thesis statement for dreams essay

177 Dream Research Topics & How to Write a Research Paper on Dreams

People have dreams every night. Dreams are different – sweet dreams and nightmares, colored and colorless. However, every psychologist knows that people need to sleep. Why? Well, let us give you the right to answer this question in your research paper on dreams.

A research paper on dreams is a serious research project. That is why you cannot simply write how dreams can be interpreted or describe your dreams in the research paper on dreams. Research papers on dreams require more serious topics and approach.

Below you will find several possible ideas for research papers on dreams.

• 🔎 Dreams Research Topics
• 💤 Dreams Definition
• ✍️ How to Write about Dreams

😴 Easy Research Topics on Dreams

🛌 essay about dreams topics, 😪 topics for a research paper on sleep and dreams, ✏️ importance of sleep essay topics, 👻 nightmare essay topics.

• 📝 My Dreams Essay – Example

✅ Interesting Facts about Dreams

🔎 dreams research topics – 2024.

• The link between our dreams and emotions.
• What is the role of dreaming in creativity development?
• The gender-based patterns in dreaming experience.
• Sigmund Freud and his theory of dreams.
• The key mechanisms that underlie dreaming.
• What knowledge can you gain from your dreams?
• The impact of eating patterns on the quality of dreams.
• How do different cultures perceive and interpret dreams?
• The advantages and disadvantages of dreaming.
• How can people control their dreams?
• The role of dreams in processing emotions.
• How do bizarre and emotionally intense dreams occur?

💤 What Are Dreams?

Psychologists are sure that dreams are the result of what we wish or think about when we are awake. For example, Freud, a famous psychologist, considered that if a man did not have sexual relations for a long time, he would dream about them. If you think about someone, you may also dream about him/her. This is what you may write about in the research paper on dreams if you want to consider this aspect.

Nightmares can also be a very interesting issue to discuss in research papers on dreams. Psychologists relate nightmares to the field of “unconscious”. Very often, people forget about the stressful situations they once had. However, those situations are reflected in their minds and they can appear in dreams. You may also find other points of view on nightmares and discuss them in your research paper on dreams.

✍️ How to Write a Research Paper about Dreams

A research paper about dreams generally includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. First, it is crucial to choose a relevant and exciting topic to write on and decide on the type of research paper (analytical, argumentative, etc.).

Choosing a Topic

Pick a topic that corresponds to your interests and expertise. It will help you stay more motivated throughout the research process. In addition, ensure that your topic is specific, relevant, and follows the assignment instructions.

If you need help choosing a good topic for your paper, try our free research title generator .

Finding Sources

After you have found a perfect topic on dreams, it is time to look for sources for your research. You can look up information in books, similar research papers, or online sources. Communicating with professionals related to dreams , like psychologists or neurologists, is also a good idea since it is an effective method to gain new knowledge or advice.

Writing a Research Paper

The format of your research paper on dreams should consist of the following elements:

• The relation between dreaming and the role of deep-brain structures.
• Dreaming capacity to repeatedly simulate potential threatening events.
• The role of amygdala and hippocampus in the dreaming process.
• The spiritual significance of dreams in different cultures.
• Dream interpretation and its value in self-understanding.
• How does dream recall reflect social relationships?
• The positive impact of dreams on our physical health.
• Dreams and their role in predicting the future.
• The peculiarities of dreams in pregnant women.
• Why does Charcot-Wilbrand syndrome cause the loss of the ability to dream?
• The role of dreaming in developing cognitive capabilities.
• How can dreams reflect the aging process?
• The repetitive character of some dreams and their meaning.
• Why are young people more likely to dream in color?
• The benefits and cautions of lucid dreaming.
• The influence of smartphones on the content of dreams.
• Why do people forget their dreams after waking up?
• The impact of suppressing intrusive thoughts on dream content.
• What is the role of dreams in developing long-term memory?
• The key causes and types of dreams.
• The peculiarities of dreaming during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Everything you need to know about lucid dreams.
• The role of melatonin in determining the dream content.
• What can we learn from our dreams?
• The psychotomimetic nature of dreams.
• The terrors of sleep paralysis.
• Does screen time affect people’s dreams?
• Dreams and the future of sleep technology.
• Are AI technologies capable of generating dreams?
• The hidden cost of insufficient sleep.
• How can nap breaks improve your productivity at work?
• The main facts and myths about sleep and dreams.
• How can our understanding of dreams shape our worldview?
• The link between dreams and telepathy.
• The process of dreaming in animals.
• Why do some people wake up in the middle of the night?
• The impact of mental illnesses on dream content.
• The role of dreams in art as a source of inspiration.
• How do different societies interpret dreams?
• The power of dreaming in everyday life.
• How to become a morning person: the key strategies.
• The impact of sleep time on life length.
• Ways to decode the language of sleep.
• Using cannabis as a method to cope with nightmares.
• The impact of the daily schedule on improving the quality of sleep.
• How to get a good night’s sleep in a new place?
• Methods to combat morning grogginess.
• Taking care of your sleep as one of the pillars of health.
• The use of dreams in filmmaking and book writing.
• The phenomenon of dreaming during sleep.
• The main phases of sleep in a sleep cycle.
• How is alpha activity measured during sleep?
• The use of oneirology in uncovering the dreaming process.
• Dreaming in Christianity and Islam.
• What is the connection between race and sleep disorders?
• The theory of astral projection during sleep.
• The effect of sleep on pain thresholds and sensitivity.
• The consequences of chronic daytime sleepiness.
• Why is dreaming a key part of a sleep cycle?
• The natural patterns of sleeping in children and teenagers.
• REM and non-REM sleep : the difference.
• What is biphasic sleep, and how does it work?
• The influence of dreams on musical creativity.
• The cultural significance of dream symbols.
• How do moon phases affect your sleep?
• The nature and functions of dreaming.
• The use of dream content during expressive arts therapy.
• What are the possible functions of REM sleep and dreaming?
• The value of dreaming and sleep tracking.
• The analysis of mental activity of sleep and disturbing dreams.
• How do sleep disturbances impact skin health?
• The impact of age on our circadian rhythm.
• The phenomenon of conscious control in dreams.
• How do sleep patterns change across different life stages?
• The influence of sleep quality on academic performance.
• The psychological theories of dreaming purpose.
• The disadvantages of oversleeping for adults.
• How does your body use calories while you sleep?
• Factors influencing the memory of dreams.
• What impact does alcohol have on the sleep cycle and dreaming?
• How can dreams contribute to the healing process?
• The role of sleep in underlying psychological issues.
• The benefits of daytime napping for young people.
• Why does sleep deprivation increase the risk of substance abuse?
• The use of daytime naps to increase imagination.
• The value of bedtime routine for toddlers.
• The benefits of a good night’s sleep.
• What is the role of sleeping in achieving life goals?
• Lack of sleep as a key cause of hormonal imbalance.
• The damaging effect of shift work on sleep patterns and health.
• The link between sleep and the immune system.
• What impact does a change of clocks by an hour have on public health?
• The value of sleep for children’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development.
• What would happen if you did not sleep?
• The importance of sleep for children’s development and growth.
• The connection between good mood and quality sleep.
• Why does the lack of sleep increase aggression?
• The role of sleeping in cancer prevention and treatment.
• The value of sleep for the recovery process of athletes.
• How does the quality of sleep impact metabolism?

Essay about Sleep Deprivation

• The economic impact of sleep deprivation in the workplace.
• How can sleep deprivation lead to anxiety and depression?
• The role of sleep deprivation in worsening obesity and diabetes.
• The use of sleeping pills in sleep deprivation treatment.
• How is sleep deprivation diagnosed?
• The prevalence of sleep deprivation among shift workers.
• What is the difference between sleep deprivation and insomnia?
• The key stages of sleep deprivation.
• The role of DNA in the development of sleep deprivation.
• The unique challenges in diagnosing obstructive sleep deprivation.
• How does sleep deprivation affect the human body?
• The issue of sleep deprivation in teenagers due to exams.
• The role of medications in managing sleep deprivation.
• Ways of reducing the risk of developing sleep deprivation.
• What are the key symptoms of sleep deprivation?

Why Is Sleep Important? Essay Topics

• The efficiency of sleeping in losing weight.
• How can sleep improve concentration and productivity?
• Sleep as essential component of healthy aging.
• Why can a lack of sleep be dangerous?
• Sleep satisfaction and its impact on energy level.
• How is poor sleep linked to depression?
• The impact of sleep on emotional intelligence.
• How does sleep help to repair and restore tissues?
• The role of sleeping in removing toxins from the brain.
• Why can the lack of sleep be lethal?
• The link between sleep quality and mental resilience.
• Sleep loss and its impact on reducing the ability to regulate emotions.
• The role of sleep in the regulation of the central nervous system.
• How can the quality of sleep strengthen your heart?
• Sleeping as a method to maximize athletic performance.

Sleeping Disorders Essay Topics

• The connection between sleep disorders and dreaming.
• Do congenitally blind people have visual dreams?
• The effective ways of coping with insomnia.
• Sleep difficulties and their physical and emotional consequences.
• How does weight affect sleep apnea in adults?
• Breathing practices and their efficiency in overcoming sleep disorders.
• The key symptoms of sleep-related hypoventilation .
• What are the risk factors for sleep disorders?
• Minimizing stress as a method to cope with obstructive sleep apnea.
• The side effects of sleep disorder treatment.
• What are the major categories of sleep disorders, and how do they differ?
• Restless legs syndrome as one of the sleep disorder types.
• The effectiveness of light therapy in sleep disorder treatment.
• The peculiarities of sleep disorder diagnosis.
• How to deal with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder?
• Nightmare disorder and its impact on sleep quality.
• The role of negative thinking, stress, and anxiety in worsening nightmares.
• How may nightmares help to express unresolved emotions?
• The influence of nightmares on interpersonal relationships.
• The use of cognitive behavioral therapy in nightmare treatment.
• Are nightmares a possible consequence of drug abuse?
• The key symptoms of experiencing nightmares.
• The health effects of nightmares in adults.
• How are nightmares connected to waking activity?
• The possible consequences of nightmares.
• The efficiency of psychotherapy in nightmare treatment.
• The main causes of nightmares and methods to cope with them.
• How are nightmares different from sleep terrors?
• The role of sleep hygiene practices in preventing nightmares.
• How do nightmares affect the daily life of teenagers?
• Nightmares as a result of trauma-related experience.
• The link between nightmares and sleep paralysis.
• How does genetics impact the occurrence of nightmares?
• The neurobiological aspects of nightmares in children.
• The risk factors of having nightmare disorder.

📝 My Dreams Essay – Example

We have prepared a dream essay example to show you how everything works in practice!

How Do Different Societies Interpret Dreams?

Throughout history, dreams have been a mysterious experience for people worldwide, receiving various interpretations in many different countries and cultures. From ancient times to the present, people have believed that dreams provide crucial insights into our inner being and may even impact our perception of the universe.

