1. Post your strongest work that I have not yet collected in the comment box. (Post only one!)
I know a lot of you worked hard on these to prepare for class. Our discussions were rich and productive. I want to honor that work here on the blog too.
Options: Clinton speech SOAPSTone (identify and discuss the significance of each part of the SOAPSTone); or "A Modest Proposal" paragraph analysis (What is Swift satirizing? How does the section you were assigned contribute to Swift's rhetorical effectiveness?); or you could type up your notes on the Banneker letter rubric, rhetorical analysis essays, and teacher comments.
Please use your first name and last initial when posting.
2. Answer the poll questions in the right margin ---------------------->
Post a comment below declaring that you answered the poll questions.
Complete this work by class time on Monday (9/24).
I hereby declare the polls have been voted for by moi
ReplyDeleteClinton Speech
DeleteS-Former president speaking about election from democratic point of view. Can speak from experience i.e-very knowledgeable on subject.
O-It’s almost election, many are still in the voting process. Romney’s on a roll, doubts on Obama.
A-Americans in general, specific at voters. He is speaking also to Republicans which is clear by addition of claiming no hatred for them in intro.
P-Some citizens are ignorant about politics and its effect, so purpose is to inform. Dissipate rumours.
S-Whatever Obama’s accomplished, compared to what Republicans have done.
Tone-Conversational, inviting. People will probably listen through to what he has to say. No professional language involved; even commoners will understand. Guides audience with “This is important,” or “Listen to this.” Theme is ‘we all want the same thing.’
It's actually 1:00 AM...
Delete3 hours behind...
1. Bill Clinton’s Speech
ReplyDeleteSpeaker:
Bill Clinton, a former president of the United States. An American, a Democrat, and a strong supporter of our current president, Barrack Obama. An individual, who stands strong and encourages others to make wise decisions for their next president, their next leader, and their future nation. An individual who speaks for others, full of self-determination ready to share his personal knowledge and experience to the American society. An advocate, expressing President Barack Obama’s achievements as a president, individual, and as a United States citizen.
Occasion:
The National Democratic Convention that took place on September 5, 2012. A convention aimed to reelect our current president, Barrack Obama. A convention intended to validate the president’s hopes, visions, and promises. A convention for Democrats and Republicans and to every American willing to listen to Bill Clinton’s knowledge and assurance for Barrack Obama.
Audience:
The entire American society incorporated of different individuals, who share different beliefs, opinions, and attitudes towards the president. However, Bill Clinton uses this as a tool, in which he notifies and persuades each American to carefully make a wise vote.
Purpose:
To reelect President Barack Obama and to recall every achievement he has made to this nation. It was not only set out to express the president’s future goals, but to show what he has made possible. It was intended to tell the nation’s republicans, democrats, independents, and every American that each and everyone of them should have a say and must vote for Barrack Obama in order to live in a country, in which “we’re all in this together policy” can be fully accomplished.
Significance:
A speech of prosperity, cooperation, and opportunity, in which every American is able to realize the change Barrack Obama has made for the nation and for every American individual.
Tone:
An American, who disregarded the tone of a refined politician, hoping to show no distinction between the audience and himself. An individual, who sets forth to speak with a relaxed and tranquil tone, though with a strong and clear message. A speaker, who is full of pride and loyalty for his President and nation, hoping to show the United States what can and should be done to achieve full prosperity.
2. I have answered the poll questions.
"A Modest Proposal" paragraph 18 analysis
ReplyDeleteJonathan Swift, author of “A Modest Proposal”, wrote of about the starving people of Ireland in the early 1700′s. The purpose of his argument is to raise awareness of the issue. Swift persuades his audience by proposing an extreme and unethical solution, in hopes that he will get others to start thinking about actual solutions. Paragraph 18 contributed to the overall effectiveness by using a few strategies. One technique was language. Each word made the paragraph more effective. Such as when he said "persons of quality", it appeals to the reader's noblility. Also, using the word "plump" when describing the children makes them seem more like animals/food. Also by saying "four hundred crowns", Swift keeps reminding his reader of the different value systems that bear on Ireland's social and political problems. Swift also brought an outsider's (Psalmanazar's) views in, which adds to credibility. This paragraph really helped contribute to the effectiveness of the entire satire.
I answered the poll questions!
