The topic: Examine the U.S. immigration laws/acts/bills/codes that have concerned Asian immigrants and Asian Americans up to 1965 (including the 1965 Reform Act). Do you recognize some consistent/repeated themes running through them? Then, think about the following question:
What is your take on the relationship between the U.S. immigration laws and Asian Americans? How would you characterize the laws and acts and their impact upon the overall Asian American experiences?
Write an analytical/argumentative essay about the lived immigration experiences of Asian immigrants/Asian Americans.
The sources:
1. The primary texts: Use your research on "the U.S. immigration laws and Asian Americans: Between 1790 - up to 1965" (prior to the 1965 Immigration Reform Act)-the list you've been asked to compile for the purpose of the midterm
2. The secondary text:The course material of APAE by Chen and Shrake, eds. including films/videos of up to Week 7 (including those of Week 7). No Internet research; close reading of the AAS100 course material and its engaged applications to your discussion will get you higher points.
Some tips:
1. Review "Course Description" and "Course Learning Objectives" in the syllabus to use your historical reasoning soundly and interpret the Asian American experiences critically;
2. Study your list and check if you can categorize/group the laws/acts/codes in to certain themes/issues;
3. What are the categorical themes and what kind of argument can you develop about the themes?
4. Review the chapters we've read in APAEand examine which chapters discuss the exam topic directly and/or indirectly to develop your main and supporting arguments
5. Use the laws/acts/codes to prove your points-of view.
What to do:
• Identify the: argument, claim(s), and hidden layers of each document;
• Examine the U.S. immigration laws since 1790 and prior to 1965;
• Formulate one argument about the U.S. local/state-level/federalgovernments' handling of Asian immigrants and Asian Americans = the thesis (or thesis-to-be);
• Develop at least 3 sub-arguments of your thesis (see the following examples of effective theses);
• Identify one counterargument (the strongest one) that can rebuke your thesis (or thesis-to-be);
• Submit the paper on time through Turnitin.com.