For example, in ancient Egypt, snakes were often associated with danger, deceit, and the underworld. At the same time, seeing calm water in a dream was a good sign that meant peace and tranquility. If people were flying while asleep, it symbolized spiritual growth and escape from mortal concerns.

In ancient Mesopotamia, animals were frequently seen as symbols of the dreamer's personality traits. For instance, a lion might symbolize strength and power, while a sheep could represent humility and submission. Numbers also had a special meaning. People believed their appearance in dreams could be interpreted as messages from the gods.

Nowadays, people still interpret dreams in various ways based on their personal beliefs and traditions. However, it is crucial to understand that there is no correct or incorrect approach to interpreting dreams. The essential thing is to discover a method that resonates with you, allowing you to obtain insights into your subconscious mind. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful.

Do you want to make your research paper on dreams interesting? Then, include a couple of facts into your research paper on dreams:

• Blind people dream;
• You forget 90% of your dreams;
• Dreams prevent psychosis;
• Not everyone sees colorful dreams;
• When you are snoring, you are not dreaming.

Who knows, maybe you will manage to interpret one of these facts from the psychological point of view in your research paper on dreams.

On our blog, useful information on how to write a good research paper and make a cover page for research papers can also be found.

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1.8: How to Write a Thesis Statement

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Whether you are writing a short essay or a doctoral dissertation, your thesis statement will arguably be the most difficult sentence to formulate. An effective thesis statement states the purpose of the paper and, therefore, functions to control, assert and structure your entire  argument . Without a sound thesis, your argument may sound weak, lacking in direction, and  uninteresting to the reader.

Start with a question — then make the answer your thesis

Regardless of how complicated the subject is, almost any thesis can be constructed by answering a question.

• Thesis: “Computers allow fourth graders an early advantage in technological and scientific education.”
• Question: “Why is the Mississippi River so important in Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn ?” Thesis: “The river comes to symbolize both division and progress, as it separates our characters and country while still providing the best chance for Huck and Jim to get to know one another.”

Tailor your thesis to the type of paper you’re writing

N ot all essays persuade, and not all essays teach. The goals of your paper will help you find the best thesis.

• Analytical: Breaks down something to better examine and understand it. Ex. “This dynamic between different generations sparks much of the play’s tension, as age becomes a motive for the violence and unrest that rocks King Lear.”

Ensure your thesis is provable

Good Theses Examples:

• “By owning up to the impossible contradictions, embracing them and questioning them, Blake forges his own faith, and is stronger for it. Ultimately, the only way for his poems to have faith is to temporarily lose it.”
• “According to its well-documented beliefs and philosophies, an existential society with no notion of either past or future cannot help but become stagnant.”
• “By reading “Ode to a Nightingale” through a modern deconstructionist lens, we can see how Keats viewed poetry as shifting and subjective, not some rigid form.”

Bad Theses Examples:

• “The wrong people won the American Revolution.” While striking and unique, who is “right” and who is “wrong” is exceptionally hard to prove, and very subjective.
• “The theory of genetic inheritance is the binding theory of every human interaction.” Too complicated and overzealous. The scope of “every human interaction” is just too big
• “Paul Harding’s novel Tinkers is ultimately a cry for help from a clearly depressed author.” Unless you interviewed Harding extensively, or had a lot of real-life sources, you have no way of proving what is fact and what is fiction.”

Get the sound right

Example thesis statements with good statement language include:

• “Because of William the Conqueror’s campaign into England, that nation developed the strength and culture it would need to eventually build the British Empire.”
• “Hemingway significantly changed literature by normalizing simplistic writing and frank tone.”

Know where to place a thesis statement

Because of the role thesis statements play, they appear at the beginning of the paper, usually at the end of the first paragraph or somewhere in the introduction. Although most people look for the thesis at the end of the first paragraph, its location can depend on a number of factors such as how lengthy of an introduction you need before you can introduce your thesis or the length of your paper.

Limit a thesis statement to one or two sentences in length

Thesis statements are clear and to the point, which helps the reader identify the topic and direction of the paper, as well as your position towards the subject.

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How to Write a Strong Thesis Statement: 4 Steps + Examples

What’s Covered:

What is the purpose of a thesis statement, writing a good thesis statement: 4 steps, common pitfalls to avoid, where to get your essay edited for free.

When you set out to write an essay, there has to be some kind of point to it, right? Otherwise, your essay would just be a big jumble of word salad that makes absolutely no sense. An essay needs a central point that ties into everything else. That main point is called a thesis statement, and it’s the core of any essay or research paper.

You may hear about Master degree candidates writing a thesis, and that is an entire paper–not to be confused with the thesis statement, which is typically one sentence that contains your paper’s focus. 

Read on to learn more about thesis statements and how to write them. We’ve also included some solid examples for you to reference.

Typically the last sentence of your introductory paragraph, the thesis statement serves as the roadmap for your essay. When your reader gets to the thesis statement, they should have a clear outline of your main point, as well as the information you’ll be presenting in order to either prove or support your point. 

The thesis statement should not be confused for a topic sentence , which is the first sentence of every paragraph in your essay. If you need help writing topic sentences, numerous resources are available. Topic sentences should go along with your thesis statement, though.

Since the thesis statement is the most important sentence of your entire essay or paper, it’s imperative that you get this part right. Otherwise, your paper will not have a good flow and will seem disjointed. That’s why it’s vital not to rush through developing one. It’s a methodical process with steps that you need to follow in order to create the best thesis statement possible.

Step 1: Decide what kind of paper you’re writing

When you’re assigned an essay, there are several different types you may get. Argumentative essays are designed to get the reader to agree with you on a topic. Informative or expository essays present information to the reader. Analytical essays offer up a point and then expand on it by analyzing relevant information. Thesis statements can look and sound different based on the type of paper you’re writing. For example:

• Argumentative: The United States needs a viable third political party to decrease bipartisanship, increase options, and help reduce corruption in government.
• Informative: The Libertarian party has thrown off elections before by gaining enough support in states to get on the ballot and by taking away crucial votes from candidates.
• Analytical: An analysis of past presidential elections shows that while third party votes may have been the minority, they did affect the outcome of the elections in 2020, 2016, and beyond.

Step 2: Figure out what point you want to make

Once you know what type of paper you’re writing, you then need to figure out the point you want to make with your thesis statement, and subsequently, your paper. In other words, you need to decide to answer a question about something, such as:

• What impact did reality TV have on American society?
• How has the musical Hamilton affected perception of American history?
• Why do I want to major in [chosen major here]?

If you have an argumentative essay, then you will be writing about an opinion. To make it easier, you may want to choose an opinion that you feel passionate about so that you’re writing about something that interests you. For example, if you have an interest in preserving the environment, you may want to choose a topic that relates to that. 

If you’re writing your college essay and they ask why you want to attend that school, you may want to have a main point and back it up with information, something along the lines of:

“Attending Harvard University would benefit me both academically and professionally, as it would give me a strong knowledge base upon which to build my career, develop my network, and hopefully give me an advantage in my chosen field.”

Step 3: Determine what information you’ll use to back up your point

Once you have the point you want to make, you need to figure out how you plan to back it up throughout the rest of your essay. Without this information, it will be hard to either prove or argue the main point of your thesis statement. If you decide to write about the Hamilton example, you may decide to address any falsehoods that the writer put into the musical, such as:

“The musical Hamilton, while accurate in many ways, leaves out key parts of American history, presents a nationalist view of founding fathers, and downplays the racism of the times.”

Once you’ve written your initial working thesis statement, you’ll then need to get information to back that up. For example, the musical completely leaves out Benjamin Franklin, portrays the founding fathers in a nationalist way that is too complimentary, and shows Hamilton as a staunch abolitionist despite the fact that his family likely did own slaves. 

Step 4: Revise and refine your thesis statement before you start writing

Read through your thesis statement several times before you begin to compose your full essay. You need to make sure the statement is ironclad, since it is the foundation of the entire paper. Edit it or have a peer review it for you to make sure everything makes sense and that you feel like you can truly write a paper on the topic. Once you’ve done that, you can then begin writing your paper.

When writing a thesis statement, there are some common pitfalls you should avoid so that your paper can be as solid as possible. Make sure you always edit the thesis statement before you do anything else. You also want to ensure that the thesis statement is clear and concise. Don’t make your reader hunt for your point. Finally, put your thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph and have your introduction flow toward that statement. Your reader will expect to find your statement in its traditional spot.

If you’re having trouble getting started, or need some guidance on your essay, there are tools available that can help you. CollegeVine offers a free peer essay review tool where one of your peers can read through your essay and provide you with valuable feedback. Getting essay feedback from a peer can help you wow your instructor or college admissions officer with an impactful essay that effectively illustrates your point.

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How to write a thesis statement + examples

What is a thesis statement?

Is a thesis statement a question, how do you write a good thesis statement, how do i know if my thesis statement is good, examples of thesis statements, helpful resources on how to write a thesis statement, frequently asked questions about writing a thesis statement, related articles.

A thesis statement is the main argument of your paper or thesis.

The thesis statement is one of the most important elements of any piece of academic writing . It is a brief statement of your paper’s main argument. Essentially, you are stating what you will be writing about.

You can see your thesis statement as an answer to a question. While it also contains the question, it should really give an answer to the question with new information and not just restate or reiterate it.

Your thesis statement is part of your introduction. Learn more about how to write a good thesis introduction in our introduction guide .

A thesis statement is not a question. A statement must be arguable and provable through evidence and analysis. While your thesis might stem from a research question, it should be in the form of a statement.

Tip: A thesis statement is typically 1-2 sentences. For a longer project like a thesis, the statement may be several sentences or a paragraph.

A good thesis statement needs to do the following:

• Condense the main idea of your thesis into one or two sentences.
• Answer your project’s main research question.
• Clearly state your position in relation to the topic .
• Make an argument that requires support or evidence.

Once you have written down a thesis statement, check if it fulfills the following criteria:

• Your statement needs to be provable by evidence. As an argument, a thesis statement needs to be debatable.
• Your statement needs to be precise. Do not give away too much information in the thesis statement and do not load it with unnecessary information.
• Your statement cannot say that one solution is simply right or simply wrong as a matter of fact. You should draw upon verified facts to persuade the reader of your solution, but you cannot just declare something as right or wrong.

As previously mentioned, your thesis statement should answer a question.

If the question is:

What do you think the City of New York should do to reduce traffic congestion?

A good thesis statement restates the question and answers it:

In this paper, I will argue that the City of New York should focus on providing exclusive lanes for public transport and adaptive traffic signals to reduce traffic congestion by the year 2035.

Here is another example. If the question is:

How can we end poverty?

A good thesis statement should give more than one solution to the problem in question:

In this paper, I will argue that introducing universal basic income can help reduce poverty and positively impact the way we work.

• The Writing Center of the University of North Carolina has a list of questions to ask to see if your thesis is strong .

