2. Explore Your Topic

After thoroughly examining your assignment, now it's time to look for some initial background research on your topic. View the topic page below in the Credo Database to learn more about the American Dream.

American Dream Topic Page (Credo)
Explore this topic page about the American Dream to learn more general information the topic.
Historical and Modern Interpretations of the American Dream
This brief article gives an overview of how the American Dream ideals have been interpreted throughout U.S. history.
A Better Life: Creating the American Dream
This podcast discusses what the American Dream is and how it has changed over time. A transcript is also provided.
Literary Themes for Students: The American Dream
Literary Themes for Students: The American Dream has background information about the American Dream for different groups. This source does have a literature focus, but there is a lot of general information about the American Dream to use.

Define the American Dream

There are many definitions of the American Dream. Your research will be more efficient if you know which "American Dream" you're writing about. Also, defining the American Dream should be one of the first things you do when writing your paper. Here are a few possible definitions of the American Dream to consider:

economic success
social mobility
the ideal 1950s-type family
home ownership
freedom (speech, religion, etc.)
striking it rich (in a gold mine or a game show)
working hard to provide a better life for you and/or your children.