Development Unit: The American Dream of Homeownership
The concept of home—indeed one’s own home—has held a significant place in American culture and notions of the American Dream. In this unit, we will investigate the American dream of homeownership, considering first why homeownership has been a part of the American Dream before analyzing why homeownership has been a “dream deferred” for many Americans. We will develop our knowledge and reading skills by analyzing informational texts, unraveling narrative examples, studying literary works and songs, examining videos, and evaluating arguments that relate to the American ideal of “home, sweet home.” As our knowledge of the topic deepens, we will determine our individual perspective on the unit’s Central Question: How viable is the American dream of homeownership? We will express our knowledge and perspective with a culminating argumentative essay addressing an aspect of a specific issue surrounding homeownership.