Ethnic Studies 001: Introduction to Race and Ethnicity. Summer 2015.
Take-Home Paper Assignment:
As Michael Omi and Howard Winant argue, “hegemony operates by including its subjects,
incorporating its opposition,” yet white Americans have also maintained their advantages and
privileges by excluding or segregating nonwhite others.
Question:
•How has race determined inclusion, exclusion, and segregation in U.S. society?
Answer the above question by constructing a clear thesis. The thesis equals your main claim or
assertion, along with supporting claims that make the overall argument compelling. To
substantiate your argument and defend your position, you must engage with the required
readings by Tyner, Roediger, Martinez, Kelley, Macías, Menchaca & Valencia, and Sugrue,
balancing your analysis and your voice with a mix of interwoven key quotes and paraphrasing.
You may cite the lectures and films and, to frame your analysis or provide historical context, you
may also utilize earlier week’s readings and class material in addition to, but not in lieu of these
readings. Do not use block quotes, do not use any sources from outside of this class, and do not
refer to current events or personal experiences.
To answer the paper question, it may be helpful to consider the following: immigration;
eugenics; ethnicity and assimilation; white identity and American culture; race and politics;
social, educational, and residential segregation. Try to explain why fears of race mixing and
cultural contamination determined–and how racial ideology justified–the inclusion of certain
groups and the exclusion or separation of others. See also “Paper Assignment Suggestions” on
Blackboard, in the “Assignments” folder.
Technical Requirements/Formatting Directions:
You must utilize specific examples and quotes from the readings to develop your arguments.
Each reading, lecture, or film quoted or paraphrased must be cited in an endnote (at the end of the
body of the text, not at the bottom of each page), ordered sequentially using Arabic numerals.
Use Chicago Style (no parenthetical citations after sentences, and no bibliography/works
cited/references page). Endnote citations must include the author’s last name, and the title and
page number of the source (article or book chapter); identify films by their titles and presentations
by their date. Papers must be typed in 12-point Times New Roman font, and double-spaced with
one-inch margins on all sides of each page. Papers must have a separate title page with an
original paper title and subtitle, your name, and course number. Each page must be numbered
except title page, and papers must be stapled. No binders or folders. Including too many
distracting typographical, grammatical, organizational, and/or formatting errors will lower your
grade, as will failing to follow these instructions.
•Papers must be five pages in length.
•Papers are due in INTN 1002 at the beginning of class on Thursday, July 16.
Note: No late papers or e-mail papers will be accepted. Do not procrastinate, as there will be no
extensions of the paper deadline.