Essay Question：
The United States has manifested its authority in guarding the U.S.-Mexico border in different ways from the late 19th century to the present. While the militarization of the border is a more recent phenomena, escalating after the 1970s, the U.S. has long been concerned with regulating the border and controlling Mexican immigration. As we have discussed, the reasoning behind more lax or strict border enforcement approaches has often been tied to claims ranging from national security and cohesion to labor and economic
incentives, among others.
Using examples from different time periods, explain how varied historical actors—e.g. U.S. politicians, Mexican officials, U.S. employers, Mexican Americans, Mexican immigrants, and others—sought to create a more fluid/open or closed/restrictive U.S.-Mexico border. What did their claims suggest about, for example, U.S.-Mexico political relations, the extent to which ethnic Mexicans could experience a sense of belonging in the U.S., or the power of economic forces to shape people’s everyday lives?
It
should be typed, double-spaced, with 1” margins, in Times New Roman 12-point font, and
Microsoft Word format (if you’re writing in a Google Doc, download your paper in Word
format first, then upload it to Canvas). You should include footnotes and a bibliography
page for your citations (this page does not count as part of the 5pg limit). Historians use
the “Chicago Manual Style (i.e. the “humanities style”) when writing papers.
As you develop your argument, you should consider class lectures and discussions as well
as all assigned readings through Week 5. The films, podcasts, music, and other material
assigned for class can also be used to support your argument where relevant. For this
assignment, you are not allowed to use outside sources (i.e., material that I did not
assign) in your paper.
As you complete and revise your essay, consider the following:
✓ Do my essays include an introduction with a clear thesis statement? A strong thesis
makes a clear argument—it tells us both what you’ll argue specifically and why it’s
important (i.e., answers the “so what?”).
✓ In the body of each essay, does each paragraph include evidence (specific
examples) in support of my thesis argument? Pay attention to your topic sentences.
A good topic sentence sounds like a sub-claim in support of your thesis. The body
paragraph then goes on to prove this claim with evidence and analysis.
✓ Do my essays offer clear analysis? I see many papers that include a strong claim
and great evidence, but fall sort on connecting things back to the original topic
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sentence argument and overall thesis. Again, what helps here is asking yourself
(after offering evidence) what does this show? Why should my reader care?
✓ Do my essays include a separate concluding paragraph that serves to sum up my
main points?
✓ Finally, did I remember to proofread? Check for typos, unnecessary jargon,
paragraphs that are too long, and material that should be cited.
