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MODEST PROPOSAL By Jonathan Swift Spare a penny, Miss?
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Getting Ready to Read (in your journals…) What is “apartness”? What kinds are there? Why do they exist? Is poverty a problem for everyone, or just the poor? How does it affect society as a whole? What is the main cause of poverty in America? What is the definition of “poor”? Does it refer to just money or to a quality of life? Writing 2.3: Exploring significance of conditions & events. Flexible in thinking : tries to understand both sides of an issue
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Expectations Work packet (100 pts) will contain notes on: Be prepared for reading quiz Vocabulary Theme and author’s purpose Persuasive appeals Ethical/Logical appeals Devices of satire Quotes journal Individual & group work **To be turned in: Tuesday 10 March** Approximately four pages of thorough notes and work is expected for an A. Instruction will culminate with a persuasive writing assignment and satire project.
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Introducing Key Vocabulary 1.Deference 2.Laudable 3.Conjecture 4.Glutted 5.Scrupulous a.Suppose b.Attention to detail c.Admirable d.Regard e.Overfilled Word Analysis 1.1 & 1.2 Precision of Language
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Vocabulary Practice Word to OwnDenotation (definition) Connotations (attitude and emotion) SynonymAntonym EXAMPLE: animosities (n. pl) Hostilities; violent hatreds or resentments. Harm towards another, disgust Choose five words from Modest Proposal that are listed as “Words to Own” on the bottom of each page. Fill in the chart.
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Surveying the Text The title of the piece says it is “modest.” What does modest mean? How long is the essay? Is that modest? “Background” on p. 502 When was it published? What were the conditions in Ireland? Reading 2.1 Analyze features of texts. Uses past knowledge in new situations and connects two different ideas.
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Making Predictions and Asking Questions Looking at the sub- title, what do you think the proposal will be about? Read the first three paragraphs. What attitude do you think the author has about poor people? Does he state what the problem is, why poor people are a problem? Asks questions, gather information, and figure out what it means. Reading 2.3 Verify facts
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Wednesday Warm-up In 5-8 minutes: Reread the first 3 paragraphs and make notations such as: * issues * author’s main points * author’s arguments * your reactions Pair/Share (using hushed voices) Class sharing We’re just getting started Reading Comprehension 2.2 Listens with understanding and builds on others’ ideas.
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Analyzing Stylistic Choices Read paragraphs 4 – 6. Continue notations: * issues * author’s main points * author’s arguments * your reactions In 5-8 minutes: Pair/Share: Re-read paragraphs 4 – 6 noting the following stylistic devices: * connotative word choices (par #4) * persuasive techniques (par #5) * ironic passages (par #6) Literary Analysis 3.3. Analyze how irony, tone, mood, style, and "sound" of language achieve specific aesthetic purposes. Persevering : Stay on task to figure it out.
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Analyzing Stylistic Choices (cont’d) connotative word choices persuasive techniques ironic passages #4 “…dropped from its dam” instead of saying “born” Why? What type of appeal is used in paragraph #5? End of #6… How are these remarks ironic? To seem like animals instead of people Ethical—eliminate abortion & infanticide; also emotional appeal Most people want their children to grow up & get good jobs
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STYLE ANALYSIS (cont’d) Read paragraphs 7–8–9: What methods of satire are used in this passage about the market value of children? Understatement : pricing a child Verbal irony : proposal is not “modest” but instead outrageous Situational irony: a reversal of all that we value Parody: mimicking the language of business
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STYLE ANALYSIS (cont’d) Par. 9-10 “I do therefore humbly…” What type of persuasive appeal is used here? Logical Par. 12 satire“Somewhat dear” is what kind of satire? Understatement connotateWhat does“devoured” connotate? Greed & gluttony
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STYLE ANALYSIS (cont’d) Par. 13 “Infant’s flesh…” What attitudes toward Catholics are being satirized? that a Catholic child is less valuable or desirable than a Protestant one Mocking the number of children born 9 months after Lent ( a time supposedly devoted to fasting and abstinence) Par. 14, 15, 16 “ I have…” Appeals? Logical Irony? Verbal—Swift means the opposite What does “…dressing them…” mean? Stuffing them like turkey Effect? To horrify his readers
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S-T-Y-L-E S-T-Y-L-E ( Write S-T-Y-L-E down left margin of page) S -entence Structure T -one (author’s attitude) st Y le-combo of diction, tone, motifs… L -anguage is precise & effective E -motional overtones & connotations
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S S entences (Reread paragraphs 14-15-16) Are the sentence structures varied? Yes, but mostly compound/complex What effects do choices of structure and sentence length have on the reader? Reading 2.1 Analyze both the features and rhetorical devices of texts & the way authors use these features. Works accurately and precisely looking for evidence.
