SATIRE And its
social implications
Ms.
Mayer
Harry
S. Truman High
School
In Jonathan
Swift’s A Modest Proposal, the author
advocates that in order for the government of
Did you hear
correctly??!!
He said people
should eat their babies! I know that
hunger was a big problem in
Want to read it now?
Here it is:
Jonathan Swift’s A Modest
Proposal
………………What did you think?
Crazy, huh?
First of all, we have to realize that Swift is not
serious about what he is saying. The
genre in which he
is writing is called SATIRE. Swift’s writing is sort of a big joke.
Swift is trying to show us the extent of
WOW! He manages to
do all this in one essay! Do you think
you’ll be able to do the same?
The basic policy or set
of policies forming the foundation of public laws, especially such policy not
yet formally enunciated. Basically,
public policy involves laws that will come into effect in order to improve some
problem in society.
In this paper you will create you are to follow the
structure of Swift’s famous essay, “A Modest Proposal” in order to create your
own “radical” solution to a social problem facing American society as well as
at least two practical solutions to the problem. So you get to have fun with this essay’s
shocking solution, but you must also research practical solutions.
1. Your essay
should follow the structure of Swift’s essay:
ü Introduction
to topic and social problem (YOU CHOOSE THE SOCIAL PROBLEM IN YOUR GROUPS OF
3-5 STUDENTS!)
ü Radical,
shocking thesis
ü Support
and arguments for your radical thesis
ü Towards
the end, two practical arguments with SUPPORT (research)
ü Restatement
of the radical thesis and support for it
Your paper should:
Ø Be 3-5
pages long
Ø Use at
least 2 outside sources
Ø Use at
least 5-8 in-text citations for direct quotes, and paraphrases
Ø Use MLA
format
Skim through the following websites in order to EDUCATE yourself
about the issue of HUNGER. This was
Swift’s topic, and you will have to do research of your own on the topic your
group chooses.
Root
Causes of World Hunger:
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/hunger/causeindex.htm
Kids’
solutions to solving hunger:
http://www.kidscanmakeadifference.org/Newsletter/n399b.htm
The
Hunger Web
http://nutrition.tufts.edu/academic/hungerweb/
Now, that you’ve chosen your own topic, go ahead and
research workable solutions to your own social problem!! The following website may be helpful in
choosing a topic:
Overview
of some social problems
Part A
Utilize the following links to help you clarify your
process for creating your own modest proposal and coming up with workable
solutions to your social problem.
STEP 1: Identify the problem
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet1.html
STEP 2: Gather evidence -> Use
the RESOURCES listed above for your research.
Read in more detail.
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet2.html
STEP 3: Identifying the causes of
the problem
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet3.html
STEP 4: Evaluate a policy
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet4.html
STEP 5: Develop solutions
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet5.html
STEP 6: Selecting the best public
policy solution
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet6.html
Part B
Looking over your notes from the 6 STEPS,
begin to think about how you want to structure your own modest proposal and
workable solutions. Remember, not only
do you have to create a modest proposal, but you also have to be able to have
research that supports your workable solutions.
Whew!
Use your creativity!!
Q. How will I know
which social problem I should choose?
A. You can choose
almost anything: alcohol abuse, juvenile crime, homelessness, etc. Just make sure that you find enough
supporting research to be able to come up with workable solutions to your
social problem.
Q. Which websites
will help me?
A. That is up to
you. You’re going to have to be sure to
do some research so that you find workable solutions.
Q. What good are
the 6 Steps?
A. By answering the
questions on the worksheets, you develop a clearer idea of what your social
problem is about, and will better be able to find your solutions.
Q. How should my
paper be structured?
A. Your paper
should follow the structure of Swift’s paper:
In the
beginning of the paper, be sure to have:
v Introduction
to topic (social problem)
v Radical,
attention-getting thesis
The real
MEAT of the paper MUST HAVE:
v Support
for your radical thesis
v A less
radical, practical thesis with support from research
____ I skimmed all the web
pages given to me, and found web pages of my own to support my social problem.
____ I took notes on my
own paper for all 6 Steps.
____ I included the
necessary information in my paper, listed in the Task.
____ I made sure that my
paper contains a modest proposal with practical solutions.
____ My work is 3-5
pages long with two outside sources and 5-8 in-text citations.
____ I used MLA format
for citation.
____ I signed my proof
that I did my own work in this project.
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Congratulations on graduating from public policy school! Using the TIPS PPA to analyze causes for social problems affecting society, you’ve been able to create and analyze your own policy that can help solve societal ills.
You’ve met the following ELA Performance
Standards:
Math, Science, and Technology
Standard 2. Students will access, generate,
process, and transfer information using appropriate technologies.
Standard 5. Students will apply technological
knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products and
systems to satisfy various needs.
Standard 7. Students will apply the knowledge and
thinking skills of technology to address real-life problems and make informed
decisions
English Language Arts
Standard 1. Students will listen, speak, read, & write for information and understanding; they will collect data, facts, & ideas and use electronically produced texts.
Standard 4. Students will listen, speak, read, and
write for social interaction.