PREPARATION FOR ESSAY #1

Overview:

It is estimated that 11 to 12 million illegal immigrants presently live in the U.S. Though the growing Hispanic population is often seen as the source, an estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants come from Asia.

Many of these illegal immigrants cross our borders as individuals or in small groups; others pay professional smugglers up to $80,000 for their passage to America.

Presently Congress and the public are wrestling with solutions to this situation.

The above discussion leads us to Essay #1, a Persuasive Essay supporting a particular solution to this problem. 

But before we can build an essay, we need to familiarize ourselves with the complexity of the issue. 

Though simple "solutions" are batted about such as "deport them all" or "grant all of them amnesty," these "solutions" deny the complexity of the situation and reflect superficial, unworkable, and insupportable thinking.

Steps to follow:

1. Spend the first part of this week (Week #2) gathering as much information as you can about the present problem.  As I mentioned in last week's announcements, the April 10, 2006 issue of Time offers enough well-rounded perspectives to give you a trustworthy overview.

EPlease read all the relevant April 10 Time articles by using the ProQuest periodical database offered through our S.C.C. library even if you have located these articles another way.  Why? We need the practice.

Simply go to the ProQuest assignment in our Assignments: Week #2 folder and follow the directions.

Once you have navigated to the Time articles using ProQuest, please briefly relate your ProQuest experience by posting a short note to our Discussion Board under the thread ProQuest Quest.

If you have difficulty (give in a few tries first) navigating to ProQuest, post your frustration and questions there also.

CAn honest attempt and a posting receive 10 points.

2. Once you feel you have a fairly comprehensive handle on the problem, please post your preliminary thoughts about the issue our Discussion Board under the thread: Illegal Immigrants--Preliminary Thoughts. Your Preliminary Thoughts posting is due by midnight, Thursday, April 13.

CA clear, well-written posting can yield up to 15 points.

3. Read other classmates’ postings and respond to at least two of them. Be honest, constructive, and kind in your responses. Your responses are due by midnight, Sunday evening, April 16.

CClear, well-written responses to at least two postings can yield up to 5 points.