Essay 1:
English 111: College Composition I
Major Essay 1: Reacting to Refugees: America and the Refugee Crisis
Background: The Syrian Civil War recently led millions of Syrians to flee their war-ravaged country, seeking safety, asylum, and work abroad in Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Half way across the globe, refugees are currently fleeing oppression and economic collapse in Venezuela by the millions. Some countries, like Turkey, Germany, and Sweden have accepted millions of Syrian refugees, while many Latin and Central American nations have accepted a flood of Venezuelan refugees. Other nations have refused these refugees or made their entry more difficult, and there has been a backlash against immigration, refugees, and migrants in nations as far ranging as Hungary and the United States. As these specifics indicate, many nations have struggled, and continue to struggle, over questions such as whether or not to accept refugees and migrants, how best to help them at home, how to help them assimilate to their new homelands if they are accepted, how to prevent their coming to a host nation that does not want them, and whether they pose a threat to the nations they seek to enter. The refugee crises has raised political tensions around the globe and led to much national soul-searching and questioning by the people of the liberal democratic nations to which most of these refugees flee.
Assignment: For this paper, you will consider a variety of texts that explore the reasons for a refugee crisis, the plight of the refugees involved, the best policies for dealing with the crisis, and the political and economic concerns they raise.
Videos:
Frontline: Exodus
Point Taken: “Should U.S. Take in More Refugees or Fewer”
Readings/Texts:
- “CanTerrorists Really Infiltrate the Syrian Refugee Program?
- “Column: Let’s Put ‘America First’ by Avertinga Central American Migrant Crisis”
- “A Lower Refugee Ceiling Is Better for Most Refugees, the Host Countries,and America”
- “More Syrian Refugees Good for National Security?”
- “The Rising Tide of Migrants and Refugees: Due Diligence and Adherence to Law Required”
- “‘There Is No Way We Can Turn Back.’ Why Thousands of Refugees Will Keep Coming to America Despite Trump’s Crackdown”
- "Trump is Tough on Venezuela--But Won't Let Fleeing Venezuelans Into the U.S."
- "A Venezuelan Refugee Crisis"
Due
Dates:
Thesis
Statement: September 30
Preliminary
Draft:
October 4
Final
Draft:
October 11
Basic
Requirements:
·
A minimum of 3 pages in length
·
A minimum of two secondary source from the assigned readings
Outcomes:
In this essay, students will demonstrate that they have learned:
1. To construct an argument with a thesis (claim +
because clause+ three reasons), clear one and two-part topic sentences, a variety
of types of evidence, counterarguments and refutation, that explains what
policy the U.S. should adopt toward refugees and why,
2. To compose an engaging,
specific introduction paragraph that avoids generalizations and a to compose a meaningful
conclusion paragraph that doesn’t simply repeat previous points,
3. An awareness of ethos, pathos, and
logos as the argument addresses its audience,
4. To incorporate at least two outside sources, although
you may use more,
5. To use Standard Written English with a minimum number
of grammatical and mechanical errors, editing thoroughly for Poff’s Pet Peeves,
6. To cite sources using MLA format both in the paper and
in a works cited page.
Grading: Please see the rubric in
your syllabus