I enjoy teaching “A Modest Proposal.” I think in many cases it’s the first time students have been introduced to satire on that level. Sometimes my students are appalled at Swift for even suggesting such a thing—and that’s the point, isn’t it?
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My favorite story my 11th grade AP English teacher ever told us. She thought TAUGHT English 3 AP for years and 4 years or so before I had her, she said that the curriculum never strictly included satire. That year, the AP test had a piece of satire you had to write a response to.The issue is no one knew they were satire and wrote essays taking the piece seriously. Supposedly it was so bad that that essay was voided in grading.The next year satire became a strict part of the curriculum.I don't know how true it was, but I always find it funny thinking of stressed 17yo kids confused, struggling about writing a serious essay about hungry politicians or how every African is an Olympic sprinterEdit: a word. My APLang teacher told me this story too! The article was. Reading it now I feel like it should be kinda obvious it's satire given it's use of 'scientific-sounding literature' and 'pseudoscience' and these gems:'Why should I pay thousands of dollars to have my spine realigned with physical therapy when I can pay $20 for insoles clearly endorsed by an intelligent-looking man in a white lab coat?'
DeAngelis asked. 'MagnaSoles really seem like they're working.' 'I twisted my ankle something awful a few months ago, and the pain was so bad, I could barely walk a single step,' said Helene Kuhn of Edison, NJ. 'But after wearing MagnaSoles for seven weeks, I've noticed a significant decrease in pain and can now walk comfortably.
Just try to prove that MagnaSoles didn't heal me!' Granted I have the benefit of hindsight.edit: formatting bc mobile sucks lol.
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