Unit+1+The+American+Dream

Hello!
Welcome to your first unit! Look below to find out what we have been doing in class and what your homework assignments are. Please feel free to e-mail me if you are confused or if you have any questions! (bcurrey@aes.ac.in)


 * What's been happening in class?**


 * Day 1:** You were introduced to your best teacher of all time. You reviewed the syllabus, just like every other class, and played a game to try to get to know each other which was ok. You discussed why you thought you had to take this class. Why is it important to know about America?

You read [|"What is an American"] and write a paragraph about what makes up an American according to the article. Then you discussed what the American Dream is and worked with Mr. Clinton to find articles to explain about the American Dream. Read one article together as a class and highlight and make sticky notes.
 * Day 2:**You brainstormed ideas about what it means to be an American and you shared with the class.

[|Diigo]




 * Homework:** Read one additional article about the American Dream, highlight and post sticky notes on the article to articulate your thoughts about highlighted text and how it applies to the possibility of achieving the American Dream using Diigo and share with the class.


 * Day 3:** You continued your first unit about the American Dream. You looked at a powerpoint about the American Dream, checked out some statistics at [|inequality.org] and then read some articles about whether the American Dream is really possible.

Links to the articles: [|Fatalism and the American Dream] [|Article about Occupy Wallstreet and the American Dream] [|Is the American Dream Dead?] [|Is the American Dream Still Alive?] [|Suze Orman on the Death of the American Dream] [|The U.S. is providing fewer opportunities to improve status] [|American Dream Fading for the Young] **Homework:** 1. Choose 2 different articles. One must say that the American Dream is possible and one must say that the American Dream is dead. 2. For each article, underline or highlight the lines which you think contain the author's thesis or main idea/argument. 3. On another sheet of paper answer the following question: - How did the author support his/her thesis? In other words, what types/categories of evidence (e.g. presenting examples of famous historical figures) does the author present to prove his/her main idea? 4. Write a paragraph about each article explaining how the author regards the American Dream. Questions to consider: What is the American Dream? How can one achieve it? Has anyone been able to achieve it? Are people still able to achieve it? **Day 4:** You reviewed your marked up articles. You started your essay assignment: "The American Dream: Myth or Reality?" **Due Dates:** **Wed Jan 18: Thesis due at the end of class. HW: Work on outline worksheet** **Tuesday Jan 24: Outline due/writing conference and MLA citation review** **Fri Jan 27:** **Thu Feb 2nd: Final Draft Due! Start Geography Unit** Here are some things to help you! media type="youtube" key="tGk5ioEXlIM" height="315" width="420"
 * Conferences** ******Tues Jan 31:******
 * Rough Draft Peer Review**
 * Conferences, Rough Draft Due!**