A thesis statement is part of the introduction of your paper. It is usually found in the first or second paragraph to let the reader know your research purpose from the beginning.

In general, a thesis statement should have one or two sentences. But the length really depends on the overall length of your project. Take a look at our guide about the length of thesis statements for more insight on this topic.

Here is a list of Thesis Statement Examples that will help you understand better how to write them.

Every good essay should include a thesis statement as part of its introduction, no matter the academic level. Of course, if you are a high school student you are not expected to have the same type of thesis as a PhD student.

Here is a great YouTube tutorial showing How To Write An Essay: Thesis Statements .

Developing a Thesis Statement

Many papers you write require developing a thesis statement. In this section you’ll learn what a thesis statement is and how to write one.

Keep in mind that not all papers require thesis statements . If in doubt, please consult your instructor for assistance.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement . . .

• Makes an argumentative assertion about a topic; it states the conclusions that you have reached about your topic.
• Makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of your paper.
• Is focused and specific enough to be “proven” within the boundaries of your paper.
• Is generally located near the end of the introduction ; sometimes, in a long paper, the thesis will be expressed in several sentences or in an entire paragraph.
• Identifies the relationships between the pieces of evidence that you are using to support your argument.

Not all papers require thesis statements! Ask your instructor if you’re in doubt whether you need one.

Identify a topic

Your topic is the subject about which you will write. Your assignment may suggest several ways of looking at a topic; or it may name a fairly general concept that you will explore or analyze in your paper.

Consider what your assignment asks you to do

Inform yourself about your topic, focus on one aspect of your topic, ask yourself whether your topic is worthy of your efforts, generate a topic from an assignment.

Below are some possible topics based on sample assignments.

Sample assignment 1

Analyze Spain’s neutrality in World War II.

Identified topic

Franco’s role in the diplomatic relationships between the Allies and the Axis

This topic avoids generalities such as “Spain” and “World War II,” addressing instead on Franco’s role (a specific aspect of “Spain”) and the diplomatic relations between the Allies and Axis (a specific aspect of World War II).

Sample assignment 2

Analyze one of Homer’s epic similes in the Iliad.

The relationship between the portrayal of warfare and the epic simile about Simoisius at 4.547-64.

This topic focuses on a single simile and relates it to a single aspect of the Iliad ( warfare being a major theme in that work).

Developing a Thesis Statement–Additional information

Your assignment may suggest several ways of looking at a topic, or it may name a fairly general concept that you will explore or analyze in your paper. You’ll want to read your assignment carefully, looking for key terms that you can use to focus your topic.

Sample assignment: Analyze Spain’s neutrality in World War II Key terms: analyze, Spain’s neutrality, World War II

After you’ve identified the key words in your topic, the next step is to read about them in several sources, or generate as much information as possible through an analysis of your topic. Obviously, the more material or knowledge you have, the more possibilities will be available for a strong argument. For the sample assignment above, you’ll want to look at books and articles on World War II in general, and Spain’s neutrality in particular.

As you consider your options, you must decide to focus on one aspect of your topic. This means that you cannot include everything you’ve learned about your topic, nor should you go off in several directions. If you end up covering too many different aspects of a topic, your paper will sprawl and be unconvincing in its argument, and it most likely will not fulfull the assignment requirements.

For the sample assignment above, both Spain’s neutrality and World War II are topics far too broad to explore in a paper. You may instead decide to focus on Franco’s role in the diplomatic relationships between the Allies and the Axis , which narrows down what aspects of Spain’s neutrality and World War II you want to discuss, as well as establishes a specific link between those two aspects.

Before you go too far, however, ask yourself whether your topic is worthy of your efforts. Try to avoid topics that already have too much written about them (i.e., “eating disorders and body image among adolescent women”) or that simply are not important (i.e. “why I like ice cream”). These topics may lead to a thesis that is either dry fact or a weird claim that cannot be supported. A good thesis falls somewhere between the two extremes. To arrive at this point, ask yourself what is new, interesting, contestable, or controversial about your topic.

As you work on your thesis, remember to keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times . Sometimes your thesis needs to evolve as you develop new insights, find new evidence, or take a different approach to your topic.

Derive a main point from topic

Once you have a topic, you will have to decide what the main point of your paper will be. This point, the “controlling idea,” becomes the core of your argument (thesis statement) and it is the unifying idea to which you will relate all your sub-theses. You can then turn this “controlling idea” into a purpose statement about what you intend to do in your paper.

Look for patterns in your evidence

Compose a purpose statement.

Consult the examples below for suggestions on how to look for patterns in your evidence and construct a purpose statement.

• Franco first tried to negotiate with the Axis
• Franco turned to the Allies when he couldn’t get some concessions that he wanted from the Axis

Possible conclusion:

Spain’s neutrality in WWII occurred for an entirely personal reason: Franco’s desire to preserve his own (and Spain’s) power.

Purpose statement

This paper will analyze Franco’s diplomacy during World War II to see how it contributed to Spain’s neutrality.

• The simile compares Simoisius to a tree, which is a peaceful, natural image.
• The tree in the simile is chopped down to make wheels for a chariot, which is an object used in warfare.

At first, the simile seems to take the reader away from the world of warfare, but we end up back in that world by the end.

This paper will analyze the way the simile about Simoisius at 4.547-64 moves in and out of the world of warfare.

Derive purpose statement from topic

To find out what your “controlling idea” is, you have to examine and evaluate your evidence . As you consider your evidence, you may notice patterns emerging, data repeated in more than one source, or facts that favor one view more than another. These patterns or data may then lead you to some conclusions about your topic and suggest that you can successfully argue for one idea better than another.

For instance, you might find out that Franco first tried to negotiate with the Axis, but when he couldn’t get some concessions that he wanted from them, he turned to the Allies. As you read more about Franco’s decisions, you may conclude that Spain’s neutrality in WWII occurred for an entirely personal reason: his desire to preserve his own (and Spain’s) power. Based on this conclusion, you can then write a trial thesis statement to help you decide what material belongs in your paper.

Sometimes you won’t be able to find a focus or identify your “spin” or specific argument immediately. Like some writers, you might begin with a purpose statement just to get yourself going. A purpose statement is one or more sentences that announce your topic and indicate the structure of the paper but do not state the conclusions you have drawn . Thus, you might begin with something like this:

• This paper will look at modern language to see if it reflects male dominance or female oppression.
• I plan to analyze anger and derision in offensive language to see if they represent a challenge of society’s authority.

At some point, you can turn a purpose statement into a thesis statement. As you think and write about your topic, you can restrict, clarify, and refine your argument, crafting your thesis statement to reflect your thinking.

As you work on your thesis, remember to keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times. Sometimes your thesis needs to evolve as you develop new insights, find new evidence, or take a different approach to your topic.

Compose a draft thesis statement

If you are writing a paper that will have an argumentative thesis and are having trouble getting started, the techniques in the table below may help you develop a temporary or “working” thesis statement.

Begin with a purpose statement that you will later turn into a thesis statement.

Assignment: Discuss the history of the Reform Party and explain its influence on the 1990 presidential and Congressional election.

Purpose Statement: This paper briefly sketches the history of the grassroots, conservative, Perot-led Reform Party and analyzes how it influenced the economic and social ideologies of the two mainstream parties.

Question-to-Assertion

If your assignment asks a specific question(s), turn the question(s) into an assertion and give reasons why it is true or reasons for your opinion.

Assignment : What do Aylmer and Rappaccini have to be proud of? Why aren’t they satisfied with these things? How does pride, as demonstrated in “The Birthmark” and “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” lead to unexpected problems?

Beginning thesis statement: Alymer and Rappaccinni are proud of their great knowledge; however, they are also very greedy and are driven to use their knowledge to alter some aspect of nature as a test of their ability. Evil results when they try to “play God.”

Write a sentence that summarizes the main idea of the essay you plan to write.

Main idea: The reason some toys succeed in the market is that they appeal to the consumers’ sense of the ridiculous and their basic desire to laugh at themselves.

Make a list of the ideas that you want to include; consider the ideas and try to group them.

• nature = peaceful
• war matériel = violent (competes with 1?)
• need for time and space to mourn the dead
• war is inescapable (competes with 3?)

Use a formula to arrive at a working thesis statement (you will revise this later).

• although most readers of _______ have argued that _______, closer examination shows that _______.
• _______ uses _______ and _____ to prove that ________.
• phenomenon x is a result of the combination of __________, __________, and _________.

What to keep in mind as you draft an initial thesis statement

Beginning statements obtained through the methods illustrated above can serve as a framework for planning or drafting your paper, but remember they’re not yet the specific, argumentative thesis you want for the final version of your paper. In fact, in its first stages, a thesis statement usually is ill-formed or rough and serves only as a planning tool.

As you write, you may discover evidence that does not fit your temporary or “working” thesis. Or you may reach deeper insights about your topic as you do more research, and you will find that your thesis statement has to be more complicated to match the evidence that you want to use.

You must be willing to reject or omit some evidence in order to keep your paper cohesive and your reader focused. Or you may have to revise your thesis to match the evidence and insights that you want to discuss. Read your draft carefully, noting the conclusions you have drawn and the major ideas which support or prove those conclusions. These will be the elements of your final thesis statement.

Sometimes you will not be able to identify these elements in your early drafts, but as you consider how your argument is developing and how your evidence supports your main idea, ask yourself, “ What is the main point that I want to prove/discuss? ” and “ How will I convince the reader that this is true? ” When you can answer these questions, then you can begin to refine the thesis statement.

Refine and polish the thesis statement

To get to your final thesis, you’ll need to refine your draft thesis so that it’s specific and arguable.

• Ask if your draft thesis addresses the assignment
• Question each part of your draft thesis
• Clarify vague phrases and assertions
• Investigate alternatives to your draft thesis

Consult the example below for suggestions on how to refine your draft thesis statement.

Sample Assignment

Choose an activity and define it as a symbol of American culture. Your essay should cause the reader to think critically about the society which produces and enjoys that activity.

• Ask The phenomenon of drive-in facilities is an interesting symbol of american culture, and these facilities demonstrate significant characteristics of our society.This statement does not fulfill the assignment because it does not require the reader to think critically about society.

Drive-ins are an interesting symbol of American culture because they represent Americans’ significant creativity and business ingenuity.

Among the types of drive-in facilities familiar during the twentieth century, drive-in movie theaters best represent American creativity, not merely because they were the forerunner of later drive-ins and drive-throughs, but because of their impact on our culture: they changed our relationship to the automobile, changed the way people experienced movies, and changed movie-going into a family activity.

While drive-in facilities such as those at fast-food establishments, banks, pharmacies, and dry cleaners symbolize America’s economic ingenuity, they also have affected our personal standards.

While drive-in facilities such as those at fast- food restaurants, banks, pharmacies, and dry cleaners symbolize (1) Americans’ business ingenuity, they also have contributed (2) to an increasing homogenization of our culture, (3) a willingness to depersonalize relationships with others, and (4) a tendency to sacrifice quality for convenience.

