The American Dream

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, © 2014 College Board. All rights reserved. and the chance to experience the particular qualities of the American landscape. Unit 1 • The American Dream 1 UNIT The American Dream 1 GOALS: Contents • To understand and define complex concepts such as Activities 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: “A Cause Greater Than Self,” by Senator John McCain effectiveness of arguments 1.3 America’s Promise ....................................................................... 8 • To analyze representative texts from the American Poetry: “The New Colossus,” by Emma Lazarus 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 primary source Poetry: “I Hear America Singing,” by Walt Whitman structure Poetry: “I, Too, Sing America,” by Langston Hughes defend Poetry: “America,” by Claude McKay challenge qualify 1.5 Fulfilling the Promise ................................................................ 16 Short Story: “America and I,” by Anzia Yezierska 1.6 Defining an American ................................................................ 27 Literary Terms Letter: “What Is an American?” excerpt from Letters From an exemplification American Farmer, “What is an American?” by J. Hector St. John imagery personification de Crèvecoeur synecdoche 1.7 A Hyphenated American ............................................................ 32 Essay: “Growing Up Asian in America,” by Kesaya E. Noda 1.8 Researching Images of America ................................................ 37 Poetry: “Let America Be America Again,” by Langston Hughes 1.9 What Is Freedom? ...................................................................... 43 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 © 2014 College Board. All rights reserved. 1.10 Strategies for Defining Freedom................................................ 48 Definition Essay: “What Is Freedom?” by Jerald M. Jellison and John H. Harvey Embedded Assessment 1: Writing a Definition Essay ........................ 51 1.11 Previewing Embedded Assessment 2 and Synthesizing Ideas ......................................................................................... 53 2 SpringBoard® English Language Arts Grade 11 Language and Writer’s 1.12 Annotating an Argumentative Text ............................................ 55 Craft Argumentative Essay: “Is the American Dream Still Possible?” • Using Direct Quotes (1.6) by David Wallechinsky • Quoting Original Sources (1.7) 1.13 The Structure of an Argument ................................................... 59 • Transitions (1.10) Historical Document: The Declaration of Independence 1.14 Coming for the American Dream ............................................... 64 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 ............................................... 68 Poetry: “Money,” by Dana Gioia Drama: Excerpt from A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry 1.16 Working Toward the Dream ....................................................... 73 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 ................................................................. 78 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? ......................................... 84 Embedded Assessment 2: Synthesizing the American Dream ........... 87 © 2014 College Board. All rights reserved. Unit 1 • The American Dream 3 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 writers use the strategies of definition to define a concept? 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. INDEPENDENT With your class, create a graphic organizer as you “unpack” the requirements © 2014 College Board. All rights reserved. READING LINK of Embedded Assessment 1. What knowledge must you have (what do you need To enhance this unit’s focus on to know) and what skills must you have (what must you be able to do) to be multiple perspectives on the successful on this assignment? American Dream, focus your independent reading goals on reading nonfiction essays, memoirs, autobiographies, or biographies that will help you understand how others define the American Dream. 4 SpringBoard® English Language Arts Grade 11 Deﬁ ning a Word, Idea, or Concept ACTIVITY 1.2 Learning Targets • Apply strategies to define words or concepts. LEARNING STRATEGIES: Close Reading, Marking the • Identify the use of exemplification to define a concept. Text, Graphic Organizer Defining a Word or Concept 1. Here are two ways to begin the process of creating an extended definition of a complex, general or abstract term, or concept: My Notes Synonym: providing a synonym of the word or concept that has a similar meaning to add clarity Formal definition: providing a formal definition of the word from a dictionary that offers a succinct explanation of the word or concept Example: patriotism Synonyms for the word patriotism: nationalism; partisanship; devotion Synonyms identify words using words that are similar but have slightly different connotations to provide clarity and nuance to understanding. Formal definition for the word patriotism: love for or devotion to one’s country Formal definitions identify words and concepts in three parts: Word, Class, and Characteristics. Word Class Characteristics Patriotism love or devotion to one’s country Extended Definitions 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. 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 like or functions as Classification—categorizing by type or kind of © 2014 College Board. All rights reserved. Negation—what patriotism is not Definition Strategy: Exemplification Successful extended definitions go beyond dictionary definitions to expand the definition in order to show the writer’s personal understanding. To extend a definition of a concept or term, writers use a variety of strategies. One definition strategy is to define by example by showing specific, relevant examples that fit the writer’s definition. Unit 1 • The American Dream 5 Deﬁ ning a Word, Idea, or Concept ACTIVITY 1.2 continued Before Reading Literary Terms 1. Think of some examples of what patriotism means to you. Using exemplification is to define by example by

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