The American Dream
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UNIT 1 The American Dream Visual Prompt: How does this image juxtapose the promise and the reality of the American Dream? Unit Overview In this unit you will explore a variety of American voices and define what it is to be an American. If asked to describe the essence and spirit of America, you would probably refer to the American Dream. First coined as a phrase in 1931, the phrase “the American Dream” characterizes the unique promise that America has offered immigrants and residents for nearly 400 years. People have come to this country for adventure, opportunity, freedom, © 2017 College Board. All rights reserved. and the chance to experience the particular qualities of the American landscape. G11_U1_SE_B1.indd 1 05/04/16 12:08 pm UNIT The American Dream 1 GOALS: Contents • To understand and define Activities complex concepts such as the American Dream 1.1 Previewing the Unit ..................................................................... 4 • To identify and synthesize a variety of perspectives 1.2 Defining a Word, Idea, or Concept ............................................... 5 • To analyze and evaluate the Essay: “Veterans Day: Never Forget Their Duty,” by effectiveness of arguments Senator John McCain • To analyze representative 1.3 America’s Promise ....................................................................... 9 texts from the American experience Speech: Excerpt from Address on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, by Franklin D. Roosevelt 1.4 America’s Voices ....................................................................... 12 ACADEMIC VOCABULARY Poetry: “I Hear America Singing,” by Walt Whitman primary source defend Poetry: “I, Too, Sing America,” by Langston Hughes challenge 1.5 Fulfilling the Promise ................................................................ 15 qualify Short Story: “America and I,” by Anzia Yezierska 1.6 Defining an American ................................................................ 27 Letter: “What Is an American?” excerpt from Letters From an Literary Terms American Farmer, “What Is an American?” by J. Hector St. John exemplification de Crèvecoeur imagery personification 1.7 A Hyphenated American ............................................................ 33 synecdoche Essay: “Growing Up Asian in America,” by Kesaya E. Noda 1.8 Researching Images of America ................................................ 38 Poetry: “Let America Be America Again,” by Langston Hughes 1.9 What Is Freedom? ...................................................................... 45 Speech: Excerpt from The Four Freedoms, by Franklin Delano Roosevelt Historical Document: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States Historical Document: The Bill of Rights 1.10 Strategies for Defining Freedom.................................................52 © 2017 College Board. All rights reserved. Definition Essay: “What Is Freedom?” by Jerald M. Jellison and John H. Harvey Embedded Assessment 1: Writing a Definition Essay ........................ 56 2 SpringBoard® English Language Arts Grade 11 G11_U1_SE_B1.indd 2 05/04/16 12:08 pm Language and Writer’s 1.11 Previewing Embedded Assessment 2 and Synthesizing Craft Ideas ......................................................................................... 58 • Quoting Original Sources (1.5) 1.12 Annotating an Argumentative Text ............................................ 60 • Using Direct Quotes (1.6) Argumentative Essay: “Is the American Dream Still Possible?” • Transitions (1.10) by David Wallechinsky 1.13 The Structure of an Argument ................................................... 65 Historical Document: The Declaration of Independence MY INDEPENDENT 1.14 Coming to America .................................................................... 71 READING LIST Poetry: “Ellis Island,” by Joseph Bruchac Poetry: “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” by Phillis Wheatley Poetry: “Europe and America,” by David Ignatow 1.15 Money and the American Dream ............................................... 77 Poetry: “Money,” by Dana Gioia Drama: Excerpt from A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry 1.16 Working Toward the Dream ....................................................... 83 Poetry: “Who Burns for the Perfection of Paper,” by Martín Espada Nonfiction: Excerpt from Working, “Roberto Acuna Talks about Farm Workers,” by Studs Terkel 1.17 The Road to Success ................................................................. 89 Speech: Excerpt from Keynote Address to the 2004 Democratic National Convention, by Barack Obama Essay: “The Right to Fail,” by William Zinsser 1.18 American Dream: Real or Imagined? ......................................... 