Genre 1 - Defining the American Dream
“If you work hard and play by the rules you should be given a chance to go as far as your God-given ability will take you” (Clinton). This excerpt, taken from former President Bill Clinton’s speech to the Democratic Leadership Council, summarizes the idea of the American Dream for many Americans. Many subscribe to the notion of the existence of the “Dream,” but few have actually dwelt on what it actually means.
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Genres 2-4
Playlist to the American DreamA piece that conveys emotions or imagery; possible genres include songs, stories, paintings, drawings, collages, word clouds, letters, cartoons, personal narratives, motivational posters and journal entries
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Greetings from Soledad, CaliforniaOne piece that conveys interactions between more than one character (or teacher, student, parent, etc.); possible genres included dialogue, letters, a poem for two voices, comic strips, character maps, postcards, sudden fiction narratives, social media conversations, e-mails, Tweets and instant messages
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Synthesizing Literary Characters (Venn Diagram)One piece that visually reflects research information; possible genres include diagrams, tables, charts, graphs, flyers, timelines, storyboards, maps and Prezis.
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Genres 5-7
Journals by Curley's WifeOne piece that allows you to depict a situation or character interaction that takes into account the "other side of the issue" (e.g., status quo overturned, opposing viewpoint); possible genres include surrealist paintings, journals, editorials, letters to the editor, Venn diagrams, political cartoons, or works of science fiction, fantasy or drama
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Public Service AnnouncementOne piece that demonstrates the strategic use of the information and ideas you have collected; possible genres include interview transcripts, pamphlets, advertisements, infographics, public service announcements, and e-mail correspondence
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Lesson PlanOne piece that suggests ways to connect the content of your inquiry to pedagogical ideas for how to teach this theme in a secondary ELA classroom. Includes active student engagement so instruction will involve movement and collaboration. This genre will consist of a single lesson plan using our standard lesson plan template.
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Genre 8 - Reflection
Beginning to read Of Mice and Men originally led me to question issues of inclusion and exclusion, belonging and unbelonging in the United States. I couldn't help but to see Steinbeck's California as a microcosm of America, the promised land of opportunity for Lennie and George. The place where dreams come true. As far as inclusion and exclusion are concerned, it is the American Dream and those who have the right to dream and those who don't, that I find really interesting. Now, after examining scholarly research on what the "Dream" means, my own vision of the American Dream has changed. The "Dream" is of those narratives, similar to the trope of the "wild west" of California, that promises so much but does not deliver for many people. This project tried to, at the very least, define the American Dream, while it concurrently challenges all of the things we take for granted about the "Dream."
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