1. Unit 1 – English III Mary Holmes
The American Dream
Unit 1 – English III
Mary Holmes

2. Informational Text Standards
In the following lessons we will learn to:
1. Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
2. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
Informational Text Standards

3. Take out a sheet of paper, tear it in half and share it with a neighbor.
On one side of your sheet of paper, I want you to list five things you think you need in life in order to be successful. (you may bullet point these items)
On the other side of your sheet of paper, I want you to write what your definition of the American Dream looks like for you. After you have written your definition, describe what might keep you from achieving this dream. (write your definition and explanation in two to three sentences)
Once you have finished with both sides, fold up your paper and place it in the bucket.
The American Dream

4. The American Dream Let’s discuss your answers.
According to James Truslow Adams, “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability and achievement” (Cole “What’s the Current State of the American Dream?”).
Do you believe in this statement? Let’s discuss.
The American Dream

5. “How the American Dream Has Changed Over Time”
This article divides our history into four different categories:
Early Americans
Americans after the Revolutionary War
Americans during WWII
Modern Americans
“How the American Dream Has Changed Over Time”

6. “How the American Dream Has Changed Over Time”
Create this table in your notes (leave space so you can write your answers to each question):
Early Americans
What did they want?
How did they achieve it?
Americans after the Revolutionary War
Americans during WWII
Modern Americans
“How the American Dream Has Changed Over Time”

7. “How the American Dream Has Changed Over Time”
What is the main idea of this article? (Hint Hint: What point is the article trying to get across to you as the reader?)
Write your answer below your table in your notes.
Ex: Main Idea: The main idea of “How the American Dream Has Changed Over Time is…”
Make sure you cite evidence from the text to prove what you believe is the main idea.
Ex: The author states, “insert quote from article” (“How the American Dream Has Changed Over Time”)
“How the American Dream Has Changed Over Time”

8. “How the American Dream Has Changed Over Time”
What are your thoughts?
What evidence did you find to prove this?
“How the American Dream Has Changed Over Time”

9. “Is The American Dream Withering or Just Changing?”
While you read the article, make a list of the pros and cons of the American Dream in your notes. We will discuss once we finish reading the article.
Pros
Cons 1. 2. 3.
“Is The American Dream Withering or Just Changing?”

10. “Is The American Dream Withering or Just Changing?”
According to the article, is the American Dream withering or just changing?
Why do you think so?
Find two pieces of evidence from the article to support your answer. (Write the answer to the initial questions and your pieces of evidence under your pros and cons in your notes.)
“Is The American Dream Withering or Just Changing?”

11. “Is The American Dream Withering or Just Changing?”
When I tell you to go, I want you to move to the side of the classroom that matches the answer to the question you just answered.
I want the students who think the American Dream is withering on the left side of the classroom and students who think the American Dream is changing on the right side of the classroom.
Withering Changing
Go!
“Is The American Dream Withering or Just Changing?”

12. “American Dream Deferred: We Now Embrace More Modest, Personal Goals”
On a sheet of paper, write down three personal goals you have for yourself. These can be goals for your life after high school or goals you have for yourself right now. (These can be bulleted answers)
Once you are finished, place your answers in the bucket provided by Ms. Holmes.
Let’s discuss.
Why are personal goals so important? Let’s discuss.
“American Dream Deferred: We Now Embrace More Modest, Personal Goals”

13. “American Dream Deferred: We Now Embrace More Modest, Personal Goals”
As we read the article, I want you to note how the American Dream is described in the article. Jot down how it is described and how it is different from the other articles we have read so far.
Find a piece of evidence that helps describe the American Dream.(Put these in your notes)
Let’s discuss.
“American Dream Deferred: We Now Embrace More Modest, Personal Goals”

14. At the beginning of these articles, I asked you to describe your definition of the American Dream, what you would need in order to be successful, and what you think might keep you from achieving this dream.
Now I want you to take another half sheet of paper and write what you think you need to do in order to make your dream a reality. (Write your answer in two to three sentences!)
Once finished, fold up your paper and give it to Ms. Holmes.
To Wrap Up

15. American Dream CLips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eL3GXXJJoM
American Dream CLips

16. Now that we have talked about the American Dream, We are going to write about it.
Let’s talk POW and ICE

17. 4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
5. Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
Writing Standards