Kelly Foster
A block
1. A Modest Proposal: Paragraphs 4 and 5
ReplyDeleteJonathan Swift wrote this pamphlet with such extreme ideas that it is obvious that he isn’t serious. Swift is trying to show the world how barbaric the people in Ireland are acting, no matter what class they are in, so he proposes these eccentric ideas as a satire. He proposes that instead of women getting abortions or killing their babies that they should give their children to others who can eat them for food. Swift talks of these things as horrible practices that need to be stopped, but he pretends to believe that eating babies isn’t bad at all. This is a sure sign that this piece is a satire, because Swift writes that how women kill their own children is awful, so other people can do it for them. Swift proposes these crazy ideas to show that the people during this time of poverty are acting barbaric. The poor were stealing and going to extremes to stay alive, and the upper classes were just watching it happen.
2. I voted.
HannahEllis A Block
“A Modest Proposal” is a grotesque mockery of the rich and powerful of Ireland by Jonathon Swift. While posing as a man concerned with the lives of the impoverished, Swift sets up an inhumane idea supported by “logic”, “reason”, and the care for his country’s people. Behind his idea of eating children is a subtle yet powerful hit towards the rich and to the government, which both had all of the power to themselves and were not in any way helping the poor. Behind Swift’s character, an intelligent and also sleazy man, are accusations that the all-powerful rich are controlling the lives of the weaker, underprivileged poor, to the extent that the rich are emotionally destroying the poor. Swift is also accusing the government of complacently standing by and letting the majority of the kingdom suffer. The majority which in a rich man’s eyes are savages and beasts.
ReplyDeleteIn the last two paragraphs, Swift essentially lessens up on his satirizing, and presents real facts that drag the reader back to the, now clearer, reality that something needs to be done to change the lives of many.
At the end of his essay, Swift challenges the government to invent a better solution for the people than his character’s horrendous solution. If the government does not help the hundreds of thousands of hungry and poor mouths, then these unfortunates, these “savages” will create their own solution. You may not like it, but what else can you do? Something has to be done for these helpless people. By pretentiously challenging the government to act, Swift will invoke the government to act; “maturely…consider” is an attack that the government, who will be outraged at this essay, is not handling themself maturely or politically wise. …how [the authors of other solutions] will be able to find food and raiment...” Swift is raising an eyebrow at others in mockery and saying “you do better.”
Another point Swift makes in his closing argument is that the impoverished are suffering so terribly that their motivation for living was long ago lost. “…ask the parents…whether they would not at this day think it great happiness to have been sold as food…” Any one of those poor, overlooked “savages” would tell you that life is not worth living if this is what it consists of. “…and thereby avoided such a perpetual scene of misfortunes” (Swift then goes on to detailing the suffering having been endured). Swift hits the reader emotionally very strongly; thousands of people who are disconsolate and forlorn towards their rulers, their country, the people, their life. Swift carries on with his uppity air and makes the reader not only sympathizing with the destitute but infuriated with the narrator, who is rich, educated, and proud, evident in his strong vocabulary that is very developed for this time period; “sustenance” rather than food, “oppression”, and “inclemenciesof weather”, rather than rough weather or stormy. Swift’s choice of words and phrases carries the reader against the current power, and for the larger mass of suffering people. You naturally side with the ones in need of help, and against the annoying or rude ones.
Swift finalizes the reader’s opinions of him and the matter at hand in the last paragraph, alleging that he will have no part in this plan, having no need for it; only wanting to help others. He does not need the money, and besides, his children and wife are not suitable. How can you help you suggest something that you yourself would not want to do? How can you help others when you do not understand them? When you have not tried, nothing you do will be help.
Whew… I voted!
Nicole Bauke, F Block
S- The former president of America Bill Clinton gives a speech but as he talks to the people, he suddenly is a common American citizen and the “Former President” title no longer stands out. He talks to the people as if he were having a one on one conversation with each person in the audience. The purpose of Clinton doing so I think was to make him more relatable to the audience, thereby making the audience trust what he says is true of President Obama
ReplyDeleteO- Democratic National Convention was the occasion where Clinton gave his speech. This was important because it was the one time in the whole campaign that everyone was tuned in to listen to what the Democrats have to say for themselves.
A-The Democrats who were present at the convention and also the democrats and other viewers at home. The audience are very important because they are the ones to determine who the future president will be, and Clinton was to convince them that President Obama deserves another four years to basically finish what he started. Clinton says that he knows that the audience doesn’t feel that there’s anything done by Obama, and I one hundred percent agree, Clinton agrees too but promises that if the President has another term, we will feel that he has done something for our country especially in the economy sector.
P-The purpose of Clinton giving this speech was to convince the public that President Obama deserves another four years. He does so by proving that the president has the best intentions for the country, and if he has to have people who were against him on board, he will do it, because it’s not about him, it’s about the country. Clinton did a good job describing the president; he made him sound like the epitome of an American president. The sentence “‘we’re all in this together’ is far better than ‘ you’re on your own’” really sets the two parties apart from each other and I think that was the other intention of the speech and the occasion as well.
