Satire or Paradox Skit

Rubric for satire (Candide) or paradox (Notes from the Underground)

Scale	9-10	6-8	3-5	1-2
Paradox (10) (skit and script)	Makes a clear, creative use of paradox	Uses paradox, but is occasionally confusing or unclear.	Unclearly uses paradox	Does not connect/incorporate paradox.
Satire  (10) (Skit and script)	Makes a clear, creative, critique in a humorous manner.	Uses satire, but is occasionally confusing or unclear.	Unclearly uses satire.	Does not connect incorporate satire.
Organization (Skit and script) (5)	Writing (acting) has a compelling opening, an interesting middle and a clear conclusion.	Writing (acting) has a beginning, middle and end that keep the reader reading (audience interested).	Writing (acting) is organized but sometimes gets off topic.	Writing (acting) is aimless and disorganized, the reader (audience) becomes lost.
Voice and tone (Skit and script) (5)	It sounds like (looks like) the writer (actor) understands their writing (role) in making a critique with humor.	The author (actor)uses critique and attempts to use humor.	There is either no hint of a feeling or emotion in the story (acting).	Writing (acting) is too formal or too informal.
Word choice (script) (5)	Words are striking and natural, specific, understandable, varied and vivid.	Make routine word choices, and use creative wording, but sometimes use weak descriptive words.	Words are often dull or uninspired and seem to heed in the clarification process.	Repetitive words use, lack of vocabulary. Some words may be confusing to a reader.
Conventions/ sentence fluency (script) (5)	Writer uses language to combine ideas that flow smoothly.  Writing has a couple errors that limit understanding.  Proper capitalization and punctuation.	Ideas flow well and there are a few errors that limit understanding.	Oftentimes writing cannot be understood. There are some errors	Many errors make the writing difficult to understand
Memorization  (skit) (5)	Memorized with little variation from the script.	Sometimes varies from the script but the main ideas are memorized.	Often pauses and forgets parts or lines.	Lack of memorization makes the skit uninteresting.

skit ___/ 25                                        script ___/30

Your job is to write a modern day satire, of an event, practice, or tradition, using characters that share similar perspectives to those in Candide (basically you’re making fun of something commonly accepted in society).  Or write a paradox using characters or ideas similar to people in Notes from the Underground. Then you will memorize the lines and act out your satire or paradox, as a skit, in front of the class.   Your script and skit will be graded based on the rubric.  AND your skit will be graded on your memorization. 

·         To introduce the presentation group members explain what their satirizing/what the paradox describes and how their characters relate to (and/or are inspired by) characters in Candide or Notes from the Underground.

·         Both group members must memorize a minimum of 12 lines each (or 60 words each).

Sample SATIRE Script:

[Steve Jobs died and his hidden son, Tony Jobs, inherited all of his dad’s fortune. Tony Jobs is with his Secretary discussing about what to do with all the money.]

Secretary: [approaching to Tony] I guess you are sad…

Tony Jobs: Yeah, but at least I inherited all of his fortune.

Secretary: So….

Tony Jobs: What do rich people usually do with their money?

Secretary: Hmm… [pause]. They usually do some charity like donating their money or giving things away.

Tony Jobs: Interesting! So…where do we find poor people?

Secretary: Poor people are everywhere.

Tony Jobs: How about Africa!!! There are lots of poor, starving, malnourished people there. My dad had been there before doing something. I have no idea what he did though.

Secretary: [with mock enthusiasm] Oh! I did not know that Africa is a country. Thank you for telling me that, this is why I admire you!!

Tony Jobs: Yeah…I was a…pretty decent geography student until I got kicked out in the 7th grade.

Secretary: Kicked out?

Tony Jobs: The board of directors said that my level of intelligence was to be questioned. I am not sure yet what they meant but I think they were trying to tell me that I was too smart; excessively smart. So…should we communicate with the African…government?

Secretary: uhhhh…

Tony Jobs: Yes!

Scene 2

[Tony and his secretary go to the airport and are going to somewhere in Africa without knowing where exactly because Tony is convinced that Africa is one entire country. The conversation happens inside the airplane.]

Secretary: Don’t we need a translator to communicate with them?

Tony Jobs: [break] I speak African…or AFRICANO.

Secretary: [sarcastically] Awesome!

Tony Jobs: Ok, it seems that we are reaching the African headquarters, give me a map.

Secretary: Here it is.

Tony Jobs: WOW! Africa is such a big country!! I am so eager to help these lost souls.

Secretary: Don’t worry I already scheduled a meeting with the Sudanese representatives.

Tony Jobs: Sudanese????  I wanted AFRICANS!

[The next day they meet some religious Africans in a town, but Tony Jobs thinks that they are the people from the “African Government.”]

[The Africans are jumping around the bond fire doing their religious celebration]

Tony Jobs: Are these the representatives?

Secretary: Yes! I think…

Tony Jobs: [approaching them] Interesting representative.

African 1: !)$&##(!6.

African 2:  boom shakalaka boom shakalaka.

African 3: !)(#*!)#&!

[There is an awkward moment and Tony and the Secretary are trying to have a conversation with them]

Tony Jobs: [approaches to the Africans] Tsamina mina eh eh Waka Waka eh eh Tsamina mina zangalewa…This time for Africa!

Secretary: [looks disappointed] well…Almost…. I thought you could speak their language.

Tony Jobs: I am sorry [pause] I just wanted to impress you, give these iPhones and iPods to them. I am donating these!

Secretary: Good! What an act of humanity!

Tony Jobs: By the way, you are fired. Seriously you’re fired.

Secretary: [confused/relieved] Ok. But are you happy about your charity activity?

Tony Jobs: Yes!

Secretary: Well, that’s enough for me.