A Raisin in the Sun: Act 1 writing prompt
After you finish listening to Act 1 from the play, you will need to respond to the question below. Each of your responses should contain the following elements: argument (MUST use textual evidence that proves that your choice is the best), counter-argument (an argument someone on the opposite choice of yours would have against your idea), & a refutation (proof for why the other side is wrong with their choice - MUST use textual evidence.) This must be at least 8 sentences in length.
Throughout Act I, there is a great deal of debate over how to spend the life insurance money. Mama would like to use it in order to buy a house while Walter tries to persuade her to invest in a liquor store. In your opinion, would the house or the liquor store be the sounder investment? Why? Explain.
In Act 1 the family is struggling but they have a check on the way for $10,000 witch was a lot more money back then then it is now. Mama wants to buy a new house and Walter wants to invest in a liquor store, they have been fighting about this for most of act one and only one of them will end up happy. It could go both ways, the liquor store could make them rich or be a waste of all their money, buying the new house doesn't really have a risk, buying the house would be a better investment. Walter is upset about not getting his liquor store and keeps picking fights with his wife who he didn't know was pregnant but is getting an abortion.
ReplyDeleteYou are showing both sides but which do you think is best. Also, I want you to use passages from the play.
DeleteI believe the family should take the money and invest it in a house. If they were to buy a house with it they would then have enough room for all their family members. When Ruth told Beneatha about the baby Beneatha says, "It is my business-where is he going to live, on the roof?" If they invested in a house they would maybe even have enough room for the new baby. I don't think they should invest it in the liquor store because that is a big risk. You don't know if the business is even going to succeed. Buying the house is less of a risk than buying a liquor store. If Walter did buy the liquor store and it didn't succeed then they would have wasted $10,000 and have nothing to show for it. If you were to buy a house you would always have something to show for it. I believe they should invest their money in a house.
ReplyDeleteGood thoughts. Good dialogue choice.
DeleteI can understand why Walter would want to invest in the liquor store, but I also see why Mama would want to buy a house. The liquor store has the potential to bring a sound income to the family, but in this time period, a few colored men running a liquor store looks like an accident waiting to happen. Mama wants to buy a house and pay for medical school, and in my opinion that would be the better option. Walter's idea of a liquor store is a gamble, they could lose everything, where as an investment for a house is a much lower gamble. Mama want to provide a better place for her family than the beat up, run down little apartment they are currently residing in, and using the $10,000 for a down payment and on her daughters medical school, in her eyes seems like the best and most reliable plan. I would have to agree with Mama. Walter has a passion for this liquor store which might make him too emotionally involved to run a business. Also, Ruth, Walter's wife, doesn't like Walter's potential business partners much. Mama in her mind has decided on a house and medical school, and I believe that is the sounder investment.
ReplyDeleteGood ideas. I wish you would have used dialogue for Ruth not liking the partners.
DeleteThe house would be a sounder investment I think because it is mama's money to begin with. I say this because mama is not really into putting her money into the liquor store. Mama does not believe in that sort of thing, in her own opinion she thinks those things are for the devil. The liquor store is a dream of his and he thinks they will be making money off of it very quickly, but what if a bad year comes around and they lose it all. On a house you can't go wrong, and like I said before it is mama's money so she can do what she wants with it. Mama thinks Walter has bigger things to worry about right now because of what is going on with Ruth. Mama is definitely not going to give him money after how scene one ended. I say this because Walter was not saying anything to Ruth when she was talking about getting rid of the baby. I think in the end mama will end up buying the house and giving it to Ruth and Walter.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good start with knowing the play. Now put in your thoughts & ideas too.
DeleteI believe that they should buy a house cause housing usually goes up in value. Then they would have a nice place to live in instead of Living in a crowded small house with no room for their expanding family. The Liquor Store would polly fail because of the drinking problem and then they would not have any booze to sell. I believe Houses are just a good investment in the long run. The house would be the better thing to buy unless you wanted to put the money away so that they could send the kids to college. The house would also be able to accommodate the new baby so that they would have enough room to stretch their legs and do what they want instead of being in a crammed small house.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good start with your ideas. Now begin to use the play & put in more of that. What dialogue would fit your ideas?
DeleteI have thought about this and i thought that buying the liquor store would be a better idea. The house is also a good choice to but if you buy the house you can't make money off it like the liquor store and you already have a place to stay. Mamma doesn't like the idea of buying the liquor store because she wants the house so they have somewhere nicer to stay and better for there family. Walter would like a nicer and better place to stay but he would more rather have the liquor store because he can make money off it. I think both sides are right in this argument, but if you really think about it in the long run the liquor store will make you money and when you start making a good amount of profit off the liquor store you could maybe use that profit to buy a better house. It might take awhile but you already have a place to stay know and the liwuor store will make you profit.
ReplyDeleteKeep expanding on proof. Use dialogue to show this. Also think about real life - equity, risk, investment.
DeleteI think they should spend the money on a house because thats what mama really wants and its her money. But Walter has a good investment opportunity with his friends because "The only way for a black man to get out of this kind of life it to invest and take chances." But mama said "I ain't investing in no liquor store" and its her money to do with it what she wants. They should invest in a house because they have put so much money into rent in there "rat hole" that they could of bought it how many times. They never had enough money for a down payment before but now they would. And mama said " I've always wanted a house with a garden" she never said she always wanted a liquor store. Even though a liquor store is a good idea mama needs to do what she wants with the money. Now since they might be poppin out another kid they are gonna need a bigger house. So all in all the house seems like a better idea and will be best for the whole family even if Walter hasn't noticed it yet.
