My American Dream Project

PART ONE: Argumentative Essay

Directions:
For Part One, you will activate prior knowledge as you consider how the American
dream is defined today. In an argumentative essay, discuss your definition of the
American dream and what it means to you. Take a clear position on answering the
question: Is the American dream achievable today? Why or why not?

Requirements: You must include the following in your essay:

 Your definition/argument must be clear and supported by evidence
 Include at least 3 examples from any of the following:
o Texts or poems we have read in class
o Videos
o Song lyrics
 Include at least 2 of your daily journal entries
 Must be formatted in the correct paragraph order:
o Introduction
o Body [your definition, reasons, support]
o Conclusion
 2-3 pages long, double-spaced, MLA format
 Must be free of grammar and spelling errors
 Must use in-class writing time effectively

PART TWO: Collaborative Project - Dream Board

Directions:
For Part Two, you and a partner will combine your “dreams” to create a dream
board that represents both of your definitions of the American dream. You will use
a collage of images, either cutout or drawn, and words and/or passages from your
essay (part one of the project) to support your definition of what you believe the
American dream is and what it means to you. You will then be responsible for
presenting your dream board to your classmates.

Requirements:
 Your dream board must include:
o Your definition of the American dream and reasons to support it
o 10 “dreams” (visuals) to represent your American dream. You
must have at least:
 5 images (pictures or drawings) and 5 words or passages
taken directly from your paper
 Your presentation must be at least 2-3 minutes
o Description of each partner’s dreams must be voiced
o Each partner should contribute equally
 Argumentative Essay Rubric
4 3 2 1
Criteria Exceeding Meeting Approaching Does not meet
Standards Standards Standards Standards

Student has clearly Student has clearly Student needs a little bit Student did not clearly
CONTENT gone above and defined their more clarity of their define their American
Definition/Argument beyond to define American dream American dream dream
must be clearly their American
defined dream
EVIDENCE & SUPPORT Student supports Student supports Student supports their Student did not
5 total pieces of their argument and their argument and argument and definition support their
evidence needed (3 definition of their definition of the of their American dream argument and
pieces need to be American dream American dream will only 2 to 3 pieces of definition of their
from texts, videos, or with the correct with only 3 to 4 evidence American dream with
song lyrics; 2 journal amount of 5 pieces pieces of evidence evidence
entries) of evidence
ORGANIZATION & Student has met, Student has met Student has met only 1 Student did not meet
FORMATTING and exceeds, all only 2 of the 3 of the 3 standards for standards for
Must be formatted in standards for standards for organization and organization and
the correct paragraph organization and organization and formatting formatting
order: Introduction, formatting; has the formatting
Body, and Conclusion; correct paragraph
2-3 pages long, order; met page
double-spaced, MLA limit; correct MLA
format format
Student Student Student demonstrates Student does not
demonstrates demonstrates grade-appropriate demonstrate grade-
grade-appropriate grade-appropriate command of appropriate command
MECHANICS
command of command of conventions with a few of conventions with
Must be free of
conventions with conventions with errors throughout their many errors
grammar and spelling
zero errors minor errors essay; needs throughout their
errors
throughout their throughout their improvement essay; needs a lot of
essay essay; needs little improvement
improvement
Student stayed on Student mostly Student sometimes Student did not use in-
TIME MANAGEMENT
task and used in- stayed on task and stayed on task and used class time effectively
Needs to stay on task
class time used in-class time in-class time effectively
while working; Must
effectively and to effectively
use in-class writing
the best of their
time effectively
ability

Comments: ______ / 20
 Collaborative Project - Dream Board
Rubric
3 2 1
Criteria
Exceeding Standards Meeting Standards Does not meet Standards
 Students included  Students only  Students did not
their American included one of the include either of the
dream and provided two requirements two requirements (your
reasons (your American American dream and
CONTENT
 5 “dreams”/visuals dream and reasons) reasons)
“DREAMS”/VISUALS
are clearly  Only have 3-4  Students have less than
represented “dreams”/visuals 2 “dreams”/visuals
throughout project represented represented
throughout project throughout project
 Students are very  Students could use a  Students are not
well organized in little more organized in their
ORGANIZATION
their project organization in their project
project
 Both students  One student  Only one student
contributed equally contributed to the contributed to the
COLLABORATION/TEAMWORK to the project and project and project and
presentation presentation more presentation
than the other
 Information is  Information is  Information is unclear
presented with presented with and/or lacking and is
PRESENTATION knowledge and limited knowledge presented with little
creativity; meets the and creativity; under creativity; does not
2-3 time limit time limit meet time limit
 Listens intently.  Sometimes does not  Does not appear to be
Does not make appear to be listening to classmates’
LISTENS TO OTHER
distracting noises or listening but is not presentations and has
PRESENTATIONS
movements distracting made distracting noises
or movements

Comments: ______ / 15