S- The re-election of president Obama and the aims of president to get America back on track, but it’s up to the public to make the decision, keeping in mind that he is the best, and has the best intentions for the country. The subject is important because it is what makes the audience pay attention to his message.
T- Mr. Clinton’s tone is very calm, which I think made it easier for people to believe what he was saying. He even preferred to make his speech his own by not reading word for word. This makes the audience see that wow; this is truly how he feels about the president, and how he feels about the future of the country
I voted!
Carren Jepchumba... F block
Hope W.
ReplyDeleteS- Former President Bill Clinton, Democrat. Clinton is a former president so he knows what the job of president entails; he knows what he is nominating Barack Obama for and backs his previous term in office. Clinton is relatable during his speech so his listeners have confidence that Obama is the right choice because of what he is saying.
O- The national democratic convention 2012, presidential nomination speech. The whole nation is watching Clinton and taking in all of the information that he is telling about the candidate (Barack Obama). It is a very important speech for Obama because it can help to sway voters who are on the fence about who to vote for, it is equally important for Clinton because it shows how he stands behind and democrats around the nation respect his opinions
A-There are two main audiences that Clinton is talking to, the other democrats that are there and those and home watching the convention on TV. Clinton addresses the crowd by relating to them using words such as “we” and “us” these allow the audience there to feel almost a part of the speech. Clinton also addresses those watching the convention be addressing the major issues at hand and explaining why Obama is the right choice to be president, and that every vote counts.
P- The purpose of Clinton’s speech is to nominate Barack Obama as President of the USA, but with this he is also trying to persuade voters that Obama is the right choice to vote into a second term in office over the republican candidate Mitt Romney. Clinton shows what Obama has done for the nation in the past and his hopes for the future, providing evidence of Obama’s success which makes him a good candidate for the future.
S-The main subject of the speech is Barack Obama and his achievements in his first term as president. Clinton talks about what Obama has done thus far and how he plans to build upon these for the future. Clinton also touches upon the republican candidate and how his reforms/plans for the future will be much worse for the people of the US and why it is crucial that Obama be elected for a second term over Romney.
Tone- The overall tone of the speech is convincing, which what I believe is exactly what Clinton was trying to achieve. Clinton was trying to convince his audiences that Obama should be not only nominated to run as president but be elected as president in the coming election. Clinton achieves his convincing tone be repeating and stressing all of the good things that have come from Obama’s time in office and what, if elected, will come of them in the future.
(i voted)
Jordan W.
ReplyDelete1. A Modest Proposal- paragraphs 1-3
In the first three paragraphs of Swift's satire, I generally focused on his specific word choice. This was crucial to the entire story, because by looking past Swift's ordinary choice of words, you can the underlying meaning that he insinuates easily and silently. In a first read-through, these choices that Swift makes are just there, and the reader sees them, but they mean nothing. It isn't until the second or more readings that the reader can see that the ordinary words Swift uses aren't ordinary at all. An example of Swift's simplicity with underlying meanings would be merely in the first sentence: "... those who walk through this great town or travel to the country...". Swift uses the word 'great' completely out ofthe blue. he could have left it out, but in adding it, somebody analyzing the work can see the irony behind his words. Swift's real message in A Modest Proposal isn't about eating children, but it is a dig on the social classes, and Ireland at the time. In Swift saying what a great town it is, the reader can see that this isn't truly how he feels.
2. I didn't feel like it was right to vote since I wasn't there on Fri...
Christina S.
ReplyDelete1. A Modest Proposal paragraphs 11, 12, and 13:
Jonathan Swift is satirizing the terrible treatment of the poor in Ireland in the 18th century. These people were basically regarded as less than human. The theories as to what to do with the poor were almost as ridiculous as suggesting they sell their children as food for wealthy clients.
Paragraphs 11, 12, and 13 are just after Swift explains his solution. He then talks about the ideal weight of the children and the time of year in which it's best to harvest them. Swift's plan is so elaborate that the reader questions his sincerity. Also, he says that landlords "have already devoured most of the parents" and therefore they "seem to have the best title to the children." A lot of people probably read over this line without noticing the witticism. Swift's satirical tone is very apparent in this part of the proposal, and these paragraphs are therefore rhetorically effective.
2. I voted.
Ivy G.
ReplyDeleteA Block
2. I declare that I have voted.
1. Bill Clinton’s speech; SOAPSTone
Speaker- The speaker, Bill Clinton, is a Democrat and former president of the United States. He is a persuasive American who supports and defends current President Barack Obama’s re-election. Clinton is sharp and insightful in his speech. Clinton clearly wants what he believes is best for America and tries to relate to his crowd using casual vocabulary like “folks” or in order to make his argument about President Obama more convincing.
