“My Modest Proposal” Speech:
We have spent time analyzing Johnathan Swift’s speech and social commentary, “A Modest Proposal” for the past
several days. Now it is your turn to create your own speech in which you discuss an ongoing problem in society
and propose solutions to this problem. This speech should NOT be satirical!
You will be given a few days in class and in the media center to research your topic. You will be required to cite a
minimum of 2 credible sources (no Wikipedia) to support your discussion.
Requirements:
Each speech will require you to follow a specific pattern outlining your information (see below). This must be
typed out and turned in to me the day of your speech.
1. Establish your claim in which you
Speech Criteria:
identify the problem.
2. In detail explain why this is a problem in
 Eye Contact (do not read to us)
society
 2-4 minutes in length
3. Cite your evidence (indicate your
 Stay on topic
source) which supports your
 Presents the information in an organized fashion
explanation.
 Properly cites information during the speech
4. Analyze your evidence (this is important
because…)
Speech topics may include:
5. Indicate solutions to this problem. Make
sure to identify your sources which tell
 Climate Change: How is the climate changing?
you how to solve this problem.
Can humans adapt fast enough to these changes?
 What can be done to better combat terrorist
activities? Should what happens outside our county be something we worry about?
 Unemployment. Should those who do not have jobs be able to live off the tax money of those who do?
What changes can be made to limit the number of unemployed adults?
 Bullying in school. Does bullying away have to be physical? Has cyber bullying grown out of hand? What
are some ways this can be stopped?
 Social Media. Has social media limited the knowledge of students today? Have students become better
or worse communicators due to social media? Why do you think this and what are some credible sources
that back your claim?
 Technology: Have modern advancements in technology made the human race lazier as a whole? What
are some examples that show this? Should this generation be labeled the “just enough” generation?
 Political Correctness: Have we become a world too politically correct? Should we worry so much about
offending our neighbors?
 Education: Is our public school system failing our students? What improvements can be made to better
serve those individuals?
VISUAL AID: You have some creative freedom with this part, but here are some ideas: PowerPoint
presentation, Poster, Handouts, Charts, Graphs, Video (you produce).
RUBRIC:
Typed outline (does it follow the guidelines listed?):
Speech (does it follow the criteria mentioned):
Visual Aid (does it show a strong creative effort?):
30 points
40 points
30 points
***I will provide you with more specific details about the rubric, but the basics are listed above. This
will count as a double grade since we will spend so much class time on this.
My Modest Proposal Alternate Assignment
If you are not in attendance on the day we begin the speeches (the 11 th) you will be
required to complete a min-research paper in which you will report your findings
about an ongoing problem in society. You must cite a minimum of 2 credible sources
on the topic in your paper, and you must use parenthetical documentation—
otherwise your paper will be plagiarized!
Your paper must follow the MLA format (double spaced, proper heading & 12 point
font) and include the following information.
Paragraph I. Introduction: Introduce the social problem and describe what is
significant about it. Why should we care? Then provide your thesis statement which
identifies your point of view (which side do you support?) on the issue.
II. Supporting Paragraphs: In great detail explain how this problem is significant to
society. What type of people does this impact? Make sure to cite evidence from
credible sources—put the author’s last name or the title of the source in ( ). If you do
not credit your sources, you are plagiarizing! Remember, after your citations, you
must analyze them—This is important because…
III. Supporting Paragraphs: In detail, indicate some solutions to this problem. What
can we do so this problem can be either fixed or made a little less problematic for
society?
IV. Conclusion: Revisit your point of view—mention what side of the issue your
support and why. Briefly recap your evidence and bring your paper to a close.
Works cited Page: You must provide an additional page which provides bibliographies
of the sources you used in your paper. Go to citation machine.net to help you set this
up. I will also review this procedure in class. The paper will be due the following
Monday (14th). Late papers will not be accepted since this is a long term assignment.
Example of Outline
I.
Students are being cheated out of a quality education because the
government won’t fund it appropriately.
II.
This is a problem because students who are not engaged in school
are more likely to drop out.
III.
“Over 70% of students who drop out either go to prison or on
federal assistance/welfare” (Schooling for Success)
IV.
This is important because ultimately taxes will be raised
dramatically to support those students who dropped out. Nobody
wants to have more money taken from their paychecks.
V.
One way this problem can be fixed is through more funding per
student from the government—and less funding to programs less
important.
Works Cited
Jones, Bob. Schooling for Success. Future investment Corporation. 2001. Web.
12/7/15