AMST376 - Describe some of these tensions & What is your American

What Means to Have a American Dream Questions

AMST 376

Final Paper                                     

You may chooseone of the two topics below; you may also choose to combine the two topics.

Topic A:  We have discussed the ways American institutions have been increasingly stressed in recent years by new technologies, the shift to a postindustrial economy, globalization, and the resurgence of tribal and nationalist ideologies around the world.    Describe some of these tensions.  Explain  how all or some of those tensions effect the future of at least two of Cullen’s American Dream constructs. Analyze whether, and how, our institutions might adapt to the new realities.   What existing social practices, institutions, and cultural constructs or norms need to be preserved, revived, modified or transformed?  What new practices, institutions, constructs or norms need to be created?  Would these changes impact the ability of others to achieve their dreams?  How can such conflicts be resolved?

Topic B:    What is your American Dream?  Describe and explain what the American Dream means to you and relate it to the models we have engaged with in the course. 

The paper has three components:   Describeyour American dream.  This can be defined narrowly (mydreams for my life) or more broadly (my dreams for America as a society/nation), or a combination of aspects of that spectrum.  Avoid generalizations such as,  “I want to have a happy life;” instead, specify what would make a  happy life.   Explain how your dream is related to at least two  of the cultural constructs of the American Dream defined by Cullen.  Analyze the ways contemporary U.S. society supports or hinders the achievement of your dream.  What existing social practices, institutions, and cultural constructs or norms need to be preserved, revived, modified or transformed?  What new practices, institutions, constructs or norms need to be created? 

Note:  As you consider these questions, don’t forget to think about the social distribution of the possibilities of the American Dream:  How available are the selected American Dream constructs to varied social groups?   Which ideas about the American Dream are shared across groups?   Which are in conflict?    Which ideas suggest a way forward to creating a more widely shared consensus?

Format:  This cannot just be an opinion piece;  for both topics you must related your discussion to the constructs of the American Dream outlined in Cullen and to relevant course readings and other public discourse.  You  must include bibliography of all materials that you used or that helped to shape your thinking, and follow academic writing conventions.   The essay should be typed, double-spaced, in a minimum 12-point typeface.  The length guideline is 5-10 pages.