January 31st--American Dream by Decade MindMap

A mind map is a way to visually represent your thinking about a complex topic. Below is an example of a mind map on mind maps:

from  http://litemind.com/what-is-mind-mapping/

American Dream by Decade Mind Map assignment

Using the work we did for the last two days, create a mind map showing the American Dream in the decade of your article.  Your mind map should:

• Show how the American Dream was interpreted during your time period

• Have interesting visuals that support content.

• Should connect understandings of the American dream with those common today

Jan 29th--History of the American Dream

Read one of the following articles from the New York Times:

1. 1959 Essence of America
2. 1969, Youth in Revolt
3. 1974 There’s no time for dreams
4. 1996 Testing the resonance of the American Dream
5. 2001: Our towns, her chance to live, then describe, her American Dream
6. 2005 You really can’t be too rich.
7. 2012: American Dream Faces Harsh Reality


From your article, answer the following questions


1. What events, people, movements, ideas, norms and/or perceptions does this article mention that were important during the time period in which the article was written?

2. How is the American Dream defined and/or described in this article? How does this definition reflect the historical context in which the article was written?

3. What quotes from the article best illustrate the article's "take" on the concept of the American Dream? Do you agree with the image of America that these quotes present? Why or why not?

4. Compare and contrast the article's presentation of the American Dream with contemporary conceptions of concept. What about the representation of the American Dream has stayed the same through time and what, if anything, has changed?

Jan 28th--The American Dream in a Recession

I. Read the article, What Happens to the American Dream in a Recession

II. Answer the following questions on your own paper:
 

• 1. According to this article, what is the classic definition of the American dream? Do you think that this dream (as it is classically defined) often comes true? Why or why not?
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• 2. Why do you think more people believe in the American dream today than they did four years before the article was written, when our economic outlook was much brighter?
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• 3. Describe the shift in the definition of the American dream over the past four years? What do you think accounts for this change?
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• 4. Which definitions of the American dream resonate most with you? Why?
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• 5. Why do you think Barry Glassner believes that it would be difficult to find a different country where so many people believe in possibilities even in dire circumstances? Do you agree with him? Why or why not?

January 24th: "I Have a Dream" reading and found poetry

 :

Click here to access the full text of the speech.

Assignment
 Create a found poem using words, phrases from Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream Speech."

Your poem should either:

1.  convey your idea of America today OR 
2. restate what you believe to be MLKs main message. 

 Found poetry creation options: Write it, Type it, or  WordMover it

Jan 16th--Published Writing Self Assessment

Jan. 3rd Writing Quote poster assignment