American Dream Synthesis Essay
Introduction – Understanding Our Task
1. What does synthesis mean?
It is a summary of an argument.
2. What sources do we have?
a. A Raisin in the Sun (Play)
b. “The History of the American Dream” (Article)
c. The House on Mango Street (novel)
d. B.o.B “American Dreamin’” (Lyrics)
e. “Harlem” (Poem)
f. “Liberty” (Short Story)
g. “American Way”/”Migrant Worker” (Image)
h. “The American Nightmare” (Article)
i.
Cadillac Commercial
j.
“Money and Happiness” (Charts)
k.
3. How do we write a good expository essay?
Introduction



Hook the
reader
Thesis is
effective and
organized
Format it
correctly
Body

Argue using
evidence well
Organization

Effective
transitions
between and
in paragraphs
Language


Using precise
language
Effective
word choice
Conclusion



Relates
Summarizes
Extends
American Dream Synthesis Essay
4. What will we be writing about?
Brainstorm/Collection – Developing and Organizing Our Ideas
What lessons did we learn about the American Dream?
 The American Dream started to become
about materials (AD Article)
 AD wasn’t reality for everyone, especially
during Great Depression (Migrant Worker)
 Money doesn’t lead to happiness (Charts)
 Sometimes dreams are put off, dream big,
may not happen, being happy with what
you have or can achieve (Raisin in the Sun)
 AD takes dedication, patience, and sacrifice
(Liberty)
 You have to work hard, everything’s not
given to you, you can’t cheat yourself, have
to believe in it (House on Mango Street)
American Dream Synthesis Essay
*Hand this sheet in with your two bubble sheets for full credit in the brainstorming section of the essay.
Synthesis – Organizing and Making Sense of Our Ideas – Which one of our ideas can be supported by
multiple sources?
Themes
1. American Dream takes
sacrifice
2. Hard work pays off
3. Money doesn’t buy
the AD.
4. People try to take
advantage of the AD
5. Dream to something
you can achieve
Multiple Sources
1. Raisin in the Sun,
Liberty, House on
Mango Street
2. Liberty, House on
Mango Street
3. Cadillac commercial,
Charts, Raisin in the
Sun
4. Raisin in the Sun,
House on Mango
Street, Cadillac
commercial, Billboard
5. Raisin in the Sun,
House on Mango
Street, Liberty
American Dream Synthesis Essay
Choose the best three statements (we will have three body paragraphs) – are there any three that are
related to each other in some way? If so, those would be best. Write them into the left column. Then,
spend some time to create one, coherent thesis
Body Paragraphs
American Dream takes
sacrifice
Money can’t buy
happiness in the AD
Dream to something
you can achieve
Thesis Statement
The American Dream is
making sacrifices and being
content with one’s choices.
American Dream Synthesis Essay
Body Paragraph 1 Outline
Statement –
What theme did
you learn?
American Dream takes sacrifice
Proof 1 – What
source taught you
this theme? What
did the source say?
“My papa, his thick hands, thick shoes, who
wakes up tired in the dark and combs his hair
with water” (Cisneros, 57). House on Mango
Street
Explanation 1 –
In the book House on Mango Street, Esperanza’s father
wakes up early in order to go to work. He does this to
achieve his AD, which is providing for his family.
Explain your
previous Proof?
How does it teach
us the theme?
Transition –
Transition from
your 1st Proof to
the 2nd one.
Next, in the story “Liberty”, there is another
young girl who experiences sacrifice.
Proof 2 – Same
as Proof 1, but use
a different source
and quote.
“All liberty involves sacrifice”
(Alvarez, 148)
American Dream Synthesis Essay
Explanation 2 Explain your
previous Proof?
How does it teach
us the theme?
Synthesis –
Summarize your
paragraph.
Mention theme
and Proofs.
Julia’s family did not feel free in their own
country, and were moving to the United States.
Julia herself let her beloved dog free in order
to make the move, therefore sacrificing
something for her AD.
It takes sacrifice in order to achieve the AD.
This is shown with Esperanza’s father in HOMS,
and Julia and her dog in “Liberty”. Both
characters made sacrifices for what they
wanted.
Body Paragraph 2 Outline
Statement –
What theme did
you learn?
Proof 1 – What
source taught you
this theme? What
Money can’t buy happiness in the
AD
American Dream Synthesis Essay
did the source say?
Explanation 1 –
Explain your
previous Proof?
How does it teach
us the theme?
Transition –
Transition from
your 1st Proof to
the 2nd one.
Proof 2 – Same
as Proof 1, but use
a different source
and quote.
Explanation 2 Explain your
previous Proof?
How does it teach
us the theme?
Synthesis –
Summarize your
paragraph.
Mention theme
and Proofs.
Body Paragraph 3 Outline
Statement –
What theme did
you learn?
Proof 1 – What
source taught you
Dream to something you can
achieve
American Dream Synthesis Essay
this theme? What
did the source say?
Explanation 1 –
Explain your
previous Proof?
How does it teach
us the theme?
Transition –
Transition from
your 1st Proof to
the 2nd one.
Proof 2 – Same
as Proof 1, but use
a different source
and quote.
Explanation 2 Explain your
previous Proof?
How does it teach
us the theme?
Synthesis –
Summarize your
paragraph.
Mention theme
and Proofs.