After discussing the writing prompt with the class, answer the following questions:

1. In your own words, what do you think you are being asked to write about?
Summarize what you see as the writing task.

I am asked to write about how my definition of the American is supported by coates or

doesn’t.

2. What is the most important part of the Essay 3 Writing Prompt to you? Why? Explain.

The most important part of the essay prompt is starting the essay with my own
argument/ claims rather than starting with Coates/ Darwin. I think this style of writing will
help me improve my claims and finding evidence to be able to answer whether Coates
agree or disagree with my definition of the “American Dream’

3. What are some challenges you may have in meeting the requirements of this essay?
Explain.

My challenge with this essay prompt is being able to summarize Coates, and Darwin
thoroughly in order to correctly support my claims. Which mean I have to do a series of
unpacking of the quotes I will use.

4. What questions do you have about the essay and how do you plan on finding
answers to those questions? What are your next steps in ensuring you are on the right
track towards writing a strong essay.

My biggest question is to what extend do I believe in the “American Dream” , and if I

even do. I need to reread the both texts, in order to write a thesis.

5. As you know, your homework is to finish reading BTWAM by Thursday. How will you
annotate the remaining text to ensure you are gathering ideas and evidence for the
essay? In other words, what specific ideas, words, concepts, and/or references will you
pay attention to? Describe your plan for critical and strategic reading.

I will have to unpack the quotes I am thinking of using a couple of times before I start to draft my
claims. I think I am going to focus on the concepts of violence caused by fear( the boys and
parents), the destroying of bodies( black), and becoming white( the white dream). I want to take
each concept and find at least three different passages for each and unpack each one, so that I
can have a clear understanding of what coats is truly saying.