Values and the American Dream
Compare Contrast Assignment
English 11A Handler
ASSIGNMENT:
1) Choose a decade from the past (1920s-1990s). You might pick the decade your parents
grew up in, or perhaps just a time in history you have always found interesting.
2) Research that decade. What were the ideals of the people? How did they tend to spend
their free time? How was the economy of that time? What cultural issues were in play?
Were there any major scandals? Etc.
3) Use your own experience from the 2000s and research to construct a similar profile of
this decade.
4) Using the skills of comparison and contrast, construct an essay exploring the
similarities and difference between these two decades in terms of their values and the
impact they may have had on the common idea of the American Dream. Be sure to form
an opinion about which decade was “better” and have clearly defined criteria to reach that
conclusion.
PROCESS:
1) Brainstorming (due end of the class on 10/8) 5 pts
2) Research online (three sources due in class on Friday 10/10) 10 pts
3) Typed outline (due 10/20) 15 pts
4) Typed rough draft number one (due 10/22) 15 pts
5) Revised draft number 2 (due 10/24) 15 pts
6) Final polished draft with works cited page (due 10/28) 75 pts
Total 135 points