18. POW P – Pull apart the prompt O – Organize your notes
W – Write and say more
POW

19. What is the American Dream, and is it still attainable
What is the American Dream, and is it still attainable? Using the articles, explain why it is or is not. Be sure to cite evidence from the texts provided.
Pull Apart the Prompt – What is the prompt asking of you? What are you expected to do for your writing prompt?
Organize Your Notes – What are you going to need for your prompt? Could you use some of the evidence you found while reading the articles to help fully answer the question in the prompt?
Write and Say More – Now that you have looked over the prompt and your notes, you should be able to create a well-written paragraph about the American Dream.
Writing Prompt

20. Ice + Wrap Up I – Introduce your topic
C – Cite evidence to help explain your topic
E – Explain your evidence and how it is important to your topic
Wrap Up – Wrap up your paragraph with a final sentence to conclude your ideas about the topic
Ice + Wrap Up

21. There will be two C’s and two E’s
There will be two C’s and two E’s. It will look like this: I C E C E Wrap
For example:
The American Dream is/is not attainable. Based on the information in the article “How the American Dream Has Changed Over Time,” the author states, “insert your cited evidence here…” (1 - for this exercise, put the side of the page as your number [page 1 for the front side and page 2 for the back side]). The explanation for your first piece of evidence should 2 to 3 sentences. The article also states, “insert your second piece of evidence here...” (2). The explanation for your second piece of evidence should be 2 to 3 sentences. Your final sentence should wrap up your ideas.
AN Exemplar Paragraph

22. The American Dream is still attainable. According to Martha C
The American Dream is still attainable. According to Martha C. White, the goals for the American Dream “are more modest – like having a financial safety net” (1). Compared to previous decades, the American Dream is different but not out of reach. For many it is no longer getting married, having kids, and having a job that creates the perfect American Dream, it is just having enough to be happy. The article further explains “people are defining the Dream much more personally… to that extent, a sense of personal fulfillment is what drives the dream” (2). While the American Dream is still attainable, what it means for each individual is a very peronsl thing. Parts of the original Dream are still important, but the success has become more personal – more about what the individual wants versus what the general crowd desires. Everyone has a sense for the American Dream, but the personal nature of the Dream is what keeps it attainable.
AN Exemplar Paragraph

23. Use the following directions to identify the different parts of the ICE paragraph.
Put brackets around the I. [ I ]
Underline any C.
Put parenthesis around any E. (E)
Circle the wrap up (conclusion).

24. Exemplary ICE Paragraph
[The American Dream is still attainable.] According to Martha C. White, the goals for the American Dream “are more modest – like having a financial safety net” (1). (Compared to previous decades, the American Dream is different but not out of reach. For many it is no longer getting married, having kids, and having a job that creates the perfect American Dream, it is just having enough to be happy.) The article further explains “people are defining the Dream much more personally… to that extent, a sense of personal fulfillment is what drives the dream” (2). (While the American Dream is still attainable, what it means for each individual is a very peronsl thing. Parts of the original Dream are still important, but the success has become more personal – more about what the individual wants versus what the general crowd desires.) Everyone has a sense of the American Dream, but the personal nature of the Dream is what keeps it attainable.
Exemplary ICE Paragraph

25. Write your ICE Paragraph
Prompt: What is the American Dream, and is it still attainable? Using the articles, explain why it is or is not. Be sure to cite evidence from the texts provided.
Begin creating your ICE paragraph.
Write your ICE Paragraph

26. Peer Review Trade papers with a partner.
You must trade with someone who actually has a paragraph.
You will break down the paragraph using ICE just like we did on the example.
Peer Review

27. Peer Review Put brackets around the I. [ I ] Underline any C.
Put parenthesis around any E. (E)
Circle the wrap up (conclusion).
There should be two C’s and two E’s. It should look like this:
I C E C E Wrap
If there is something missing, write what your person is missing and put it at the bottom of their paragraph.
Peer Review

28. Once you get your paper back, create a final draft on a new sheet of paper with all of the mistakes fixed and making sure that all the pieces are included to make an exemplar ICE paragraph.
Once you are finished, turn in your paragraph, with your name on it, to the class basket.
Final Drafts