Chapter 4 Summary Essay Living the the American Dream

! Chapter 4 Summary Essay

Discussion point

Living the American Dream

“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand” (Truman, 1947, in Aanensen & Holck, 2020). Fifty states make up the United States of America. It is known as a nation of nations and is probably the most diverse country on earth. Immigrants from all over the world have brought their individual cultures to the USA and settled across its expansive lands. Despite the diversity found in the USA, however, there is a distinct American identity which has fostered some of the greatest entrepreneurs and inventors in history, such as Henry Ford and Walt Disney. What does it mean to dream like an American, and what can we learn from them? This essay will discuss the American identity in relation to the American dream, contemporary challenges and workplace issues. People from all over the world have been moving to the USA for centuries in search of the American Dream. The American Dream is a prominent part of the American identity and is the belief that you can be whatever you want to be as long as you work hard and reach for the stars. Walt Disney once said: “All of our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them” (in Aanensen & Holck, 2020). However, not all Americans experience success; many live in poverty, and the logic of the American Dream could indicate that a lack of success is a personal responsibility. For instance, poverty and homelessness can be seen as a result of not working hard enough. Nonetheless, despite these issues, the USA is still known as the land of opportunity and dreams.

unbeatable uslåelige/ uslåelege determination Vurderingseksemplarbesluttsomhet/handlekraft despite på tross av / trass i diversity mangfold/ mangfald distinct tydelig/tydeleg prominent fremtredende/framståande core kjerne

At the very core of the American identity is the idea that all people are born with the same rights and opportunities. This serves as the foundation for the American Dream and is even stated in the Declaration of Independence. According to the Declaration, “all men are created equal” and all men have rights such as “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration

sacrifices offer peers de man kan sammenligne seg med, samarbeidspartnere / dei ein kan samanlikne seg med, samarbeidspartnarar contributor bidragsyter/ bidragsytar increases øker/aukar

Discuss how the summary essay includes what you remember from the chapter. of Independence, 1776, in Aanensen & Holck, 2020). However, for the poor modern American, education, healthcare and opportunities are often only available through a TV screen, an inequality which can cause social issues to reproduce for generations. For instance, boys born in low-income families are 20 times more likely to go to prison than boys who are born in wealthy families ((Kopf, 2017, in Aanensen & Holck, 2020)). Nevertheless, the idea that everyone is born equal and can succeed if they just work hard enough is a strong part of the American identity.

Discussion point

American resilience and goal orientation can be important qualities for a successful career. Specifically, Americans are known to have a strong work ethic and are willing to work hard and make sacrifices for their success. As stated in a report published by the Trump administration, “The American work ethic, the motivation that drives Americans to work longer hours each week and more weeks each year than any of our economic peers, is a long-standing contributor to America’s success” (Bruening, 2018 in Aanensen & Holck, 2020). On Discussion point the other hand, being too goal oriented can lead to ignoring health, environment and safety (HSE). This was illustrated, workers were killed and 4 million barrels of crude oil were pumped into the Gulf of Mexico. All in all, being goal oriented can be a recipe for success at work as long as HSE is a priority. In conclusion, this essay has discussed the American identity in relation to the American Dream, contemporary challenges and workplace issues. The American identity is closely related to the American Dream, the idea that you can be whatever you want to be as long as you work hard. However, statistics Discussion point show that growing up in poverty dramatically increases your chances of being imprisoned, indicating that people are not born as equal as the American mindset would suggest. All in all, the American identity depends on a belief that hard work and hope in a dream will lead to success. This attitude will perhaps not guarantee fame and fortune, but working towards a dream is definitely a good starting point to motivate and push you towards a successful future.

Vurderingseksemplar SOURCE Aanensen, M., & Holck, S.-A. 2020. Action. Engelsk for yrkesfag. Oslo: Aschehoug Undervisning.