The American Dream Then and Now introducing The Great Gatsby
80 pts.
Project outline and links are listed on webpage. Click on “American Dream” folder then click on “Then
and Now” file.
Essential Question: Define American Dream based on: your own
vision, the vision of the 20s, and the American Dream of present day.
Consider: Does this vision involve immigration, family life, social life, or financial status?
FIRST: Choose a Research Role As a group, choose one of the research roles to create your project this will be
the last phase of the project: WHAT IS YOUR ROLE? This is first come first choice basis. No duplicate
projects!
Team
Description
Product
With your artful eye, you capture
Photographer the images of the American
Dream.
Design a photo essay that shows the American Dream. Show
how the Dream has been affected by time, cultural
influences, and significant historical events.
Lawyer
Your passion for controversy and
debate guide your vision of the
American Dream.
Prepare a legal brief about the status of the American
Dream. (Legal brief includes: title, who vs. whom, statement
of facts, argument, conclusion, references.)
Poet
Using your poetic grasp of
language, you seek out the heart
and soul of the American Dream.
Create a poet's notebook that shows the American Dream.
Your notebook includes samples of your poetry that shows
how the "Dream" has been affected by time, cultural
influences, and significant historical events.
Politician
With a finger on the pulse of the
American people, you trace
significant political events that
shape the American Dream.
Write and deliver a speech that traces the political events
that shape the American Dream. Your speech shows how the
"Dream" has been affected by political response to cultural
influences and significant historical events.
Producer
Lights, camera, action! You show
the story of the American Dream Make a storyboard for your movie. Sequence the scenes to
through stories, films, and a script produce a movie of the American Dream.
for a movie.
Comedian
Write a standup comic script or create a political cartoon or
You find the irony in the American
comic strip that expresses irony or the humorous side of the
Dream.
American Dream.
Musician
With your ear for melody, you
play the music of the American
Dream.
Write the sheet music or record music that characterizes the
American Dream based upon your research.
Reporter
On the newsbeat you report and
chronicle the events which shape
the American Dream.
Write a news article that reports the results of your research
on the American Dream. (Article includes: title, who, what,
when, where, and how.) Your news article describes the
events that have shaped the American Dream through the
decades.
1
SECOND:
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY in the Group? 10 pts.
Individual responsibilities might include:

Team Manager
As team manager you have full responsibility for this team. You will manage all aspects of the project by assisting
the research, production, and archive managers in meeting their obligations to complete the project. Excellent
interpersonal and management skills are required. You are ultimately responsible for helping the team meet the
project deadline.

Research Manager
Your job is key to the success of this project. You can shape the research by using focus questions. You will assist
others in finding just the right quote, picture, or sound bite. Your team will rely on effective use of your detective
and inquiry skills as you search the collections.

Production Manager
You will lead the group in building the final product. You must gather materials from your archive manager and
work with the researcher during production. You must be flexible and resourceful as you work and assist others
with last minute changes; manage graphics, sound or movie clips; and deal with the unexpected occurrences of
creating a product.

