Hi everyone.
I decided to slightly modify my topic. Instead of comparing immigration policies in AZ and CA, I will be measuring the effects that the immigration policies have on citizens of these states. (My argument: Immigration policies in CA and AZ that were created to restrict undocumented immigrants also negatively affect citizens in that state.) I have found a good amount of evidence to support my argument but I’m having some trouble inputting this information into my argument outline assignment.
For example: I found a scholarly article that shows the link between CA’s immigration policies targeted towards undocumented immigrants and autism diagnosis rates among Hispanic children (and by Hispanic children I mean American-born Hispanic children). I found a scholarly article that illustrates how the immigration policies negatively affect the life experiences of 2 undocumented immigrants and of a long-time citizen and successful entrepreneur, who is of Mexican decent (of course for my paper, I’m interested more importantly in the life of the entrepreneur and how immigration policies negatively affect him). Also, I found another scholarly article that illustrates how Arizona’s Senate Bill 1070 not only affects the lives of undocumented immigrants, but the lives of the undocumented community as a whole (both citizen and non-citizen). The issue of racial profiling is most prevalent in this article.
I don’t know if this makes any sense, but I feel like I am finding the “evidence” section of the argument outline and not the “reason” part of the outline.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Rene –
Great post. You’re right – you’ve got plenty of evidence, so now you need to focus on the why. What do these articles say about WHY this happens – what are their explanations. Then think about putting those explanations into categories – for example, laws aimed at restricting the rights of illegal immigrants also negatively affect the community as a whole because they promote racism — that’s your reason, and then you have evidence from your articles. Does that make sense?
Thanks for the response Professor.
I did what you suggested and I was able to come out with two reasons for my argument.
1- It negatively impacts the citizens’ pursuit and use of public services (Health care, etc.). in CA. I have two articles that support that reason.
2- It promotes ethnic and racial profiling in AZ. I have an article that supports that reason.
Also my potential third reason: the effects these immigration laws have on american-born children whose parents are undocumented immigrants, has a negative impact on the future of this country. The only minor problem with this reason is that my paper is on immigration policies in AZ and CA, but all of the articles that I am finding on this reason (which are a lot) are not focused on AZ and CA, but on the U.S. as a whole.
Any suggestions? I really want to speak about the problems and difficulties that american-born children with undocumented immigrant parents go through because I believe it supports my argument well.
-Rene
Hi Rene –
It sounds as though you are making some real headway. As for reason #3, if you want to include federal policies I think you should be able to do that within the parameters of your paper. We can talk about this more tomorrow.