1. Use Kaplan’s and Cisneros’s readings to discuss what you learned about the Latino experience
(A) Discuss two issues from each book that you found to be interesting and/or surprising. Why?
(B) What kinds of insight did you gain from the stories in the two books? Include one theory that helped you understand these groups’ experiences as discussed in the two readings?
(C) How did the readings, lectures and class discussions changed or enhanced your perspectives of this group.
Long Essays. You are required to write two of the three essays.
2. Use the films, Gangs of New York and The New York Draft Riot to explain why and how the Irish fought to overcome their oppressive situation. Include one theory that helps you understand the experiences of Blacks and Irish.
Include why the Irish migrated to the U.S. What were the similarities and differences between the Irish and Blacks in those early years?
Discuss four issues (2 for each group) that you learned about these immigrant groups from the lecture, reading and class discussion.
Include two theories that helped you understand the experiences of these two groups.
How did the readings, lectures and class discussions changed or enhanced your perspectives of these groups?
3. Discuss Margaret Cho’s comedy routine regarding race and racism.
Discuss three stereotypes she mentioned.
How did she handle those stereotypes?
What impact did these experiences have on her self-esteem and her career?
What kind of insight did you gain from the film and reading about the model minority stereotype? Include in your discussion Kohnblum=s Anglo-Conformity theory and how it impacts on Asian and Mexican immigrants.
Include two examples each from the groups= experiences to support your argument. Is this theory still relevant today? Give one example from the lecture and readings to support your argument.
Include how the readings, lectures and class discussions changed or enhanced your perspectives of these groups.
4. After the midterm, you have had the opportunity to discuss several topical issues concerning the discrimination faced by racial/ethnic groups.
Discuss the issue you found to be most interesting or compelling and why. Include two theories discussed in class or reading that help you understand their experiences.
Discuss three points you learned from the discussion.
Include how the lecture, discussion and reading changed or enhanced your thinking about the issues?
What can you do to change these conditions?