Seeking Social Justice through Satire: Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal"

JJonathan Swift's 1729 pamphlet "A Modest Proposal" is a model for satirizing social problems. In this 2 week unit, students complete multiple readings of Swift's essay: a guided reading with the teacher, a collaborative reading with a peer, and an independent reading. Through guided reading questions, students will examine satiric devices used by Swift, in addition to analyzing tone and how the various sections of the piece work togeher. Then, pairs of students will develop a mock television newscast or editorial script, like those found on Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update," The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, or The Colbert Report, including appropriate visual images in PowerPoint. In their script, students will collaboratively identify a contemporary social problem, analyze it, and develop an outrageous satiric solution to resolve it.
Resource ID#: 31806 Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence
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Direct Link: http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/seeking-social-justice-through-30827.html?tab=1#tabs

General Information

Subject(s): English Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 11, 12
Intended Audience: Educators educators
Suggested Technology: Computer for Presenter, Computers for Students, Internet Connection, LCD Projector, Speakers/Headphones, Microsoft Office
Resource supports reading in content area:Yes
Freely Available: Yes
Keywords: satire, Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal, social justice, satiric devices, script
Instructional Component Type(s): Unit/Lesson Sequence,  Worksheet,  Assessment,  Project,  Image/Photograph
Instructional Design Framework(s): Direct Instruction, Writing to Learn, Cooperative Learning
Resource Collection: General Collection

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