This statement is now specific and fulfills all parts of the assignment. This version, like any good thesis, is not self-evident; its points, 1-4, will have to be proven with evidence in the body of the paper. The numbers in this statement indicate the order in which the points will be presented. Depending on the length of the paper, there could be one paragraph for each numbered item or there could be blocks of paragraph for even pages for each one.

Complete the final thesis statement

The bottom line.

As you move through the process of crafting a thesis, you’ll need to remember four things:

• Context matters! Think about your course materials and lectures. Try to relate your thesis to the ideas your instructor is discussing.
• As you go through the process described in this section, always keep your assignment in mind . You will be more successful when your thesis (and paper) responds to the assignment than if it argues a semi-related idea.
• Your thesis statement should be precise, focused, and contestable ; it should predict the sub-theses or blocks of information that you will use to prove your argument.
• Make sure that you keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times. Change your thesis as your paper evolves, because you do not want your thesis to promise more than your paper actually delivers.

In the beginning, the thesis statement was a tool to help you sharpen your focus, limit material and establish the paper’s purpose. When your paper is finished, however, the thesis statement becomes a tool for your reader. It tells the reader what you have learned about your topic and what evidence led you to your conclusion. It keeps the reader on track–well able to understand and appreciate your argument.

Writing Process and Structure

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Getting Started with Your Paper

Interpreting Writing Assignments from Your Courses

Generating Ideas for

Creating an Argument

Thesis vs. Purpose Statements

Architecture of Arguments

Working with Sources

Quoting and Paraphrasing Sources

Using Literary Quotations

Citing Sources in Your Paper

Drafting Your Paper

Generating Ideas for Your Paper

Introductions

Paragraphing

Developing Strategic Transitions

Conclusions

Revising Your Paper

Peer Reviews

Reverse Outlines

Revising an Argumentative Paper

Revision Strategies for Longer Projects

Finishing Your Paper

Twelve Common Errors: An Editing Checklist

How to Proofread your Paper

Writing Collaboratively

Collaborative and Group Writing

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Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements

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Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement

1. Determine what kind of paper you are writing:

• An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.
• An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.
• An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.

If you are writing a text that does not fall under these three categories (e.g., a narrative), a thesis statement somewhere in the first paragraph could still be helpful to your reader.

2. Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence.

3. The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper.

4. Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what you have discussed in the paper.

Thesis Statement Examples

Example of an analytical thesis statement:

The paper that follows should:

• Explain the analysis of the college admission process
• Explain the challenge facing admissions counselors

Example of an expository (explanatory) thesis statement:

• Explain how students spend their time studying, attending class, and socializing with peers

Example of an argumentative thesis statement:

• Present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that students should pursue community projects before entering college

American Dream Essay: Structure, Outline, Sample, and Topics

• Icon Calendar 11 December 2023
• Icon Page 2252 words
• Icon Clock 11 min read

The American Dream is a recurring controversial topic in modern society. Individuals have developed different arguments to deconstruct what is the American Dream essay in the context of day-to-day life. In the academic setting, learners that engage in this discourse hold the weight of the proper expression of their arguments. A structured essay is analyzed with a focus on the introduction, main body, and conclusion of the five-paragraph essay. The process of topic selection, outline development, and structured writing is exemplified using an essay titled, “The Promise of the American Dream.” Recommendations for narrow scoped topics for exploring the concept are provided as a starting point for students.

In contemporary discourse, there is much controversy over the meaning of the American Dream. Basically, people hold different positions on multiple aspects of the concept in their essays and research papers. During the schooling years, it is important to acquire knowledge. Also, young minds benefit significantly from reflecting on the influence of their recently acquired knowledge on their position regarding controversial topics. Upon completing the reflection essay process, the expression of one’s newly defined position is the next step. An essay on the American Dream is presented to introduce the readers to the basic principles behind the concept. Moreover, the structure of a five-paragraph essay is explored with the support of an outline and a sample essay.

What Is the American Dream Essay?

1. general description.

The American Dream is a widely known concept, but there is no definition that can be identified as a correct, comprehensive, and precise. Basically, freedom and opportunity are the most critical aspects of the essay on the American Dream. In this case, freedoms are essential to the idea of achieving goals. It because these freedoms provide an individual with the space to live freely without any oppression from their peers or the government. Moreover, equal access to opportunity allows each individual to pursue happiness and prosperity regardless of the social class, gender, race, and other social or cultural factors that stratify society. Therefore, this concept may be defined as a set of beliefs that explain the experience of life that many people are expected to have in an ideal situation, where their freedoms are protected, and no opportunity barriers exist.

2. Unique Experiences

People are born into families that provide them with a unique starting point for their pursuit of desired goals. For example, the financial capability, level of education, and cultural beliefs of an individual’s parents define the foundation on which a person begins to achieve desired goals. As a result, all people may be pursuing the same ideas when writing essays. In turn, it is not a level playing field because some individuals may find themselves in better circumstances than others. Furthermore, it is differentiated at a personal level because individuals with relatively similar starting points may have distinct outcomes. Based on this perspective, it is highly unlikely that any two individuals can attest to going through identical experiences when writing an essay.

3. Belief Systems

Besides the circumstances of the starting points, an individual’s belief system plays a significant role in their strategy of achieving desired goals. For instance, happiness and prosperity are broad terms that have contrasting meanings for individuals because there is no standardized scale for measuring happiness or prosperity. Moreover, one person may consider owning a car and house to be a sign of prosperity. In contrast, another person may believe that providing his or her children with a college education to be prosperity. Hence, these beliefs are imposed on desires goals, which results in variations in the meaning of the concept for each individual to be covered in an essay. In turn, desires goals affected to a large extent by an individual’s beliefs regarding the things that make them happy or prosperous.

Topic Selection for American Dream Essays

1. challenges of topic selection.

The American Dream is a concept that people can examine from a variety of perspectives, which makes the selection of an essay topic for an American Dream paper quite challenging. During the selection of an essay topic, it is essential to remember that no point of view is more superior or correct than another. In this case, the weight of the claim proposed in the American Dream argumentative essay is dependent on the writer’s ability to explain a position logically and convincingly. Moreover, in the presentation of the argument in the essay, it is important to adequately consider competing counterarguments that may arise in the audience’s minds when writing essays. In turn, the failure to evaluate counterarguments critically may undercut the authority of the author, especially when writing for an academic audience.

2. Solution

Equally important, writers should select a topic that has a link with their personal experiences. For instance, an argument concerning the essay about the American Dream gains a sense of authenticity when writers discuss an issue that resonates with their beliefs. It is essential because some passion is embedded in the essay. In this case, as a starting point for identifying the essay topic, writers may identify a “main concept” under review, for example, equal opportunity. Based on the main concept, writers can think through their life experiences and single out events that they consider invaluable in the position taken concerning the main concept (see the example of a simple brainstorming template). Finally, writers should settle on the essay topic that is specific and can be argued out entirely within the constraints of the essay requirements.

3. Example of a Simple Brainstorming Template

• State the main concept.
• How has it affected you?
• How has it affected other people in your life?
• Do you think the events mentioned above are in line with the American Dream?
• Specify the issue.
• Describe the ideal situation.
• Can the situation be improved?

American Dream Essay Outline

Introduction (approximately 10% of the word count).

• It is the first statement in the introductory paragraph.
• The statement should capture the attention of the reader, for example, a unique fact about the topic.

2. Overview of the Topic

• It comprises of two or more sentences.
• The statements should contain adequate detail for the reader to understand the thesis statement.

3. Thesis Statement

• It is a single statement that appears at the end of the introductory paragraph.
• The statement provides an answer to the essay prompt in the form of a single argument, which summarises the main evidence or rationale presented in the main body.

Main Body (Approximately 80% of the Word Count)

The creation of paragraphs in this section is based on the separation of ideas to ensure that each paragraph presents one original idea. In this case, each paragraph in this section must follow the sandwich rule, which dictates the organization of paragraph elements:

• Topic sentence – States the main idea for that paragraph.
• Evidence – Provides the information that is crucial to the paragraph’s idea.
• Evaluation of evidence – Explains the relevance of the evidence and offers an interpretation of the evidence.
• Transition statement – Summarises the paragraph and links it to the thesis statement or the next paragraph.

Conclusion (Approximately 10% of the Word Count)

1. Restating the Main Argument

• The first statement in the paragraph should repeat the main argument presented in the thesis statement.
• It should not contain the same words as the thesis statement, but keywords can be reused.
• Provide a detailed overview of the main points of the essay logically.
• Demonstrate the value of the main points in answering the essay prompt.

Five-Paragraph American Dream Essay Outline Sample

Introduction/Paragraph 1

Hook: Besides the differences in the American populations, they are similar because they pursue the same dream.

Overview of the topic: Outline some of the differences in the American population.

Thesis statement: Creating equal opportunities allows individuals to achieve upward mobility.

Paragraph 2 :

Topic sentence: Breaking down social mobility and its quantification.

Evidence: Definition and measures of social mobility.

Evaluation of evidence: Illustrate how upward social mobility is achieved while referring to the measures.

Transition statement: Introduces the need for self-improvement for social mobility to occur.

Paragraph 3 :

Topic sentence: Opportunity is a requirement for social mobility.

Evidence: The role of education in equipping an individual to utilize opportunities.

Evaluation of evidence: Demonstrate the link between education, access to jobs, and the ability to improve an individual’s quality of life.

Transition statement: Recognise that there are socially constructed limitations on the accessibility of opportunities.

Paragraph 4 :

Topic sentence: Discriminative practices affect an individual’s access to opportunities for social mobility.

Evidence: Identify some forms of discrimination and explain the occurrence of discriminative practices.

Evaluation of evidence: Describe the value of government and organization’s role in managing discriminative practices using policies that uphold equality.

Transition statement: Stress the centrality of equality in the argument for opportunity access and upward mobility.

Conclusion/Paragraph 5 :

Restating the main argument: Emphasise the importance of equality in securing opportunities for upward mobility and the attainment of the American Dream.

Summary: Allude to the measures of social mobility, the interaction between discriminative practices and opportunities, and the relief provided by policies on equality.

Sample of Five-Paragraph American Dream Essay

Topic: The Promise of the American Dream

Introduction

Although we are different, we share a single dream. In this case, the American population is composed of people of different genders, races, education levels, religions, and disability statuses. Nonetheless, each American is entitled to the opportunity to make themselves better regardless of the underlying differences. Thus, the American Dream thesis statement is that it is founded on the promise of equal opportunity for upward social mobility.

Social Mobility

Social mobility is a multidimensional concept. It can be assessed using a variety of measures that attempt to quantify the change occurring in an individual’s life. For example, the ability of an individual to move along the social hierarchy may be described as social mobility. In turn, there are different measures of social mobility. However, each one is focused on a specific aspect of average Americans’ livelihood:

• health status – the susceptibility of an individual to diseases,
• education – an individual’s highest level of education,
• homeownership – the capability of an individual to acquire permanent housing.

