Unit 7: Lesson 5: Activity 2

Articulating your American Dream

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Learn how your sentences work so you can write the most powerful messages possible.

Standards:

11.5.6.6

Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is particularly effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the power, persuasiveness, or beauty of the text.

11.9.4.4

While respecting intellectual property, present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective, such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning, alternative or opposing perspectives are addressed, and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and a range of formal and informal tasks (e.g., persuasion, argumentation, debate).

11.9.6.6 Adapt speech to a variety of contexts, audiences, tasks, and feedback from self and others, demonstrating a command of formal English when indicated or appropriate. (See grades 11–12 Language standards 1 and 3 on page 75 for specific expectations.)

11.11.3.3

Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.

Learning Targets:

I can recognize and explain examples of how language functions in different contexts, demonstrate effective choices regarding language, and adapt language for purpose and audience needs.

Essential Questions:

How does pop culture influence modernist and/or postmodernist writers’ interpretations and responses to the idea of the American dream?

Summary:

In this activity, you will write a narrative that defines your American dream and then participate in a response circle about that narrative.

You Will Need:

Approximately two 50-minute class periods

Experience writing personal narratives

Internet access

Activity Instructions:

 Step 1.

Write a personal narrative that defines your American Dream using GoogleDocs. Your narrative should be at least one page long, should convey a significant moment or learning experience connected to your understanding of the American Dream, and should demonstrate your unique writing voice.

 Step 2:

 Complete this digital presentation/quiz to review how sentences are structured: Diagramming Sentences^[2].

Step 3:

Choose 10 sentences from your narrative to diagram. This is another helpful resources about diagramming sentences: How to Diagram Sentences^[3].

 Step 4.

Share your narrative with a team of at least 3 people. Using the Comment tool in GoogleDocs, you need to read and respond to those same 3 other people’s narratives. Narrative responses should answer these questions:

1. How does this narrative’s definition of the American dream compare to your self-selected texts (Lesson 1: Activity 2)?
2. How does language change depending on the needs of the writer?
3. What observations can you make about this writer’s sentence structure?

Step 5:

After revising your narrative based on the comments received in Step 4, submit your narrative and responses and your diagrammed sentences to your instructor.

Step 6:

Reflect on your sentence structure in your e-portfolio by responding to these questions:

1. What patterns do you notice in your sentences?
2. What do you notice about sentences that break the patterns you observe?
3. How do you see your personality reflected in your sentence structure (think about how your sentence structure contributes to your overall writing voice)?