Satire based on Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”
100 points
Choose an issue that you care deeply about and believe deserves more attention. Consider yourself an activist for this particular cause and assume that other means of persuasion have failed. Write a “modest proposal” mimicking the style of Jonathan Swift; maintain a “reasonable” tone like the authorial persona in Swift’s essay and write your proposal for an organization or institution with the ability to work toward a solution to the problem.
Components of your proposal:
a) Start out with a vivid description of the problems as it exists now, showing why reform is necessary.
b) Include a “modest proposal” for solving this problem
c) Describe how this proposal will work
d) Refute possible objections someone may have (of course, you can be totally outlandish)
e) List the advantages of your proposal
f) Include your real, rational proposals that were hypothetically dismissed
g) Close by calling to action or showing why your proposal is important
Your essay will be graded for organization, inclusion of all named components above, style (manipulation of tone, diction, and sentence structure for effect), correctness, and focus (having a limited topic).
Use a variety of satirical elements in your proposal and use footnotes to identify the technique and explain the reasoning for its use. Bring a printed copy to class and upload it to turnitin.com
Satirical Elements
Burlesque
Caricature
Euphemism
Hyperbole
Incongruity
Irony
Reduction
Reductio ad absurdum
Invective
Lampoon
Parody
Understatement
Sarcasm
Note: Satire, admittedly, is meant to be able to stand by itself and make its point, either in a subtle or not-so-subtle way. However, to humor your teacher and help your grade, please include a p.s. at the end (where else?) of your paper explaining your satire.