THE AMERICAN DREAM
Get out paper and a writing utensil
THEME
 Define Theme as a literary term. What is it? How does it show itself in
a work of literature?
 A theme is an underlying message that the author wants the reader to
understand. It is generally not stated directly and is, instead, shown
through how the characters change, the conflicts presented in the story,
the different settings of the story, how the story resolves, etc…
THE AMERICAN DREAM
 What do you think the stereotypical American Dream is?
 What do you think the immigrants from the 1700s and 1800s
believed was the American Dream? Do you think it’s the same today?
 How might the American Dream have changed for immigrants of
today? What about the natural born American Citizens?
THE AMERICAN DREAM
What is your American
Dream?
Write down a list of specific
words to represent YOUR
dream!
THE AMERICAN DREAM
 What are the elements of your American Dream?
 What words have you included to represent these elements?
 Why have you included these specific items?
 How did you decide on the components of your Dream?
 What did you leave out and why?
 How does your American Dream compare to the stereotypical one? To other
word clouds within this classroom?
THE AMERICAN DREAM
The Immigrants part one:
An American Tale
Watch the clip and try to decipher
what the character's think America
has to offer them. Why do they wish
for those things?
Copy and paste the following link to
find the song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2
bC07e7PReM
THE AMERICAN DREAM
The Immigrants part two:
“The Boxer” by Simon and
Garfunkel
How does this American Dream
differ from the cat song?
(Google the title w/ lyrics)
The Modern American Dream:
Alicia Keys and Jay Z
“New York”
What ideas of the American dream
seem to be represented in this song?
THE AMERICAN DREAM
H O M E W O R K : D U E B Y F R I DAY
 On your own, write a few paragraphs answering the following
questions.
• Define and explain your own American Dream.
• Select a song to match your individual Dream. Print or hand write the
lyrics and title/musician of the song you have chosen
• Explain how the song connects to your own beliefs.
• YES. You may use your cell phones to look for the perfect song. But
you CANNOT share your ideas with anyone. I want you to write for
yourself first, then we’ll share if we have time.