The American DreamHistory and Reality

Warm-Up

If you overheard a new immigrant say “I want to live the American Dream”, what do you think they mean by that?

Answer in your spiral if you have it or on the blank sheet of paper from yesterdays map activity.

History of the American Dream Article: Close Reading

Read the article on the American Dream.

Then we will practice a strategy called Close Reading which helps us analyze documents from various angles – see next slide.

Close Reading Questions/Tasks

1. Highlight every time the author uses the words hope, freedom, happiness, and material (or variations of those words).

2. Underline all the words that represent unique American characteristics.

3. Circle all words associated with economic or social mobility.

4. Paraphrase the author’s thesis.

Interview Questions You will interview 3 adults about the idea

of the American Dream but you must have a series of questions in place to conduct this interview.

In groups you will come up with 3 questions that you may all use separately for your interviews.

Your questions should address the following themes relating to the American Dream: qualities that make us uniquely American.› Social mobility› Freedom› individualism

Is the American Dream Alive or Dead? Watch the TED talk by Sean Ogle

discussing the American Dream today.

As you watch find the presenters thesis and write out details/stories/analogies he uses to provide support for his thesis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeMovhCn47s

Discuss

The American Dream Free-Write

In the journal section of your notebook free-write about the last two days discussion on What is the American Dream. Reflect on your original thoughts and definition as well as the other points of view you encountered either through your interviews and/or class discussion. At the end of your journal come to a conclusion definitively what is the American Dream to you?

The American dream

What Does It Mean To You?

American Dream Assignments

Your assignment is three-fold› 1. to use the 3 interview questions you came up with and

interview 3 adults, record their answers.› 2. to find a quote that really illustrates what the American

Dream means to you. See below for further instructions› 3. Write a short Argumentative essay on the American Dream.

See instructions below. Essay Instructions: Write a 1-2 paragraph Argument

essay. Paragraphs should be between 8-12 sentences each and include evidence to support your argument. You may use information from the article we read or the interviews you conducted about the American Dream.

Quote instructions:› You will highlight that quote with a visual of some kind.› The visual can be a photograph of yourself, the author of the

quote or something a little more metaphoric. Ex: › Please no bigger than half sheet of paper

“I DIDN'T FAIL THE TEST, I JUST FOUND 100 WAYS TO DO IT WRONG.” – BEN FRANKLIN

“I DIDN'T FAIL THE TEST, I JUST FOUND 100 WAYS TO DO IT WRONG.” – BEN FRANKLIN

“I DIDN'T FAIL THE TEST, I JUST FOUND 100 WAYS TO DO IT WRONG.” – BEN FRANKLIN