For this essay, you will be asked a series of questions
that will create your essay. Answer each question as
a complete sentence. Each question represents a
part of our basic paragraph structure, and by
answering in complete sentences, you are building your essay. It also ask for an outline.
Here are the essay outline questions
A. Attention Grabber
Find a quote that closely fits your definition of the
American Dream
– do this last
-cite the source of your quote (in-text citation and
on your bibliography)
B. Background Information
1. How do you think most people define the
American Dream?
2. Is having an American Dream important? Why or
why not?
3. Why do you think there are so many definitions
and ideas of the American Dream?
4. Why might it be important to be able to express
ones’ own definition of the American Dream?
C. Transitional Sentence
Do you think everyone needs to have the same
definition of the American Dream? Why or why not?
(Start this sentence with a transitional word or
phrase.)
D. Thesis
What is your definition of the American Dream?
Why is it important for readers to understand your
American Dream?
II. Body Paragraphs
A. Body Paragraph: My American Dream
1. Topic Sentence
What is your definition of the American
Dream?
2. Supporting Details
a. Describe it to help your reader visualize.
b. How is your dream unique from others?
3. Sentences of Analysis
a. What does your particular dream mean
for how you want to live?
b. Why is your version of the American
Dream so important?
c. What lesson do you want your reader to
take away from your definition?
4. Transitional Sentence
(Transitional word + summary of paragraph)
B. Body Paragraph: The Dream of My Family
1. Topic Sentence
How did your family’s experiences help you
to shape your definition of the American
Dream? What life lessons have they taught
you? What are their dreams?
2. Supporting Details
a. A lesson you’ve learned
b. A dream your family/ friends have
3. Sentences of Analysis
a. What did your family’s experiences mean
to you?
b. Why was this particular lesson so
important?
c. What has been the result of learning this
lesson and understanding this dream?
4. Transitional Sentence
(Transitional word + summary of paragraph +
preview of next paragraph)
C. Body Paragraph: The Dreams of Others
1. Topic Sentence
How does Thi Bui and one other writer in
this focus define the American Dream or
live it through the choices they’ve made?
2. Supporting Details
a. Thi Bui example ( or article #1 for classes
not reading the novel)
b. article #2 example
3. Sentences of Analysis
a. What do these alternatives definitions or
descriptions of the American Dream show
us?
b. Why is important to learn about the
many different interpretations of the
dream?
c. What lessons or ideas could we take from
these other ideas about the American
Dream?
4. Transitional Sentence
(Transitional word + summary of paragraph +
preview of next paragraph)
III. Conclusion
A. Restate your thesis or summarize your topic sentences.
B. Advice or Warning
What 2 pieces of advice would you give someone
searching for his or her own American Dream?
C. Present Day Status or Prediction:
With all the talk of what it means to be an American and
whether or not a national identity is even important:
1. Why do you think people are having a hard time finding
their American Dream? (at least 3 sentences)
2. Do you think this will change how people will think
about the American Dream in the future? (at least 3 sentences)
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