Introduction
In order to understand the events occurring in the world at the time of the play, you will complete this web-quest before we begin reading the play in class. As you research, keep in mind the various views of the American Dream that are presented in the following links. After you complete the quest, be prepared to predict what you think the Younger's American Dream will be and how outside influences will affect this dream,.
Task
Today you will complete four tasks:
- Create your own definition of the American Dream
- Write a biography for a book jacket to provide author background.
- Write a description of your life as an African-American citizen living in the South Side of Chicago in the 1940's.
- Examine a poem & create your own poem using a mad lib
Process
Read each task directions carefully, making sure that you fully complete each part.
Task 1. - Defining the American Dream
Everyone has a dream, or goal, in life. Our dreams are the hopes that make our lives worth living. We have a dream; we set a goal; we plan a strategy; and we follow the path to lead us to success. Oftentimes there are obstacles in our way. The determined do not let those obstacles stop us. We will reach our destination no matter what.
In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, the Younger family faces several obstacles that come in the path of their goals. The setting of the story is Chicago in the 1950's. During this time, African-American families dealt with blatant issues of poverty, segregation, and racism.
The web-quest will help you identify and understand some of the obstacles the Younger family faced.
What is the American Dream?
Read the article attached to the link below. After reading, open new document and write your own definition of the American Dream. In order to receive full credit, you response should do the following;
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/lessons/american-dream/students/thedream.html [1]
Task 2. - Writing a biography book jacket
Follow the link below to read about Lorraine Hansberry. After you have read and analyzed each article, write your own 2-3 paragraph biography of Lorraine Hansberry that you might include on the inside jacket cover of the book. Please see the attached link for an example of a book cover. You should also include a flattering picture of your Lorraine Hansberry as well; this can be accessed through Google images.
http://www.biography.com/people/lorraine-hansberry-9327823 [3]
Task 3: Journal Entry:
Examine the websites; read the articles and analyze the images featured on the sites. They capture what life was like for African Americans living in the South Side of Chicago during the 1940's and 1950's. What do they tell you about the society at the time? What might life have been like?
When you have finished reading the articles and viewing the photos, write a journal entry from the point of view of one of the figures you have seen in the photos. Your entry should describe what you have learned. Describe the picture you are writing about and the person in it. Use a photo from either City at a Crossroads or Chicago's Historic Southside. For this assignment, you may copy and paste the image onto a word document and complete your writing on the same document.
1. Bronzeville Story http://interactive.wttw.com/a/dusable-to-obama-explore-riots-to-renaissance-bronzeville-black-metropolis [4]
2. City at a Crossroads - http://time.com/3876778/city-at-a-crossroads-chicago-confronts-urban-blight-1954/ [5]
3. Chicago's Historic Southside
4. Racial Restrictive Covenants
http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1761.html [7]
5. South Side http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1177.html [8]
Task 4 - Examine a Poem
Read the poem, "Harlem" by Lanston Hughes and answer the questions.
Harlem
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Now, answer the following questions in a paragraph. Be sure to answer all questions.
Questions:
1. What does the poem say?
2. What images does this poem create in your mind?
3. What emotions does this poem evoke?
4. What is the dream Hughes refers to in "Harlem"?
5. Why might it rather explode than dry up?
6. Why is the poem called "Harlem"?
Create your own poem using the mad lib
“Dream Deferred” Mad Libs. Topic should be about DREAMS. Please type poem using the same structure without the blanks and cues.
Title "______________"(dream)
What happens to a _______ ________?
noun verb
Does it _______ ________
verb adverb
Like a _______ in the _________?
noun noun
Or _______ like a _______—
verb noun
And then _______?
verb
Does it _________ like __________ _____________?
verb adjective noun
Or ________ and ________ ______________--
verb verb adverb
like a ________ _________?
adjective noun
Maybe it _______ ________
adverb verb
like a _______ ________.
adjective noun
Or does it _________?
verb
5.
Evaluation
All assignments will be typed, proofread, and submitted as they are completed. All assignments are due by 12/4/17. Make sure each assignment has proper MLA formatting applied prior to submission. See https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ for formatting guidelines.
Each assignment will be graded individually. In addition, you will receive a daily participation grade for these assignments.
These grades will make up a big part of the 2nd quarter, please take them seriously.
Credits
Source URL: https://www.createwebquest.com/sdaly/building-background-raisin-sun
Links: [1] http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/lessons/american-dream/s… [2] http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/corhans.htm [3] http://www.biography.com/people/lorraine-hansberry-9327823 [4] http://greatchicagostories.com/bronzeville/ [5] http://life.time.com/history/city-at-a-crossroads-chicago-confronts-urb… [6] [7] http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1761.html [8] http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1177.html
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/