THE AMERICAN DREAM

Get out paper and a writing utensil

THEME

Define Theme as a literary term. What is it? How

does it show itself in a work of literature?

A theme is an underlying message that the author

wants the reader to understand. It is generally not

stated directly and is, instead, shown through how

the characters change, the conflicts presented in

the story, the different settings of the story, how the

story resolves, etc…

THE AMERICAN DREAM

What do you think the stereotypical American

Dream is?

What do you think the immigrants from the

1700s and 1800s believed was the American

Dream? Do you think it’s the same today?

How might the American Dream have changed

for immigrants of today? What about the natural

born American Citizens?

THE AMERICAN DREAM

What is your

American Dream?

Write down a list of

specific words to

represent YOUR

dream!

THE AMERICAN DREAM

What are the elements of your American Dream?

What words have you included to represent these

elements?

Why have you included these specific items?

How did you decide on the components of your Dream?

What did you leave out and why?

How does your American Dream compare to the

stereotypical one? To other word clouds within this

classroom?

THE AMERICAN DREAM

The Immigrants

part one:

An American Tale

Watch the clip and try to

decipher what the

character's think America

has to offer them. Why do

they wish for those things?

Copy and paste the following

link to find the song

http://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=2bC07e7PReM

THE AMERICAN DREAM

The Immigrants part

two:

“The Boxer” by Simon

and Garfunkel

How does this American

Dream differ from the

cat song?

(Google the title w/

lyrics)

Click icon to add picture

The Modern American

Dream:

Alicia Keys and Jay Z

“New York”

What ideas of the American

dream seem to be

represented in this song?

THE AMERICAN DREAMH O M E W O R K : D U E B Y F R I D A Y

On your own, write a few paragraphs answering

the following questions.

• Define and explain your own American Dream. • Select a song to match your individual Dream. Print

or hand write the lyrics and title/musician of the song you have chosen

• Explain how the song connects to your own beliefs.

• YES. You may use your cell phones to look for the perfect song. But you CANNOT share your ideas with anyone. I want you to write for yourself first, then we’ll share if we have time.