Image: BlackCommentator.com
Do a Google Image search of political cartoons and "American Dream" or "American Dream 21st Century" and other variations of this search. This might give you some ideas of other things to write about in addition to what you already know. Researching this topic further is permissible, but make sure if you are using sources, to quote them properly and provide citations.
Do a Google Image search of political cartoons and "American Dream" or "American Dream 21st Century" and other variations of this search. This might give you some ideas of other things to write about in addition to what you already know. Researching this topic further is permissible, but make sure if you are using sources, to quote them properly and provide citations.
WARNING: PLAGIARIZED ESSAYS, AT ANY LEVEL, WILL RESULT IN AN F.
EAP: THE AMERICAN DREAM
DIRECTIONS: Read the following passage. Then, in a well-written essay:
•explain the author's argument (skills: you must know how to write an academic summary of this passage and summarize the logic of the author's ideas while focusing on the author's argument)
•discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the author's analysis and conclusion about the American Dream in the 21st century (skills: aking a position, staying on topic, connecting the author's argument and logic to original ideas, elaborating and developing your ideas, using academic vocabulary, writing which demonstrates elements of college-readiness)
PASSAGE
"Was the American Dream just a dream?" (an excerpt)
November 11, 2013
by Greg Awtry
Source
The American Dream, what the heck is it and is it real?
In the simplest of terms the American Dream is achieving prosperity through hard work. Defining prosperity is a bit more complex.
To some it may mean owning your own home, having a good paying job and living comfortably. To others, it may mean climbing a corporate ladder in search of the corner office overlooking those who are still in search of the dream. And for still others it may mean a distinct elevation in social class, rising from a subsistence lifestyle to fame and fortune.
The fact that the American Dream can mean so many different things to so many people reveals that the American Dream is extremely personal and your vision and my vision could be far different from each other.
But at its core, the American Dream could best be described as bettering oneself through individual actions taken by people living under an umbrella of liberty, which allows and promotes personal responsibility. In other words, personal destiny is in your own hands.
So, is the American Dream real? Yes it is. Is it still possible? Well, this is where it gets questionable. In August of 2013, YouGov released a poll asking if the American Dream was still possible. Forty-one percent said no, while only 38 percent said yes.
If the poll is accurate, Americans should be very concerned. If we as a society no longer believe that through hard work one can prosper, then the very ideals that built the greatest nation in history may be unraveling before our eyes.
What is causing this transformation? Are we just becoming a lazy society? Are we trying to live the American Dream, and failing? Are we putting too much faith in government to tend to our needs instead of doing whatever is necessary to provide for ourselves?
Has corporate America become so powerful and greedy that prosperity is only available to those at the top? Has the ruling class, our very own government, misused our nation’s wealth by focusing too much on a global vision instead of investing in America’s future?
One could make the case for “all of the above.” The overriding question is what are we going to do about it?
Whatever the American Dream is for you, we simply cannot let it slip away from our culture. It is the thread that binds us.
(end of passage)
PROMPT
•Explain the author's argument.
•Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the author's analysis and conclusion regarding the American Dream in the 21st century.
•You may use your knowledge of RAISIN IN THE SUN or the time period American society prior to the 1964 Civil Rights Act as a possible "body paragraph" depending on what position you want to take.
•Support your position using relevant examples, evidence and explanations from American history, course readings, studies, background knowledge of current events and other pertinent sources of information.
•Your essay must demonstrate elements of effective writing, critical thinking, organization, development and academic vocabulary. You may use personal experience if applicable to the prompt.
GENERAL OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
•Explain the author's argument, logic, claims, examples, etc.
•Thesis
BODY PARAGRAPHS
•Take a position on the prompt
•Use the blue handout you were provided with assist you with writing in favor of or against the ideas of authors and experts.
CONCLUSION
•Closing insights about the topic/issue as a whole
•What are your final comments, concerns, points regarding the topic?
•explain the author's argument (skills: you must know how to write an academic summary of this passage and summarize the logic of the author's ideas while focusing on the author's argument)
•discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the author's analysis and conclusion about the American Dream in the 21st century (skills: aking a position, staying on topic, connecting the author's argument and logic to original ideas, elaborating and developing your ideas, using academic vocabulary, writing which demonstrates elements of college-readiness)
PASSAGE
"Was the American Dream just a dream?" (an excerpt)
November 11, 2013
by Greg Awtry
Source
The American Dream, what the heck is it and is it real?
In the simplest of terms the American Dream is achieving prosperity through hard work. Defining prosperity is a bit more complex.
To some it may mean owning your own home, having a good paying job and living comfortably. To others, it may mean climbing a corporate ladder in search of the corner office overlooking those who are still in search of the dream. And for still others it may mean a distinct elevation in social class, rising from a subsistence lifestyle to fame and fortune.
The fact that the American Dream can mean so many different things to so many people reveals that the American Dream is extremely personal and your vision and my vision could be far different from each other.
But at its core, the American Dream could best be described as bettering oneself through individual actions taken by people living under an umbrella of liberty, which allows and promotes personal responsibility. In other words, personal destiny is in your own hands.
So, is the American Dream real? Yes it is. Is it still possible? Well, this is where it gets questionable. In August of 2013, YouGov released a poll asking if the American Dream was still possible. Forty-one percent said no, while only 38 percent said yes.
If the poll is accurate, Americans should be very concerned. If we as a society no longer believe that through hard work one can prosper, then the very ideals that built the greatest nation in history may be unraveling before our eyes.
What is causing this transformation? Are we just becoming a lazy society? Are we trying to live the American Dream, and failing? Are we putting too much faith in government to tend to our needs instead of doing whatever is necessary to provide for ourselves?
Has corporate America become so powerful and greedy that prosperity is only available to those at the top? Has the ruling class, our very own government, misused our nation’s wealth by focusing too much on a global vision instead of investing in America’s future?
One could make the case for “all of the above.” The overriding question is what are we going to do about it?
Whatever the American Dream is for you, we simply cannot let it slip away from our culture. It is the thread that binds us.
(end of passage)
PROMPT
•Explain the author's argument.
•Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the author's analysis and conclusion regarding the American Dream in the 21st century.
•You may use your knowledge of RAISIN IN THE SUN or the time period American society prior to the 1964 Civil Rights Act as a possible "body paragraph" depending on what position you want to take.
•Support your position using relevant examples, evidence and explanations from American history, course readings, studies, background knowledge of current events and other pertinent sources of information.
•Your essay must demonstrate elements of effective writing, critical thinking, organization, development and academic vocabulary. You may use personal experience if applicable to the prompt.
GENERAL OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
•Explain the author's argument, logic, claims, examples, etc.
•Thesis
BODY PARAGRAPHS
•Take a position on the prompt
•Use the blue handout you were provided with assist you with writing in favor of or against the ideas of authors and experts.
CONCLUSION
•Closing insights about the topic/issue as a whole
•What are your final comments, concerns, points regarding the topic?