Occasion- The speech was held on September 5, 2012, at the Democratic National Convention. At this convention, Clinton represented a democratic standpoint which spoke for his party as a whole.
Audience- The audience was intended to be Clinton’s “fellow Democrats”, and other citizens of America who might have a democratic perspective or those who want to know where the Democrats are coming from. Version one of Clinton’s speech was intended for this type of crowd, but changes were made in versions two and three that were found to be more suitable given the circumstances of the audience and the purpose of the speech (which was to support President Obama’s re-election; therefore the modifications needed to be more compelling).
Purpose- The purpose of the speech was to present reasons why President Obama should be re-elected and why the opposing Republican argument was invalid or why we should disagree with them. In other words, perhaps Clinton was trying to turn a few more Americans to the “democratic side” by showing what they can do for America. Clinton’s purpose in this speech was to win the hearts and minds of his audience so that they would share his opinion about the country and how President Obama should still service it.
Significance- The significance of a compelling speech in favor of America’s future provides its citizens with reasons to choose what’s best for their country and economy. The argument made in Clinton’s speech is significant because it may determine the next president of the United States. It may also change the opinions of other democrats or even republicans.
Tone- Clinton’s tone in his speech was crispy clear but a bit jovial, as well. He uses phrases like “a broken clock is right twice a day” to provide a clear aspect of his argument, but then uses phrases like “let’s just hope we’re right more than twice a day” to be more realistic and lighten the mood for the audience so that they know he can be serious enough to get his point across and then some.
Katie M.
ReplyDeleteA Modest Proposal: Paragraph 26
1: Jonathan Swift is satirizing the food shortage Ireland is experiencing, by bringing in the option/question of killing children. The comparison of abortions and killing the children to eat them are being compared as if they are the same thing. There is a difference between killing an unborn compared to killing and eating a child who has already started to live his or her life.
2: Paragraph 26 contributes to the analysis by mocking the situation in a public event. The option of killing and eating babies during christening is just wrong, since you are there celebrating the birth of a baby. This is insensitive by creating the idea of enjoyment out of all this.
(I voted.)
Michael Jaksland
ReplyDeleteSeptember 17, 2012
A Modest Proposal
What is Swift satirizing?
In A Modest Proposal, Swift is satirizing not just the issues of overpopulation and poverty that the Irish are suffering from at this time, but the way the English respond. He brings attention to the issues amongst the Irish by creating an upper-class, snooty persona of sorts—one that mocks British people’s attitude toward the entire situation. He does this by having his character propose a plan that, in the end, would solve the Irish’s problem, but also exterminate a good portion of them.
How does your paragraph contribute to the rhetorical effectiveness?
My three paragraphs contribute to the rhetorical effectiveness of A Modest Proposal because in my assigned paragraphs, Swift's persona is calculating the seasons in which it is best to slaughter the children. He talks about seasoning, seasons, and how nine months after Lent is when the market is its busiest. This contributes to the rhetorical effectiveness because he makes it seem as if everything was calculated, making it seem as if his plan is totally accurate and must be correct. He also mentions landlords and how they devour the parents just like the parents would be devouring their child. Swift alludes to the fact that people are struggling to pay rent, and that their landlords are hounding them; it's just not right. The solution to this problem, in his opinion, is to sell your baby as meat. Swift makes a point to show that his proposal is morally flawed, solving an immoral problem with an immoral solution.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteA Modest Proposal Paragraphs 13-15
ReplyDeleteParagraph 13 goes into such elaboration that it is comical. He explains the math behind nursing a beggar’s child, and then goes on to specify which part of the population would be considered a beggar, “in which list I reckon all cottagers, laborers, and four-fifths of farmers.” The fraction of farmers also adds to the math that he proposes. He also explains children as though they were animals again, in talking about how “nutritious” their “meat” is, and talks about mothers as though their only purpose is to make babies to pay rent to their landlords. This puts down the middle class by putting the landlord’s interests above that of the poor tenant.
The fourteenth paragraph is one sentence explaining that the more “thrifty” citizens could take the skins and wear them for gloves. He emphasizes that being thrifty is what the times require, making the upper class look bad again by mocking their constant need to change and be better than others. What could top wearing another human being’s flesh for the sake of fashion?
The last paragraph I was assigned brings up yet another reference to treating the poor like animals, directly stating that “I rather recommend buying the children alive… as we do roasting pigs.” This is cruel and twisted, and no would see this as morally correct. The author is bringing up something so horrible so casually, adds to satire of the piece. The author is saying that the upper class, in treating the lower class terribly, might as well be suggesting that the lower class should just get over it and eat their babies.
