Journal Entry/Discussion Topic

1. Journal Entry/Discussion Topic • Define what you believe the American Dream means in the world we live in today. • Do you think this definition might have been interpreted differently 50 years ago? 100 years ago? 200 years ago? • Is it possible for everyone to reach their American Dream? What factors might prohibit someone from reaching their dream in this country? • Write at least half a page total before we discuss together.

2. “The Newsroom” clip • Following is a clip from the HBO Show “The Newsroom.” • We will watch it twice. The first time, just watch/listen, and take it all in. • After the first viewing, we will come up with a statement about what the main character thinks about the American Dream. • The second time we watch, be prepared to write down facts from the character’s speech that function as evidence for the statement we constructed. • Disclaimer: There are some curse words.

3. Statements about the American Dream from “Newsroom” character • The character feels the American Dream has been corrupted and lost. • The character is disappointed in America’s downfall. • The character thinks the goals of Americans have changed for the worse. • The character feels that being pro-American does not take other nations’ strengths into account. • Therefore, the American Dream is not what it used to be.

4. Annotation/Article #1 • Annotate American Dream Article #1 in the following way, with three different color highlighters. Color 1: Highlight comments that SUPPORT the existence of the American Dream. Color 2: Highlight comments that QUESTION or are AGAINST the existence of the American Dream. Color 3: Words/references/general ideas that are unfamiliar to you or difficult to understand.

5. Statements about the American Dream from “Keeping the Dream Alive” (article #1) • When done reading/annotating Article #1, we will write some statements together (to be copied into your notebook) that explain the author’s overall point of view about the American Dream. Model it after the ones we did together from “The Newsroom”.

6. Statements about the American Dream from “Keeping the Dream Alive” (article #1) • The author believes that even though America has gone through tough times, the American Dream has stayed alive. • He also explains that it is the responsibility of our country’s leaders to fuel economic growth so the dream can stay alive. • He also seems to try to persuade readers to step up and help keep the dream alive, perhaps by becoming leaders.

7. Article #2 (for HW) • Annotate this the same way you did Article 1. • When done, write some similar statements about this author’s overall point of view of the American Dream.

8. Body Paragraph Prompt Draft 1 • Using the sources you have examined, explain why the American Dream is such a controversial issue. • Take a stand on whether it is real or an illusion, or lost and needs to be recovered, etc. • Do not use first person – you are using the sources to demonstrate a particular view.

9. Four Draft Process • Draft 2: Structure • This means you will make sure to write a minimum of eight sentences, with a… • Topic sentence (TS), at least two examples/concrete details (CDs) from the four sources, commentary/analysis (CMs) for those details, and a concluding sentence (CS). • Follow minimum requirements on peer review sheet for Draft 2 (similar to what is stated above). • Read at least one more American Dream article of the six posted under Links on the website, and add evidence from that source as well.

10. Journal Entry • What differences did you see between your first and second drafts? What did you do well in your opinion? What do you think you still need to improve?

11. Draft Process continued • Draft 3: Integration of text • You will make sure your CDs (references to the articles/sources) are accurate and specific, and mention the point of view of the authors/sources. • Use the authors’ names somewhere in the paragraph as well as the titles of the articles/publications. • You will integrate at least one quote correctly (more is better though), using a transition and lead-in before the quote (TLQ). • Follow minimum requirements on peer review sheet for Draft 3 (similar to what is stated above). • If you did not for Draft 2: Read at least one more American Dream article of the six posted under Links on the website, and bring in evidence from that source as well.

12. Example of properly integrated text In “Keeping the Dream Alive” by Jon Meacham published in Time Magazine (2012), the author seems to try to persuade readers to step up and help keep the American dream alive, perhaps by becoming leaders. Specifically, he states “we are the only ones who can create a climate for the American Dream to survive another generation…” (5).

