A Modest Proposal - Satire and Society by Christopher McDuff https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal Unit aims: Students will explore the genre of satire across a range of literary forms, considering how it reflects and comments on social conditions and injustices. They will focus on the work of Jonathan Swift, with a close study of A Modest Proposal, while making connections to modern forms of satire in digital and visual media. The central course aims that will be explored are culture, perspective, communication and creativity. I have chosen an inquiry-based scope for this unit to allow the exploration of all three AOEs simultaneously, while preparing students for a range of possible assessments, particularly the IO and Paper 1. en-us 2021-08-31 06:12:55 UTC 2023-02-17 00:22:58 UTC hello@padlet.com Warm-up: christopher_mcduff https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706461187 What is your 'modest proposal' for fixing one of society's ills?]]> 2021-08-31 06:28:10 UTC https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706461187 Jigsaw definition christopher_mcduff https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706479450 Give each student a quote to explain. In groups, students need to work together to create a definition of satire that encompasses all elements.

“Satire is a sort of mirror , wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own.“
Jonathan Swift, The Battle of the Books, preface (1704)

“Satire is traditionally the weapon of the powerless against the powerful.”
Molly Ivins

“I try and write satire that’s well-intentioned. But those intentions have to be hidden. It can’t be completely clear, and that’s what makes it comedy.”
Bo Burnham

“Satire is, by definition, offensive. It is meant to make us feel uncomfortable. It is meant to make us scratch our heads, think, do a double-take, and then think again.”
Maajid Nawaz

“Satire is a lesson. Parody is a game.”
Vladimir Nabokov
]]> 2021-08-31 06:37:14 UTC https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706479450 Covid Satire 1 christopher_mcduff https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706481116 2021-08-31 06:38:05 UTC https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706481116 Covid Satire 2 christopher_mcduff https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706483844 Compare and contrast the aims and techniques of these two satirical sketches. Make links to Paper 1 skills]]> 2021-08-31 06:39:29 UTC https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706483844 Exploring Satire Task christopher_mcduff https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706489560 2021-08-31 06:42:36 UTC https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706489560 Key text study christopher_mcduff https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706504676 How does Swift use language and genre conventions to critique social injustice?]]> 2021-08-31 06:49:55 UTC https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706504676 Time and Place christopher_mcduff https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706506528
  • How important is cultural or historical context to the production and reception of a text?

  • How do we approach texts from different times and cultures to our own?

    • Research skills: Students will research the context of 18th Century Ireland, considering different economic, social and political issues shaping Swift's work.


    ]]>     2021-08-31 06:50:52 UTC https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706506528     Intertextual Connections - Swift christopher_mcduff https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706522512 Students will explore how Swift exploration of English imperialism in a close reading of 'Laputa', the flying island in Gulliver's Travels.]]> 2021-08-31 06:58:43 UTC https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706522512 Readers, Writers, Texts christopher_mcduff https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706527844 Students will explore a range of letters and essays by Swift from the Penguin collection, focusing on Paper 1 skills.

    Readers, Writers, Texts:

    • How does language use vary amongst text types, and amongst literary forms?

    • How does the structure or style of a text affect meaning?

    ]]>     2021-08-31 07:01:12 UTC https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706527844     Modern Times (1936) christopher_mcduff https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706532417 Intertextuality
    • How can texts offer multiple perspectives of a single issue, topic or theme?

    • In what ways can comparison and interpretation be transformative?

    Students will compare A Modest Proposal to Modern Times, focusing on possible Individual Oral comparisons.


    ]]>     2021-08-31 07:03:31 UTC https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706532417     Create a satirical sketch christopher_mcduff https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706539374 Social skills:

    In groups, students will be asked to create a short satirical sketch in the style of John Oliver or SNL to creatively tie together their understanding of context, audience, purpose and techniques.]]>     2021-08-31 07:06:51 UTC https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706539374     SNL christopher_mcduff https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706540429 2021-08-31 07:07:22 UTC https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706540429 christopher_mcduff https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706542436 2021-08-31 07:08:23 UTC https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706542436 Paper 1 assessment christopher_mcduff https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706550077 Communication skills:

    Students will analyse an unseen, exploring how the author uses language to engage its audience.

    In the lead up, students will explore satirical articles from The Onion, Betoota Advocate, The Chaser and Hard Times.]]>     2021-08-31 07:11:39 UTC https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706550077     Individual Student Choice christopher_mcduff https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706556235 Self-management skills: Students will be asked to choose from a range of non-literary bodies of work as their modern satirical text, preferentially building on their choices from the engagement activity at the end of Week 1.

    Thinking skills: Students will work critically through a range of texts, building individual interpretations of texts considering their social/cultural contexts. They will also be encouraged to consider how texts can be reinterpreted in different contexts.]]>     2021-08-31 07:15:02 UTC https://padlet.com/christopher_mcduff/amodestproposal/wish/1706556235