Think Piece #1: The American Dream: Reality or Dream



The American Dream Synthesis: Myth or Reality?Essay Topic: This quarter we focused on literature of the 1920’s, a time in American history where the American Dream emerges as an optimistic view that with hard work and education, anyone can find success, inclusion, and opportunity in our nation. Booker T. Washington speaks of starting at the bottom to reach the top, Langston Hughes says “Tomorrow I’ll be at the table… I, too, am America” and Jay Gatsby goes from rags to riches with determination and flair. Yet, we know that “The American Dream” has not always been an easy and accessible picture for everyone: Blacks struggled in a segregated America and those without money and connections struggled and even failed to achieve the American Dream in The Great Gatsby. Prompt: Consider how the American Dream is defined today. Is it a myth or reality? In today’s society, is the American Dream possible and achievable for all? Synthesis Requirements/Format: At 2-3 pages (no, not 1? or 1?) and 4 paragraphs (introduction, two source response paragraphs, and a conclusion). You must follow MLA formatting guidelines (double-space, Times New Roman 12-point font, 1” margins, in-text citations for quotes). Your introduction will DEFINE “The American Dream” and take a position on the prompt.Your body paragraphs will use SPECIFIC EVIDENCE from one literary text from this unit—The Great Gatsby or any of our Harlem Renaissance texts—and SPECIFIC EVIDENCE from one of the four sources from your pre-writing/research packet. Your evidence will be incorporated as QUOTATIONS and PARAPHRASING. Your analysis will take a personal position that agrees or disagrees with each of your sources and links to your thesis.Your conclusion should reemphasize your position and provide a “so what?” DUE DATES: RUBRIC: Your essay is worth 100 points. Claim and Focus Score (Out of 30)The essay makes a sophisticated claim that maintains focus.The essay thesis is debatable, strong, not author focused, and doesn’t list the evidence.The essay maintains focus on central thesis throughout the entire essay.Evidence Score (Out of 30)Strong and relevant evidence is incorporated from one literary text and research material.Evidence is incorporated smoothly with sophisticated transitions and context.All quotes are punctuated and cited correctlyCritical AnalysisScore (Out of 30)Your analysis provides an original and sophisticated response to the text and does not simply summarize plot elements or author’s stance.Your use of “They say, I say” template stems is thoughtful and your arguments provide relevant and specific answers to each source.Your analysis includes a reflection on how themes and concepts apply to contemporary society.Mechanics and PresentationScore (Out of 10)Language is used effectively, without errors in grammar conventions. Your essay is typed in size 12 Times New Roman font and double spaced.Total Score/100Week of May 5thPre-Writing Group Activities and Forming a Position Monday, May 12th Introduction/Thesis WorkshopTuesday, May 12th Constructing Rough Draft – They say, I say templatesThursday, May 15th ROUGH DRAFT DUEMLA Format – in-text citations, bibliography, using quotations.Friday, May 16th Self and Peer-Edit – checklist, grammar, MLA (No late peer edits will be accepted)Monday, May 19th FINAL PRINTED PAPER IS DUE MONDAY, MAY 19TH BY 3:30Failure to turn in your printed essay on time will result in 10% being deducted from your final score; I must have the typed paper in my hand by 3:30.Standards-76200100330CCSS: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the SS: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient SS: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and SS: Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new SS: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under SS: Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.CRS: Identify the central idea or main topic of a straightforward piece of writing. Determine relevancy when presented with a variety of sentence-level details. 00CCSS: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the SS: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient SS: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and SS: Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new SS: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under SS: Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.CRS: Identify the central idea or main topic of a straightforward piece of writing. Determine relevancy when presented with a variety of sentence-level details. -762003143250CCSS: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the SS: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient SS: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and SS: Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new SS: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under SS: Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.CRS: Identify the central idea or main topic of a straightforward piece of writing. Determine relevancy when presented with a variety of sentence-level details. 