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Isaac Golberg
Writing 2
Professor Wilson
3 June 2016
Revised Writing Project 1
When writing an article, the authors goal is to attract as much attention as possible to
what they are writing about. The presidential election brings with it a variety of literature to
convey facts or opinion regarding the various candidates. Although newspaper articles are
typically packed with the most facts, satirical articles attract more attention and, in turn, are more
effective in persuading people to think a certain way. Through the use of techniques like ignoring
political correctness or structuring the article with comedic value, a writer is able to attract a
wider audience and, in turn, spreading the authors message to more people even though he/she
is sacrificing educational value. Ignoring social norms and speaking without censorship plays an
important role in memorability of a piece.
To begin, an articles headline is the first easily distinguishable aspect that provides
insight on its genre since it is a rhetorical action meant to bring about a specific response (Dirk
254). The title of a newspaper article is a very brief, informative title like Trump predicts a
massive recession but intends to eliminate the national debt in 8 years (Woodward and Costa
1). The article title reveals no position on the matter, simply a statement of fact about what the
article content is. It is written in this way to pander to its audience, which is looking to be
informed on the presidential election. On the other hand, the author of a satirical article has
different intentions when formulating his title. The author attempts to capture the reader as
efficiently as possible through a funny or offensive headline that is tailored to pathos (Carroll

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54). With its use of provocative language and satire, the author is able to get a quick joke in to
lure the reader into reading more of the article by titling the piece Donald Trump in Critical
Condition After Choking on Own Bullshit (The Daily Currant 1). Appealing to the pathos is
especially effective because the target audiences of a satirical piece are the younger generations
which consistently dedicate time to social media and internet surfing. As a result, a headline is an
essential aspect of whether or not the reader will even give the article a second glance.
Once the audience is enticed by the title and proceed to read the article, they are faced
with a variety of conventions specifically designed toward the genre. Woodward and Costa begin
their piece with an exposure to some background information on the matter like how Trump
suggested is embracing a distinctly gloomy view of the economy that counters mainstream
economic forecasts (Woodward and Costa 1). The relevancy in this quote is its separation from
opinion and its concentration on the facts. The authors proceed to objectively present quotes
from Donald Trump to elaborate on the interviews that reporters conducted with Trump. The
entire article directly presents information around a central theme without using any provocative
language in an attempt to inform the reader about a certain matter. This approach is informative,
but not as effective. Due to their dry nature, newspaper articles cannot make outrageous
statements or exaggerations that leave the reader with a memorable experience. Satirical writing
incorporates a seed of truth and builds over it with false or exaggerated information to enhance
entertainment. Through the integration of actual events like when Trump gave his speech in
front of 20,000 supporters at the William T. Anderson memorial coliseum, the article is able to
make its satirical story somewhat believable (The Daily Currant 1). Furthermore, the author uses
an imaginary doctor to legitimize the claim of Trump choking on his own bullshit. As if this
occurrence is common, the doctor says he has been doing this for 30 years, and [he has] never

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seen this amount of bullshit (The Daily Currant 1). The use of an authoritative figure to convey
a false message is a common technique that is used in satirical literature since it contributes to
ethos (Carroll 54). The authors goal is to make the article memorable through comedy, which is
essential for this genre.
Finally, the ending of a news article is significantly different from that of a satirical
article. In this specific instance, Woodward and Costa are quoting parts of an interview they
conducted with Trump. Consequently, the article simply ends with a final question and Trumps
response of how his natural inclination is to win (Woodward and Costa 1). Such an ending is
not memorable, nor does it leave its audience with a lasting message. On the contrary, a satirical
author states that Trump is recovering well from his condition and will be back on the campaign
trail spewing bullshit in no time (The Daily Currant 1). This element allows the reader to be left
with the gist of the piece while throwing in one last joke for the road. The satirical genre uses
any method it can to perpetuate the authors position on a matter through the use of such literary
tools like sarcasm, provocative language, and a specialized tone. It is these tools that allow the
genre to be such a powerful form of writing.
Ultimately, whether the genre be informative or satirical, the point of writing the articles
was to a convey a message the author felt was relevant. The combination of tone, vocabulary,
sarcasm, and a variety of other factors are blended together in order to structure the piece
accordingly to the genre they are writing in. As a result of our societal norms, we have certain
expectations of how a certain piece should be written, and these factors are what inch us toward a
certain method of interpretation (Bunn 74). Nonetheless, satirical news articles have less rules
restricting them which allows for greater possibility. By using a combination of comedic value
and a lack of political correctness the author is able to attract much more attention to their

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articles. A higher exposure means a higher degree of impact and influence, which means that this
genre is more effective in conveying an authors message. Literature that is spiced up with satire
is much more enjoyable to read than a bland article solely focused on factual information.

Works Cited
Bunn, Mike. How to Read Like a Writer. Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing. Vol. 2. N.p.:
Parlor, 2010. 73-76. Print.
Carroll, Laura Bolin. Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps toward Rhetorical Analysis. Writing
Spaces: Readings on Writing. N.p.: Parlor, 2010. 46-54. Print.
Dirk, Kerry. Navigating Genres. Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing. Vol. 1. N.p.: Parlor,
2010. 252-254. Print.
"Donald Trump In Critical Condition After Choking on Own Bullshit." The Daily Currant. 2016.
Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
Maraniss, David, and Robert Samuels. "In a Revealing Interview, Trump Predicts a 'massive
Recession' but Intends to Eliminate the National Debt in 8 Years." Washington Post. The
Washington Post. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.