The instructions for the paper specify that you should compare two works that we have read over the semester, one of which has an optimistic view of the American Dream, and one of which is critical. The works can be one short story v. one novel, or whatever combination of works you choose.

I pick benjamin franklin autobiography and The-Great-Gatsby

Although definitions of the American Dream may vary in some respects, the most common definition includes a belief in the achievement of monetary success, the assumption that the current generation will do better than the previous generation. In recent years, however, commentators have questioned the continued viability of the American Dream, pointing to such factors as the tremendous growth in income inequality, the increasing cost of a college education, staggering student debt, the weakening of labor unions, and the power of corporate money.
Bearing in mind some of these comments and others, compare two works that we read this semester, one of which has an optimistic outlook on the American Dream, and one that is more critical of the concept. Consider such questions as the following: Which of the two works seems to you to be more valid today? Is the American Dream still a realistic dream? Was it ever a realistic dream? What factors affect its sucess?
Write an organized essay of approximately 7 pages. Use specific evidence from the texts to develop your argument. You might want to look at some recent newspaper articles regarding the American Dream and other relevant information. If you do so, be sure to cite your sources.
Have a Works Cited page and cite pages for quotations in parentheses within the text (MLA style). You won’t need secondary sources about the texts; I am interested in what you think. But if you do use them, you must cite your sources. Do not use outside material as though it was your own; that is plagiarism.