Why immigration is important to America?
This assignment was created by students at The City College of New York for the Freshman Inquiry Writing Seminar, Web Discourse. Students are researching a social issue in one of four large topics: Urban Life, Public Health, Immigration, and Education. This will result in a final research paper that explores both how the conversations surrounding the issue are enacted and how a CCNY student may enter that conversation in a meaningful way.
This country was built on blood, sweat, and tears, but not by the hands of citizens. When we think of an immigrant we have nothing to say but the negative aspects that they bring when they come to America legally or illegally. We don’t come to think about all the things they do that help our economy and country grow. Immigrants are important to our country because of the work power they posses, and the determination that they have that citizens just may no posses. There are so many reasons why immigrants should stay in this country and yet instead of embracing them we just find more ways of trying to push them away.
I think that all of us as a society fail to realize the importance that immigrants have to our country, and I would like to explore that. I feel like when we think about an immigrant we have nothing good to say, and think of how bad they make our economy. Yet I want to know what people don’t see in immigrants. That they are hard working people and they have families. I want to find out what positive effects do they have on our lives, society, and country. How they help us be better. What would be some drastic consequences if we lost all the immigrants that we have today.
How many jobs do we really lose when an undocumented worker works in the US? If illegal immigrants are so wrong to work, than why do people still depend on them so much, and hire them for work? Just questions to wonder about when I am researching on my paper, may also be on what are the wages of people that live around immigrants? Would they be higher? Or lower? If an illegal immigrant was to pay their taxes would that effect the economy that much greater? A question that makes me really wonder about immigrant workers is. If America today seems to be in the worst shape in years? I wonder how terrible the conditions must be where immigrants are from for them to come all the way over here to find a job?
The way I plan on researching for my paper topic is by using information that I have already found from my blog postings along with the scholarly articles that I will be gathering within the next few weeks pf my posts. I will look around I=on the internet for statistics, and numbers stating hard facts by using numbers, I plan on using the CUNY database to further my search just in case I do not find enough information for my topic, or enough quotes, citations, and proof. I may also want to look at popular articles that may be on the internet, or in the paper, or read up on other immigration blogs to get different perspectives, and emotion towards the subject. Try to find out how other people may feel about immigrants, and what they think should happen to them. With all t his information gathered I plan on having a well organized, detailed essay with in the upcoming months.
What I might find the most difficult about this research paper may be looking for scholarly sources that support this issue. I feel like I might not find what I am looking for unless I truly look, which I plan on doing. My greatest fear may be not having all my thoughts together. I also think that my downfall would come if I don’t find enough information on why immigrants are helpful to this country. As of right now I have a good idea on what I’m set out to do. I think with a little bit more work and effert I can organize myself, and work off the information I find, I can produce a well written research paper.
Comments
Being an immigrant, I find your idea really interesting; it would be wonderful to find a research argument that address the American zeitgeist with regard to immigration.
Your thoughts are a little jumbled, but that's to be expected. To help, I find that writing each argument on a notecard, shuffling them, and then trying to find a logical progression, can be helpful.
The questions you raise are interesting, but it strikes me that your research, which deals with how America perceives immigrants, tries to answer the question without asking the subject. Wouldn't an immigrant be a good source? They could offer a different side of the debate, and since they are just as American as any citizen, it seems imperative that immigrants be given a voice. You could even bring up the point that all of America is founded upon the illegal immigration of a few puritans onto Native Land, and later, the forced immigration of thousands of Africans to work for them.
The puritans, and their progeny, are similar to Americans today, while the thousands(?) of immigrants, both legal and otherwise, face struggles not dissimilar from those of the first African slaves.
Good Luck with your research!
Posted by: Andrew Bastidas | October 26, 2009 09:44 AM
I think you have a really interesting and deep topic to work with here, and there will certainly be a lot of information to wade through. I'm a little concerned that you might actually be taking on too many questions in one paper. They do all seem to contribute to your main question, which seems to be "are immigrants good for America?", but you may have to ignore some of your less central questions just for the sake of keeping your claim focused. I also advise that you split your essay into the fact-based argument (using all of the statistics you gather - the fact of the matter), and the analysis of public opinion (how legal citizens feel about illegal immigration). Both parts are important, but if you mix them without considering the flow of your argument, your points may seem a bit scattered and out of place. It sounds like a really interesting topic though, and I hope you find everything you are looking for. If you need anything, spot me an email at kdade@stanford.edu - best of luck!
-Kevin
Posted by: Kevin Dade | October 28, 2009 09:30 AM
Your topic is quite interesting. This issue has been a pressing one for over a decade. I find that down the line, you will need to organize the argument a bit more, but this is just a prospectus so it's fine for now.
I would suggest that for the overall argument, you can include history on how immigrants have always been shaping and building America. For example, the slave trade, indentured servitude, etc.
Also, maybe it would be viable to take a large survey asking the general public what they think of immigrants in the U.S. Then, you might want to interview a few immigrants and get their input on this topic and how their lives have been as immigrants in America
I hope this helps. Email me if you have any questions or want to just talk about your research.
Have fun and Good Luck :)
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