
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.

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.

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.
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

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=VeMov
hCn47s


Discuss

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?
What Does It Mean To You?

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