What happens, “when all the dreams in the house depend on money from a man that has died”

Frederick Douglass Academy II

Ms. Whitt

A WebQuest

What happens, “when all the dreams in the house depend on money from a man that has died”?

The Introduction:

You and your group need to understand why the Younger’s dreams in Raisin in the Sun were deferred and the decisions they made to gain a piece of the American Dream and give Walter a chance to become a man.

“Seems like God didn’t see it fit to give the black man nothing but Dreams” Walter Younger

Your Task

In your groups of three and using the PPA produce a multi-paragraph essay discussing the effects of the Jim Crow laws, the segregation of Chicago, and the choices the Youngers made that caused their dreams to fail. Then decide, within the historical context, why Walter’s decision helped him become a man and bought him a piece of the American Dream.

The Process

Step 1: In your groups of three clarify your group roles:

Student # 1: Recorder / Writer-This student will take notes on information gathered by group members. This student will be responsible for completing the Public Policy Analyst Worksheets.

Student # 2: Researcher/ Leader: This student leads the research, by guiding other members to the web pages. He/she will search the Internet resources and gather information that will be used to complete the worksheets.

Student # 3: Time keeper/ task master: Will keep the group on track. He/she will assist in the research and be aware of teacher made deadlines and schedules. He/she will assign homework to make sure the deadlines are met.

**All group members are required to contribute to the completion of the worksheets. The 2-3 page paper will be completed individually.**

Step 2: Review and share the information on your Major Works Data Sheets make sure all your information is correct and the sheet is complete.

Step 3: Using the information from your novel, the resources and your Major Works Data Sheets complete the information for the PPA. Remember to complete the worksheets with the information about the Jim Crow Laws, the segregation of Chicago and the choices of the Youngers.

#1- Defining the Social Problem

What is the social problem that keeps the Youngers from reaching their American Dream?

#2- Gather evidence of the problem

Which events in the play illustrate the social problem.

#3- Identify the causes of the problem

How did the Jim Crow laws and the segregation of Chicago contribute to the problem.

#4- Identify and evaluate the existing public policies

In the novel, what policies already exist either in the society or in the Younger’s home? What policies exist in our society to help people protect the American Dream?

#5- Developing public policy solutions

In the novel, what did the Youngers do to fight the existing social problem? What new public policy do you want to create to help the Youngers?

#6- Selecting the best policy solution

Decide with your group the best policy to use to solve the problem. Do any of these policies exist today?

Step 4: Using the completed worksheets and the major works data worksheet, individually complete the outline for your paper and write the rough draft.

Step 5: Using the outline, individually complete the rough draft of the paper

Step6: After completing the peer-editing sheet make final revisions and prepare your final draft

Resources

http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4810

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/till/sfeature/sf_segregation.html

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/afam011.html

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1761.html

http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/what.htm

The Evaluation

Since this is a Regents preparation course your paper will be graded using the regents rubric to measure your comprehension of the novel, the assignment, organization and basic writing mechanics.

(Click Here)

[6=A 5=B+ 4=B^- 3=C 2=D 1=F]

Conclusion

As you reflect on the Plight of the Youngers think about your future. What is your American Dream? What will you do to ensure you grasp your American Dream? What did you learn from the characters in the play?

Standards

STUDENTS WILL HAVE PERFORMED THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS:

English Language Arts Standards

E1c Reads and comprehends information materials.

E2a Produce a report of information.

E3b Participate in group meetings.

E6a Critique public documents with an eye to strategies common in public discourse.

E6b Produce public documents.

E7a Critique functional documents with an eye to strategies common to effective functional documents.

E7b Produce functional documents appropriate to audience and purpose.

Problem Solving

Design a Product, Service, or System: Identify needs that could be met by new products, services, or systems and create solutions for meeting them.

Improve a System: Develop an understanding of the way systems of people, machines, and processes work;
troubleshoot problems in their operation and devise strategies for improving their effectiveness.

Communication

Tools and Techniques

a	Prepare a formal written proposal or report to an organization beyond the school.

Information Tools and Techniques

Gather information to assist in completing project work.

Use on-line sources to exchange information for specific purposes.

Use word-processing software to produce a multi-page document.

Social studies standards #2

1. research and analyze the major themes and developments in New York State and United States history (e.g., colonization and settlement; Revolution and New National Period; immigration; expansion and reform era; Civil War and Reconstruction; The American labor movement; Great Depression; World Wars; contemporary United States)

2. prepare essays and oral reports about the important social, political, economic, scientific, technological, and cultural developments, issues, and events from New York State and United States history