Annika Park

Mr.Smith

Junior English

Sep 28, 2022

American Dream Barriers

The American dream is the idea that life is better, more prosperous, happier, simpler, and

full of opportunities for all. It is an idea that defines a person's success and happiness in

American Society and is fantasized about by many around the world. People feel if they come to

the U.S. they will be able to achieve all their dreams. Over time, we’ve come to understand that

the American dream, whether in the sense of materialism or success in happiness, is not equally

accessible to all.

In the article “The Transformation of the American Dream” by Robert J. Shiller and the

article “Coronavirus reminds Asian Americans like me that our belonging is Conditional” by

John Cho, both authors talk about the idea that the American Dream is said to be achievable to

all, but for many groups in society this is inherently untrue. Shiller explains how the American

Dream used to be based on morality, when he states “Instead, in the 1930s, it meant freedom,

mutual respect and equality of opportunity. It had more to do with morality than material

success”(Shiller 3). When looking at the past, the American Dream was a simple idea that

everyone was to be equal and treated with basic respect. Having met these attributes meant that

you were living a problem-free life. For some people, it was innately impossible to have this. For

example, if you were born an African American, you would be degraded just because of your

skin color. But inequalities don't just apply to the African American community; many other

races, religions, and genders have preset stereotypes that lower their chances of achieving the
American Dream. Like Shiller, Cho also builds on the past ideas of the American Dream by

expressing how it was mostly focused on intangible values. He digs deeper and describes how

the intangible value of safety is a crucial part of what the American Dream used to be. This is

shown when Cho explains, “Growing up, the assumption was that once we became American

enough, there would be no need for such warnings — that we would be safe” (Cho 10). The

warnings Cho describes relate to how in America if you are different, you are more vulnerable in

society. Growing up leads to the realization that race can limit your ability to do everyday tasks

without torment. Safety is an important aspect of achieving happiness, a prominent part of the

American Dream. Without the feeling of safety, it would be impossible to relax and focus on

things that are important to the individual. This can significantly affect various parts of

someone's life, which in turn restricts someone’s potential for success and happiness. Both texts

examine how not everyone is able to achieve the American Dream due to societal stereotypes

and misconceptions due to race. When comparing Shriller and Cho's article on the American

Dream, Shiller talks about the attributes that make up the American dream. At the same time,

Cho adds by giving a specific example of a group that is inherently unable to obtain it.

In the book “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros and the video

“Pennsylvania Firefighter Works Three Jobs to Support His Family: Part 1,” both sources talk

about how the American Dream now has a more materialistic ideal and is dreamt about by all

Americans, but not everyone can achieve it. According to Cisneros, the American Dream is now

believed to be more materialistic when she explains, “This was the house Papa talked about

when he held a lottery ticket, and this was the house Mama dreamed up in the stories she told us

before we went to bed” (Cisneros 4). Today, the American Dream is seen as being successful,

wealthy, and owning an exorbitant house. But for many, it's only a dream, something they
romanticize. Instead of a roof over their head or guaranteed meals every day, people strive for

something materialistic. Additionally, to author Sandra Cisneros, the video describes how many

Americans yearn to achieve the American Dream but simply cannot. The narrator describes how

Chris, a father working two jobs to support his family, dreams of achieving the American dream,

“Chris looks longingly at the lives of the 20% of Americans who take up so much more of

America's wealth” (ABC News). Chris and his wife looked at their bills one month, hoping they

would be able to come in on budget, came to find out that their health insurance had increased by

30%, and due to the flooding in their backyard, they had many unexpected bills to pay. They

look at the people taking up most of America's wealth and wish they could live the worry-free

lives they live. This is a constant problem faced by many Americans in the U.S., making it very

hard for anyone to achieve the American Dream. When comparing Cisneros's book and the ABC

News segment on the American Dream, both highlight the desire for wealth and the comfort of

financial stability. Ultimately both sources prove that the American Dream, although yearned for

by all, is unachievable to many because of a rise in economic changes in society.

The American Dream, even though fantasized by all, is fundamentally unachievable for

many groups. Wealth, race, religion, and age are all factors that limit the ability to feel that one

has achieved this dream. Understanding the American Dream and the components that make it so

unrealistic, is important because everyone's place and path in society dictates the journey to

achieving the “American Dream”. While the American Dream may feel out of reach it need not

influence the pursuit of happiness.

 Works Cited

Cho, John. “Coronavirus Reminds Asian Americans Belonging Is Conditional.” Los Angeles

Times, 22 Apr. 2020,

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-04-22/asian-american-discrimination-john-c

ho-coronavirus.

Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street. 2nd Vintage Contemporaries ed., 25th

anniversary ed, Vintage Contemporaries, 2009.

“Pennsylvania Firefighter Works Three Jobs to Support His Family: Part 1.” ABC News,

directed by A. B. C. News, ABC,

https://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/pennsylvania-firefighter-works-jobs-support-family-

part-44772397. Accessed 28 Sept. 2022.

Shiller, Robert J. “The Transformation of the ‘American Dream.’” The New York Times, 4 Aug.

2017. NYTimes.com,

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/04/upshot/the-transformation-of-the-american-dream.

html.
 American Dream Essay Rubric

Skill Advanced Proficient Foundational Not

Yet
 Thesis establishes a Appears in first Identifies a topic
complex claim paragraph

Thesis establishes a
topic and a claim

Thesis Comments:

Includes specific, Includes multiple pieces Includes two or

meaningful, and of evidence (from 4 fewer sources
well-chosen evidence sources) that clearly
that relates to the relate to the thesis Some evidence
thesis relates to the thesis
Includes multiple pieces
of evidence in each body
Evidence paragraph

Comments:

Explains well-selected Explains how evidence Summarizes

points of comparison supports topic sentence sources
among sources and of individual paragraphs
evidence and their
connection to the Explains how evidence
thesis supports the thesis of
Analysis the essay

Comments:

Clearly explains Explains how the Little connection

relationships among texts/sources are between texts;
texts (how they related, though points difficult for the
 confirm or challenge could be more selective reader to see how
each other, build on or better developed the texts are
each other, provide related
differing perspectives, Includes multiple
Synthesis etc.) sources in each body
paragraph

Comments:

No errors in MLA format Heading is correctly Some elements

formatted missing or some
errors in MLA
Pages are numbered format

In-text citations are

correctly formatted

Works Cited format:

hanging indent,
MLA Format double-spaced,
alphabetized, starts on a
new page

Works Cited: each source

entry is in correct MLA
format
Comments:

All quotes are correctly Most quotes are correctly Shows evidence of
integrated integrated basic proofreading

Shows evidence of Follows essay

Conventions careful proofreading organization

Shows evidence of
proofreading

Comments:
Annika,
This essay improved drastically from our workshopping, and that is awesome. There are still a
few points of improvement to be made, though:
● Working on quote integration
● Selecting stronger evidence
● Finding more advanced adjectives and verbs for analysis (writing is our opportunity to
express complex ideas - try to find words that speak to this)
● More clarity in terms of defending thesis, as well as connecting to the main topic of each
paragraph.
Overall, solid job

Grade: B+