2. I answered the polls
1. Paragraph 18
ReplyDeleteIn Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” he satirizes Great Britain’s government at the time and there lacking of the ability to change the problem at hand. The problem at hand is the large amount of poverty across the nation especially in Ireland. Swift makes a point to talk about the large amount of people on the streets begging for money while wearing there rags. Swift writes this pamphlet proposing an idea to fix the problem, the idea being to eat the babies with parents unable to support them. He proposes this idea calling it modest when it is actually the complete opposite in order to mock the people (government) who stand idly by while people in their nation starve to death.
In the paragraph I was able to analyze, Swift talks about his “friend” and where he learned about cannibalism which was supposedly from someone coming from the islands of Forbosa. He later goes into detail of how the concept of cannibalism is used in Forbosa. When Swift does this he is openly stating that the noble and civilized island of Great Britain should follow the ideas and concepts practice by the native and barbaric island of Forbosa. By doing this he degrades Britain to a lower standard, a standard so low it involves cannibalism, an idea which is so out of place in a civilized nation like Great Britain we can tell Swift is being ironic. Swift says “Neither indeed can I deny, that if the same use were made of several plump young girls in this town, who without on single groat to their fortunes cannot stir abroad without a chair, and appear at playhouse and assemblies in foreign fineries which they never will pay for, the kingdom would not be the worse.” In this quote Swift makes the point that people wouldn’t care or make a fuss if a few teenage girls were sold in order to be killed and eaten. But what Swift is really trying to make a point at here is that the government doesn’t care when a few teenagers or children die from starvation because they can’t afford to buy food. Why? Because they weren’t doing anything back then to try and stop it from happening (I should probably mention now that this was back in 1729) and this is what Swift is trying to get across in “A Modest Proposal”, that something needs to be done about the hundreds of thousands poor, hungry, and tired people of their nation in order to help them.
2. I voted.
S: Former President Bill Clinton who is an important political figure that presented President Obama in a positive light so that he'll officially be nominated as the Democratic party nominee for the Presidential election.
ReplyDeleteO: The Democratic convention held to nominate the democratic choice for the Presidential election. President Obama is the incumbent and automatically nominated by his party.
A: The delegates and people gathered at the convention and just as importantly, the people watching the broadcast at home. If Clinton’s audience was mainly republicans and not democrats, I doubt the speech would have been received half as well.
P: To convince the delegates to nominate President Obama as the democratic party nominee.
S: to nominate President Obama as the presidential nominee officially, tell of President Obama’s rise in politics, and to urge the democratic and republican parties to work together on the economy. Clinton could have emphasized working together by being more respectful of the Republican Party and convention.
T: Clinton hhad a mixed tone that ranged between respectful and mocking. He wasn’t mocking the President but mainly the Republicans and the nomination convention that took place in Tampa. He was very respectful of President Obama and his rise in politics. He wasn’t entirely disrespectful; he praised the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations that he worked with and George W. Bush’s work in Africa.
-Elizabeth Murphy
Diana D.
ReplyDelete1. Paragraphs 14-16
In A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift satirized the heartless treatment of the Irish lower-class during the 1700’s. Throughout the essay, he alluded to the actual issue and provided the audience with the state of mind necessary to begin to look for solutions. He did this by making the narrator as dislikable as possible, making the audience automatically sympathizing with the lower class. Given the overall high quality of the writing, the narrator was meant to be viewed as a member of the upper-class. The idea of funding the poor only to exploit them was essentially an exaggeration of how the lower-class was treated. The narrator also did not understand or connect to the poor, describing them using a register usually associated with husbandry. This was used to hint towards the parasitic nature between the upper-class and the lower-class. Another way Swift did this was by filling the audience’s mind with the rather gruesome images that the narrator described. An example of the gruesome imagery was the short paragraph that suggested that one could “flay the carcass” and use the child’s skin to make “admirable gloves” and “fine summer boots”. The image of a butcher slaughtering children alive as if they were swine in the next paragraph was also another contributing factor, even more so since the narrator recommends this method. Using this rather inhumane description of the poor, Swift aimed to shock the audience into feeling sympathy. Another nod to the absurdity of the narrator’s proposal was the cost of raising beggars’ child and the cost said children. In modern currency two shillings is worth only fourteen dollars, this leads to the question of how one could spread fourteen dollars across an entire year’s worth of supplies. Also, the ten shillings a mother would earn for selling her child is only worth seventy dollars. Putting it in more modern terms, I could dine on an authentic Irish baby for the same price as a new videogame, four large bags of Doritos, and two liters of ginger ale. By combining these techniques, Swift was easily able portray his mocking of the treatment of the Irish lower-class.
