The Onion: An Example of Satire

The Onion is a very good source for satirical articles about every topic. Once example can be found by following the link http://www.theonion.com/content/news/american_airlines_now_charging. This article says that American Airlines is now not only charging the people who are flying, but also people that are not flying. This is poking fun at airlines for increasing their prices, by giving a completely exaggerated account of what the airlines are doing. Since the article is written to be serious and funny at the same time, it is entertaining to read, while seriously discussing the issue of ever increasing plane tickets. Therefore this article is a good example of satire, because according to Wikipedia: "In satire, human or individual vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings are held up to censure by means of ridicule, derision, burlesque, irony, or other methods, ideally with the intent to bring about improvement." As it states, the intent of satire is to bring improvement, which in this case is to ridicule the airlines.