Like this is our monkeynotes downloadable and printable book summary study guide booknotes synopsis analysis for nickel and dimed by. Medicaid, and housing and child care subsidies, the answer was well known before i ever left the comforts of home. What were the main ideas of the book nickel and dimed by. When one is charged a little bit at a time until the expense grows beyond expectations, that is called being nickel and dimed. She takes an old school approach of getting her information by just simply working minimum wage jobs herself. Nickel and dimed reveals lowrent america in all its tenacity, anxiety, and surprising generosity a land of big boxes, fast food, and a thousand desperate stratagems for survival. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Nickel and dimed author barbara ehrenreich has some. May 01, 2002 nickel and dimed reveals lowwage america in all its tenacity, anxiety, and surprising generosity a land of big boxes, fast food, and a thousand desperate strategies for survival. In this thoughtprovoking expose, barbara ehrenreich goes undercover to learn about the lives and struggles of lowwage workers in the united states. Roberta tells ehrenreich that she has gotten three answers wrong and they must discuss them further. Early in her book nickel and dimed, author barbara ehrenreich admits that she has many advantages over real lowwage workers. A father, two sons, and an unlikely road to manhood, 2008 offers this eloquent memoir as a letter to his teenage son, bearing witness to his own experiences and conveying passionate hopes for his sons life. On not getting by in america metropolitan books, is one of americas most reliable critics of the rich and powerful.
Anthropology, the discipline perhaps most familiar with ethnography, raises questions about the. Nickel and dimed is the revealing, compelling, and widely acclaimed result of that decisiona book that has already become a masterpiece of undercover reportage, and a portraitoftheworkingpoor classic that is showing up in classrooms throughout the nation. Nickel and dimed teachers guide nickel and dimed teachers guide journalist and author barbara ehrenreich goes under cover to work lowwage jobs across america, learning how difficult it is to eat, find shelter, and survive earning povertylevel wages. After reading, nickel and dimed by barbara ehrenreich, your students will be ready to discuss the social and economic implications of the book. Nickel and dimed reveals lowwage america in all its tenacity, anxiety, and surprising generositya land of big boxes, fast food, and a thousand desperate strategies for survival. Get an answer for what is the authors purpose in nickel and dimed. It is not difficult to endorse nickel and dimed as a book that everyone who reads yes. After reading nickel and dimed, do you think that having a job any job is better than no job at all. One strategy for coping with the challenges posed by low wages and high rents is to share an apartment or hotel room. Monkeynotes study guides download storedownloadable study guides book summary, book notes,notes,chapter summarysynopsis.
On not getting by america by barbara ehrenreich 1726 words 7 pages. It is not difficult to endorse nickel and dimed as a book that everyone who readsyes. With nearly a million copies in print, nickel and dimed is a modern classic that deftly portrays the plight of americas workingclass poor. On not getting by in america by barbara ehrenreich. Nickel and dimed chapter 2 flashcards by jake friedland. Nickel and dimed chapter 3 flashcards by jake friedland. What is a good plot summary of the book nickel and dimed. Ethnography is a scholarly term for the anthropological study of human cultures. Barbara ehrenreich is the author of nickel and dimed, blood rites, the worst years of our lives a new york times bestseller, fear of falling, which was nominated for a national book critics circle award, and several other books. As she relates in her introduction to the book, the idea of trying out lowwage work in the interest of investigative reportage came up during a lunch with the editor of harpers. Reading guide for nickel and dimed by barbara ehrenreich. Ehrenreich is engaging in ethnographic research for this book, which, in loose terms, means she is undertaking fieldwork in order to make observations about human cultures, or human activities.
A frequent contributor to time, harpers, esquire, the new republic, mirabella, the nation, and the new york times magazine, she lives near key west, florida. Its considered a modern classic in several disciplines, including journalism, sociology and economics. On not getting by in america study guide contains a biography of. Answers for nickel and dimed by barbara ehrenreich2 working. Nickel and dimed opens with barbara ehrenreich, a writer and journalist from key west, florida, at a lunch with her editor discussing pitches and article ideas. She sets some ground rules for herself, such as always having a car, and starting out with a certain amount of money for her down payment on an apartment. Clevery subtitled how not to get by in america, the book is a chronicle of ehrenreichs adventures in survival as a member of the lowwage workforce that serves our meals, cleans our homes, and cares for our elderly. May 08, 2001 nickel and dimed has been on my radar for years. Also she would find the highest paying job that didnt require any of her advanced skills. On not getting by in america is a book written by barbara ehrenreich.
