Essay Prompts
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Analyze the American dream as it relates to immigrants and black Americans from 1865 to the present. What is the American dream for these groups, and to what extent were they able to achieve it?
To get you started, consider these two musings:
● The American dream is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. … It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position." [James Truslow Adams, The Epic of America (1931) p. 214-215.]
● The American dream is "…to every man, regardless of his birth, his shining, golden opportunity ….the right to live, to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make him." [Thomas Wolfe, You Can’t Go Home Again (1940) p. 508.]
Click the image below to download the answer to this essay
Write a 1100- to 1300-word essay.
You must cite your sources, using parenthetical references or footnotes. For example:
o James Meredith became the first black man to attend the University of Mississippi (Wolf, “Social Movements”).
o Radical feminists argued that traditional marriage upheld patriarchy (“Redstockings Manifesto”).
Instructions for the essay:
● Include a word count at the top of the essay.
● Write a well-organized, analytical essay.
● In your essay, be sure to draw on and cite a variety of course sources (Lectures, other videos, the textbook and other secondary sources, and primary sources to offer specific examples that will support your argument.) You must cite and use evidence from at least three primary sources. Do not draw on outside sources. Include a works-cited page.
Use the textbook (secondary source)
■ Use the following pages to learn facts about African Americans and Immigrants throughout history for your secondary source:
● Ch. 18, pg 477-480
● Ch.21, pg 562-564 AND use the following Primary Source: Historymatters to understand W.E.B DuBois
● Ch.28, pg 764-770; pg 773-777
● Ch.29, pg 797-805
Use the Primary Sources:
● The early struggle of African Americans - Choose 1 out of the 3 primary sources below to initially paint a picture of what early life was like for African Americans and how much the struggle was for them in order to overcome and achieve the American Dream today:
● Use the Primary Source listed earlier from W.E.B. DuBois (History Matters) to help paint the early fight for Civil Rights for African Americans and effectively support your argument
Assignment Study Material Rubric
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Capstone |
Milestones |
Benchmark |
Needs Significant Improvement |
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Thesis statement 20 points |
Contains a well-developed thesis statement that clearly answers the prompt, is contestable, and provides a roadmap for the paper. Thesis is well-supported by subclaims (i.e., topic sentences). 18-20 points |
Contains a thesis that does not fully address the question, or is not contestable, or does not provide a roadmap for the paper. Subclaims are weak or do not further the argument. 16-17 points |
Contains a thesis that does not fully address the question, or is not contestable, or does not provide a roadmap for the paper. Subclaims very weak or nonexistent. 14-15 points |
Contains no thesis or the thesis does not address the question 5-13 points |
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Primary-source evidence/ analysis 30 points |
Presents effective analysis of at least two primary sources. Analysis clearly and effectively supports an argument.
Includes quotes and/or descriptions from at least two primary sources and effectively interprets them in supporting the argument. 27-30 points |
Offers limited analysis of at least two primary sources. OR Offers effective analysis of one primary sources. Analysis supports an argument.
24-26 points |
Lists primary sources but does not link the evidence to the argument adequately.
Includes evidence from 0 or 1 primary sources or uses the evidence ineffectively. 21-23 points |
Exhibits inadequate or incorrect understanding of the question. 5-20 points |
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Secondary-source evidence/ context 35 points |
Supports the argument and historical analysis with substantial and relevant examples from the textbook, lectures, and other sources. Analysis clearly and effectively supports an argument. 32-35 points |
Supports the argument and historical analysis with some relevant examples from textbook and/or lectures. Analysis supports an argument. 28-31 points |
Contains little historical context or that information is inaccurate or irrelevant. Information may be unconnected to an argument. 25-27 points |
Has little or no understanding of the historical context (or ignores it completely). 0-24 points
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Control of Syntax and Mechanics 10 points |
Uses graceful language that skillfully communicates meaning with clarity and fluency, and is virtually error-free. 9-10 points |
Uses straightforward language that generally conveys meaning to readers. The language has few errors. 8 points |
Uses language that sometimes impedes meaning because of errors in usage. 7 points |
Uses language so poorly that it inhibits understanding. 1-6 points |
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Citations 5 points |
Correctly cites sources. 5 points |
May have errors in citation style. 4 points |
Uneven use of citation. 3 points |
Fails to cite sources. 1-2 points |
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