Analysis Paper: What is happening to the American Dream?

Write a double-spaced, five-paragraph essay answering one question. Write the thesis statement with three points at the end of the introduction. Begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence, and support each topic sentence with explanations and specific factual details. End with a paraphrase of your main idea, and add a concluding thought.

1. What is happening to the homes that support the American Dream?

"Middle-class homes disappearing faster than middle-class incomes." George Galster, Brookings Institute, 2009.

     Millions of Americans are losing their better homes. Not only are fewer Americans today earning $30,000-$50,000 than in the 1960s, but also far fewer are living in middle-class homes. US census data for the 100 largest metropolitan areas shows that while 58% of neighborhoods were middle-income in 1970, only 41% were in 2000. The steep decline far outpaced the drop in families earning middle incomes, from 28% in 1970 to 22% in 2000. 

2. What happened to the wages that made the American Dream?

"The wage that meant middle class." Louis Uchetelle, New York Times, April, 2008.

     In the 1950s, millions of American blue-collar factory workers with just high school educations started to earn $20 or more per hour, affording them middle-class houses, cars, clothes, and vacations. However, US companies--notably our auto industry--now battle stiff competition from foreign products and services. Today, the average high school graduate earns just $14 per hour, wages that force blue-collar and service workers into lower-class lifestyles and challenge the American dream.

3. What happened to the education that upheld the American Dream?

"The fall of American education." Paul Peterson, Hoover Digest, 2003.

     Steeply declining reading and math skills are endangering the American way of life. Today, about 25% of adults read below the third grade level, and half read below grade eight. Half of adults cannot count out change. Limited literacy and numeracy skills underlie the nation's chronic debt and widespread underemployment. Only 20% of US workers have the better math and language skills that increase the chances of having white-collar, high-skilled positions and reduce the chances of being unemployed..