My America

1. My America • What does America mean to me? • Poem Assignment • Visual Assignment • Brochure Assignment • Video Assignment

2. What does America mean? • While watching the following videos take notes on • Key Symbols • Key Attributes • Big Ideas • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvaEJYQ1HRw • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKkUCIBARyo • What does America mean to you?

3. Let’s Look at some examples… • To me America means freedom, opportunity, and democracy. Americans have more freedom than most countries around the world. We have the freedom of speech, freedom to vote, the right to bare arms, and many more. In other countries like Iran you could be executed for saying what you believe. America is also the land of opportunity. People from all over the world immigrate to this great country just to get a chance to do what they want. This country was founded on people trying to get away from their homelands to start a new life where they wouldn't be prosecuted and could do what they pleased with their life. America has the greatest government in the world as well. We are an example to the world that freedom and democracy will always be better than other nations that aren't so lucky to have a democratic system. Look at Cuba, a communist country. The Cuban people have close to no freedom and nowhere near the other things that make this country great. And it's because of our government system. Everything that I have listed makes me proud to be an American and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Tyler

4. The ability to express yourself through dress, education, and personal likings- these are three things that I have most respect for in America. To me the ability to dress yourself the way you want to is important in my eyes. If everyone was always walking down the street wearing the exact same thing as everybody else then people wouldn't be able to express who they are and what they would want people to see them as. Everyone has their own sense of style and by wearing what you don't want to wear wont let express yourself the way you would want to. The ability to study and educate yourself is yet another thing that i am strongly grateful to have in America. By not being able to study what you would like to study, you wont be able to follow your dreams and be what you would want to be as your occupation in life. The ability to educate yourself to your likings can give you more opportunities to be successful in life. To be able to have your own personal likings in life whether it is being athletic, artistic, social, funny, or even studious is an important part of being an American. Without having your own personal likings in life you aren't able to express who you are to others and what you like to do or who you would like to be in life. If you like to read, listen to certain types of music, and socialize then you should be given that right to do all of those things to give you a happier and more successful life. These three reasons are what give me the most pride in being and American. Caitlin

5. Freedom to be creative, to make mistakes, and to disagree--these are three things I value about America. Whether I'm writing a satirical poem about materialism or creating an artistic rendering of love, I am free to voice my opinions and share it with others. I appreciate this and know that many countries, like China, do not have this freedom of speech. Our justice system is another area that is a strength of America's. We give our citizens rules to live under that afford safety and responsibility. The rules are clear to follow. Yet, we have citizens that drive at extreme speeds, take the law into their hands and murder out of revenge, or even choose to undermine the laws by selling illegal drugs, just for greed. Our laws give us the freedom to make moral and immoral decisions; our laws provide recourse for actions that do not adhere to our protections. However, human error is also something Americans understand and so our justice system provides a fair way to decide guilt This freedom allows for the innocent to have a voice and to find justice for those that are truly guilty. Many American citizens will voice disapproval of our court system, stating that it is corrupt and dysfunctional. This is my third point: the freedom to disagree with government systems, politicians, rules, and even our own President. Americans live under the red, white, and blue feeling the pressures of life, family, jobs, etc., but can express our feelings through art, through actions, and through debate. I am fortunate to be an American. Davis

6. Your Turn • Complete the handout analyzing all aspects America. • Turn to the person next to you and share your writing. Give feedback to each other. • Choose important elements from parts of America and highlight them. • Compose a poem centered around these elements of Your America. • Assignment Due: Friday, August 23rd • The poem should be typed (you are free to play around with fonts and sizes). • The poem should be at least 25 lines.