Question

You are writing a media analysis. What is the best way to defend the following thesis?
Satirical news programs have a powerful effect on public opinion about important issues.


describe one example of how a satirical news program presented a current event and explain how it affected audience members

provide readers with a technical definition of satire and parody

identify several kinds of rhetorical strategies which are commonly used in satirical programs

list two examples from a recent satirical news program that addressed current issues

Answer 1

I would use Saturday Night Life (Weekend Update), the Daily Show, or the Colbert Report as examples of parody or satirical writing. Each of them affects their audience, regardless of the views of the audience. Those who watch the Daily Show and Colbert Report are audiences who are more liberal, so you would not find individuals to who view the shows that would have starkly different opinions from the shows' hosts.

Thesis statement is very direct and true. Use examples of elections or economy issues or unemployment and how those shows handle them. Then, show the means in which they use humor to address the issues (sometimes in a nonsensical way) but make sure that you show that they use facts and truth behind their humor.

Also, in terms of rhetorical strategies, you could look at the writers' application of ethos (credibility of the people who are reporting or acting out the skits because they are seen as knowledgeable), pathos (where they draw the viewers in to the concepts using humor or some other type of emotion, sometimes even sympathy. Sometimes, the issues that are very sensitive are still addressed using humor), and logos (where they bring credibility in using facts and figures that reinforce what they are saying...even though they say it in a funny way).