Upward social mobility implies that an individual can improve their position in the social hierarchy through improving their performance on any of the measures of social mobility. Therefore, upward social mobility is the desired outcome of a successful pursuit of desired goals because it suggests some form of self-improvement.

Opportunity

The opportunity for upward mobility is vital in pursuing the desired goals. Basically, access to opportunity is facilitated by some factors, for example, access to quality education. In this case, an individual that has attended school and acquired the necessary skills has a higher likelihood of securing a job. If individuals acquire jobs, it becomes easier to secure health insurance, buy homes, and improve the quality of life for their families. Moreover, individuals can only attain what they want if they are provided access to basic education, which prepares them to maximize any opportunities. However, it is difficult for an average individual to pursue opportunities without the government’s efforts to increase the ease of access to basic needs.

Equality Policies

Many barriers affect an average American’s ability to access positive opportunities, and it manifests in the form of discriminative practices in society. In this case, discrimination in society may occur based on a variety of issues, for example, gender, disability, religion, and race. Basically, personal biases create ideological differences regarding superiority in the social hierarchy. It pushes individuals to deny others access to opportunities and the necessary skills to exploit those opportunities. Moreover, state and organizational policies against discrimination are created and enforced to maintain equality among Americans. These laws serve to eliminate the barriers that exist between hardworking people and the American Dream. Consequently, equality among individuals ensures that all individuals can take advantage of opportunities regardless of their gender, disability status, religion, race, and other social differences that tend to create boundaries between social groups.

Equality is crucial in the pursuit of the American Dream because it provides each individual with the opportunity to move up the social hierarchy. In this case, people can access upward social mobility by using various measures, which quantify an individual’s quality of life. Moreover, opportunities may exist, but individuals need to be assisted in developing themselves to a level where they can utilize the available opportunities. Hence, equality policies are useful in curtailing the power of discriminative practices in reinforcing social mobility barriers.

American Dream Essay Topics

• The origin of the American Dream.
• Intergenerational differences in the definition of the American Dream.
• The American Dream in contemporary music.
• Does society still believe in the American Dream?
• Defining the American Dream through the racial lens.
• Individualism and the American Dream.
• The influence of unrestricted surveillance on the American Dream.
• Health care policies and the American Dream.
• The impacts of globalization on the American Dream.
• The rise of right-wing populism and the future of the American Dream.

Summing up on the American Dream Essay

The capacity of a person to participate in the discourse on the controversial essay topic nurtured through the continuous practice of structured essay writing. Basically, the concept may be approached from a different perspective, depending on the individual’s beliefs and personal experiences. Nonetheless, the written presentation of these points of view is achieved through the use of structured essays. The five-paragraph American Dream essay examined in this paper is a useful tool for the expression of any argument on the topic.

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Essay on dreams.

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After reading this essay you will learn about Dreams:- 1. Concept of Dream 2. Classification of Dreams 3. Functions 4. Theories 5. Dream Interpretation 6. Content 7. Dream Symbols  8. Examples 9. Anxieties.

• Anxieties in Dream

Essay # 1. Concept of Dream:

Until the first half of the 20th century, scientific study of dreams exclusively was the monopoly of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis as a method of treatment analysed dreams for uncovering the unconscious, repressed and suppressed desires of the patients which opened the avenue of successful treatment of mental patients.

But with the introduction of new experimental techniques several laboratory investigations have been conducted on dream. In this connection the experimental studies conducted by Dement and Klertmem (1957) are note worthy.

According to Blum (1969) the discovery that “dream is accompanied by rapid eye movements (REMS) recorded electrically with the eye lids closed, made it possible for experimenters to awaken subjects from periods of light sleep (when dreams typically occur) and obtain their immediate reports of what had just transpired.”

Blum further adds that many interesting facts about dreams in general have emerged from studies of this kind. For example almost all subjects dream every night, with dreaming occupying about 20 per cent of sleeping time, the dream events do not happen in a flash as commonly believed and the presence of colour is dreams is very rare.

A finding of potential dynamic significance is that persons awakened when they start to dream tend to make up for the loss of dreaming more on subsequent nights (Dement, 1960). This effect of dream deprivation indirectly supports Freud’s belief that dreams serve a necessary function in the personality.

A more recent survey on dreams by Foulkes (1964) suggests that the thought content reported by subjects when awakened during a period of rapid eye movement is much more disguised, bizarre and dramatic than thoughts elicited from awakening in prior non REM periods.

Blum (1967) states further that “the active processes of distortion during the dream phase tend to corroborate Freuds description of condensation, displacement and symbolism. The pre REM periods on the other hand seem to reflect the day residues, undisguised memories or recreations of recent events in the dreamer’s life which later get elaborated and woven into the dream fabric.

This transition seems to contradict Freud’s assertion that the dream appears from unconsciousness suddenly like fire work which takes hours to prepare but goes off in a moment.”

Blum points out “experimental investigation of day residues dates back to 1917 (Poetzl) when it was demonstrated that manifest content in dreams can be influenced by very brief exposures of unnoticed stimuli. Subjects were first shown landscapes for about 1/10 second and then asked to describe and draw what they had been.

Told subsequently to take note of any dreams that night, they returned the next day and narrated dream content related to aspects of the landscape which have not been reported in the previous session. Numerous replications and extensions of this phenomena have been carried out by Fisher and Paul (1959), Luborsky and Shevrin (1956).

Essay # 2. Classification of Dreams:

1. Dreams have been divided into different types by Klein (1928):

(a) Premonitory dreams:

Those dreams which leave for the dreamer with a feeling that the dream has some future significance.

(b) Prophetic dreams:

It is supposed to indicate directly or symbolically some future event. This prophetic dream owes its popularity largely to tradition. Once the author of this article dreamt that her mother is seriously ill and after a week it came out true.

(c) Pradromic dreams:

Pradromic dreams are prophetic in a vague way. A man dreamt of being operated for appendicitis. He was extremely distressed and wake up only to discover that there had been no operation and. he was in good health. But later on, he developed an attack which suggested a relationship between the dream content and the initial stage of appendicitis.

2. Dreams have also been classified into collective, kinesthetic and paralytic types:

(a) Collective dreams:

Collective dreams suggest instances of two or more people having the same dream at approximately the same time. Once some soldiers heard that the house in which they lived was haunted by ghosts. During sleep some of them also see this dream when there is discussion about a particular issue among some persons. Some of them may see a common dream related to this discussion. This refers to collective dream.

(b) Kinesthetic dreams:

Dreams of soaring, floating and falling have relationship with the real experience. The rise and fall of the soaring experience seems to correspond with the rise and fall of the chest in respiration. Similarly the falling dream has been attributed to changes in heart action and blood pressure, the relaxation of the voluntary musculature and to a gradual awakening from a soaring dream.

(c) Paralytic dream:

It is a type of dream where the individual is unable to move which often ends in waking with horror. It is explained by partial awakening, prior to the return of general muscular tension.

If the dream goes on without awareness of the fact that the body is not moving, there is no disturbance or no dream of paralysis but if during this period there is partial awakening to bring awareness of the relaxed condition of the body, there may be the dream of paralysis.

A person visualised a dream that his speech muscles were paralyzed. After awakening he found that he was sleeping with his mouth open and the nasal passages were stopped.

3. The third classification of dream by Klein is as follows:

(a) Dreams of the blind:

The dreams of the blind differ from the dreams of normal people. The images most frequently present in the dream context of the normal people are conspicuous by their absence in the dream content of the blind person.

Wheeler found in his blind subject that their dream corresponded to that of waking stage. When more than one sense organ is defective the images in dream are much more limited. This is described by Hellen Keller.

(b) Recurrent dreams:

Recurrent dreams are specially found in neurotics. During war years soldiers suffer so much from anxiety dreams related to terrifying war experiences that sometimes they rather want to remain awake than to experience such terrible anxiety in sleep.

Alexander (1980) has classified dreams as follows from the standpoint of the sleep disturbing stimuli:

Essay # 3. Function of Dream:

1. The function of a dream is to help rather than to disturb sleep. It also prevents the dreamer from being awakened by internal stimuli. It perfects one’s sleep.

2. Dreams satisfy many biological, physical and psychological needs of the individual. The basic physiological needs like hunger, sex and thirst are satisfied in very simple type of dreams. The hungry and thirsty subject dreams that he is eating a nice plate of food or drinking a glass of cold water or a bottle of Pepsi in summer.

This hallucinatory experience leads to temporary gratification of such needs. Likewise a person who has been separated from his sexual partner for a long time, apparently may dream that he is having sexual intercourse with her. Thus, all dreams deal with wishes which for some reason cannot be accepted into the conscious and waking stage.

3. Dreams fulfil the unsatisfied physiological needs of the indivi­dual such as desire for power prestige and recognition, security and affection etc.

4. Dreams are significant in psychoanalysis particularly for helping the analyst to uncover the unconscious processes of the individual. It is through his dreams that the analyst tries to make the patient conscious of his unconscious conflicts. Therefore it has been said that dreams are the royal road to unconscious.

5. Problem solving function of Dream:

Franz (1950) states every dream can be considered as an attempt to gratify wishes consistently with internal standards and external conditions. This might be called the problem solving function of the dream. Various cases indicate that dreams may present the solution for different intellectual problems. Various mathematical problems and puzzles in chess have been repeatedly solved in dreams.

6. Tension Relieving function of Dream:

A dream is an attempt to relieve tension caused by repression with as little conflict as possible.

A dream is an attempt of the organism to protect sleep from disturbing stimuli like thirst and hunger, from unsatisfied desires which life does not grant, illegal wishes and unpleasant works which press upon the mind or a guilt conscience. Dreams attempt to eliminate tension by imaginary gratification of the physiological need.

Essay # 4. Theories of Dream:

Certain theories of dream have been developed to explain the causes of dream:

1. Supernatural theory:

In the ancient world and even today, in some cases dreams were considered having some supernatural significance. This is mostly the prescientific view which suggests Gods and Goddesses come in dream and predict the future to the dreamer. Sometimes through dream they warn the dreamer about his dos and don’ts.

A working lady who was under severe mental trauma apprehending her transfer, visualised a dream where ‘Ma Santosi’ told her not to worry for her transfer, as nothing will happen. After only a few days she got her transfer order and subsequently it was cancelled.

2. Physiological dream theories :

The physiological dream theories maintained that dreams have no psychological significance but are the results of rudimentary activities in the brain cortex which reflect impressions of the previous day incoherently.

3. Stimulus response theory of dream:

The stimulus response theory which existed prior to Freud is based upon the associationistic stimulus response view. This theory stresses the relationship between brain changes during sleep and changes in perceptual efficiency. Some disturbing stimuli force activity into one portion of the cerebral cortex.