96 Embedded Assessment 2: Synthesizing the American Dream ........... 99 © 2017 College Board. All rights reserved. Unit 1 • The American Dream 3 G11_U1_SE_B1.indd 3 05/04/16 12:08 pm ACTIVITY Previewing the Unit 1.1 Learning Targets LEARNING STRATEGIES: • Preview the big ideas and vocabulary for the unit. Think-Pair-Share, Skimming/ Scanning, Marking the Text, • Identify and analyze the skills and knowledge necessary for success in writing a Close Reading, KWHL Chart definition essay. Making Connections In this unit, you will read a variety of texts and be asked to think about ideas My Notes and concepts that are “American.” For the first embedded assessment, you will define what it means to be an American. Some words, concepts, and ideas are too complex for a simple definition and require a multi-paragraph essay to define. Definitions also provide a writer the opportunity to clear up misconceptions about a concept or idea. You will learn to define a word or concept using four definition strategies: by example, by classification, by function, and by negation. Essential Questions Based on your current knowledge, how would you answer these questions? 1. How do we come to understand big concepts? 2. What is the “American Dream”? Developing Vocabulary Use QHT or another strategy to review the Academic Vocabulary and Literary Terms. Decide which ones you may know already and which ones will need additional study. Unpacking Embedded Assessment 1 Closely read the assignment for Embedded Assessment 1: Writing a Definition Essay. Your assignment is to write a multi-paragraph essay that defines your interpretation of what it means to be an American. This essay should use the strategies of definition and different perspectives from the unit to help you develop a complex and thoughtful definition. If possible, incorporate an iconic image in your essay. © 2017 College Board. All rights reserved. With your class, create a graphic organizer as you “unpack” the requirements of Embedded Assessment 1. What knowledge must you have (what do you need to know) and what skills must you have (what must you be able to do) to be successful on this assignment? 4 SpringBoard® English Language Arts Grade 11 G11_U1_SE_B1.indd 4 05/04/16 12:08 pm Defi ning a Word, Idea, or Concept ACTIVITY 1.2 Learning Targets • Identify the use of exemplification to define the concept of patriot. LEARNING STRATEGIES: Close Reading, Marking the Text, Graphic Organizer Independent Reading Plan Reading independently gives you a chance to expand your knowledge about topics that fascinate you while also reinforcing and deepening the learning you are doing in class. Each of the activities in this course of study will help you become a more INDEPENDENT skillful reader and analytical thinker. READING LINK Discuss your independent reading plan with a partner by responding to these Read and Respond questions: To enhance this unit’s focus, • How do you go about choosing what to read independently? Where can you find look for nonfiction essays, advice on which books or articles to read? memoirs, autobiographies, or biographies that that will • What genre of texts do you most enjoy reading outside of class? help you understand how • How can you make time in your schedule to read independently? others define the American Look at the Independent Reading Link and think about which text or author you Dream. Consider how these plan to read during the first half of Unit 1. readings connect to what you read in the unit and to your own perspectives. Choose Extended Definitions exceptional readings to Some complex terms and concepts are best understood through extended definitions. recommend to and discuss Extended definitions can begin simply with synonyms and formal definitions. with your peers. Synonyms are words that have a similar meaning to the word being defined. Synonyms have slightly different connotations, so they provide clarity and nuance to understanding. Synonyms for the word patriotism: nationalism, partisanship, devotion My Notes Formal definitions are succinct explanations of a word or concept, often found in a dictionary or glossary. Formal definitions identify words and concepts in three parts: word, class, and characteristics. Word Class Characteristics Patriotism love or devotion for one’s country Extended definitions identify words or concepts using strategies to demonstrate a variety of ways the word or concept may be defined. Extended definitions are useful for providing a complete definition of a word, concept, or idea. © 2017 College Board. All rights reserved. For a word as complex as patriotism, providing a synonym and definition from a dictionary does not offer enough depth. You can extend any definition in a variety of ways: Exemplification—examples of patriotism Function—what patriotism acts