ELA 11-12 A Modest Proposal

ELA 11-12 A Modest Proposal

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Standards & Objectives

Essential and guiding questions: 
  • How does Swift use verbal irony in the title of the essay?
  • What does Swift think about religious views including Irish Catholics, English and Irish Protestants, and those who live abroad?
  • What does Swift blame widespread thievery in Ireland and why?
  • Why does Swift give the reader financial calculations in this text? How would his proposal improve family life?
  • Why does Swift reveal the historical differences between the English and the Irish in refuting the opposing view?
  • Now that you have finished reading A Modest Proposal: why would Swift make such an extreme proposal? 

Activity/Task Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding
Originator: 
Tennessee Department of Education