2. I have voted.
Cara O.
ReplyDelete"I can think of no one objection, that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged, that the number of people will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom. This I freely own, and 'twas indeed one principal design in offering it to the world. I desire the reader will observe, that I calculate my remedy for this one individual Kingdom of Ireland, and for no other that ever was, is, or, I think, ever can be upon Earth. Therefore let no man talk to me of other expedients: Of taxing our absentees at five shillings a pound: Of using neither cloaths, nor houshold furniture, except what is of our own growth and manufacture: Of utterly rejecting the materials and instruments that promote foreign luxury: Of curing the expensiveness of pride, vanity, idleness, and gaming in our women: Of introducing a vein of parsimony, prudence and temperance: Of learning to love our country, wherein we differ even from Laplanders, and the inhabitants of Topinamboo: Of quitting our animosities and factions, nor acting any longer like the Jews, who were murdering one another at the very moment their city was taken: Of being a little cautious not to sell our country and consciences for nothing: Of teaching landlords to have at least one degree of mercy towards their tenants. Lastly, of putting a spirit of honesty, industry, and skill into our shop-keepers, who, if a resolution could now be taken to buy only our native goods, would immediately unite to cheat and exact upon us in the price, the measure, and the goodness, nor could ever yet be brought to make one fair proposal of just dealing, though often and earnestly invited to it." Swift, A Modest Proposal
Johnathan Swift is satirizing the economic and political policies of the Irish government in his satire, The Modest Proposal. In order to do this, he speaks as a citizen who believes he has a solution to the economic crisis. This speaker offers the idea that the country should turn to cannibalism as a way for the poor to make money, and for there to be more food for everyone. Swift is obviously not really suggesting this, but he does intertwine his real ideas for economic reform in other sections of his work.
In the paragraph I was assigned to analyze, Swift lists all of the improvements that he would make to the economy in order to improve it. He does this sarcastically by saying "Therefore let no man talk to me of other expedients.." twice. The speaker sees these details as outrageous, but the reader can tell that Swift actually thinks following his directions will stabilize the economy. After stating "therefore let no man...." the tone becomes less sarcastic and mocking, letting the reader know that it is the truth and not satire. There seems to be some prejudice against certain religions in this satire which is represented in this paragraph as well when the speaker says, "Of quitting our animosities and factions, nor acting any longer like the Jews." This paragraph is the least satirical of all in A Modest Proposal because the speaker switches tones and delivers Swift's real message.
Zach S.
ReplyDelete1. Swift is satirizing the mistreatment of the Irish and the tyranny of the rich. He blows this control/mistreatment relationship out of proportion by essentially saying "you're killing us so much, why not just eat our babies!?", of course this statement is not to be taken literally (as shown in the passage "I shall now humbly propose my own thoughts, which I will not be liable to the least objection."). Swift takes the idea and rolls with it, describing things like how to cook them ("I nae no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout."). He also goes on to describe how to maximize "food" output ("twenty thousand may be reserved for breed,whereof only one-fourth part to be males; which is more than we allow sheep, black cattle or swine;") and comparing human beings to animals. Swift even suggests that the Irish people even eat their own children! This gaudy and extremist suggestion is a huge passive-aggressive attack against tyranny and mistreatment in 1729 Ireland.
This segment of the passage is perfect for rhetorical effectiveness. It outlines the points that Swift is using in his satire right at the beginning so the reader grasps the concept. It also provides the disclaimer that it is a satire, and thereby an exaggeration that should not be taken with a grain of salt. These combine to create a great a great understanding of Swift's famous satire "A Modest Proposal."
2. I Voted
A Modest Proposal
ReplyDeleteParagraphs 20-23
Jonathan Swift, in the satire A Modest proposal is satirizing the economy in which he lives. He is making fun of the fact that the wealthy people/ Great Britain have the nerve to complain about the poor, yet do not help them. In the paragraphs in which I analyzed, Swift was being very persuasive. Swift is satirizing the fact that the wealthy do not help feed the poor, and there is also a hint of sarcasm at the fact that he thinks Paptist’s aren’t as “amazing” as they think they are. The persuasions Swift used to achieve rhetorical effectiveness are thinks such as persuading the audience to rule out Paptism by dining on babies, by poor people selling their babies they will be able to pay rent, and also stating that taverns who sell and prepare babies will have a very popular meal to sell.
