Paired Texts > America's Shifting Views on Immigration

by Mike Kubic

2017

We've identified these texts as great options for text pairings based on similar themes, literary devices, topic, or writing style. Supplement your lesson with one or more of these options and challenge students to compare and contrast the texts. To assign a paired text, click on the text to go to its page and click the "Assign Text" button there.

The Rush of Immigrants

The Rush of Immigrants

USHistory.org

This informational text describes the tide of new immigrants to the United States from southern and eastern Europe and Asia from the mid-1800s to the 1920s, detailing the struggle they faced due to cultural differences and racism.

Pair “The Rush of Immigrants” with “America’s Shifting Views on Immigration” to provide students with additional information regarding the United States history of immigration. How do the two texts compare in their portrayal of how immigrants were received in the United States? What additional details does “The Rush of Immigrants” provide regarding the reasons immigrants came to America?

9th Grade Informational Text 1060L
'Shut the Door' Speech

'Shut the Door' Speech

Senator Ellison DuRant Smith

During a 1924 congressional debate on immigration, a senator from South Carolina argued that we should "shut the door and breed up a pure, unadulterated American citizen."

Pair “’Shut the Door’ Speech” with “America’s Shifting Views on Immigration” and ask students to discuss how Senator Ellison DuRant Smith’s speech exemplifies some of the anti-immigrant views of the time. What additional reasons does the speech provide for why people wanted to keep immigrants out of America?

9th Grade Speech 1480L
The New Colossus

The New Colossus

Emma Lazarus

"The New Colossus" is a poem by Emma Lazarus that was published in 1883. It describes the millions of immigrants who came to America through the port of New York City at Ellis Island.

Pair “The New Colossus” with “America’s Shifting Views on Immigration” to allow students to further explore Emma Lazarus’s poem, referenced by Mike Kubic. How does the portrayal of immigrating to the United States in the poem compare to that described in the text “America's Shifting Views on Immigration”? Why did some believe that this poem encouraged immigrants to come to the United States?

9th Grade Poem
Jewish Refugees on the St. Louis

Jewish Refugees on the St. Louis

Jessica McBirney

In "Jewish Refugees on the St. Louis," Jessica McBirney describes the experiences of Jewish refugees who were not allowed to disembark the St. Louis at their destination.

Pair “America’s Shifting Views on Immigration” with “Jewish Refugees on the St. Louis” to provide students with additional information regarding immigration policy in the United States. What additional reasons does the text provide regarding the United States’ strict immigration policies?

8th Grade Informational Text 1230L
The Danger of a Single Story

The Danger of a Single Story

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

In "The Danger of a Single Story," Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie discusses the importance of not allowing one story to construct your understanding of the world.

Pair “America’s Shifting Views on Immigration” with “The Danger of a Single Story” and ask students to discuss a single story that has been used to construct stereotypes around immigrants. How do the views on immigrants in “America’s Shifting Views on Immigration” compare to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s shifting understanding of immigrants?

11th Grade Speech 1090L