1st Essay :
Since Native Americans are THE Americans who subsequently lost most of their land, rights, opportunities and status and ultimately themselves to the first immigrants who were Europeans in pursuit of the American Dream, it is fair to say that that dream was an American Nightmare for Native Americans because it created an undeniable narrative of loss.
Write about the Native Americans’ cultural narrative under the theme of “Loss and Survival”. To do this read two short-short stories: (1) Sherman Alexie’s (somewhat wry witty) story “What You Pawn…” and (2) Leslie Marmon Silko’s (somewhat poignant) story “The Man to Send Rain Clouds.” Summarize each story in a couple of paragraphs (remember the summary rules) then answer the following question: (Minimum two pages)

2nd Essay:
Read Junot Diaz’s short story ”Otra Vida, Otra Vez.” WRITE about what you perceive is the American Dream for a chosen character and what he or she is willing to give up to attain that Dream. (Minimum two pages)

3rd Essay
Read two poems: “Between the World and Me” by Richard Wright and “A Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes: (1) Is there any thematic connection in these early 20th century poems to The Underground Railroad written in the 21st century?