Swift has the speaker say that by eating babies, it will make his religion ad his audiences religion better than the Paptists. He tells the audience they will be supreme for thinking of such a great idea. When the speaker says “For first I have already observed it will greatly lesson the the number of
Paptists, with whom we are yearly overrun.” You can tell the author is very annoyed at the fact that Paptists overrun his religion, and does not want it this way, because of what the speaker says. Eating babies obviously will not make Paptist the weaker religion, but is is such an extreme idea that the reader is able to know that Swift is using satire.
There are also the persuasions to landlords. The speaker is saying that by poor people selling their babies they will have money to pay rent. “Secondly the poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own”. Children are already very valuable without being skinned and prepared as food. Swift is making fun of the fact that people do not realize the valuableness of children as they already are, and how valuable they are to their mothers. Swift is having the speaker again go to such an extreme that the reader can sense satire
The last persuasion the speaker gives in my given paragraphs is the fact that eating babies will give taverns a new popular dish. The speaker first says of how much money eating babies could make people in that specific business. “The profit of a new dish introduced to the tabled of all gentlemen.” The speaker is again going to an extreme, and he is saying instead of the poor feeding the babies, he wants the babies to feed the poor, literally. Swift is following the pattern of having the speaker mention such an extreme that does not even make sense, to satire the fact the wealthy do not help the poor.
Bill Clinton's speech SOAPSTONE
ReplyDeleteS-The speaker is Bill Clinton, the ex-President of the United States. He is an older man, who has lead the country before and knew from experience what was going on and what needed to be done.
O- The occasion was that Bill Clinton was giving a televised speech in support of Barack Obama. This is happened because of the re-election. It is also important that the economy is bad because that shaped how the speech was given.
A-The audience was the entire United States. It was focused to the people who had doubts about democrats, and to republicans mostly though. This is because with this speech people can be swayed from one vote to another.
P- The purpose of the speech was to try and make people want to vote for the current President or to want to more.
S-The Subject of the speech was how Obama was going to make changes for the better. it was also on how the republicans' ideas were not what the nation needed right now.
Tone- The tone of this is serious and uplifting, even though Clinton did add jokes into the speech. He was trying to show how serious the elections are. he was also trying to bring people's morals up because of the president currently in office.
1. Swift uses many rhetorical strategies in "A Modest Proposal" in order to hint to the reader that it was, in fact, a satire. In these paragraphs, there is a sudden change. While before Swift had been merely giving the reasons for his proposal, he suddenly rips off the band-aid and states his claim. He doesn't slowly try to wean the readers onto his idea, as he would if this wasn't a satire. Another way he does this is through his repetition of the word "humbly." The fact that he repeats it actually sort of cancels out its meaning, which is a tip-off to the reader that the proposal is a satire. Swift also uses an American as his inspiration for this proposal. At this time, Americans were thought to be savages, which would make readers distrust his source before he even stated his claim. Also, Swift speaks about the children as if they were animals, even claiming that this would be treating them better than "sheep, black cattle, or swine." This is another tip-off to the reader. Finally, Swift uses irony in these paragraphs. He tgalks about how "A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends; and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish..." It's ironic that the family would be eating their child, who should be eating with them, at what should be a family dinner. The absurdity of the irony also tips readers off.
ReplyDelete2. I voted
1. Modest proposal paragraph 27
ReplyDeleteSwift in the satire A Modest Proposal is satirizing the attitude of rich English citizens towards the poor people in Ireland. In the pamphlet swift through a wealthy English speaker makes fun of the poor’s inability to feed themselves, and proposes the ridiculous solution of killing and feeding the babies of poor people to the poor.
This paragraph contributes to the rhetorical effectiveness mainly buy use of diction. In the paragraph the speaker is explaining why he gave up on humane ways to solve the hunger problem of Ireland, he state that he was “wearied out” from thinking of creative solutions for the poor. He was just too exhausted from being rich to find a solution to Irelands hunger problem that didn’t involve murder and cannibalism. The speaker goes on to say that his solution is smart and economically sound having “no expense and little trouble” and “no danger of disobliging England”. The slaughtering of babies has “no expense” what about the cost of human life, this statement cements the ridiculousness of the speakers “logic” and makes swift’s satirical tone very apparent. Using this over the top and ridiculous diction swift manipulates the emotions of the reader against the speaker thus satirizing the speaker’s purpose.
2. I voted
Joshua D’Antonio
F block
Olivia P.
ReplyDelete1.) SOAPSTONE for Bill Clinton's Speech
S- Bill Clinton, former President of the United States, addresses the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
O- Bill Clinton gave a speech at the 2012 Democratic Convention,in supports of Barack Obama's 2012 campaign.
A- The 2012 Democratic Party, the general public, and tuned-in viewers from home.