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T T one Read par. 17 “A very worthy …” Look over the tone vocabulary and select some that seem appropriate Audacious/bold/foolhardy Ridiculous/ludicrous/ outrageous Provocative/offensive Mocking/sardonic/sarcastic Literary Analysis 3.3. Analyze how irony, tone, mood, style, and "sound" of language achieve specific aesthetic purposes. Asks questions and solves problems: gather information & figure out what it means.
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Y ST Y LE Read par. 18 – 19 “But in order…” Swift’s satire going from the serious, to the ridiculous, and then to indifference causes the reader to …? Be repulsed and angryBe repulsed and angry For what purpose? To expose England’s treatment of Ireland as a colony and plundering it for resources.To expose England’s treatment of Ireland as a colony and plundering it for resources.
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L L anguage Note some word choices that seem to create a particular effect Expedient and encumbranceExpedient and encumbrance Sophisticated and serious Rotting, filth, and verminRotting, filth, and vermin Emotional connotations combined with pathos and disgust
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E E motional Overtones Read the remaining paragraphs noting (1-2-3-4-5-6) the specific persuasive arguments listed. Then continue your list with Swift’s emotional appeals and devices. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Share 1 – 6 Share appeals What appeals are especially outrageous? Feasting on children at weddings and christeningsFeasting on children at weddings and christenings
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Summarize Swift’s purposes In addition to wanting to shock the people, what specific conditions did he want to expose? Review your notes then we’ll pair/share Writing 2.2a Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the significant ideas in works or passages. *Persistent & persevering *Listens with understanding
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Swift’s search for a solution to economic problems exposes… Catholic / Protest rivalry Landlord / tenant dealings Flow of capital Cost of raising children Decadent, over- refined tastes Having children out of wedlock
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Group WS: Compare artist’s portrayal of mood with Swift’s expression of tone; also, note theme similarities.
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Quiz!
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QUIZ (number 1 – 10) 1.Swift expects his readers to consider his outlandish solutions to the poverty in Ireland. 2.Swifts proposal takes into account only the children of beggars. 3.Swift says that children born to poor parents in Ireland could become useful, wage-earning citizens if they were well fed. 4.Swift supports British policy in Ireland. 5. Swift recommends exporting the new commodity. 6. Swift’s proposal results in profits for the poor only. 7. With Swift’s proposal capital remains in Ireland. 8. According to Swift, one advantage of his proposal would be an increase in marriages. True/False
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Multiple Choice 9.In “A Modest Proposal,” Swift is least concerned with the problem of a. poverty. c. foreign misrule. b. violent crime. d. religious discrimination. 10.Swift displays the greatest contempt for a. politiciansc. absentee landlords b. Catholic clergyd. unwed mothers
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Quiz Answers (exchange papers) 1.False 2.False 3.False 4.False 5.False 6.False 7.True 8.True 9.b 10.c Score papers (?/10) and write C/B and your name at the bottom of the page Score papers (?/10) and write C/B and your name at the bottom of the page.
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Final Reflection What were your most significant learning experiences? In other words, list content, themes, literary elements, and habits of mind that you felt were most enriching or enlightening. Now staple all papers together & be sure your name is noted.
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