Mexico and Providence

Mexico and Providence

Guatemala Providence Notes

Guatemala Providence Notes

Interview Questions for Immigration/Migration Narrative

Whole Class Questions

Period 2

1.       Where and when were you born?  What was it like growing up? 2.       Why and how did you come to America? 3.       Who made the decision to immigrate (migrate)? 4.       What are your feelings about America? 5.       What are your dreams and visions for your future?

Period 3

1.       Where and when were you born?  What was it like growing up? 2.       What are your dreams and visions for your future? 3.       Who made the decision to immigrate (migrate)? 4.       Why and how did you come to America? 5.       Did you find a job immediately or was there a job here waiting for you?

Period 5

1.       Where and when were you born?  What was it like growing up? 2.       Who made the decision to immigrate/migrate? 3.       Did they experience any racial discrimination? 4.       Why and how did they come to America? 5.       What was your neighborhood like?  Both here and there.

Period 1

1.       Where and when were you born?  What was it like growing up? 2.       How do you identify yourself?  What do you see as your identity? 3.       How/why did you come to America/Rhode Island? 4.       Where did you arrive when you came to America? 5.       Who made the decision to immigrate/migrate?  How was the decision made?

Alternative Assessment

The debates we did last week were not the best thing we did in class.  Some of you excelled and presented an awesome argument - others didn't even get up to participate.  With that being said, you will have the chance to either boost your grade or for some of you get a grade by creating a 5 paragraph essay on one of the ten immigration topics we looked at for the debates (you do not have to use the topic you were assigned originally).  Below is a list of the topics and a break down of what I expect in the essay.  All essays should be typed in GOOGLE DOCS and shared with me by Friday 1/13/17.

TOPICS:

1. There are too many immigrants coming to the United States.
2. The U.S. government should put more Immigration and Naturalization Service border patrol agents on the border with Mexico.
3. Illegal immigrants take away jobs from U.S. citizens.
4. U.S. immigration policy has been fair to all groups entering the U.S.
5. If a country is having economic problems, the U.S. should allow its residents to come here for a better life.
6. Immigration has helped the United States.
7. Having a variety of cultures and languages in America benefits everyone.
8. Most immigrants come to the U.S. just to get on welfare.
9. Everyone who comes to the U.S. should be required to learn English.
10. If a country is having political problems, the U.S. should allow persecuted citizens from this country to seek asylum here.

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The basic five-paragraph essay structure, which you have probably used many times by this point, works extremely well for an opinion essay. It’s a starting point, and when you get to university your profs will expect a more complex approach to essay writing. If you feel confident about your essay-writing skills, you can certainly branch out into longer and more complex essays. But this basic five-paragraph outline is a good starting point, especially if you feel uncertain of your ability.

An opinion essay exists to prove your main point – your thesis. This should be clearly stated in your opening paragraph. Don’t leave the reader to guess what your position is on the issue – make a clear stand!

Next, develop your argument in the body of your essay. Each paragraph should contain a single, clear idea that support your point of view. You can use examples and illustration, cause-and-effect reasoning, comparison/contrast or other methods of development to support your argument.

Research: Any statements you make that would cause a reader to say, “Wait, how do you know that’s true?” need to be backed up with documentation from outside sources (“I saw something on TV about it one time” would not be considered adequate documentation). 

Remember that a paragraph is three to five sentences that develop a single, clear idea.  A good paragraph often begins with a topic sentence that sums up your main idea.

·         Paragraph One -- The introduction.  Here you state the main idea of your entire essay -- the point you are trying to make or prove.  This paragraph should include your thesis statement plus three reasons why you believe this statement to be true.

·         Paragraphs Two, Three and Four.  These are the body of your essay.  Remember back in Paragraph One, you gave three reasons for your opinion? Three reasons, three body paragraphs.  Each of the body paragraphs should take one of your reasons and explain it in more detail, citing sources where necessary.

·         Paragraph Five -- The conclusion.  Former Newfoundland premier Joey Smallwood once said about giving speeches: "First I tell them what I'm going to tell them, then I tell them, then I tell them what I told them."  That's how you write an essay.  In the conclusion, tell them what you told them.  Sum up your argument by restating your thesis statement and reminding the reader what your three reasons were.  In an argumentative essay, you can finish with a "call to action" -- tell the reader what you would like them to do as a result.