PATHOS
1. Title – Your essay should be called “A Modest Proposal,” but the subtitle should flesh out what
societal problem you are trying to solve (without giving away your “shocking” element). Swift’s
full title is “A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People in Ireland from Being
a Burden to Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Public.” Model
your title after his.
2. Anecdote – Your essay should include an anecdote that illustrates your chosen problem. Write
this like an eye-witness account (ethos). Help the reader see and understand the problem.
Provide plenty of sensory detail. This is a perfect place to pull on the heart strings of
your audience (pathos).
LOGOS
3. Expand – Provide multiple examples of how this continues to be a problem in today’s society,
not only from your perspective, but try to illustrate a variety of perspectives. Try to anticipate
what experiences your audience might have had with this issue. Illustrate how this is, indeed,
society’s problem…not just an individual’s problem.
4. Logic and Statistics – Be sure to support your arguments throughout with
plenty of statistics and appeals to your audience’s sense of logic and reason
(logos). While it is preferable to use accurate data based on research, you may embellish (use
creativity) as needed here.
ETHOS
5.
Quotes – Include at least one “quote” from a reliable source
(ethos)…someone who has experienced this problem personally. Or, perhaps a quote that
supports your satirical solution. (Remember how Swift quoted an American friend on the
desirability of adolescents as a meat source.)
6.
UNDERLINE
Satirical Solution – This is where you introduce your absurd solution to the
problem. Remember, satire is dry humor…delivered with a serious tone. Be sure to provide
plenty of step-by-step detail. This is another good place to incorporate logos and pathos by
offering more statistics and offering a solution that evokes an emotional response.
7.
Utopia – Explain how society will be better because of your solution. List
the benefits (logos). Again, rely heavily on sensory detail, helping your audience
experience your vision for a society unburdened by your chosen problem (pathos).
8.
Anticipate and Refute – You know that your plan is absurd. This is where
you state the obvious arguments someone might actually have with your
plan (but do this briefly and matter-of-factly). Then move quickly into a
discussion of why your plan is still worth considering…especially when given the
alternative of doing nothing to address this problem. You might even follow Swifts example by
challenging someone to suggest a better plan.
9. Goal Length – This paper should aim to be 2-2.5 pages in length. Review and use all the
prewriting activities we did in class for inspiration. Be creative. Think outside the box. Have fun
with this.
10. Format – Your final draft should be in MLA format, 12 pt. Times New Roman or Calibri font, and
double-spaced.
BEFORE you submit, highlight/underline these parts of your paper.
Essay/Speech: A Modern Modest Proposal
12G English
BSHolland