For example, the smoke coming from the next room when enters the nose of the sleeping person, it disturbs the activity of the cerebral cortex with corresponding changes in dream. Such a theory of dream is in the line with experimental work on the effects of sensory stimulation upon the dream content.

Stimulus response theory also recognises the role of desire as an instigator of dream. It also recognises the fact that those desires which are not satisfied in reality are satisfied in dreams. Hence the stimulus response theory also supports the kind of dream theory initiated by Freud.

4. Psychoanalytic theory of dream :

Advanced by Freud, the psychoanalytic theory of dream stands as the most valid and fundamental among all the theories of dream.

As pointed out by Franz (1950) Freud always considered his theory of dream as the best founded portion of psychoanalysis. This has been confirmed by the fact that his theory has been little changed either by himself or by his followers.

Freud’s special importance to dream theory is too obvious from his classic book “Interpretation of Dreams”. It is noteworthy that no one before Freud has advanced a comprehensive theory to explain dreams though later on some psychologists vaguely anticipated some of Freud’s views.

Freud’s theory of dreams can be divided into two parts:

(1) Wish fulfilment theory and

(2) Attempted wish fulfilment theory.

Simple wish fulfilment dreams are common in children. But adults express their wishes directly, only rarely and under unusual circumstances. Most adult dreams however appear senseless, disconnected, dis-organised fragmentary.

It not only does give direct satisfaction, but sometimes cause anxiety. But these senseless and disconnected dreams according to Freud have real meaning and can be explained psychologically.

Unlike the children, the unfulfilled wishes of the adults are checked by internal obstacles. Dreams come in disguised form and hence the difficulty in understanding them arises. For instance, a wish to kill a near one which is irrational and antisocial if is expressed in dreams directly, the conflict and fear becomes severe arousing fear and guilt.

But if the desire is disguised in dream by displacing the object of hostile impulse in someone whom the dreamer can justifiably hate, the unconscious tendency is expressed and the conflict with conscience is avoided.

The main activity of dream is to preserve sleep. But the cause of disturbed sleep is the increasing tension of unconscious excitation, owing to the action of dream censorship. The apparent absurdity of the manifest content is the result of a compromise between the repressed and the repressing forces. The manifest content is an allegorical expression of unconscious latent content.

Essay # 5. Dream Interpretation:

The interpretation of dreams is based on the deterministic assumption that everything has a cause and an effect. According to Wolman (1979) “The continuity of human mental life is established when one accepts the Freudian idea that the dream is an expression of unconscious materials”.

The dream always represents some unconscious processes which the dreamer does not know he knows and thinks he does not. Reinforced by the dream interpretation of Freud in particular, this problem of dream has got added attention.

Freud considered dream as the royal road to unconscious and his book, “The Interpretation of Dreams” (1900) opened the avenues for psychoanalytic movement providing major impetus to it.

Freud never maintained as is popularly held that all concealed desires responsible for dreaming are sexual in nature. To show how false this is he calls attention to the wish fulfilment dreams dealing with the gratification of most obvious needs.

Essay # 6. Content of Dream:

In any dream there are two aspects :

(1) The Manifest content.

(2) The Latent content.

A large amount of the dream content consists of the events of the day. Thoughts prior to sleep and even postures during sleep and sounds influence dream content. Freud also viewed that besides the simple wish fulfilment dreams, more complicated forces also influence the content of dream. Dreams also represent in disguised fashion the wishes and unacceptable thoughts of the unconscious.

1. Manifest content :

Brown (1940) views that the manifest content is the content of the dream exactly as it is presented to or remembered by the dreamer. In other words the dream we actually see or what appears to us in dream is called manifest content.

The common man only knows the manifest content of a dream. In manifest content the actual desire of man is disguised to cheat the super ego and the desires never show them in real form.

In the words of Brown (1940) “This is the dream with all its bizarre associations, its quick changes and its fantastic sequences”.

2. Latent content :

This aspect deals with the actual repressed wishes which get themselves satisfied in dream. The actual repressed desires can be known by analysing the latent content of the dream by the psychoanalyst.

A common man cannot know the real implication behind the latent content of the dream. According to Brown (1940) “By the latent content of the dream is meant the underlying unconscious wish which comes into consciousness through adopting the disguise of the manifest content”.

Brown further remarks that in some dreams manifest content and latent content largely concede such as in the simple wish fulfilment dreams. In other dreams the latent content may be discovered only when one knows the life history of the individual and what he has recently been doing in real life and when one has gained the complete free association of the dreams about it.

Essay # 7. Dream Symbols:

When an attempt is made to interpret some dreams, it becomes necessary to take the help of dream symbols. Symbolism in dream is therefore a frequent tool of dream work and it is an indirect representation standing for something else. By having an idea of dream symbols, the manifest content of the dream is translated to the latent content. Otherwise, it becomes difficult to analyse a dream.

On the contrary, without knowing the dream symbols, no latent dream thoughts will be forthcoming despite every effort on the part of the dreamer to reproduce the desired material. Thus, the dream analyst has to take into note that certain facts in the manifest dreams stand as symbols to the latent dream.

In dreams, certain associations are commonly found which reveal themselves again and again in dreams experienced by different people. Thus, it is held by Freud and Jung that the unconscious uses certain symbols to indicate some very primitive and basic conceptions.

So there are certain symbols in dreams which have universal meaning i.e., appearing universally among cultures. This has been very clearly explained in Freud’s book ‘The Interpretation of Dreams’ (1938).

Examples of symbols in dreams having universal meaning:

— taken from the “Interpretation of Dreams”

All elongated objects, sticks, tree trunks, umbrellas, poles, pointed and sharp weapons, knives, daggers represent the male member. Small boxes, chests, cup-boards, ovens, stoves, fire places, cavities, ships and all kinds of vessels symbolize the female organ.

A room represents generally a woman. The sexual intercourse may be expressed in climbing, mounting, dancing, riding etc. Ladders and stairs and going up and down them are symbolic representation of sexual act.

In case of a few symbols, the representation is by opposites. Such as neckline may be represented by clothes and uniforms. The dream of walking through a suite symbolizes a brothel or a harem. It is also used to represent marriage as suggested by H. Sachs. A woman’s hat may represent the male genitals. Necktie may stand for penis.

The fish, the snail, the cat, the airship, the mouse, and the snake are symbols of male members. All complicated machines and appliances are probably the genitals, as a rule the male genitals. Many of the landscapes in dreams such as bridges or wooded mountain may be taken as description of genitals. To play with or beat a little child may represent masturbation.

Castration may be represented by baldness, haircutting, the loss of teeth etc. Small animals and vermin’s represent little children. In some dreams, the genitals are represented by other parts of the body, the male member by the hand or the foot, the female genital is represented by the mouth, the ear and even the eye.

The secretions of the human body, mucus, tears, urine, semen etc., may be used in dreams interchangeably.

Active and passive homosexual dreams refer to an earlier phase as anal sadistic dreams. Dream s indicating strong unconscious guilt or dramatizing prosecutory situations help in the prognosis of obsessional states. Tension dreams are significant in cases where suicidal tendencies are suspected.

A careful analysis of the above dream symbols pointed out by Freud from his long years of experience on dream analysis in his classic book. “The Interpretations of Dreams”, indicates that since symbols have constant meaning, one can analyse dreams with symbols.

The field of mythology, anthropology, folklore, philosophy and religion contain many parallels to dream symbolism. Indeed the domain of symbolism embraces a realm far more extensive than might be inferred from the study of the phenomenon of dream alone.

Essay # 8. Examples of Dreams:

A middle aged young German businessman had severe depression accom­panied by suicidal tendency. Depression developed 18 months after his return from war as a military officer. He saw the following dream, “I am taking a walk with one of the ranking officers of the Russian army and became aware that it is the Tsar.

Suddenly a stranger appears with a sword and wants to kill the Tsar. I wish to intervene to save the Tsar, but it is too late, that Tsar is killed.

The analysis of this dream leads to the contention that both the parties promised not to shoot for one month. But one day while the Russian army was moving with the dreamer, he killed him. Here the Tsar represents little father and actually the dreamer had a hostile attitude towards his own father. Stranger here signifies the strange part of his personality which killed the Tsar.

The mechanism of projection is used because the hostile action foreign to the ego, but belonging to the unconscious part is projected over the stranger:

(2) He substituted for the father, the Tsar, a common symbol of father.

(3) In the dream he tried to save his victim. This is an example of over compensation. Instead of killing, he tried to save Tsar.

The patient had a strong Oedipus complex. As a result he regressed to the earlier stage and showed hostility towards his father.

Brown (1940) has mentioned the following dream of a young woman student in an eastern coeducational university, she dreamed “I was in New York with Bill, the young man to whom I am almost engaged.

It was a cloudy day and he was carrying an umbrella. We went for a ride on a Fifth Avenue Bus, when Bill suddenly got up and said, “I will leave you my umbrella, and you may pay the cheque. He ran out through the restaurant door and I woke up in a panic because I had no money.”

Analysis of the life situations and the free associations of the young lady indicated that the lady was having an emotional conflict regarding the young man during this period. He was begging her to become his mistress with the hope that later on they might be married.

Her family upbringing and her ambition to be a respectable married woman would not enable her to agree to the proposal of the man. They had spent a lot of time riding on Fifth Avenue buses.

The Youngman suggested that they go to the apartment of a friend of his and prepare a dinner and spend the evening there. The young woman refused to do this, because she realized that under such circumstances she would have a considerable conflict between her social ideals and her erotic wishes. It was at about this time the dream occurred.

This clearly reveals a case of wish fulfilment where sexual inter-course occurs. The significance of the big meal together is that of sexual intercourse. The umbrella symbolizes the penis.

Four years after the death of her mother a lady saw a dream that she is extremely angry with her own mother and in this extreme state of anger strangled her to death.

This dream appeared very strange to the lady as she never ever was hostile to her mother in her conscious stage. She loved and respected her mother throughout her life and never for once had any ill feeling towards her.

Analysis of the childhood experiences of the lady indicated that 35 years back, when she was a child of 7 years, one evening her mother prepared some special cake for the family, while the girl was away to play. When she returned from play, she found that her mother had forgotten to keep the share of cake for her. When asked, her mother simply replied that she has forgotten all about her.

This appeared to the small girl as if her mother did neither care for her nor loved her like her other brothers and sisters. She felt terribly neglected and depressed and so much so that this feeling of loss of love or lack of love even tempted her to commit suicide.

But somehow, she managed to stay on and subsequently, forgot all about it. It was repressed. This hostile feeling towards the mother on this day was repressed and it came up in dream after a lapse of 35 years, even long after the death of the mother.

Analysis of this dream indicates the importance of unconscious mental process in dream.

Analysing the importance of dreams in unconscious mental process and psychoanalysis, Brown (1940) has remarked “The psychoanalytic theory accounts for dreams and gives us a method to find out how dreams are related to the deep unconscious urges. In the dream these urges gain satisfaction by appearing in consciousness in a disguised form.