Nickel and dimed is an accessible yet relentless look at the lives of. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. What do you think about the parameters ehrenreich sets. Does the united states truly support its citizens and allow them to prosper. Atlantic senior writer coates the beautiful struggle. The following excerpt comes from nickel and dimed, a memoir of a social experiment in which ehrenreich spent a year living off of minimum wage. This lesson includes three project ideas for students to demonstrate their knowledge of the book. This book had an intended message that i found to be quite powerful, that is, the wages around the country that we expect working americans to survive on.
Bookbrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our. On not getting by in america by barbara ehrenreich is based on ehrenreichs ethnographic research on the tricks that people in lowwage jobs are able to survive in america off their income. Wgst e112 nickel and dimed worksheet briefly answer the following. Barbara ehrenreichs nonfiction bestseller, nickel and dimed, is the story of an essay writer who went undercover as a low wage worker to find out how nonskilled workers make ends meet. Written from her perspective as an undercover journalist, it sets out to investigate the impact of the 1996 welfare reform act on the working poor in the united states. Ironically, unc administrators thought, as interim vice. This post includes 26 multiple choice questions based on selling in minnesota, the third chapter of ehrenreichs best selling novel nickel and dimed. Next, ehrenreich applies for employment at menards housewares store.
Suggesting problems with the argument, ehrenreich highlights many of the difficulties people have working jobs that pay low wages. Excerpt from nickel and dimed by barbara ehrenreich 2001 barbara ehrenreich b. Critique of nickel and dimed pennsylvania state university. View homework help nickel and dimed worksheet from spte 205 at university of south carolina. Nickel and dimed taps into a long american tradition of muckraking journalism, in which writers investigate abject social conditions and corrupt corporations in order to promote reform.
Anthropology, the discipline perhaps most familiar with ethnography, raises questions about the participantobserver. Nickel and dimed worksheet wgst e112 nickel and dimed. Barbara ehrenreich was already a highly respected figure in the world of journalism before she penned nickel and dimed. In her desire to experience poverty, what rules does she set for herself. Ehrenreichs book nickel and dimed, that demonstrates how critical thinking can. The nickel and dimed author opens up about bernie sanders, how masculinity has evolved in her lifetime, covid19, and what worries her about trump. Do you think ehrenreichs experience would be different in todays economy. Ehrenreich took an immersive approach to her research. One example of prejudice and discrimination that especially stood out to me in nickel and dimed was the way the hotel management in key west would automatically have their black and hispanic job applicants sent to work as housekeeping staff or busboys in the hotel restaurant. Once again unc has selected a controversial book for its incoming freshman to read, according to a report in the july 11, 2003 edition of the chronicle of higher education che. Written from the perspective of the undercover journalist, it sets out to investigate the impact of the 1996 welfare reform on the working poor in the united states. Nickel and dimed takes place in 19982000, a time of unprecedented prosperity in america. Nickel and dimed humble independent school district. Nickel and dimed worksheet autosaved wgst 112 nickel and.
But even those who are inclined to think too much of money and power have been heard to admit that ehrenreichs political medicine goes down easy, thanks in large part. Starting in 1998, barbara ehrenreich spent several months working lowwage jobs in different cities around the united states in an attempt to experience what it was like to be one of america. Nickel and dimed study guide literature guide litcharts. On not getting by in america, essayist and social critic barbara ehrenreich applies this notion to minimumwage workers. Key west for the poor is a place where even trailer parks are too extravagant for minimumwage work. Nickel and dimed worksheet autosaved wgst 112 nickel. The family book report nickel and dimed in this book nickel and dimed. On not getting by in america short answer test answer key barbara ehrenreich this set of lesson plans consists of approximately 115 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials. The powerful story of a fathers past and a sons future. The experiment investigated the effects of the welfare reform act of 1996, specifically how it affected the working poor. Nickel and dimed discussion questions the religion. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in nickel and dimed, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The best study guide to nickel and dimed on the planet, from the creators of sparknotes. Historical information the impetus for this book is the welfare.