00CCSS: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the SS: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient SS: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and SS: Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new SS: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under SS: Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.CRS: Identify the central idea or main topic of a straightforward piece of writing. Determine relevancy when presented with a variety of sentence-level details. Creating Your Thesis Statement:Like any argument paper you have ever written, you must have a specific, detailed thesis statement that reveals your perspective, and, like any good argument, your perspective must be one that is debatable. In other words, your thesis statement should not be a statement of the obvious. For this particular assignment: your thesis should not focus on specific authors; rather, it should focus on the larger discussion of the American Dream. The authors/texts are your supporting evidence. Example thesis statementsWEAK THESIS: The American Dream is possible to achieve because everything is possible. (This is obvious, the “duh” statement; no one is going to be interested in engaging with a paper that has a thesis like this. That doesn’t say anything–it’s basically just a summary and is hardly debatable.)STRONGER THESIS: The American Dream, as defined by James Truslow Adams, is “a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable;” everyone has different capabilities and aspirations; therefore, there is no single American Dream. The American Dream is possible to achieve because it relies on an individual’s desire and effort, and if one’s ratio of desire-to-effort is compatible, then the result will be success in achieving one’s “American Dream.”That is debatable, controversial even (some may disagree that there are too many external factors that play a role in the “ratio”). The rest of a paper with this argument as its thesis will be an attempt to show, using specific examples from the text: (1) how/why the American Dream is different for all, (2) how the American Dream is achievable and who has achieved itIncorporating/blending quotations:Quoting involves taking a word, phrase, or passage directly from the story, novel, poem, or critical essay and working it grammatically into your discussion. Here's an example:In his novel, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald describes Gatsby as having “an extraordinary gift for hope…”(2). This suggests that Gatsby’s desire for the American Dream is deeper and stronger than most; the fact that it is “an extraordinary gift” separates him from the average public and makes him more capable of achieving his dream.How should I quote? All quotes must be introduced, discussed, and woven into the text. As you revise, make sure you don't have two quotes end-to-end. A good rule of thumb: Don't let your quotes exceed 25% of your text. Never begin a body paragraph with a quote!What else should I remember? The “Picky” Stuff…The titles of plays, novels, magazines, newspapers, journals, (things that can stand by themselves) are underlined or italicized. Example: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby; Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, Sports Illustrated magazine. The titles of poems, short stories, and articles, or excerpts from larger texts (things that do not generally stand by themselves or are short) require quotation marks. Example: Lorie Johnson’s “The American Dream: A Delusion?”; Langston Hughes “Harlem”; Walt Whitman’s “I Hear America Singing”Don’t leave a quote or paraphrase by itself–you must introduce it, explain it, and show how it relates to your thesis. This creates UNITY in your paper.See me for approval and directions as to how you should block-format all quotations of more than four lines. No one will have a quote of more than four lines unless it is approved. Double-space all typing; do not put extra spaces in between paragraphs****Plagiarizing any part of this paper will result in a grade of zero for both the rough draft and final draft assignments. Do not even consider doing this. I will notice it, and you will be filled with regret…Plagiarizing includes: “Copying without using quotes.”Quoting without citation (Author Page#)Copying from another student… But we worked together? NO“American Dream Synthesis Essay” OrganizerParagraph #1 The IntroductionAttention Getter: Introduce the topic and grab attention. Consider previewing how literature and media portray or define “The American Dream.”Connector: Provide examples from literature or media that support your attention grabber. (Consider using The Great Gatsby or another literary reference here)Context for Debate: Present the alternative views on this debate.Thesis statement (Argue: Is this “American Dream” possible and achievable for all?Consider a complex THESIS: While some may say…. Ultimately I believe…Paragraph #2 THEY SAY, I SAYUse They say, I say templates (attached) to include:Introduce, cite, and summarize a sourceUse stems to agree, disagree, or take a more complex position on the source’s claim.Paragraph #3 THEY SAY, I SAYUse They say, I say templates (attached) to include:Introduce, cite, and summarize a sourceUse stems to agree, disagree, or take a more complex position on the source’s claim.Paragraph #5 SYNTHESIZEUse a transition: AVOID using "IN CONCLUSION" OR "ALL IN ALL"Summarize the two opposing arguments presented in your body paragraphsThesis: Take a side and restate your thesis in a different way --- a "final" conclusionAttention Getter Loop: Tie back to your introduction!!! Say something more about your introduction’s attention getter.Clincher: Ask the question, “So what?” about your thesis. Answer it here by saying something important, interesting, provocative. ................
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