American Dream Essay Rethinking the American Dream

American Dream Essay Rethinking the American Dream

After carefully reading David Kamp’s article, “Rethinking the American Dream” (see Moodle) write a 5 paragraph (1450-1500 words) journal entry that givens an expanded explanation of how YOU define the American Dream. Do NOT use outside sources at this point! There are no absolutely wrong or right answers. You should make enough direct references to Kamp’s article to prove you carefully read the article. Also, when thinking and writing about the American Dream, please keep in mind the three major rights given to us by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

To begin explain how you define the phrase the American Dream. How is your definition formed? Who and/or what has influenced your definition of the American Dream? –is it the documents of the founding fathers, your culture, your parents, pop culture such as movies and TV shows, etc.? Be specific. Give plenty of examples.

Next, if someone were to say to you, “I am living the American Dream” what assumptions would you make about their statement? How do you think others such as immigrants would define the American Dream? Do you think it would be the same or different than the way you have defined it? Has anyone in your family lived the American Dream by immigrating to the United States? Is the American Dream accessible for ALL Americans? In other words, is it equally accessible to everyone? If yes, why? Who might be marginalized or excluded from the American Dream? If no, why?

Also, if you have an American Dream for yourself what is it? Have you yet reached the American Dream as you have defined it? If so, how?-give specifics. If not, what do you have to do to reach the American Dream for yourself?