13. Draft Process continued • Draft 4: Upgrading language • You will make sure your topic and concluding sentences are strong, specific, and insightful. • Your CS should not be the same as your TS – you should have a new level of insight to share by the end of the paragraph. • Identify words that are too elementary or not specific enough, and find synonyms that are more sophisticated and specific. • Get rid of any 1st person (I) and make sure 2nd person (you) is limited. • Correct, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. • Follow minimum requirements on peer review sheet for Draft 4 (similar to what is stated above).

14. HW for Monday • Type a final draft of your American Dream paragraph, keeping in mind all revisions from me, your peers, and yourself from previous drafts. • Bring printed copy Monday and submit to turnitin. • Should be in MLA format (check 11CP Docs for guidance) • Make a Works Cited page for all sources (easybib.org or citationmachine.net) • When you turn it in, you will have the final draft on top and all previous drafts plus the peer review sheet stapled behind it.

15. Example paragraph (to fix/discuss) The American Dream has been defined, analyzed and put down by idealists. There are reasons and statistics to support and disapprove the Dream. In the Article “Keeping the Dream Alive”, John Meacham gives statistics that say “roughly 90% of Americans self identify as middle class”. A large middle class is a positive attribute to the dream because many say that a country’s economics are best measured by the state of the middle class. Seeing that only 10% of the middle class say they are “lower-middle class” we can say that the majority of them are doing quite well and they have the potential and are reaching there “American Dream”. Despite this, there are many who aren’t so positive about America, but feel like Americans see this dream as a right all Americans have and should be given to them. In Article #2, Joseph E. Stiglitz says “there is less equality of opportunity in the united states today than there is in Europe” (pg.1). SO why do we feel like we have some god given right when we aren’t doing anything to make this happen for us like everyone else does? Therefore, the viewpoints and perspectives on the Dream of America differ extremely, and that’s what makes it a controversial subject.

16. Example paragraph (to fix/discuss) The American Dream is controversial because there are many views on what the dream even is. According to Meachan in “Keeping the Dream Alive”, “roughly 90% of Americans self-identify as middle, upper-middle, or lower-middle class” (1). This shows that while there are some upper and lower class members, this country thrives on those who are in the middle. However, the fact that most Americans are in the middle makes sense, those on the upper end have the social responsibility to create jobs and opportunities, while the middle class needs to be big so it can fill all the jobs our country needs to thrive. On the “Newsroom,” the main character talks about how our country, while not being the worst, is not even close to being the best. He names various statistics showing why we are not the greatest country in the world. This shows how the American Dream is controversial because while we like to be known as a land of hope and opportunity, it is believed by some that because we are not the best we cannot be the place to go to raise your standing. Contrarily, it is also believed that we may not need to have the best country to live the American Dream. We may not provide for our citizens as equally or “fairly” as other countries, but we do provide a place where you one has an environment where you are free to do what you want to make a better standing for yourself. The controversy behind the American Dream ties in with people’s definition of the dream. Some believe that just coming to America should get you rich, but others, more sensibly, believe that the American Dream is more about the opportunity to work and provide for your own future.

17. American Dream Paragraph-Purpose • You have now studied a topic (the American Dream) in depth, and have done the following: • Shared your initial impressions of it (journal entry) • Studied multi-media sources that discuss it (articles and video) • Figured out how the authors of the sources feel about it (author’s point of view/perspective) • Used the sources to explain something about the American Dream (that it is “controversial”, that it is a myth, that it can be restored, etc.) • Perhaps you have manipulated the facts in the sources to prove what your view of the American Dream is, without using first person

18. Purpose cont. • You have written about this, and have improved the CONTENT, STRUCTURE, INTEGRATION OF TEXT, AND LANGUAGE in your writing • Done multiple drafts • This semester, we will repeat this process in some way, shape or form with every unit, as we will always look at related sources in addition to the main piece of literature we are reading • You have also practiced important skills you will need for your ESLR, which is similar in nature, except it is about a whole book and the ideas in it, not just one idea or topic (the American Dream)