Constructing Strong Responses: R.A.C.E. and the "American Dream"

Unlike previous posts, this one will be in the present tense and will cover the lessons from both Thursday, January 15th and Friday, January 16th, 2015.

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Students, what is the “American Dream”?  What is your “American Dream?”

Task: Choose any two of the resources linked below and then complete the Essay Scorer assignment entitled “Your American Dream.”

Step 1 (of 3): Resources

Directions: Read any two of the resources below.  Then proceed on to Step 2.

• “What is the American Dream?” Background Essay
  • Source: Library of Congress
  • Source Type: Essay
• American Dream Wikipedia Entry
  • Source: Wikipedia
  • Source Type: Encyclopedia Entry
• American Dream Definition
  • Source: Dictionary.com
  • Source Type: Definition
• “A New American Dream?”
  • Source: American Radio Works
  • Source Type: Informational Text
• “The American Dream is Coming Back”
  • Source: CNN Money
  • Source Type: Informational Text/Article
• “The American Dream is Dying: How Entrepreneurs Can Change That”
  • Source: Inc. Magazine
  • Source Type: Informational Text/Article
• “Deepening the American Dream”
  • Source: Bill Moyers’ Journal on PBS.org
  • Source Type: Journal Entries/Personal Accounts
• “American Dream” byMKTO
  • Source: AZ Lyrics
  • Source Type: Song (The music video can be found here…when you’re off campus.)

Step 2 (of 3): R.A.C.E.

Directions: Now that you have read two of the resources above, create a R.A.C.E. graphic organizer using the form below.  Afterward, proceed to step 3 (do not click “submit”until you finish inputting your Essay Scorer response).

Writing Prompt: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, jr. famously stated that he wished to see a future where different races were integrated in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Now that this has become a reality, what is your dream of the future in the United States? Write an essay clearly painting a picture of your vision of the American Dream.

Step 3 (of 3): Essay Scorer

Directions: You are at the last step.  Log in to Essay Scorer using the directions below and complete the assignment entitled “Your American Dream” using what you wrote in your R.A.C.E. graphic organizer above.  You will have to write at least 3 separate paragraphs.  That said, you may rewrite your essay up to 12 times.  When you finish, click “submit for grading.”

Essay Scorer Student Link: http://www.essayscorer.com/cgi-bin/phes/login.cgi

Login: First Name

Password: Last Name (unless otherwise specified by teacher)

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Did you finish early?  Follow the instructions below.

Directions: Go to this page and follow the instructions for extension work.  Any extension work assignments completed must be submitted as specified or else extra credit will not be awarded.

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Homework:

• Read for 30 minutes.
• Any work not finished in class will be completed the next day.
• Please Note: Extension work will need to be completed in order to count for extra credit.

PowerPoint:

• No PowerPoint presentation for Thursday, January 15th nor Friday, January 16, 2015