What is the American Dream? How is it illustrated in media/literature?Example Thesis:

The American Dream is the hope to achieve more than the last generation, the right to equality and one’s ability to have control over their life. It is illustrated in literature and media by questioning injustice and presenting new ideas.

5 sentence paragraph formatTopic Sentence (TS)Concrete Detail (CD)Commentary (CM)Commentary (CM)Commentary (CM)Concluding Sentence (CS)

Terminology Used in Writing EssaysTopic sentence (TS)Concrete detail (CD)Commentary (CM)Concluding sentence (CS)

Topic Sentence (TS)Is NOT a FACT Must present an informed opinion

An opinion that can be supported by facts from the text

Ask yourself: Could someone logically argue against it? Yes=good TSNo= rewrite TS

Sample TSPart of the American Dream is having the

hope to achieve more than the last generation.

Could someone logically argue against it?YesYou do not need hope to work hardDoing the same as the last generation is fine

Sample TSPart of the American Dream is having the

hope to achieve more than the last generation.

Is this a fact from the text?No, but I can support it with facts.

Practice- TSSentence starters:Part of the American Dream is ….The American Dream is…..…. is part of the American Dream.

Concrete Detail (CD)Ideas from a storyFactEvidenceQuote

Sample CDTS: Part of the American Dream is having

the hope to achieve more than the last generation.

What fact/action from the text supports this?

CD: In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10).

Why is this a CD?CD: In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing

America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10).Action/fact from the textIt’s from the surface. I didn’t have to dig deep

and be a rocket scientist to find this out. It’s straight out of the text.

Practice- CDMake sure to use “quotations” and place the period after the (parenthesis).

Example: In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10).

Where are we now?TS: Part of the American Dream is having

the hope to achieve more than the last generation.

CD: In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10).

How many commentary sentences do I need?For every 1 CD, YOU need 2+ CMs

Commentary (CM)Thoughts from your headThe “so what?” “why?” or “how”AnalysisInterpretation

Sample CMCD: In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing

America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10).

CM: This quote shows the importance of hope because without it Hughes would have given up.

Why is this a CM?CM: This quote shows the importance of hope

because without it Hughes would have given up.Has commentary words (importance;

determinationIt’s your interpretation of what the quote

means or shows about the American Dream.

Practice- CMWrite your first Commentary Sentence

Sentence starters:This quote shows…The quote illustrates… Hughes highlights…

Sample of Second CM CM: This quote shows the importance of hope

because without it Hughes would have given up.

Why is this part of the American Dream? How is it illustrated in the text?

CM2: Hope is part of the American Dream because it is what drives Americans to work hard.

CM3 Hughes illustrates this value by giving a personal example of what he hopes for.

Why is this a CM?CMs: Hope is part of the American Dream

because it is what drives Americans to work hard. Hughes illustrates this value by giving a personal example of what he hopes for.

Commentary words More interpretation of what text

means/shows

Practice- CMSentence Starters:_____ is part of the American Dream because…

_______ illustrates this value by …________ demonstrates this value by…________ confirms this value by …

Looks good, but what’s missing?Part of the American Dream is having

the hope to achieve more than the last generation. In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10). This quote shows the importance of hope because without it Hughes would have given up. Hope is part of the American Dream because it is what drives Americans to work hard. Hughes illustrates this value by giving a personal example of what he hopes for.

What is a CS?Do not REPEAT the TSNo Concrete Details from the storyAll Commentary Transitions into your next point.

Sample CSThe hope for more than the last

generation often reveals the lack of equality in America.

All CommentaryNo Concrete DetailRefers to TS without repeating the

vocabularyTransitions to next idea

PracticeWrite concluding sentence

Part of the American Dream is having the hope to achieve more than the last generation. In Langston Hughes poem I, Too, Sing America he illustrates hope for a better tomorrow, “Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table/ when company comes” (8-10). This quote shows the importance of hope because without it Hughes would have given up. Hope is part of the American Dream because it is what drives Americans to work hard. Hughes illustrates this value by giving a personal example of what he hopes for. The hope for more than the last generation often reveals the lack of equality in America.

TSCDCM1- explain what the quote meansCDCM1-explain what the quote meansCM2 Why is part of the American Dream?CM3 How is it illustrated?CS