Name ____________________
English 11
Due Date __________
Defining the American Dream
In a synthesis essay, it is important to define your words at the beginning of your essay. The definition you
create will lead into your thesis. Decide on the terms below
1. Look and and review what you have read so far. Write a short note under one you read, and
answer, what can you infer is the message of this writing about the American Dream?
“Europe and America” by David Ignatow, p. 10
Puritans/Pilgrims
The New England Primer, p. 17
“The Trial of Martha Carrier” by Cotton Mather, p. 18-20
Revolutionaries/Deists
“Moral Perfection” by Benjamin Franklin, p. 21-22
“Sayings of Poor Richard” by Benjamin Franklin, p. 23-24
Transcendentalists/Romantics
“Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson, p. 25-26
“Where I Lived and What I Lived For” by Henry David Thoreau, p. 27-30
“America the Beautiful” by Katherine Lee Bates, p. 31-32
“America” by Claude McKay, p. 33
“Shine, Perishing Republic” by Robinson Jeffers, p. 34
“Immigration Stories” from the Oracle Foundation (handout)
“They Live the Dream” by Dan Rather, p. 41-45
“Roberto Acuna Talks About Farm Workers” from an interview with Studs Terkel in the book Working, p. 69-71
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, by Barbara Ehrenreich, p. 73-76
“Keynote Address from the 2004 Democratic National Convention” by Barack Obama, p. 84-86
“The Right to Fail” by William Zinsser, p. 87-89
scene from A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, p. 54-55
2. Next, in your opinion considering all that you have read, use a complete sentence to define these
terms below related to the American Dream.
Function: What does the American Dream do?
Classification: What groups do you think have access to the American Dream?
Example: What are some examples of the American Dream from the reading and your experience?
Negation: What is NOT true of the American Dream?
3. Now, on a separate piece of paper in your journal, brainstorm some ideas for the prompt below.
Defend, challenge, or qualify this statement: American still provides access to the American Dream to
all people.
List 3-5 of the readings listed above that would support your opinion.