They may get parent help with this assignment if you feel that their skills are rudimentary or they cannot yet distinguish sarcasm. You can also add more structured assignments, such as assigning a novel for students to read and extract sarcasm.

Assessment
Note students improvement in identication and comprehension of sarcasm and the speakers intent.

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HANDOUT 5.2 Examples of Sarcasm

Example 1: Contradiction
Social Skills Success for Students with Autism/Aspergers, copyright 2011 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Tom and James were given a project by their teacher to do together. They met at the library and were supposed to work together. Tom worked all day on the school project while James just played video games. When Tom nished the project he turned to James and said, Thanks for the help.

Example 2: Target
Tom and James both wanted to play basketball outside but cant now because its raining very hard and the basketball court is wet. Tom turns to James and says, Nice weather were having.

Example 3: Speakers Intent

It was Jamess idea to play basketball, and Tom reluctantly agreed. They cant now because its raining very hard and the basketball court is wet. Tom turns to James and says, Nice weather were having.

Example 4: Extra Cues

Tom and James want to sit together at lunch in the cafeteria. Tom wants to sit next to a window, but James says, Theres too much light there. Why dont we sit by the door? Tom says, Fine.

Example 5
James borrows Toms unopened container of milk and pours almost all of it over his small bowl of cereal. Tom says to James, Would you like some cereal with your milk?

Example 6
James is wearing a striped shirt and pants with polka dots. Upon rst seeing him that day, Tom says to James, Nice outt!

Example 7: Examples of Sarcasm and Irony on the Web

Nice weather were having ;) Nice weather were having Nice weather were having Nice weather were having. lol Nice weather were having ( /end sarcasm) NICE weather were having

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