WRITING PROMPT BASED ON POEM
HARLEM: A DREAM DEFERRED by Langston Hughes
WARNING: PLAGIARIZED ESSAYS AT ANY LEVEL WILL RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC F FOR THE GRADING PERIOD.
ESSAY WRITING PROMPT FOR RAISIN ACT 1, SCENE i
MUST BE TYPED (2-3 PAGES)
[RAISIN] ACT I, SCENE I: WRITING PROMPT
Re-read Langston Hughes's poem "Dream Deferred."
Make a list of all the characters in the play who have had their “dreams deferred,” and explain the factors and situations that have contributed to their “dreams being deferred.”
We took notes about this in class on Thursday, 3/28.
Make sure to also explain what noticeable implications have resulted in their dream being deferred?
In other words, what has happened to their “character” or their identity because of this limitation. Explain.
In your introduction, make sure to explain what the author of the poem, Langston Hughes is arguing in the poem, “A Dream Deferred” along with what the key term, deferred means.
A Dream Deferred
by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
OUTLINE
Introduction
Introduce the poem and the main issues it address.
Then, explain the author’s argument about dreams, goals, and aspirations. Make sure to define what deferred means.
Body Paragraphs
How does this poem relate to characters in the play? Which characters have had their dreams deferred? Explain the implications on their “character, identity and sense of self?” What’s significant points is Hansberry, the playwright, making in creating these characters in these situations? Make sure you are answering the prompt. See the notes above for more guidance on how to write your body paragraphs and make sure they are developed. DO NOT SIMPLY REPEAT & REWRITE THE NOTES PROVIDED IN CLASS. You must use them to further explain how the poem relates to each character.
Conclusion
Explain Hughes’ purpose for writing this poem and/or Hansberry’s purpose for creating this play and the characters in it, especially in terms of the significance of the play to American society during the time.
MUST BE TYPED (2-3 PAGES)
[RAISIN] ACT I, SCENE I: WRITING PROMPT
Re-read Langston Hughes's poem "Dream Deferred."
Make a list of all the characters in the play who have had their “dreams deferred,” and explain the factors and situations that have contributed to their “dreams being deferred.”
We took notes about this in class on Thursday, 3/28.
Make sure to also explain what noticeable implications have resulted in their dream being deferred?
In other words, what has happened to their “character” or their identity because of this limitation. Explain.
In your introduction, make sure to explain what the author of the poem, Langston Hughes is arguing in the poem, “A Dream Deferred” along with what the key term, deferred means.
A Dream Deferred
by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
OUTLINE
Introduction
Introduce the poem and the main issues it address.
Then, explain the author’s argument about dreams, goals, and aspirations. Make sure to define what deferred means.
Body Paragraphs
How does this poem relate to characters in the play? Which characters have had their dreams deferred? Explain the implications on their “character, identity and sense of self?” What’s significant points is Hansberry, the playwright, making in creating these characters in these situations? Make sure you are answering the prompt. See the notes above for more guidance on how to write your body paragraphs and make sure they are developed. DO NOT SIMPLY REPEAT & REWRITE THE NOTES PROVIDED IN CLASS. You must use them to further explain how the poem relates to each character.
Conclusion
Explain Hughes’ purpose for writing this poem and/or Hansberry’s purpose for creating this play and the characters in it, especially in terms of the significance of the play to American society during the time.
TIPS FOR WRITING YOUR ESSAY
1. Use the notes you took last Thursday.
2. Look up synonyms to the word DEFERRED and synonyms to those new words you've found. Do not use the word DEFERRED more than a couple times in your essay. You might consider the words sidetracked, postponed, delayed and other more precise words when discussing what is happening to each member and of the Youngers family and their "dreams."
3. Look up synonyms to the word DREAMS as well.
These synonyms will assist you with writing a stronger essay by incorporating more precise (and less repetitive) vocabulary.
4. Choose 3 characters whose "dreams have been deferred." Connect the poem by Langston Hughes to the characters and lives in the play by Lorainne Hansberry.
5. As you think about each character, consider:
•What has been deferred, postponed, delayed, sidetracked?
•Explain the various factors, forces and situations that have contributed to their "dreams being deferred?"
•What noticeable implications have resulted in the character’s dream or aspiration or potential being deferred? In other words, what has happened to their “character, sense of self, their identity" because of the limitations or restrictions. Explain clearly and in detail. If the implications are not less noticeable, but still evident, explain those as well.
HINTS: Think about the apartment and its condition for Mama; Ruth and the way she looks; Walter and his attitude. A lot of this information can be taken from the italicized sections of your play where you are given a great deal of background knowledge about the characters. Don't forget, you may write about Big Walter as well!
Your body paragraphs should be lengthier and show original critical thinking about the characters.
PLAGIARIZED ESSAYS AT ANY LEVEL WILL RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC F FOR THE GRADING PERIOD.
2. Look up synonyms to the word DEFERRED and synonyms to those new words you've found. Do not use the word DEFERRED more than a couple times in your essay. You might consider the words sidetracked, postponed, delayed and other more precise words when discussing what is happening to each member and of the Youngers family and their "dreams."
3. Look up synonyms to the word DREAMS as well.
These synonyms will assist you with writing a stronger essay by incorporating more precise (and less repetitive) vocabulary.
4. Choose 3 characters whose "dreams have been deferred." Connect the poem by Langston Hughes to the characters and lives in the play by Lorainne Hansberry.
5. As you think about each character, consider:
•What has been deferred, postponed, delayed, sidetracked?
•Explain the various factors, forces and situations that have contributed to their "dreams being deferred?"
•What noticeable implications have resulted in the character’s dream or aspiration or potential being deferred? In other words, what has happened to their “character, sense of self, their identity" because of the limitations or restrictions. Explain clearly and in detail. If the implications are not less noticeable, but still evident, explain those as well.
HINTS: Think about the apartment and its condition for Mama; Ruth and the way she looks; Walter and his attitude. A lot of this information can be taken from the italicized sections of your play where you are given a great deal of background knowledge about the characters. Don't forget, you may write about Big Walter as well!
Your body paragraphs should be lengthier and show original critical thinking about the characters.
PLAGIARIZED ESSAYS AT ANY LEVEL WILL RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC F FOR THE GRADING PERIOD.