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What does it mean to be American?
* Who may live among us?
* Who may become an American?
Over the past three weeks we have opened Pandora’s Box to the questions of immigration in America. Together we have had rich discussions and debates about immigration, its purpose, reception, value, and frustration. For your first assignment I challenge you to put everything we have talked about together to write a five-paragraph essay in an attempt to answer the question: What does it mean to be American?
Your Essay should also include:
Thesis – Your thesis should be in your introduction and should answer the question: What does it mean to be an American? Who may live among us and why?
Introduction – Your introduction should have a hook and establish the reasoning for writing your essay. Could include a definition of immigration and belonging that leads into your thesis.
Body Paragraphs – Your body paragraphs are written to support your position by using evidence from the cases we studied and the concepts we established in class. You should cite at least two texts to help prove your argument.
Opposing Argument – Your third body paragraph should raise an alternate argument that you counter (prove wrong) with another text or discussion from class.
Conclusion – Your conclusion should summarize the ideas you put forth in your essay and provide the reader with some thoughts for the future of society and ideas of who belong in America.
For this essay you will use evidence from the texts and discussions we studied in class. You are required to reference at least three different sources from class (see list bellow).
Resources you should reference:
- Toward a More Perfect Union Video
- As American as Vartan and Na. NYTimes Article
- Transcultural Identities by Jumpah Lahiri
- One Question Interviews and Results
- Statue of Liberty by Julius Lester
- Citizenship test
- Legal Status? Radio Piece by Veralyn
Class conversations and activities:
- Map activity
- I am American because…
- Immigration Scenarios
- The difficulties and importance of talking about immigration
- “Push” and “Pull” Factors of Migration
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