The disguise prevents the dream from arousing undue anxiety in the dreamer’s mind and thus protects his sleep. Sometimes of course, dreams do awaken us because the conflict is too strong. It is interesting that most of us dream every night.

Most of the material of these dreams are readily forgotten because after sleep has built up the spent energies, the ego again must face reality and so represses the dream content.” According to Wolman, “dream represents demands or wishes stemming from the unconscious.

These wishes are usually repressed demands for instinctual gratification. Often the demands arise in the preconscious and are residues of the days activities in the waking state. These demands may be related to a decision that has to be made or to a conflict that has to be resolved.

Wolman says that dreams are reaction of the mind to external or internal stimuli that acts upon the organism in sleep. In dreams the individual attributes objective reality to the imagery that forms the material of the dreams. “A dream then is a psychosis with all the absurdities, delusions and illusions of a psychosis.” (Freud)

Essay # 9. Anxieties in Dreams:

The notions of wish fulfilment with unpleasant emotions create anxiety. The repressed wish behind dream is enough to threaten to overcome the censorship and achieve undisguised wish fulfilment. The dreamer’s reaction to this internal danger is the development of anxiety. In such circumstances, frequently the dream terminates when the sleep is broken. In such dreams, the distortion if any is minimal.

Example of an anxiety dream :

A young woman dreamt that she saw a large horse of an unusual reddish hue. She is frightened at the sight of the animal and starts to run. The horse pursues her. She awakes in terror.

The horse represented a man who had affair with the lady and whose hair was exactly of the same colour as that of the horse in dream. Evidently, the horse represents the man. The man had a torrid affair with the lady who had been growing quite fond of him. She was forced to brake her engagement with the man after getting certain evidences that he was immoral and his intention towards her was not good.

However, she frankly admitted that her liking for him had been very strong but she tried to banish him from her thought. Thus, she dreamt that she saw him and he pursued her. Her fear for the horse in the dream is due to fear and anxiety of the fulfilment of her own wishes in the matter.

“In anxiety dreams, the latent dream material has undergone little change and the demands are too great to be warded off. Sometimes when the threat to the ego is very great, as it is in nightmares, the individual gives up sleep and returns to a waking stage.”

Lastly, the wish fulfilment in a painful dream may be a punishment, a fulfilment, gratifying the remarkable self punishment tendencies that exist in the mind of the man. It is no exaggeration to state that Freud’s theory of dreams is the keystone in psychoanalytic theory and practice.

Related Articles:

• Freud’s Theory of Dreams (With Criticism)| Psychology
• Freud’s Dream Analysis | Forms | Thinking | Psychology
• 3 Main Types of Dreams | Psychology
• 5 Main Mechanisms of Dream Work | Psychology

103 American Dream Essay Topics & Examples

If you’re in need of American dream topics for an essay, research paper, or discussion, this article is for you. Our experts have prepared some ideas and writing tips that you will find below.

📃 10 Tips for Writing American Dream Essays

🏆 best american dream essay topics & essay examples, 👍 catchy american dream topics, ❓ american dream research questions.

The American dream is an interesting topic that one can discuss from various perspectives. If you need to write an essay on the American dream, you should understand this concept clearly.

You can choose to present the American dream as a miracle that one cannot reach or depict a free and wealthy nation. In any case, the American dream essay is a good opportunity to reflect on the concept and learn more about it.

There are many topics you can choose from while writing your essay. Here are some examples of the American dream essay topics we can suggest:

• The true meaning of the American dream
• The image of the American dream in the Great Gatsby
• Is the American dream still relevant in today’s society?
• The role of the American dream: Discussion
• Americans’ beliefs and values: The American dream
• Can we achieve the American dream?
• The American dream in today’s world and society

Remember that you do not have to select one of the American dream essay titles and can come up with your own one. Once you have selected the topic, start working on your essay. Here are ten useful tips that will help you to write an outstanding paper:

• Start working on your essay ahead of time. You will need some time to study the issue, write the paper, and correct possible errors.
• Do preliminary research on the issue you want to discuss. The more information you know about the question, the better. We advise you to rely on credible sources exclusively and avoid using Wikipedia or similar websites.
• Check out the American dream essay examples online if you are not sure that the selected problem is relevant. Avoid copying the information you will find and only use it as guidance.
• Write an outline for your essay. Think of how you can organize your paper and choose titles for each of the sections. Remember that you should include an introductory paragraph and a concluding section along with body paragraphs.
• Remember that you should present the American dream essay thesis clearly. You can put it in the last sentence of your introductory paragraph.
• Your essay should be engaging for the audience. Help your reader to know something new about the issue and include some interesting facts that may not know about. Avoid overly complex sentences and structures.
• Make your essay personal, if it is possible. Do not focus on your opinion solely but provide your perspectives on the issue or discuss your concern about it. You can talk about your experiences with the American dream, too.
• Provide statistical data if you can. For example, you can find the results of surveys about people’s perspectives on the American dream.
• The concluding paragraph is an important section of the paper. Present the thesis and all of your arguments once again and provide recommendations, if necessary. Remember that this paragraph should not include new information or in-text citations.
• Do not send your paper to your professor right away. Check it several times to make sure that there are no grammatical mistakes in it. If you have time, you can put the paper away for several days and revise it later with “fresh” eyes.

Feel free to find an essay sample in our collection and get some ideas for your outstanding paper!

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• A Response to the Article “Inequality and the American Dream” It has drawn my attention that other world countries embrace the “American model” since the super power has enormous wealth and its economic development is marked by up-to-date juggernauts of globalization and technology.
• Fitzgerald’s American Dream in The Great Gatsby & Winter Dreams To my mind, Winter Dream is a perfect example of the American Dream, since the main hero, Dexter, implemented each point of it, he was persistent and very hard-working, he was a very sensible and […]
• How Did Ben Franklin Exemplify the American Dream?
• Does Fitzgerald Condemn the American Dream in “The Great Gatsby”?
• How Do Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass Represent the American Dream?
• Has America Lost Its Potential to Achieve the American Dream?
• How Has Disney’s Social Power Influenced the Vision of the American Dream?
• Does the American Dream Really Exist?
• How Does the Great Gatsby Portray the Death of the American Dream?
• What Does “The Great Gatsby” Have to Say About the Condition of the American Dream in the 1920s?
• How Does One Achieve the American Dream?
• What Are the Greatest Obstacles of Full Access to the American Dream?
• How Has the American Dream Been Translated Into Popular Film?
• What Does the American Dream Mean to an Immigrant?
• How Does Arthur Miller Through “Death of a Salesman” Deal With the Theme of the American Dream?
• What Must Everyone Know About the American Dream?
• How Has the American Dream Changed Over Time?
• What Is Infamous About the American Dream?
• How Does Millar Portray His Views of the American Dream Using Willy Loman?
• When Did American Dream Start?
• How Has the Media Changed the American Dream?
• Who Would Think the American Dream Isn’t Possible?
• How Does Steinbeck Present the American Dream in “Of Mice and Men”?
• Why Will Equal Pay Help Women Achieve the American Dream?
• How Might the Disadvantage of Immigration Affect the Chances of Having That American Dream?
• Why Is the American Dream Equally Given and Registered To All Citizens?
• How Does Extreme Inequality Make the American Dream Inaccessible?
• Why Is the American Dream Still Alive in the United States?
• How Are Millennials Redefining the American Dream?
• Why Is the American Dream Unattainable?
• How Does Society Influence the Idea of the American Dream?
• Why Must the United States Renew Opportunities to Achieve the American Dream to Reform Immigration Policy?
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25 Thesis Statement Examples

A thesis statement is needed in an essay or dissertation . There are multiple types of thesis statements – but generally we can divide them into expository and argumentative. An expository statement is a statement of fact (common in expository essays and process essays) while an argumentative statement is a statement of opinion (common in argumentative essays and dissertations). Below are examples of each.

Strong Thesis Statement Examples

1. School Uniforms

“Mandatory school uniforms should be implemented in educational institutions as they promote a sense of equality, reduce distractions, and foster a focused and professional learning environment.”

Best For: Argumentative Essay or Debate

Read More: School Uniforms Pros and Cons

2. Nature vs Nurture

“This essay will explore how both genetic inheritance and environmental factors equally contribute to shaping human behavior and personality.”

Best For: Compare and Contrast Essay

Read More: Nature vs Nurture Debate

3. American Dream

“The American Dream, a symbol of opportunity and success, is increasingly elusive in today’s socio-economic landscape, revealing deeper inequalities in society.”

Best For: Persuasive Essay

Read More: What is the American Dream?

4. Social Media

“Social media has revolutionized communication and societal interactions, but it also presents significant challenges related to privacy, mental health, and misinformation.”

Best For: Expository Essay

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Social Media

5. Globalization

“Globalization has created a world more interconnected than ever before, yet it also amplifies economic disparities and cultural homogenization.”

Read More: Globalization Pros and Cons

6. Urbanization

“Urbanization drives economic growth and social development, but it also poses unique challenges in sustainability and quality of life.”

Read More: Learn about Urbanization

7. Immigration

“Immigration enriches receiving countries culturally and economically, outweighing any perceived social or economic burdens.”

Read More: Immigration Pros and Cons

8. Cultural Identity

“In a globalized world, maintaining distinct cultural identities is crucial for preserving cultural diversity and fostering global understanding, despite the challenges of assimilation and homogenization.”

Best For: Argumentative Essay

Read More: Learn about Cultural Identity

9. Technology

“Medical technologies in care institutions in Toronto has increased subjcetive outcomes for patients with chronic pain.”

Best For: Research Paper

10. Capitalism vs Socialism

“The debate between capitalism and socialism centers on balancing economic freedom and inequality, each presenting distinct approaches to resource distribution and social welfare.”

11. Cultural Heritage

“The preservation of cultural heritage is essential, not only for cultural identity but also for educating future generations, outweighing the arguments for modernization and commercialization.”

12. Pseudoscience

“Pseudoscience, characterized by a lack of empirical support, continues to influence public perception and decision-making, often at the expense of scientific credibility.”

Read More: Examples of Pseudoscience

13. Free Will

“The concept of free will is largely an illusion, with human behavior and decisions predominantly determined by biological and environmental factors.”

Read More: Do we have Free Will?

14. Gender Roles

“Traditional gender roles are outdated and harmful, restricting individual freedoms and perpetuating gender inequalities in modern society.”

Read More: What are Traditional Gender Roles?

15. Work-Life Ballance

“The trend to online and distance work in the 2020s led to improved subjective feelings of work-life balance but simultaneously increased self-reported loneliness.”

