Satirical Essay – in the manner of
Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”
Write a two page-essay following the style and structure of Swift’s essay.
Format:
 Title: A Modest Proposal
 Subtitle: For…(use the same structure as Swift)
 Length: 2 pages typed, single-spaced, 12-point font
 MLA heading top left
Style:
 Use similar diction (word choice) and sentence structure to Swift
 Use literary devices such as: euphemism, understatement, satire, verbal
irony, situational irony.
 Tone: serious, outraged, morally superior
Content:
 Your essay must be about a contemporary social issue
 Your proposal must address this issue directly
 Your solution must be as outrageously ironic as Swift’s
 Your solution must explain all “beneficial” consequences
Examples:
Social Issue
Teen pregnancy
Drunk driving
Poverty
Proposed Solution
Mandatory sterilization for all 13 yearold girls of certain social classes!
Make all convicted drunk drivers ride
on roller coasters 24-hours a day for a
month, while inebriated!
Send all poor people to labor camps
and solve the problem of outsourcing!
Essay must be submitted on Turnitin.com by 4/27/15 8:00 AM
Printed essay, with rubric and originality report must be
submitted at the beginning of class on 4/27/15
Satirical Essay – in the manner of
Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”
Grading Rubric
Student Name:__________
Class Period:______
Essay must be submitted on Turnitin.com by 4/27/15 8:00 AM
Printed essay, with rubric and originality report must be submitted at the
beginning of class 4/27/15
Criteria
Format
Style
10 Points
One format error
according to guidelines
Uses at least 10 actual words
and phrases from Swift’s essay
and incorporates them
appropriately
Uses 8-5 actual words
and phrases from Swift’s
essay and incorporates
them appropriately
Sentence variety and elegant
use of complex and compound
sentence structure
Some use of complex
sentence structure
Ironic tone consistently
achieved by using literary
devices in Swift’s Style
Authentic and serious social
problem is identified in a
focused and clear manner
Content
8 Points
Perfect MLA Heading
12-point font
Typed
Single spaced
Two Pages
Title and subtitle as directed
Proposal is clear and
powerful/extreme
Solution is well-defended in
terms of logic and persuasion
Essay reveals political and
philosophical
outlook/sophistication
5 Points
Two or more format
errors according to
guidelines
Less than 2 full pages
One page or less
Ironic tone uneven;
some use of literary
devices in Swift’s Style
Somewhat authentic and
thoughtful social problem
– though not entirely
clearly stated
Proposal is clear but a
little weak
Solution is defended,
though not entirely
logically; persuasion may
be weak
Uses 5 or less actual
words and phrases
from Swift’s essay
and does not
incorporate them
appropriately
Very limited sentence
variety
Irony is crude or nonexistent; few if any
literary devices
Spurious or random
choice of issue, not
clearly stated
Unclear and
incomplete proposal
Solution is not
coherent or logical;
unpersuasive