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2016 Midterm1
(assignment) |
LITR 4340
American Immigrant Literature Model Assignments |
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Jennifer Alonzo
For my final exam, I am thinking about writing about the challenges that Mexican
immigrants face when coming to America. I want to use stories from our reading,
and real world examples including stories from people who have been through the
struggles of immigrating and assimilating. I have a coworker who I would like to
interview about how she immigrated. So I want to tie the classroom readings,
real world examples, and the interview together to create my final exam.
I am choosing to write about this topic because somewhere along the way, one of
my ancestors immigrated from Mexico to America and I want to know more about
what they may have faced when doing so. I also want to learn more about Mexican
Literature because I have not read much. I am looking forward to doing this
research.
Chandler Barton
Research paper thesis will revolve around the core, central idea that the
American Immigrant-Minority Narrative paradigm has shifted and evolved
considerably in the 21st century. The primary factors involve the
demographics of immigrants, the changing landscape for minorities in America,
etc. This change apparent not just from recent research or information; a valid
chain of change can be found by also examining the Immigrant-Minority narrative
anthology over the decades.
EXCERPT FOLLOWS
The relation between the immigrant and minority genres of literature is
murky at best; the two anthologies have a tremendous amount of overlap and
intersection, and attempting to identify the contrast between them can be a bit
difficult at times. While it has in the past been easier to typographically
distinguish the two literary categories due to the presence of the traditional
minority groups (African and Native Americans), the recent waves of Asian,
Hispanic, Middle Eastern and Caribbean immigrants coming to the United States
has produced a conundrum where the noticeable divisions and identifiers are no
longer as valid or applicable. Simply speaking, the immigration and subsequent
creation of these new ethnic and cultural identities in recent decades has
forced the average scholar of the subject to rethink how one not only defines,
but examines and classifies, immigrant and minority literature, as well as the
immigrant and minority experience.
Amber Boone (Amber Isbill)
For my research paper, I would like to examine the dominant culture: what
defines it, how it has come about, and what elements were necessary for its
development to take place. I want to know more about this, because I feel as
though people perceive me to be a part of this culture because of the color of
my skin, but that is an unfair assumption. Also, there is a lot of anger towards
the dominant culture in immigrant narratives, which is understandable. However,
I want to know what factors led to this grouping of an entire race being
stratified in such a way. I know the Pilgrims, Slavery, the Civil Rights
Movement, and Japanese internment camps during World War Two all helped to shape
this narrative, but I want to know what other factors helped shape the concept
of the dominant culture, particularly sociological factors, and how these
factors have influenced immigrants and minorities.
Objective one claims the dominant culture as an unmarked territory, which I
agree with, but it also states that it is often identified with "whiteness." If
the dominant culture is "white," then where do the accounts of European
immigration belong? Where do multiculturalist families belong? Oppression of
minority groups in American history is very clearly evident, and there is most
definitely an evidence for an attempt at assimilation, but what group is this
assimilation to? I do not agree that it is with the "white people," and this is
a topic I would like to further examine, because I believe that the dominant
culture comprises much more than a particular skin color.
Martha Charlemagne
For my research report, I would like to speak about the emotion invoked in today's society concerning the American Indian vs the pioneers invasion and the captivity and enslavement of the African nation. My focus will be based on what we can do to alleviate the aggression in society between the minority group and the dominant group. My research will be based on the emotions and stigma that arises when historical issues are being examined. There is a negative impact that is created in society by the different viewpoints of this historical era that causes disharmony. I will write about my viewpoints on how we can work together to alleviate the problem.
Madi Coates
The
Proposal of My Semester
In my research report I would like to study more about Japanese
immigration to America. There is a plethora of literature about
Japanese-Immigrants, though one of my favorite immigrant narratives is “No-No
Boy” by John Okada which is set around World War Two. I also want to look into
the first large wave of Japanese immigration to Hawaii that was signed contracts
with sugar cane companies. This immigration only happened after the Japanese
were forced to open up trade with the Americans after centuries of denying any
resistance. I think the culture that Japanese bring to America is extremely
important and not as heavily talked about down in the south as it is in the
North.
Part of the reason I want to this as my research topic is because my
grandmother immigrated to America when she was only 22 years old. She left
behind her entire village in Okinawa with a new born baby. I want to tell her
story and learn what others like her went through in their lives. I think it is
important we remember those who have struggled and conquered this land for us to
flourish.
Ashley Cofer
Judith Ortiz Cofer
I would like to write about the life and works of Judith Ortiz Cofer. It’s fascinating how she drew from her experiences as a Puerto Rican American when writing her works. (I am also interested in her because she shares my last name.) She seems like a strong woman and I would like to know more about her and her experiences. It is my hope to learn about the challenges associated with her assimilation into the American society.
The Graphic Novel: Illustrating Immigration
For my research report I would like to study the American Immigrant story as
told through graphic novels. I want to see if I can find traces of the same
terms or history that our class readings have shown us in a few different
graphic novels. I have enjoyed the readings so far in class, and enjoy reading
comics and graphic novels on my own time, so I thought it would be an
interesting idea to combine the two. I have enough experience with graphic
novels that I feel I can recognize the way the creators can manipulate images
and the pages to tell a story a certain way, the same way a writer can
manipulate the language used to tell a story a certain way.
I would like to read 1 or 2 different graphic novels, depending on what I feel I
can write about after reading. I did a quick internet search and have found a
few graphic novels about immigration that seemed to be critically well received.
Titles such as "The Arrival" by Shaun Tan, which features no dialogue; the story
progresses only through images. Also "American Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang.
The author was recently (September 22, 2016) named one of the 2016 MacArthur
"Genius Grant", so I feel confident that I will be able to find plenty to write
about from his graphic novel.
Ana Harms
I would
like to research a Hispanic Author names Cristina Henriquez. She is a Hispanic
author who writes immigrant narratives. Her new book The Book of Unknown
Americas is a book to read. She has written a few other books about migrating
from Panama and the trial and tribulation of growing up in America. I feel like
I could relate, being Hispanic but I am Mexican and she is from Panama and I
think that it would be interesting to learn some difference as well as
similarities.
Thomas Kibodeaux
I think
for my research assignment I would like to cover the Palestinian-American
immigrant narrative from WW2 onto the modern era. I feel that the Arab
immigration to the west is a heavily relevant topic in today’s world. I am
half-Palestinian, so I do possess somewhat of a personal connection to this
topic as well. The immigrant narrative in itself is an interesting one, since it
was driven by religion and violence. This mass exodus of Arabs into some western
countries has had various problems with assimilation, this along with the west’s
interference in Middle-Eastern affairs as far as war is concerned. I didn’t
necessarily want this assignment to become a “my grandparents” narrative, but
the Palestinian one proves more complex than your average immigration narrative.
As a Cajun and a descendent from French-American
immigrants, I would like to focus my studies for this project on immigrants from
France, their historical motivations and fluctuation of numbers across the years
into the country. What limited knowledge I do know of my ancestors is that their
patterns of immigration has some centering around southern states that already
have a larger number in French-American immigrants due to their former position
as French or Spanish colonies. Another note of knowledge was that there was a
heavy influx in French immigrants towards the beginning of World War 2 in the
wake of German invasion to escape the persecution and the Nazi regime.
Kim Loza
The Mexican-American Assimilation
Since I am a Mexican-American I thought that it would be interesting to explore the idea of how Mexican-Americans view assimilation and which culture to they assimilate to. This is something that I have struggles with throughout my life. I am proud to be an American but, I am also proud to be Latina. I like to think of one of my favorite movies (Selena) when talking about this subject. It had to do with being a Mexican-American and how it is harder to identify with two different culture in which one of the characters states,“we have to prove to the Americans how American we are and we have to prove to the Mexicans how Mexican we are; both at the same time”. It is almost like we have to be two different people to satisfy the corresponding culture; instead of being just one person and accepted since a half of you is a part of it. So, I thought that it would be interesting to look further into this idea of how people mixed with two culture chose to assimilate or embrace their multicultural lifestyle.
Mayra Morales
Immigrant children.
For my Research Report I would like to
look into the history and try to find some stories on the Mexican American or
Hispanic immigrants, however I would love to focus on the children of
immigrants. I am a child from Hispanic immigrants and I have been lucky enough
to be able to learn about my culture, to be able to keep that part of my history
with me, growing up mostly in Texas but having traveled a lot to my parent’s
homeland I did not assimilate into American culture as much as my Hispanic
friends did.
