1. Common Questions What is the Valley of Ashes? Who lives there?
Why does Tom bring Nick to meet Myrtle?
Why doesn’t Nick say anything to show his disagreement with the affair?
Why is Tom with Myrtle, Myrtle with Tom?
Does Tom love Daisy? Myrtle?
Why does Tom hit Myrtle?

2. The American Dream

3. Origin
We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Thomas Jefferson

4. James Truslow Adams, 1931
“It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of their birth It has been a dream of being able to grow to fullest development as man and woman, unhampered by the barriers which had slowly been erected in older civilizations, unrepressed by social orders which had developed for the benefit of classes rather than for the simple human being of any and every class. And that dream has been realized more fully in actual life here than anywhere else, though very imperfectly even among ourselves.”

5. The American Dream
Individually, read through the quote from James Truslow Adams.
Optimistic Lens: Circle key words/phrases that help us understand the term “American Dream.”
Pessimistic Lens: Write in the margins what you think is unrealistic about Adams’ description or what some barriers are to succeeding in the pursuit.

6. Partner Share Turn to the person next to you.
Is the American Dream easily attainable for all?
What are some of the obstacles to achieving the American Dream?

7. Barriers to the AD
It's called the American dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.    George Carlin
Financial Instability
Racial/ Ethnic Discrimination
Educational Costs
Too High Expectations
Employment Opportunities
Backgrounds/ No Social Mobility

8. Upward Mobility
the capacity or facility for rising to a higher social or economic position