She wants to know how life is for a minimum wage worker. Barbara ehrenreich s nickel and dimed 1124 words cram. To learn more about the information we collect, how we use it and your choices visit our. On not getting by in america study guide contains a biography of author barbara ehrenreich, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Nickel and dimed worksheet wgst 112 women in society. Nickel and dimed analysis essay example graduateway. Barbara ehrenreichs nickel and dimed in the novel nickel and dimed by barbara ehnreich, there are many hurtles she must overcome to experience the life of a low income worker. Ehrenreich begins her journey in key west, florida, a major vacation destination. Ehrenreich was comfortably ensconced in the uppermiddleclass world of highbrow writing. To answer this question, she decides to survive on low wages in three cities in america. On not getting by in america, penned by radical leftist barbara ehrenreich.
Excerpt from nickel and dimed by barbara ehrenreich, plus links to. Nickel and dimed reveals lowwage america in all its tenacity, anxiety, and surprising generositya land of big boxes, fast food, and a thousand desperate stratagems for survival. Nickel and dimed is a nonfiction work that can be described as an ethnography or investigative journalism. The events related in the book took place between spring 1998 and summer 2000. In the first city, key west, ehrenreich works at two different restaurants and as a house keeper in a hotel. In key west, for example, where i began this project in the late.
I think ehrenreich set good parameters for her study by explaining she would live in the cheapest possible home she could find. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. For schools who have assigned this book on the summer reading list or for an assignment during the year, consider integrating the nickel and dimed discussion questions that are offered below for those who have not read the book, journalist barbara ehrenreich takes a. Ehrenreich is able to account for her answers but is worried about the drug test she must take because of a recent chemical indiscretion. On not getting by in america, journalist barbara ehrenreich conducted ethnographic research to study what its like to be a lowwage worker in the united states.
A vocabulary list featuring nickel and dimed by barbara ehrenreich, chapter two. On not getting by in america questions and answers the question and answer sections of our study guides are a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss literature. Ethnographies are based on fieldwork, in which the ethnographer collects data. Nickel and dimed study guide from litcharts the creators of. On not getting by in america metropolitan books, is one of americas most reliable critics of the rich and power. What is a good plot summary of the book nickel and dimed by. Nickel and dimed discussion questions the religion teacher. Written from her perspective as an undercover journalist, it sets out to. For schools who have assigned this book on the summer reading list or for an assignment during the year, consider integrating the nickel and dimed discussion questions that are offered below. There is a common belief that poverty can be defeated with hard work and that the poor are simply too lazy to earn a better living. Nickel and dimed by barbara ehrenreichmonkeynotes summary. Essay on barbara ehrenreichs nickel and dimed 1639 words. Ehrenreichs training pointed her attention to living conditions more than someone who might have a business degree.
Nickel and dimed reveals lowwage america in all its tenacity, anxiety, and surprising generosity a land of big boxes, fast food, and a thousand desperate strategies for survival. I just finished reading barbara ehrenreichs nickel and dimed and it really opened my eyes. Study nickel and dimed chapter 2 flashcards from jake friedlands class online, or in brainscapes iphone or android app. This engrossing piece of undercover reportage has been a fixture on the new york times best seller list since its publication. Nickel and dimed by barbara ehrenreich monkeynotes by 2. But for barbara ehrenreich, author of nickel and dimed, it resulted in a whole lot of complaining, some relatively minor stress, and an eventual return to her cushy upper middle class life. A popular book used in social justice courses is nickel and dimed. What sets her apart from the average lowwage worker. The progressive era, around the turn of the 20th century, was witness to multiple muckraking exposes.
Nickel and dimed is an important book that should be read by anyone who has been lulled into middleclass complacency. I need help with my nickel and dimed questions yahoo. Shes often written about poverty, and at the moment the book opens, millions of americans are about to leave welfare as the 1996 welfare reform legislation kicks in. On not getting by in america, ehrenreich investigates this question by living as a lowwage worker for. Fourth quarter 2001 73 b barbara ehrenreich, pundit from the left and author of the bestselling nickel and dimed. Do you think someone with her background will really be able to make it in the lowwage world. A successful author, barbara ehrenreich decides to see if she can scratch out a comfortable living in a bluecollar america. The experiment took place in florida, maine, and minnesota, with the author finding a job and lodgings in each location.
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