SAGE Journal Articles and Readings

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SAGE Journal Articles

SJ-userguide.pdf

Article 1: MacDonald, J. and Sampson R. J. (May 2012). The World in a City: Immigration and America’s Changing Social Fabric. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 641(1). 6-15.

This article discusses the increase in immigration and ethnic diversity along with the debates about America’s future. In discussing the implications of these changes, the author’s re-visit one of the most contentious political debates on U.S. immigration policy.  The authors enter this debate by presenting various papers on the consequences of immigration for re-shaping the nations social fabric. In doing so, the authors present new research that it crucial to understanding how immigration as a social process is transforming the nation.

Questions to Consider:
  1. In the section, “The Setting,” what do the patterns of immigration suggest?
  2. In the section, “Reshaping the City and Beyond,” what are the main findings of the article with respect to the impact of immigration on the nations future?
  3. What contributions to the scholarly field of immigration do the authors claim to be making? How can their research and guide new theories?

Learning objective: Analyze the role of immigration in American politics and what it takes to become a U.S. citizen; Describe the political debates that drive partisan divisions in American politics

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Article 2: Carr, P. J., Lichter, D. T., and Kefalas, M. J. (May 2012). Can Immigration Save Small-Town America? Hispanic Boomtowns and the Uneasy Path to Renewal. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 641(1). 38-57.

This article discusses the complex nature of immigration in rural American by exhibiting two case studies of small towns (one where immigration has been controversial and the other where immigration has been successful). The authors conclude by providing various policy suggestions on how to better accommodate immigration in rural American cities.

Questions to Consider:
  1. What are the author’s arguments in regards to immigration policy?
  2. In the section, Immigration in Rural America: A Life Preserver or an Albatross,” what are the immigration trends in rural communities and what implications do these trends have on nonmetropolitan America?
  3. What does the evidence of the two case studies suggest?

Learning objective: Analyze the role of immigration in American politics and what it takes to become a U.S. citizen; Describe the political debates that drive partisan divisions in American politics

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Article 3: Knight Abowitz, K. and Harnish, J. (Winter 2006). Contemporary Discourses of Citizenship. Review of Educational Research 76(4). 653-690.

This article provides a conceptual framework for the discourses that currently construct the meanings of citizenship in contemporary Western cultures, particularly the United States. The authors use discourse analysis to examine texts related to citizenship and citizenship education from 1990 to 2003 in order to identify the most influential frameworks.

Questions to Consider:
  1. What does it mean to be a citizen? Have events such as 9/11, the War on Terror, and immigration changed the meaning of citizenship?
  2. In the section, “Discourses of Civic Republican Citizenship: Strong Political Community,” what are the main characteristics of the civic republican discourse?
  3. In the section, “Discourses of Liberal Citizenship,” what are the main characteristics of the liberalism discourse?

Learning objective: Analyze the role of immigration in American politics and what it takes to become a citizen; Describe the political debates that drive partisan divisions in the American politics

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Article 4: Ackerman, B. (June 2013). Reviving Democratic Citizenship. Politics & Society 41(2). 309-317.

This article is discusses the authors citizenship agenda; an agenda that is aimed at reforming democratic life. The author identifies four factors that will aid the revival of democratic citizenship. The author concludes by asking whether new ideas will be brought to the table, or whether the democratic citizenship will remain as is.

Questions to Consider:
  1. Are the author’s reform efforts a utopian dream?
  2. In a utopian world, what reform efforts would you implement to revive democratic citizenship?

Learning objective: Analyze what it takes to be a U.S. citizen; Describe the gap between the American democratic ideal and its practice

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CQ Researcher

Learning objective: Analyze the role of immigration in American politics and what it takes to become a citizen