Of Mice and Men Writing Prompt 3—Expository Writing
Pre-Writing:
On pages 53-57, George and Lennie discuss their dream ranch. Candy also shares a
fascination of owning the ranch. The dream George and Lennie, which holds a central idea
for the entire novel, is based on the “American Dream.” Research the American Dream to
discover what it is, the history behind it (be sure to focus on the specific time period when
the book is set), and why it is a SPECIFIC part American culture. Make sure to use valid
sources and cite them properly.
Research Topic
What is the
“American
Dream?”
Explain the history
of the “American
Dream?”
How was the
“American Dream”
affected by The
Great Depression?
In what way is the
“American Dream”
a part of American
culture?
Answer
Relation to Of Mice
and Men
Citation
Of Mice and Men Writing Prompt 3—Expository Writing
Paragraph Response:
Explain the importance of the “American Dream” in the story Of Mice and Men. In your
answer, make sure to discuss the research you gathered in order to explain how the
“American Dream” affects culture, society, and the specific time period of the novel. You
may also want to discuss how the “American Dream” affects the characters in the novel.
Grading Information:
Expository Response:
__________/5
 Paragraph adequately answers the writing prompt
 Paragraph is expository in nature and does not simply summarize the novel
Paragraph Structure:
__________/10
 Paragraph contains a defendable topic sentence
 Paragraph has specific facts/examples to support the topic sentence
 Paragraph has sentences relating the facts/examples to the topic sentence
 Paragraph contains a clear concluding sentence that summarizes the material in the
paragraph
Research:
__________/5
 Valid sources are utilized
 Sources are properly cited
Style and Organization:
__________/5




There is clear organization in the paragraph evident through transitions and a
logical progression of thoughts
Correct sentence structure and grammar are utilized
Writing style is creative and unique
Sentence structure varies