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English 101
Seminar Papers for Unit 3 (Problem-Solution Essay)
10 points each
Due Dates
Thursday, May 14: “A Modest Proposal,” by Jonathan Swift, pages 408-416, in 50 Essays.
Monday, May 18: “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” by Martin Luther King Jr, pages 203-220, in 50
Essays.
Submission and format: On paper, word-processed and double-spaced.
Instructions for both seminar papers:
 Answer the following questions in full sentences, in as much detail as you can, offering
examples (quotation and paraphrase) and explanations from the text to illustrate your
answers. Please number each answer.
 Introduce your quotations and paraphrases with lead-ins followed by commas or with
full sentences of your own followed by a colon. Of course, use quotation marks when
quoting, and provide page and paragraph documentation in parentheses after the
quotation, as we have learned.
 Page numbers must also be included after all paraphrase and summary from the text.
 Do not use any quotations that come out to be longer than four lines of your typing
(they might appear longer or shorter than four lines in the book).
Questions for “A Modest Proposal”—due Thursday, May 14:
Before you write the seminar paper, read the explanatory notes to the essay linked on our
course website, in the Unit 3 module. Also, read the headnote provided in 50 Essays (the part in
italics on page 408).
1. Confusions: Introduce a passage or phrase that you didn’t understand very well, and
speculate about what it might mean.
2. Swift’s tone here is ironic: His proposal isn’t really “modest,” and he doesn’t mean that
we should take his solution seriously. How do you know that his tone is ironic? Are there
particular phrases or words that clue you in? If so, which ones? Or do you just figure it
out at a certain point? Which point?
3. PIE (point, illustration, explanation) paragraph: If Swift doesn’t intend for society to
follow his advice, what, then, is his real intention in this essay? Is “A Modest Proposal”
trying to make a point about society? Write a PIE paragraph in which you suggest what
Swift’s real purpose is. Use quotation and/or paraphrase to illustrate your point, and
explain how the quotation connects to your point.
4. Another PIE paragraph: Who do you think is Swift’s intended audience for this essay?
What in the text makes you think so, and why?
5. Identify a problem in society and invent your own solution for it. Be ironic or not, as you
wish.
(over)
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Questions for “Letter from Birmingham Jail”—due Monday, May 18:
Before you write the seminar paper, read the “Letter from Eight Alabama Clergymen,” which is
what King’s letter responds to. There’s a link to this in our Unit 3 module. Additionally, read the
headnote provided in 50 Essays (the part in italics on page 203).
1. Confusions: Introduce a passage or phrase that you didn’t understand very well, and
speculate about what it might mean.
2. In this essay, what particular moment or phrase or sentence stands out to you as
interesting or
meaningful? Why do you think it stands out and how is it meaningful? How does that
moment connect to the overall meaning of the whole essay?
3. Answer either question #1 or question #2 on page 220 of 50 Essays.
4. Who is King’s audience and how does he specifically shape his essay to appeal to that
audience? What references in the text or aspects of the writing style would particularly
affect this audience? Imagine some counterarguments to this essay: Put yourself in the
position of its intended audience and think of how they might have argued back.
Grading: 10 points each, as follows:
 Shows that you have read the entire text; it shows an accurate comprehension of the
text (2.5 pts).
 Answers the questions fully and deeply, presenting examples and discussing them,
showing involvement in and curiosity about the reading (3 pts).
 Includes the required references to the text, and the mechanics of quotation,
paraphrase, or summary are correct (2.5 pts).
 Is proofread, and there are no major grammatical errors (2 pts).