Purpose- In hopes to persuade his audience and televised audience that voting for Obama is the right choice to make, and to use examples and point out previous advantages from Obama's former presidency, and the changes that will be made if he gets nominated for the 2012-2016 time frame.
Subject- The subject of Bill Clinton's speech, was to prove to his audience the changed Barack made, and the future advantages we will receive by electing Barack Obama. His argument was clearly stated that by re-electing Obama we can get America back track, and push for bettering our economy.
TONE- Clinton's tone throughout the speech varied from humorous to very serious at times. He added jokes in here and there as a way to connect with his crowd, but at the same time was able to take it down to a more serious tone when talking about the Republicans. He knew what needed to be said, and the right way to deliver his speech; making it personable but very clear.
2.) I voted.
Corinne D.
ReplyDeleteThe author of this proposal was satirizing the Irish government's treatment of its poor citizens. Those with the power to change things were either ignoring the poor's problems, or enforcing/ creating laws that were making the lives of the lower class even harder. The language used in this essay suggests that the government's manner of treating the peasants is much like the treatment of livestock. The author goes as far as to say, indirectly, that you might as well boil the children of poor parents alive and serve them to those who are oppressing the lower class as a delicacy.
Paragraph 6 and 7: uses the terms breeders to refer to mothers, which gives them a more animal-like status; Swift also uses the words “nutriment” and “rags” instead of food and clothing, which lowers the children's worth; in paragraph 6, Swift proceeds to calculate the number of children born to poor parents each year, causing the whole idea of birth sound more like a business venture than anything else; Swift also mentions that matured children would be no good as a meal, and infants are simply the only way to go. Swift is hinting at the fact that there is no point in allowing the children to live any length of time in their present and dire situation; in paragraph 6, Swift writes “they can very seldom pick up a livelihood by stealing, till they arrive at six years old.” this sentence mocks the children of the poor and the life they live. I think very few people would call steeling a career choice, but Swift makes it out as if that is their goal in life; it is also written that people need to “maintain” their own children, causing them once again to seem more like animals than people
I voted
1. Bill Clinton Speech SOAPSTone
ReplyDeleteSpeaker: The speaker is former president, Bill Clinton, a democrat. He is an experienced and respected politician that has the influential power that convinces others of his views on the upcoming election.
Occasion: The occasion is the National Democratic Convention, 2012, and his speech given is in support for the reelection of President Barack Obama.
Audience: This speech is mainly geared towards the democratic population of the country. Although, the vast majority of the United States and probably elsewhere tuned in to listen to him speak. After all, he is a former president making a very important speech at a very important convention.
Purpose: The purpose of his speech is to demonstrate all that Obama has done as president, what he strives to do in the future as president, and how much the country has improved as him president. Clinton used statistics in his speech illustrating how Obama has helped with the job problem in America.
Significance: This speech and convention is significant because it is making history whether Obama is reelected or not. Clinton changed a major speech on a whim, being spontaneous at such a serious and important time. That is memorable.
Tone: The tone fluctuates between formal, and argumentative and not defensive at times. The overall effect that is gives is that it shows all of the pride and belief that Clinton feels for Barack Obama.
2. I voted!
Kirsten L. Salo
A Block
1. Swift is satirizing the nation about their treatment of the poor. When he proposes the idea of humans breeding to create food he is basically saying that that is how bad they treat the poor. They care for them so little that they would in theory eat their babies. Swift isn’t actually proposing that they eat the infants he is just trying to prove that the poor are treated terribly.
ReplyDelete2. I answered the poll.
Logan Hughes:
ReplyDelete1) Swift is satirizing England’s controlling actions over the Irish. England was giving the Irish people excessive and oppressive rules so Swift was mocking the rules by creating a “modest proposal” that was anything but modest.
There are many things in the last two paragraphs that contribute to the rhetorical effectiveness. “I am not so violently bent upon my own opinion”, is rhetorically effective because of the irony. His proposal clashes with his statement about being non violent. “Which will be found equally innocent, cheap, easy and effectual.” This contributes to the effectiveness because he is justifying his stance, angering the reader more and therefore, proving the point he was really trying to make. “Useless mouths and backs” contributes by being cruel. He continues to talk about the many people starving and begging on the streets pretending to sound compassionate when he is obviously anything but. This rationalizing that the only way to help the country is by killing and eating infants, acting like it is in everyone’s best interest, just makes the reader angry, and then turns their anger to the reality of how oppressive their government actually is. Finally, in the last sentence, “I have no children for which I can propose to get a single penny” shows that he will not be effected by this awful proposal, which symbolized how the British make all of these excessive rules, but have no intention of following them themselves.
2) I voted