“A Modest Proposal”
Objective:
To analyze a text using the chunking method
and various activities (discussion, text analysis,
note taking) in order to comprehend the
author's claim so I can respond, in writing, to a
prompt.
Quickwrite
• “Satire is a sort of glass wherein beholders do
generally discover everybody’s face but their
own; which is the chief reason for that kind
reception it meets with in the world, and that
so very few are offended with it.” ~Jonathan
Swift, 1667-1745
• Explain what this quote means in your own
words and if you agree or disagree.
Paragraphs 1-6
• Collect 6-10 words that you need to clarify
• Define each word. Explain your connotations
of each word.
• What tone words would you use to describe
this type of diction
• What is the problem in Ireland?
SOAPSTone
• What is the speaker’s background – where is he
from? What is his social class? Is he Irish or
English? Is he rich or poor? What perspective
does he have?
• What kind of personality does the speaker seem
to have from the language he uses in paragraphs
1 -6? This is not the same person as Swift.
• What is Swift doing by creating this other
persona?
• What does Swift want the reader to think about
this speaker?
• O-occasion, A-audience, P-purpose, S-subject, Ttone
Paragraphs 7-9
• Swift’s essay turns from mildly ironic to darkly
satirical. What key phrases, in your opinion,
most indicative of this turn?
• Write a complex sentence in which you
describe the shift from mildly ironic to darkly
satirical using supporting details from the text.
• --You should create a compound/complex
sentence with a transition word and correct
punctuation.
Paragraphs 10-20
Process Analysis: explains HOW by describing
the process or the steps that will need to
happen to achieve a desired outcome
• Describe the process analysis that happens in
paragraphs 10-20
Paragraphs 21-26
• Between paragraphs 21 – 26, Swift delineates
various arguments to support his proposal.
Identify three of the arguments and explain
the underlying premises that they rely on.
*You may want to look up the definition of
“premise” to help accomplish this task.
Paragraphs 27-30
• What is an expedient?
• What does Swift suggest as “other
expedients”?
• Is Swift’s argument to not attempt these
satirical? Why or why not?
Paragraph 32
Transform paragraph 32 into the literal, serious
argument that Swift is making in this essay.
• It is possible to do this only by deleting certain
words, but you may want to add certain words
if the deletion task proves too challenging.
Writing Prompt