Transcript A Modest Proposal” - Ms.Castillo's English Class

“A MODEST PROPOSAL”
Jonathan Swift
p. 801
1ST PERIOD: READING QUIZ
List some of the details of life in Ireland that the
essay revealed
 In one sentence “summarize” the proposal
 Who are the major targets of Swift’s proposal?
 Does Swift suggest in any way that the Irish are
responsible for their plight? Explain.

BACKGROUND
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745)
 Modest Proposal published in 1729 as a pamphlet
 Ireland (not an independent country) was far
poorer than England.
 The landlords were paid from the produce of the
land.
 If the laborers lost their work, there would
always be other poor people to take it up.


No social security system and starvation was
common
DO NOW!


Jot down the two or three of the most important
political or social issues in this country.
Then, jot down a sentence or two detailing a way
that you would solve these problems.
GUIDED READING: ANSWER ON YOUR OWN
PAPER


Pre-reading: What does the title suggest to you?
From the title, what do you expect this essay will
be about?
Introduction and definition to the problem:
What is the problem, and to what extent is it a
problem? What information leads you to your
conclusion?
GUIDED READING: ANSWER ON YOUR OWN
PAPER


Proposed solution:
What is the proposed solution? In what ways is it
preposterous/absurd?
Implementation: Briefly, what would be involved
in implementing the proposal?
GUIDED READING: ANSWER ON YOUR OWN
PAPER

Endorsements:
Who are the persons who appear to endorse the
proposal?
In what ways do their endorsements help or hurt
the proposal? How do you know?

Advantages:
What are some of the principal advantages of the
proposal?
GUIDED READING: ANSWER ON YOUR OWN
PAPER

Possible objections, concession, and refutation

What are the possible objections to the proposal?

In what ways does Swift concede some of the
objections?

In what ways does Sift refute some of the objections?
GUIDED READING: ANSWER ON YOUR OWN
PAPER

Closing:

What means does Swift use to reiterate his apparent
sincerity?

Whom does Sift criticize in this piece?

What changes does he hope to bring about?

Describe Swift’s tone in this essay.
YOUR TURN!



Write your own modest proposal modeled after
Swift’s essay.
Think of an outlandish solution to a social or
political problem in our society.
Your essay should be a minimum of two well
developed paragraphs (5-7 sentences).