Socratic Seminar Reflection
Name
Leah Deptula
Seminar Topic
A Modest Proposal and Beyond
Text Title:
Author:
A Modest Proposal
Swift
Opening Question(s):
What if any, are the moral, ethical, and or practical responsibilities
of a society to its most impoverished members?
1. Summary of key ideas: (at least 5)
 Question 1 debate on capitalism and socialism: Frankenstein was denied the right to
happiness and was then driven to be the antagonist of the story by the opinions of society
on him. This all led to his downfall. In modest proposal, the poor are rejected by society
too and are blamed and unaccepted and left alone.
 Question 2 the children being rejected in A Modest Proposal are without control of their
poverty, so free schooling helps to benefiting the poor. Counterargument: you cannot
assume how children are brought into poverty by looking at them. Some people are given
opportunities but do not take them out of laziness... etc.
 Question 2 Homeless people can be viewed as lazy and this is a stereotype put on these
people. Mike Smith, a motivational speaker, did a sock drive to help out the homeless in
need. It’s hard to help others out when you don’t know their backstory. It’s a default
setting to assume the homeless are in their predicament due to alcohol, drugs, laziness,
etc.
 Question 1 in Wuthering Heights: Heathcliff was not given rights due to being a gypsy
and came to later hate society and did things not in favor of society and his family. He
was cold and cruel due to society and the mistreatment he endured. Coming back, when
the rich don’t give to the poor, it eliminates their opportunities
 Question 1 Tess of the D’Urbervilles: A woman, Tess, becomes hurt and distraught and
was forced to move in with her former rapist. Her baby wasn’t even given and right to
heaven just as poor children aren’t given a right to happiness. There needs to be a way to
provide to those who work hard with opportunities to change their situations.
 Question 2 It should not be the moral responsibility of the rich to help the poor out.
Goodwill and other donation foundations are here to help out people in bad situations, not
people or the government.
2. Reaction: Identify what at least three inner circle members said; write down his/her
comment. Evaluate his/her statement and evidence. Provide your own evidence to
agree, disagree or qualify with his or her claim.
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A Modest Proposal was written at a time in which people had the inability to move up in
social structure, proven by the date and place in which it was written in.
800,000 people have filed for bankruptcy recently due to disability, according to the
Social Security Administration Website. Not necessarily everyone deserves welfare
checks, but everyone does deserve to be treated like a human and have a fallback plan.
2.5 billion dollars is caught being scammed according to the Social Security
Administration Website.
3. Explain how the Seminar influenced your thinking about the topic or the text(s).
4. Socratic Connections: Identify and explain a connection to at least three of the following. . .
another writer/poet
speech
historical event
news article
photograph/painting
Philosophy
novel
documentary
another culture
textbook
film
famous/infamous person
Explain and cite your connection fully:
5. Self Assessment
Write out the claim you made below. Offer the evidence you provided.
Evaluate the quality of your contribution.
Taking a position on a question
Using evidence to support a position or presenting factual information
Drawing another person into the discussion
Asking a clarifying question or moving the discussion along
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Highlighting and marking the text with questions/commentary
Identify a personal goal for the next seminar:
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