American Dream Essay and Mini-Project (100 points)
A Raisin in the Sun was our last major work, so it’s time to look at the overarching theme from this
year: dreams. Every one of the novels we read dealt with the American Dream. But what are they
saying about it? What do you think all these complementing and conflicting dreams amount to? What
do all these different dreams say about the American Dream as a whole?
You will create a final project exploring these questions. You will choose one character and their dream
from each of the texts we’ve read – you should have 4 characters total. You are required to, at a
MINIMUM, have one quote per text as support in each of your body paragraphs. The possible
characters in each text are listed below. This essay and associated project are due at the end of the
semester and will count for 100 points – 40 points for the project, 60 points for the essay. There is no
minimum page length for this assignment, but you will be graded for the depth of your responses.
Nonspecific, plot summary-heavy body paragraphs will lose you points. You will have several class
periods to work on this project, including a peer review day. There is no FINAL EXAM this semester.
Our ELA 11 texts – choose ONE character from EACH of the following 4 texts (4 characters total):
1. The Crucible
 John Proctor
 Abigail Williams
 The Puritans (as a group)
 other?
2. Into the Wild
 Chris McCandless
 Jon Krakauer
 his parents
 other?
3. The Great Gatsby
 Jay Gatsby
 Daisy Buchanan
 Nick Carraway
 George Wilson
 other?
4. A Raisin in the Sun
 Mama
 Beneatha Younger
 Walter Younger
 Ruth Younger
 other?
The second part of this assignment is to do a mini-project. This project will be a visual representation
of the characters and their dreams. You should find or draw 3 pictures that are representative of each
character’s dream(s) -- 12 pictures minimum, 3 for each of your 4 chosen characters. Then, fill their
heads with their dreams! You should CUSTOMIZE each of the heads to better match the character and
put their NAME near their head and the BOOK they came from.
You will need to EXPLAIN these pictures and how they represent the character’s dream(s) in your
ESSAY in addition to exploring and analyzing their dream(s). You will PRESENT your heads and your
essay findings to the class :o)
Here is a suggested outline for your essay:
Intro:
 Should include:
o your view/definition of the American Dream
o a topic sentence letting readers know which characters you chose and the very basics of
their dream(s)
o a thesis (with argument) about what all this says about the American Dream
o Define the American Dream (your own definition, NOT one from the internet)
o 5 sentences minimum
Body Paragraph 1:
 Needs to include:
o 2 sentence quick summary of The Crucible
o Crucible character dream summary and analysis (including 1 quote)
o head abstract pictures explanation
Body Paragraph 2:
 Needs to include:
o 2 sentence quick summary of Into the Wild
o Into the Wild character dream summary and analysis (including 1 quote)
o head abstract pictures explanation
Body Paragraph 3:
 Needs to include:
o 2 sentence quick summary of The Great Gatsby
o Gatsby character dream summary and analysis (including 1 quote)
o head abstract pictures explanation
Body Paragraph 4:
 Needs to include:
o 2 sentence quick summary of A Raisin in the Sun
o Raisin character dream summary and analysis (including 1 quote)
o head abstract pictures explanation
Body Paragraph 5:
 Needs to include:
o support for the argument presented in your thesis
o what does all this say about the American Dream?
Conclusion:
 Needs to include:
o 5 sentences minimum summarizing your findings
o Restate your thesis in different words
o Mention the books and characters you used in the essay
Essay Planning Sheet (10 points)
Name: _________________________
Thesis Draft: _________________________________________________________________________
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Finalized Thesis: ______________________________________________________________________
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Topic Sentence: ______________________________________________________________________
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Character for Body Paragraph 1: ____________________________________
Character for Body Paragraph 2: ____________________________________
Character for Body Paragraph 3: ____________________________________
Character for Body Paragraph 4: ____________________________________
Essay Quotes
Body Paragraph 1 Quote: _______________________________________________________________
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Body Paragraph 2 Quote: _______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
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Body Paragraph 3 Quote: _______________________________________________________________
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Body Paragraph 4 Quote: _______________________________________________________________
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Space for Additional Quotes:
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Essay Rubric (60 points)
Name: ___________________________
Intro:
 topic sentence and thesis (with argument), your view on American Dream
Conclusion:
 5 sentences minimum, restated thesis, books and characters mentioned
_____/5
Body Paragraph 1:
 2 sentence book summary, character dream summary and analysis (1
quote) and head pictures explanation
_____/10
Body Paragraph 2:
 2 sentence book summary, character dream summary and analysis (1
quote) and head pictures explanation
_____/10
Body Paragraph 3:
 2 sentence book summary, character dream summary and analysis (1
quote) and head pictures explanation
_____/10
Body Paragraph 4:
 2 sentence book summary, character dream summary and analysis (1
quote) and head pictures explanation
_____/10
Body Paragraph 5:
 What does all this say about the American Dream? Is the thesis argument
supported?
_____/10
Format and Grammar:
 double spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, header, thoughtful title, page
numbers
_____/5
Essay Total:
(see back for Mini Project Grade and Final Grade)
______/60
Mini Project Rubric (40 points)
Head #1





Are there 3 pictures in the head?
Are the picture relevant to the character and their dream?
Is the head personalized for the character?
Is the character’s name and book title near the head?
Is the project polished? Is it evident that effort was put into it?
_____/10
Head #2





Are there 3 pictures in the head?
Are the picture relevant to the character and their dream?
Is the head personalized for the character?
Is the character’s name and book title near the head?
Is the project polished? Is it evident that effort was put into it?
_____/10
Head #3





Are there 3 pictures in the head?
Are the picture relevant to the character and their dream?
Is the head personalized for the character?
Is the character’s name and book title near the head?
Is the project polished? Is it evident that effort was put into it?
_____/10
Head #4





Are there 3 pictures in the head?
Are the picture relevant to the character and their dream?
Is the head personalized for the character?
Is the character’s name and book title near the head?
Is the project polished? Is it evident that effort was put into it?
_____/10
Additional Comments:
Project Total:
_____/40
Final Grade:
_____/100