Writing Parodies across the Curriculum

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a parody is "a literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule." A parody is a respectful yet critical satire, takeoff, or spoof of an original. In literature, a parody is when a person imitates an author's style or work to ridicule or provide humor. Parody is not hurtful but respectful. It requires writers to appreciate and respect the work they ridicule. In this article, the author describes and reports on an instructional lesson that was designed and implemented to help students write parodies across the curriculum. He describes the theoretical background for the lesson, the materials and procedures used, and the completed student samples. He concludes with thoughts on integrating parodies. Although this strategy was used with graduate students, it is his hope that elementary teachers will use it in their classrooms to help younger students experience the power and potential of parody.