ReplyDeleteGood ideas. Remember to use proper grammar please.
DeleteMama sounds like a person that does the best for the family. She thinks of all the options carefully,and when she got's a answer, she sticks with it."Walter Lee done finally sold you on investing?" She believes that Walter is convincing his wife to get a liquor store going. Mama refuses to because if you think about it, it's a constant investment, just like the home. The House won't get broken into, if at all, but the liquor store their will be stealing and thief involved. Owning a store is a never ending battle, what if it burns down? You would have to take money out of your own pocket and re buy it all over again. "Don't understand about building their men up and making them feel like they somebody" Walter feels like Mama is crushing his life dream. He had hopes and dreams for a long time, and now it's all ruined. So before you want to reach your dream, think of all the obstacles that are in your way. Sadly Walter came at a obstacle that he can't scale over, or will mama change her mind?
ReplyDeleteYou have some good ideas here. Work on organizing so there is better flow. Good dialogue choices. How do you feel about the choices?
DeleteI believe that Mama should buy the house she wants, because it is her money. It is not walters decision to decide on what to do with it, he needs to let mama make the decision. Even if Walter got the money his liquor store could not go as planned and fail. If the store was a success it would be morally wrong, because it it mamas money unless she gives it to him for some reason. Even after thinking it all out Mama should keep the money for herself, because it is her husbands life insurance.
ReplyDeleteYou need more thought. What do you think about the choices? Investment, risk, equity...
DeleteI think that a new house would be best for all of them. One that has enough room for everyone to sleep in and enough bathrooms to get ready in the morning. They can live in a better, cleaner house. Although the liquor store would be an investment that would be making them money which could lead to a house upgrade later on. The expenses may be greater for the liquor store than the house it would be a money making profit. The investment may lead into a downfall if they are not able to sell enough liquor to make a profit then the money will all go to waste. Buying the house would guarantee that the money is spent properly and not on a investment that could fail in many ways. Like Ruth said, Its Mamas money so she can decide on how to spend it.
ReplyDeleteSome good thoughts with focus on play. What are your thoughts about the choices?
DeleteI think that the insurance money should be used to buy a house that Mama wants. The house is a good investment that will help the family and they will not have to pay rent on the apartment. Mama and Ruth were talking and said " Well Lord knows we put enough rent into this rat trap to pay for four houses by now." The house people could live in. The liquor store might make money in a years and 10,000 dollars is a lot of money to put in a liquor store. Walter wants to buy the store be cause he thinks that people always drink it. Walter keeps trying to talk her into buying the store by saying " Because it's life, Mama." By this he thinks money is life and he will make a lot in the liquor business. l believe he house would still be a better investment.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good start with play info. Now add in your thoughts & work on organization a bit more.
DeleteI believe that the liquor store would be the sounder investment for the younger family because of many reasons. Walter says, "...we figured the initial investment would only be 'bout thirty thousand, see." This shows that they will have the money after the three people pay for it and it will be profit from there on out. They will be able to buy a house in the near future when they make a little money. I see that they could buy the house right now and live there, but if they are looking for an investment they want to buy the liquor store. Walter says, "...every time we need new curtains, and I have to watch you go out there and work in somebody's kitchen." Walter is telling Mama that he doesn't want to see her work, and if they had the store money would be flowing in the doors. They house would be nice to have but it isn't really going to make you any money unless you sell it, but in the long run the liquor store is the best investment.
ReplyDeleteGood ideas. Smart dialogue choices to prove your thoughts.
DeleteIn act 1 there was a big debate over what grandma's money will be used for. The father Walter wanted the money to buy a liquor store. Mama on the other hand wanted to buy a house. I think Mama's money should buy a house not a liquor store. There are several reason's why I think Mama's money should go to a new house, its her money so she should be able to spend it the way she wants the money to be spent. Secondly she believes in God so she most likely does not do a whole bunch of drinking and stuff. Walter wants the liquor store so he can make more money so he can be richer. All Walter thinks about is getting more money so he can be wealthy like the white people. Walter thinks that mama's money would be great to buy the liquor store. I think because the money is Mama's she should be able to do whatever she wants with her money, and if she wants to buy a new house then she should be able to buy a new house.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good start. I'd like you to use some dialogue to help strengthen your ideas.
Deletein the long run i think that the house would be the better investment because they already do not have enough room for the kids they have. Travis has to sleep on the couch already and now there is another kid comei ng into the house the house would make for better living and make all of them happier and not want to be at each others throats all the time. the liqour store could bring even more troubles into the house because if Walter starts the liqour store he could start drinking even more then he already dose and start even more probs for all of them.
ReplyDeleteRun-on sentence exists - please use punctuation correctly. Use passages to help prove thoughts.
DeleteIf I was mama I would think of many things when she get that insurance money. For one thing that walter keeps on trying to get that money from her. Really what mamma wants is to buy a house. If I had to choose it would be to buy the house for one thing in the conditions that the family is living in. They have to share one bathroom on the same floor and also how Travis has to sleep on the couch every night and also the rats that are there and Travis plays with. I would also choose the house because it would have more room in it compared to the apartment because there would be a lot of room and they need that room especially went there is an other kid on they way. They can have there own bedroom and it has one or two bathrooms that just that one family has to us.
ReplyDeleteMake sure you also discuss the drawbacks of the liquor store. Work on using punctuation correctly.
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