I have to write a prose satire aimed at changing the behavior or attitude of my audience.

My example was senioritis, and that the senior year shouldn't be stressful...
I'd like something that would be an easy "teenaged" topic.
Any ideas?

for satire

~taking the SAT or ACT is a snap; no need to worry

~applying to colleges/universities is very easy; waiting until the last minute is OK.

~money for college/university will fall out of the sky; no need to apply for financial aid

~senior year should just be full of fun; no need to take rigorous courses, no matter what the college/university application folks are looking for; they'll understand

LOL.... I could write a book on "senioritis"

I used a little satire when told that they didn't have to learn anything that year... I told them that I probably could find a couple of things for them to do... Then assigned them a book to have read in the next two weeks... I think it had about 500 pages. We worked on "satire" a lot that year. <G>

Thanks! Those are great!

Certainly! When looking for a suitable topic for your prose satire that targets a teenage audience, it's important to choose something relatable and relevant to their lives. Here's an idea:

Topic: Social Media Obsession

Explanation: Social media has become an integral part of the lives of many teenagers today. It often dominates their time and attention, leading to detrimental effects on their mental health, relationships, and overall well-being. By satirizing this obsession, you can craft a piece that aims to change their behavior or attitude towards excessive social media usage.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to write your prose satire:

1. Observation and Research: Begin by observing the behavior and attitudes of teenagers towards social media. Take note of the excessive use, impact on their lives, and any negative consequences caused by this obsession. Conduct additional research to gather more information and statistics that support and emphasize the point you'd like to make.

2. Identify the Problems: Identify key issues revolving around social media obsession and its detrimental effects on teenagers' lives. This could include the decline of real-life social interactions, mental health issues like low self-esteem and depression, or the spread of unrealistic beauty standards.

3. Select a Tone and Style: Decide on the tone and style of your satire. Satire can be humorous yet critical, containing elements of irony, sarcasm, and exaggeration. Consider employing parody, irony, or clever wordplay to engage your audience effectively.

4. Create Characters or Scenarios: Develop relatable characters or scenarios that highlight the absurdity or negative consequences of excessive social media usage. This could involve creating a group of friends whose lives revolve entirely around their online personas or a scenario where exaggerated influencer culture takes over a high school. Be creative in your approach and make sure it resonates with your teenage audience.

5. Use Satirical Techniques: Incorporate satirical techniques throughout your prose to drive your point home. Use humor, exaggeration, and irony to emphasize the negative aspects of social media obsession. Highlight the contrast between the virtual world and reality to open your audience's eyes to the potential consequences of excessive screen time.

6. Suggest Alternatives or Solutions: As part of your satire, offer practical alternatives or solutions to the problem. Present healthier ways for teenagers to balance their social media usage with real-life experiences, encourage face-to-face interaction, physical activities, and pursue genuine personal interests.

Remember, the goal of your satire is to entertain, engage, and inspire change by making your audience reflect on their behavior or attitude towards social media obsession. Good luck with your writing!