ESSAY ASSIGNMENT

FOLLOW THE DUE DATES ON THE SYLLABUS:
THIS IS A 3-4 PAGE, DOUBLE-SPACED, TYPED, PAPER ON ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TOPICS:

1. Immigration Interview Project:
Conduct interviews with at least two people who immigrated to the United States. Compare their experience with the experiences of people who came to the country through Ellis Island. How was the legal and social climate of each historical moment unique?
Here are some good sources:
http://www.dumas-k12.net/socst/K-5/Grade_5/Supplements/13_Voices%20From%20Ellis%20Island.pdf
http://www.dumas-k12.net/socst/K-5/Grade_5/Supplements/13_Voices%20From%20Ellis%20Island.pdf
http://library.thinkquest.org/20619/Past.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/20619/Past.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/littleitaly/amalfi/100/influx97.htm http://www.fortunecity.com/littleitaly/amalfi/100/influx97.htm
http://www.fortunecity.com/littleitaly/amalfi/100/postcards.htm http://www.fortunecity.com/littleitaly/amalfi/100/postcards.htm
Working toward Whiteness : How America's Immigrants became White : the Strange Journey from Ellis Island to the suburbs by David R. Roediger.

2. . Were the 1950s really Happy Days?

3. History of Childhood:
Choose one of the following periods: the 1890s, the 1920s, the 1930s, the 1940s, or the 1950s. Compare and contrast childhood today with childhood from that era. It is up to you to classify what “growing up” means in 2010 versus one of those eras. That means more than just saying that there is now tv and fast food and internet. It means reading, researching what others have said is significant about childhood today. You might want to check out The Sociology of Childhood by William A. Corsaro. This book traces the meaning of childhood, focusing on the construction of identity by children.

4. Indian Gambling
Describe the historical background to legal gambling on tribal lands. Has this legal and financial development had a positive or negative impact on Native Americans?
http://www.cniga.com/
http://www.cniga.com/
http://igs.berkeley.edu/library/htIndianGaming.htm#Topic3
http://igs.berkeley.edu/library/htIndianGaming.htm#Topic3
http://paugussett.itgo.com/issues.htm
http://paugussett.itgo.com/issues.htm

5. Has the United States been in decline since the 1960s?



OR, THE OTHER OPTION...YOU MAY MAKE YOUR OWN TOPIC AS LONG AS YOU CLEAR IT WITH ME BEFOREHAND. IF YOU SHOW UP WITH A PAPER THAT IS NOT FROM THIS LIST AND HAS NOT BEEN CLEARED BY ME, IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

-------------------------------------GENERAL INFO---------------------
Is this a research paper? You need to do work outside of class to be successful on this paper. Is some of that what I would call research? Yes. Hence, you should go talk to a librarian...they are amazingly helpful with research!
Should this paper argue something? Yes, please oh please, make a claim! Remember, I do not want you to tell me WHAT happened so much as tell me THE MEANING of what happened.
Your paper should be well organized, with a sound introduction, clear body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Your paper should be well-written, with few grammatical errors. Let me help with that. Bring me a rough draft before your final draft is due, and we will revise your paper together. There's also a history tutor in the Oasis who might be able to help with revision.