Name ___________________________
Date _____________
CP English 11
Semester II, 2014
Death of a Salesman
Final Assessment
You will be responsible for answering a very simple question:
What is the secret to happiness?
In order to complete this assignment, you must:
1. Trace at least 1 theme from Death of a Salesman. Choose a theme that you believe
to be critical to the meaning of the text as a whole and related to our discussions of
happiness and success. You must be able to support this theme with evidence from the
text and from the critical readings (see Monday, 5/5). You can use characterization,
symbols, or plot points to prove the theme.
2. Develop a claim that builds off of this theme. THIS WILL BE THE ANSWER TO THE
QUESTION. In order to complete this step, consider the following: In what ways is Willy’s
struggle similar to the ones we face today? In what ways is it different?
3. Find two sources outside of Death of a Salesman and a critical text to support your
claim. One source should either be Gatsby, Sula, or “The Semplica-Girl Diaries”. Your
other should be an article from a newspaper about a contemporary dilemma related to
your topic (think about researching the recession, the American Dream, the disintegrating
middle class, or any number of articles about research in the field of happiness studies).
You must then connect this research to the theme you are analyzing in The Death of a
Salesman.
4. You must use at least FOUR SOURCES. 1.
3.
4.
2.
5. Create a presentation (PowerPoint or Prezi) in which you argue the relevance of Death
of a Salesman. Your presentation should be convincing and should include your analysis
of Death of a Salesman as well as your research of relevant issues that exist today. You
should feel free to say what you wantas long as your argument is complete and
convincing.
Name ___________________________
Date _____________
Requirements:
 Analysis of theme with adequate evidence from Death of a Salesman and critical readings
 Research from at least 2 reliable sources on current issues, relevant to themes in DOS and
to the topic of “Happiness”
 5-7 minute presentation that develops an argument based on the question “What is the
secret of happiness?”
 Persuasive and engaging strategies used in the presentation of your argument.
 Properly cited MLA sources at the end of the visual presentation
YOU WILL EARN TWO GRADES FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT:
Assignment:
Due Date:
Full Outline of Presentation w/ Evidence
(each member turns in his/her outline)
Class 3 (A block: Wednesday, 5/7; C block & E block:
Thursday, 5/8)
Final Draft/Presentation
Class 3 and Class 4
Brainstorm:
1. What are the most poignant arguments/themes that Miller makes throughout his play?
Name ___________________________
Date _____________
Choose a theme from above that you feel like you can support with evidence from the text and
from critical readings. Make sure you can connect the theme to a modern issue.
Theme:
Source:
DRT/SRT
Connection to Theme
Characters
from DOS
Symbols
from DOS
Plot points
from DOS
Critical
Reading #1
CLAIM: (What is the secret to happiness?): Be sure that it relates to the theme and evidence
above.
Name ___________________________
Date _____________
2. How will you prove this secret? Find reliable sources and complete research that you
can connect to the theme you are tracing in DOS, as well as your claim about happiness.
Source
Evidence (DRT/SRT)
Connection to Theme in DOS / Connection
to the secret to happiness
Name ___________________________
Date _____________
3. Write a thesis and an outline for your presentation.
Your thesis should address the central question for the assignment and encompass the
full breadth of your argument.
What is the secret to happiness?
THESIS:
Your outline should provide the structure of your presentation, including your analysis of
the text, your research, your evidence, and your visuals. (You may use the back, as well.)
OUTLINE: