What Does it Mean to Be an American-First Conclusions

The first thing you need to do today is enroll in this class on turnitin.com. If you've already done this in another class, your account should still be valid.  Here are the instructions: turnitin signup.

The rest of the period is going to be spent making some conclusions about the materials you've read and worked with this week. I've intentionally let you work through a lot of this material on your own or with peers. Thus, today, you'll be doing an in-class writing which is your opportunity to express what you've understood from the work this week. Here is the question you'll be responding to:

“What does it mean to be an American?"  In your first paragraph, spend some time on your own to answer to this question.  Consider, how would you define “American”?  Once you have developed that, in your 2nd (and/or 3rd paragraphs) enter into conversation with at least three of the readings that we have done this week.  Respond to specific text from three authors, explaining how their ideas are related to yours (you may agree, disagree, both).  You must choose one from each of the following lists:

1) Foner, Baldwin, Von Drahele

2) Excerpts

3) Landrieu

Use the entire period, and spend a couple of minutes editing at the end.  Remember that this is the first of your writing that I will read this year; impress me with your depth of thinking. Submit to turnitin.com when you are done.  If you need a few more minutes to finish, you can do that, but please have it submitted by noon on Sunday.