Brief Explanation behind Interest in the Topic
The subject of immigration is what caught my interest in the topic represented by the story Second Lives. As someone who lives in the United States (US), I am drawn to the fact that immigrants have long resided here and has since underwent different challenges to become assimilated with society.
Thesis
The concept of the American Dream is just made up by the immigrants themselves due to their desire to take advantage of what they perceive the rich economic opportunities the US would afford them better than from their native nations. This paper seeks to evaluate the thesis mentioned by analyzing the construct portraying the US as the “Promised Land” for immigrants, comparing life in native nations of immigrants and the American life, and documenting historical events on immigration.
Approach to the Subject
Kinds of Sources Useful for the Paper
- The article by Jim Lockwood for The Times-Tribune explains the reason why the American Dream remains popular among immigrants:
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/immigrants-continue-to-pursue-american-dream-1.1458384
- This blog by Jumoke Balogun for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) provides insights into the life of an immigrant in the US and her fight for the American Dream: http://www.seiu.org/2014/01/fighting-for-the-american-dream-an-immigration-sto.php
- This article by Eric Goldschein and Richard Feloni for Business Insider shows the case of immigrants who were successful in their pursuit of the American Dream: http://www.businessinsider.com/american-dream-immigrants-made-a-fortune-in-the-us-2014-2?op=1
Tentative List of References
Alba, Richard. "Mexican Americans and the American Dream." Perspectives on Politics 4.2 (2006): 289-296. Print.
Balogun, Jumoke. “Fighting for the American Dream: An Immigration Story." SEIU Blog. 28 January 2014. Thetimes-tribune.net. 17 November 2014. <http://www.seiu.org/2014/01/fighting-for-the-american-dream-an-immigration-sto.php>.
Batalden, Kathleen. "Immigrants and the American Dream." The Professional Geographer 57.1 (2005): 143-144. Print.
Erisman, Wendy, and Shannon Looney. "Opening the Door to the American Dream: Increasing Higher Education Access and Success for Immigrants." ERIC ED497030 (2007): 4-48. Print.
Goldschein, Eric, and Richard Feloni. “12 Immigrants Who Came To America With Nothing And Made A Fortune." Business Insider. 25 February 2014. Business Insider. 17 November 2014. <http://www.businessinsider.com/american-dream-immigrants-made-a-fortune-in-the-us-2014-2?op=1>.
Lockwood, Jim. “Immigrants Continue to Pursue American Dream." The Times-Tribune. 17 March 2013. Thetimes-tribune.net. 17 November 2014. <http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/immigrants-continue-to-pursue-american-dream-1.1458384>.