I am very interested in learning about
other children from Mexican American or Hispanic immigrants who have either
assimilated in to their environment right away or have not at all.
Katie Morin
Research Proposal: The Jewish Immigration
to America
For my research topic, I am interested
in examining the progression of the Jewish immigration to America. Up until this
point, I’ve primarily studied only certain aspects of Jewish history,
particularly pertaining to the Holocaust, but I’ve learned little concerning
Jewish Americans. I’d like to learn more about the struggles they faced in
trying to adjust to American culture and values, in addition to their role as a
“model minority.”
From a personal standpoint, this topic
also interests me because my family is of Jewish descent. I only know this
because of stories told to me by my grandfather about how his ancestors changed
the spelling of their last name (Isaacks) in order to escape adversity. Apart
from this, I know very little of this portion of my heritage, though, so I’m
excited to learn more about it.
Dylan Putt
Research Proposal: Final Research Essay
2016
In our studies of American immigrant
literature, I find myself drawn to the stories told by those Jewish Americans
who immigrated to the U.S. during the World War II time period. While much is
told of the injustices inflicted upon them by the German Nazis during the war, I
would like to endeavor to research more into the impact of the aftermath of the
war upon American-immigrated Jews, as well as the impact it has upon this
minority group today. How was life and adjustment for them after their harrowing
experiences during World War II? What difficulties did they face leaving their
country behind for the U.S.? How have their descendents impacted us today?
Celia Tijerina Reyna
For my
proposal research paper, I chose “You’re not just an illegal Alien, but a hard
working human being”. This topic describes how Mexican Americans and other
ethnicities are labels as if they were not born in America; the land of the
free. I chose this topic because being a proud Mexican American, I was easily
stereotyped as being an illegal Alien when I was younger. But today, Mexican
Americans are being very highly populated at universities and great jobs. I want
to learn; why? Why is it when an “illegal immigrant” wants a better life they
taking for granted at the work place, they are call “aliens” and easily
stereotyped. I already know, if they are born in Mexico that immediately makes
them an “illegal Alien”.
By writing about this topic, this will open up
many new opportunities for me so I can learn more about my heritage and the
different struggles an “Illegal Immigrant” has to go through to become a legal
American. I know anything new I learn from this point on will forever stay with
me and I can pass this knowledge down to my kids and grandkids how important it
is to follow your dreams and how lucky they are to live in America.
Jennifer Robles
Research Proposal
Topic
For my
research topic,
I plan
on writing
about how
the Germans
that left
their fatherland
to the
new world
became the
German Americans.
I want
to write
about this
because I
am of
German ancestry,
plus my
mother's relatives
were some of
the first
Germans to
end up
in New
Braunfels TX
during its
founding in
1845. When
I moved
to Germany,
I became
ingrained in
the language
and customs
of the
German people.
I
am also
hoping to
learn about
what influences
did Germans
have on
the dominant
culture.
Zach Thomas
I chose to pursue Objective Six about the immigrant narrative and public
education. This interests me greatly as I have encountered this while subbing
for teachers in middle school and high school. The American Dream allows for
free education as a means for material progress to give students basic
educational rights.
I would like to focus my attention and learn about the America we teach and
practice daily. For instance, how is one identified within the school system?
Does a minority or an immigrant need to conform in order to achieve success?
Ultimately, I believe literacy should be the goal in many economic arenas that
could definitely benefit from knowing how to write and read.
Elizabeth Tinoco
For my research topic I would like to
discuss and explore Mexican Literature. I chose this topic in order to further
my knowledge about my own culture. I want to learn about the different stories
about the process of assimilation and how it differs among immigrants from
Mexico. I would also be interested in finding out about Mexican Natives in Texas
and how they did (or did not) assimilate to the American Culture.
Asian-American Culture Proposal
For my research proposal, I would like to look more
closely on Asian-American culture and literature. I would like to see how
different generations are changing on whether or not to assimilate and adapt to
the American Dream. Not only to the American lifestyle, but also economically
and financially as well.