Read More: Work-Life Balance Examples

16. Universal Healthcare

“Universal healthcare is a fundamental human right and the most effective system for ensuring health equity and societal well-being, outweighing concerns about government involvement and costs.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Universal Healthcare

17. Minimum Wage

“The implementation of a fair minimum wage is vital for reducing economic inequality, yet it is often contentious due to its potential impact on businesses and employment rates.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Raising the Minimum Wage

18. Homework

“The homework provided throughout this semester has enabled me to achieve greater self-reflection, identify gaps in my knowledge, and reinforce those gaps through spaced repetition.”

Best For: Reflective Essay

Read More: Reasons Homework Should be Banned

19. Charter Schools

“Charter schools offer alternatives to traditional public education, promising innovation and choice but also raising questions about accountability and educational equity.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of Charter Schools

20. Effects of the Internet

“The Internet has drastically reshaped human communication, access to information, and societal dynamics, generally with a net positive effect on society.”

Read More: The Pros and Cons of the Internet

21. Affirmative Action

“Affirmative action is essential for rectifying historical injustices and achieving true meritocracy in education and employment, contrary to claims of reverse discrimination.”

Best For: Essay

Read More: Affirmative Action Pros and Cons

22. Soft Skills

“Soft skills, such as communication and empathy, are increasingly recognized as essential for success in the modern workforce, and therefore should be a strong focus at school and university level.”

Read More: Soft Skills Examples

23. Moral Panic

“Moral panic, often fueled by media and cultural anxieties, can lead to exaggerated societal responses that sometimes overlook rational analysis and evidence.”

Read More: Moral Panic Examples

24. Freedom of the Press

“Freedom of the press is critical for democracy and informed citizenship, yet it faces challenges from censorship, media bias, and the proliferation of misinformation.”

Read More: Freedom of the Press Examples

25. Mass Media

“Mass media shapes public opinion and cultural norms, but its concentration of ownership and commercial interests raise concerns about bias and the quality of information.”

Best For: Critical Analysis

Read More: Mass Media Examples

Checklist: How to use your Thesis Statement

✅ Position: If your statement is for an argumentative or persuasive essay, or a dissertation, ensure it takes a clear stance on the topic. ✅ Specificity: It addresses a specific aspect of the topic, providing focus for the essay. ✅ Conciseness: Typically, a thesis statement is one to two sentences long. It should be concise, clear, and easily identifiable. ✅ Direction: The thesis statement guides the direction of the essay, providing a roadmap for the argument, narrative, or explanation. ✅ Evidence-based: While the thesis statement itself doesn’t include evidence, it sets up an argument that can be supported with evidence in the body of the essay. ✅ Placement: Generally, the thesis statement is placed at the end of the introduction of an essay.

Try These AI Prompts – Thesis Statement Generator!

One way to brainstorm thesis statements is to get AI to brainstorm some for you! Try this AI prompt:

💡 AI PROMPT FOR EXPOSITORY THESIS STATEMENT I am writing an essay on [TOPIC] and these are the instructions my teacher gave me: [INSTUCTIONS]. I want you to create an expository thesis statement that doesn’t argue a position, but demonstrates depth of knowledge about the topic.

💡 AI PROMPT FOR ARGUMENTATIVE THESIS STATEMENT I am writing an essay on [TOPIC] and these are the instructions my teacher gave me: [INSTRUCTIONS]. I want you to create an argumentative thesis statement that clearly takes a position on this issue.

💡 AI PROMPT FOR COMPARE AND CONTRAST THESIS STATEMENT I am writing a compare and contrast essay that compares [Concept 1] and [Concept2]. Give me 5 potential single-sentence thesis statements that remain objective.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 15 Animism Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 10 Magical Thinking Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Social-Emotional Learning (Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ What is Educational Psychology?

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Home — Essay Samples — Economics — American Dream

Argumentative Essays on American Dream

Hook examples for essays about american dream, rags to riches hook.

Explore the timeless appeal of the American Dream by examining stories of individuals who started with nothing and achieved remarkable success. From Andrew Carnegie to Oprah Winfrey, these stories inspire and symbolize the dream's possibility.

The Immigrant's Dream Hook

Take a closer look at the American Dream through the lens of immigration. Analyze the experiences of immigrants who came to America in pursuit of a better life and the challenges they faced while chasing their dreams.

The Illusion of the Dream Hook

Discuss the idea that the American Dream may sometimes be more of an illusion than a reality. Explore how societal barriers, economic inequalities, and systemic challenges can obstruct the path to achieving one's dreams.

Generational Perspectives Hook

Examine how the concept of the American Dream has evolved over generations. Compare the dreams and aspirations of different eras, from the post-World War II boom to the challenges faced by millennials and Gen Z today.

The Dream in Literature and Film Hook

Explore the portrayal of the American Dream in literature and cinema. Analyze iconic works like "The Great Gatsby" and "Death of a Salesman" to uncover the themes of ambition, success, and disillusionment.

Financial Prosperity Hook

Delve into the financial aspects of the American Dream. Discuss the pursuit of homeownership, financial stability, and economic success as core components of this dream, and how they have evolved over time.

Freedom and Independence Hook

Consider the role of freedom and independence in the American Dream. Explore how the dream encompasses not only financial success but also the pursuit of personal liberty, self-expression, and self-reliance.

The Dream Deferred Hook

Reflect on Langston Hughes' question, "What happens to a dream deferred?" Analyze the consequences of unfulfilled dreams and how they impact individuals and communities, shedding light on the complexities of the American Dream.

The Dream and Social Justice Hook

Examine the relationship between the American Dream and social justice. Discuss how unequal access to opportunities and systemic discrimination have influenced who can pursue and achieve the dream.

Analysis of The American Dream in The Great Gatsby

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The American Dream in a Raisin in The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

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The Possibility to Achieve The American Dream

Dark side of the american dream, the notion of the american dream, critical examination of the american dream: illusion or reality, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

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Equal Opportunity and The American Dream: a Critical Appraisal

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The concept of the American Dream centers around the notion that individuals, irrespective of their place of birth or social status, have the potential to achieve their personal definition of success within a society that offers upward mobility opportunities for all its members.

In 1931, James Truslow Adams introduced the phrase "American Dream" in his book, emphasizing the belief that every individual, irrespective of their social class or background, should have the opportunity to lead a fulfilling and prosperous life. Adams articulated that the American Dream entails the pursuit of a better, more abundant existence, where individuals can thrive based on their abilities and accomplishments.

The origin of the American Dream can be traced back to the founding principles of the United States of America. It emerged as a belief system that reflected the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity that were integral to the nation's formation. The concept gained prominence during the early years of the country's history, as immigrants sought a better life and economic prosperity in the New World. The term "American Dream" was popularized in the 20th century, particularly during the post-World War II era when the United States experienced significant economic growth and social mobility. It became synonymous with the idea that hard work, determination, and meritocracy could lead to upward social and economic mobility, allowing individuals to achieve their goals and aspirations. Over time, the American Dream has evolved and been interpreted differently by various generations and cultural groups. It continues to serve as a symbol of hope and opportunity, representing the aspirations and dreams of individuals striving for success and a better future in the United States.

Public opinion on the American Dream is varied and complex. While the concept has traditionally been revered as a symbol of hope and opportunity, there are differing perspectives on its attainability and relevance in contemporary society. Some individuals view the American Dream as a fundamental pillar of the nation's identity, representing the ideals of hard work, meritocracy, and upward mobility. They believe that with determination and perseverance, anyone can overcome obstacles and achieve success, regardless of their background or circumstances. This optimistic view holds the American Dream as a source of motivation and inspiration. However, there are those who critique the American Dream, arguing that systemic barriers and inequalities hinder equal access to opportunities. They highlight issues such as income inequality, limited social mobility, and structural disadvantages that make it challenging for individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities, to achieve their aspirations. The public opinion on the American Dream also reflects generational and cultural differences. Younger generations, in particular, express skepticism and question the viability of the traditional American Dream, seeking a more inclusive and equitable vision of success.

The representation of the American Dream in media and literature has been a recurring theme, capturing the aspirations, challenges, and complexities of American society. One notable example is F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby," which delves into the pursuit of the American Dream during the Roaring Twenties. The protagonist, Jay Gatsby, embodies the relentless pursuit of wealth and social status as he tries to win back his lost love. The novel critiques the shallow and elusive nature of the American Dream, exposing the dark underbelly of materialism and the illusion of happiness. Another representation can be found in Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman." The character of Willy Loman personifies the American Dream as he strives for success in the sales industry. However, the play highlights the disillusionment and personal tragedy that can accompany the pursuit of this ideal, shedding light on the sacrifices and compromises made in the name of success. In contemporary media, films like "The Pursuit of Happyness" and "American Beauty" tackle the American Dream in different ways. "The Pursuit of Happyness" portrays the struggles of a man determined to provide a better life for his son, emphasizing the resilience and determination required to overcome adversity. "American Beauty" explores the hollowness and superficiality of the American Dream through a satirical lens, challenging societal norms and materialistic values.

“When we make college more affordable, we make the American Dream more achievable.” — William J. Clinton “I am the epitome of what the American Dream basically said. It said you could come from anywhere and be anything you want in this country.” — Whoopi Goldberg, “The American Dream is a phrase we’ll have to wrestle with all our lives. It means a lot of things to different people. I think we’re redefining it now.” – Rita Dove

The topic of the American Dream is of great significance when it comes to understanding the ideals, values, and aspirations deeply ingrained in American society. Writing an essay on the American Dream allows for a critical examination of its historical origins, cultural impact, and evolving interpretations over time. It provides a platform to explore the promises and challenges associated with this concept, shedding light on its complexities and contradictions. Examining the American Dream allows us to delve into issues of social mobility, equality, and the pursuit of happiness. It prompts discussions on the role of opportunity, hard work, and meritocracy in achieving success, while also addressing systemic barriers and inequalities that hinder progress. Moreover, analyzing the American Dream invites reflection on the changing dynamics of the nation, the influence of consumerism, and the impact of globalization on individual and collective aspirations.

1. Adams, J. T. (1931). The Epic of America. Little, Brown, and Company. 2. Bellah, R. N., Madsen, R., Sullivan, W. M., Swidler, A., & Tipton, S. M. (2008). Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life. University of California Press. 3. Fitzgerald, F. S. (1925). The Great Gatsby. Charles Scribner's Sons. 4. Hochschild, J. L. (1995). Facing Up to the American Dream: Race, Class, and the Soul of the Nation. Princeton University Press. 5. Jackson, K. T. (1985). Crabgrass Frontier: The Suburbanization of the United States. Oxford University Press. 6. Levine, L. W. (2005). Highbrow/Lowbrow: The Emergence of Cultural Hierarchy in America. Harvard University Press. 7. Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon & Schuster. 8. Riesman, D., Glazer, N., & Denney, R. (1950). The Lonely Crowd: A Study of the Changing American Character. Yale University Press. 9. Turner, F. J. (1893). The Significance of the Frontier in American History. American Historical Association. 10. Wilson, W. J. (1987). The Truly Disadvantaged: The Inner City, the Underclass, and Public Policy. University of Chicago Press.

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