Students are asked to write an essay about the documentary People like us. The following questions are prompts to help students to think about salient issues. Please do not write the essay as if answering prompt questions, rather write an organized narrative that captures your ideas about the subject.
Considering the segment WASP lessons, what does it mean to belong to WASP culture? How do upper class people know that someone does not belong to their group? What attitudes on display were notable and surprising? How has Thomas Phipps class impacted his aspirations, opportunities, and achievement? Why does he consider his group to be better than others, in other words, what is the criteria for being “better” or “superior”.
Imagine that you are Thomas Langhorne Phipps’s counselor. From his perspective, he believes that he should not have any problems, but he does, and they are not insignificant. You are not a member of Mr. Phipps social class. Speculate as to whether this might pose a problem to your ability to successfully form a therapeutic relationship. What class related issues might emerge in a counseling?
Thinking about the segment called Tammy’s Story what does it mean to be at the bottom, socially, politically and economically? In what ways is Tammy Crabtree invisible and to whom? How has Ms. Crabtree’s family history and social class impacted her aspirations, opportunities, and achievements? Why is she considered “trash” by her neighbors?
How realistic is Matt’s belief that he is “classier” than his mother and brother? What do you think are Matt’s chances of achieving his life goals? What are some obstacles and factors in his favor?
Imagine that you are Ms. Crabtree’s counselor. Think about her abilities, needs, goals and obstacles. What kind of assistance will she require to achieve her goals of having stronger relationships with her children, providing for her children, and becoming a teacher? Are you equipped to help her achieve her goals? What other assistance is required?
In Facing up to the American dream: Race, class and the soul of the nation, Jennifer Hoschild presents four components of the American dream.
The belief that everyone can participate equally and an always start over
The belief that it is reasonable to anticipate success.
The belief that success is a result of individual characteristics and that actions are under one’s control.
The belief that success is associated with virtue and merit.
Do you agree/disagree with any or all of these beliefs? Why or why not? Do the characters in People like us convey the idea that the American dream is a reality for most people? Why or why not?
Please write the essay in narrative format not as if responding to prompts. In other words, do not say “Yes, I agree that it is reasonable to anticipate success…” . Come up with your own ideas and words about class using the above questions to guide your thinking.
The final written essay should be at least 400 words, written in APA style (12 point New Times Roman font, double spaced, 1 inch margins, running head, page numbers, etc.,) and free of spelling and grammar error. If your ideas are not common knowledge and or provocative (Someone would say, “hey I don’t agree”) sources of information should be cited both in text and on a reference page. Title pages and reference pages are not included in the word count.