Archive Manager
Excellent organizational skills make this job a challenge. You will keep track of all materials for the team and check
to be sure that resources are compatible. For example, are your sound clips in the correct format? You will keep
the original files, and back up files, and organize the the final project.
THIRD: 20 pts.
What do you already know about the American Dream?
Your group needs to define the American Dream. Read "What Is The American Dream?" Find out what the dream
means to each member of your group. Brainstorm and share your ideas. What do you know about the "American
Dream"? Individually, create a mind map/sketch/web of what you know, or believe you know, about the American
Dream. All ideas are valid. Use paper to create your dream. Share the results with your learning team members in
your group. This is the beginning of your project, so file your results with your archive manager.
Define your Project
Determine your research theme or topic as a group: Are you interested in immigration/emigration, families, social
life? Will you investigate only the roaring 1920s decade or compare how the American Dream has changed from
the 1920s to present day? Discuss topic ideas with your group.
FOURTH: 20 pts.
Analyzing Documents: RI. 9-10. 7: Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and
formats including visually and quantitatively as well as in words.
Use the Primary Source Analysis tool and questions provided to practice reading and interpreting sources with
sample materials. Your team will look at resources through the lens of your research role.
Answer the following questions-“observe/ reflect question/ further investigation” for your research on primary
documents listed below questions.
2
Visual documents:
OBSERVE: identify and note details.
Sample Questions : What do you notice first? · Find something
small but interesting. · What do you notice that you didn’t expect? · What do you notice that you can’t
explain? · What do you notice now that you didn’t earlier?
REFLECT: generate and test hypotheses about the source. Where do you think this
came from? · Why do you think somebody made this? · What do you think was happening when this was
made? · Who do you think was the audience for this item? · What tool was used to create this? · Why do
you think this item is important? · If someone made this today, what would be different? · What can you
learn from examining this?
QUESTION: ask questions to lead to more observations and reflections. What do you
wonder about... who? · what? · when? · where? · why? · how?
What more do you want to know, and how can you find out?
_____
MUSIC- OBSERVE: Describe what you see on the cover. · What kind of design or image is printed
on the document? · Does anything on the page look strange or unfamiliar? · What names or places
appear in the lyrics? · Do you see anything on the page besides writing? · What other details do you
notice? · If you know the melody, sing or hum it. What do you notice about how it sounds?
REFLECT: Generate and test hypotheses about the source. What was the purpose of this
piece of music? · Who do you think composed it? · Who do you think was intended to sing or play it? ·
What does the cover tell you about the music? · If it doesn’t have lyrics, what instruments were intended
to play it? · If you know the melody, how does it add to your understanding? · If someone created this
today, what would be different?
Observations and reflections. What do you wonder about... who? · what? · when? · where? ·
why? · how?
Look up these primary sources according to what role you took as a group.

Photographer - Mr. & Mrs. David Vincent and daughter, Martha, by their sod house: near White River, South
Dakota







Poet - "Dedication," Robert Frost's presidential inaugural poem, 20 January 1961
Politician - "Americanism", Harding, Warren G. (Warren Gamaliel), 1865-1923
Producer - Arrival of immigrants, Ellis Island
Comedian - Katzenjammer Kids: "Policy and pie"
Lawyer - Petition for change of venue: Evidence from the Haymarket Affair, 1886-1887
Musician - The old cabin home. H. De Marsan, Publisher, 54 Chatham Street, New York
Reporter - The Independent gazetteer, or, The chronicle of freedom, 1788
3
W. 9-10.7 Research to build knowledge.
S.L9-10.2 Identify various purposes to present information .
Analyze information presented in diverse media and formats.
FIFTH: 20pts.
Research — Gather Evidence — Create the Team Product
As a group, be sure you all understand the task for your team's research role. Divide the tasks. Create an action
plan. Record the results of your discussion.
Discuss possible questions and anticipate how you will answer them. Search the American Memory
(memory.loc.gov) collections and gather your evidence.
Create your learning product based on chart from page 1. Develop a strategy to share your learning project which
allows all team members to contribute and share their ideas.
(Extension – if time).
Who are the dreamers that inspire us today? Read about or interview others who have a dream. Find your own web
resources, books, movie clips, interviews, or guest speakers.
Consider your own American Dream – for yourself, your families and loved ones, community, nation and the world.
Please give serious thought and honest expression to the hopes and dreams for the future.
Evaluation
10 pts. Chart of members and their role as a researcher and task responsibilities.
20 pts. Action plan- turn in to me when done. All are based on step 3.
What are you going to brainstorm answering What do you already know about the American Dream?,
make a mind map (web) or a sketch. Answer the questions in step 3 to complete this action plan. Then you will
Define your Project by determining your research theme or topic (see step 3 also).
20 pts.
Analyze primary sources- answer questions individually. Type and follow observe/reflect/question
format.
20 pts. Create your project to present to class by using American Memory link to create piece for the group.
10 pts. Conclusion
You were challenged to investigate the American Dream, to see if it is the same for all Americans and whether it is
real or just a myth. Did you find that it is simply a quest for a better life? What did you discover about how the
Dream has changed over time? Do you now know why some see their dreams wither and die while others see their
dreams fulfilled? What is your dream?
You've finished a group project. You've presented your ideas to your class. Has this experience influenced your
view of the American Dream? How? Now that you have completed your project:






What questions do you still have about the American Dream?
What can the dreams of others teach you?
Who are the dreamers of today?
Were the dreams of yesteryear like your own dreams? In what ways?
What IS the American Dream? Can it be simply stated?
How will YOUR personal dream become a part of America's (and the world's) future?
4