University of Maryland, College Park
Spring 2013
HONORS 289D: Bodies, Borders and Citizenship:
Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on American Immigration
Professor Sonya Michel
3108 Taliaferro, 5-4297
smichel@umd.edu
Office hours:
Mondays, 3:45-5 p.m.
and by appointment
The United States is commonly referred to as "a nation of immigrants," but that does not
mean that its gates have always been open to all. Throughout American history, the
principles governing entry and the terms on which immigrants may become citizens have
shifted. Until recently, American immigration policy was locked in a stalemate, with one
side calling for opening up immigration through amnesty for the undocumented and
increasing immigrant quotas, and the other seeking to tighten the borders, restrict the
numbers of foreign-born who can enter, and identify and deport all the undocumented. As
the new Congress convenes, a bi-partisan group of Senators are seeking reform.
How did we get here, and where are we going? This course will examine the "peopling" of
the American nation from its inception to the present, focusing on how race, ethnicity,
gender, sexuality, and health, as well as labor force needs, family unification, and concerns
for refugees have shaped immigration laws and practices. We will look at continuities and
discontinuities between the history of immigration and current policy. Among the
questions to be considered are the following:
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What is the relationship between between race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality,
citizenship, and national identity?
What motivates immigrants to the U.S.? Do all of them seek permanent settlement?
What are the benefits and risks of temporary migration policies?
What are the basis for opposition to and support of immigration?
Who are the “stakeholders” in debates over immigration; what are their strategies?
How do American immigration policies differ from those in other societies?
How do cultural representations of various ethnic and racial groups shape policy?
Assignments and grade breakdown (see p. 2 for details)
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Mandatory class attendance and active participation in class discussions: 25%
Lead discussion of one of the readings for two different classes: 10% (5% each)
Brief write-up of readings for one week (Feb. 4-25): 10%
Participation in online discussion: 15%
Major research paper (12-15 pp.) based on primary and secondary sources: 40%
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Course Materials
The following books are required; they have been ordered at the Campus Book Center and
at the Maryland Book Exchange, and they are on 2-hour reserve at McKeldin. Some are also
available on Kindle or as Google E-Books.
Fong-Torres, Ben. The Rice Room (revised edition, 2011). U California P
Hendricks, Tyche, ed. The Wind Doesn’t Need a Passport. U California P
Hondagneu-Sotelo, Pierrette. Doméstica. U California P
Parreñas, Rhacel. Children of Global Immigration. Stanford UP
Spickard, Paul, ed. Race and Immigration in the United States. Routledge
Yezierska, Anzia. Bread Givers. Persea Books
Zolberg, Aristede. A Nation by Design. Harvard UP
Assignment Details and Deadlines
Leading discussion: Each student will take responsibility for presenting one of the readings
in two different classes. Presentations should summarize the main points of the reading,
discuss the author’s methodology, and assess the argument (did the author succeed in
proving his/her points, etc.?). Presentations should conclude by relating the reading with
others assigned for the week’s unit and raising several questions for further discussion.
Presenters for each week should coordinate with one another.
Brief response paper: Each student will submit a brief (2-3 pp.) response paper to the
readings for any week between February 4-25. Due by midnight, the following Monday.
Online Discussion: The Obama administration and Congress are currently considering major
immigration reform. At the beginning of the semester, each student will each select a
government agency, public advocacy or research organization (NGO), newspaper,
magazine, or blog concerned with immigration. Students should monitor the selected
organization or site and post regularly on the course discussion site as new developments
occur. Students are encouraged to upload articles and/or provide links to websites as
relevant. We will spend part of each class period discussing recent developments.
Research Paper: Each student will select a primary source (e.g. example of popular culture
such as a film or novel; public document; organizational report; visual artifact such as a
photograph, exhibit or event) and use that as a starting point for a discussion of a particular
question or issue pertaining to immigration. Papers will draw on selected secondary
sources to provide context. Students should begin to think about paper topics early in the
semester and discuss possibilities with Professor Michel before our library orientation
session on March 4. The library session will help students identify appropriate sources and
develop bibliographies. Final papers should be 12-15 pp. in length, plus notes and
bibliography. A set of guidelines will be made available later in the semester.
All assignments due via e-mail to: smichel@umd.edu by midnight on the due date.
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Due dates (late papers will be penalized):
Feb. 4-18
March 25
May 13
Brief (2-3 pp.) write-up of one week’s readings, due the following Monday.
Research paper proposals due.
Final research paper due.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Grades for all written work will be based on the quality of writing as well as the content.
The main criteria will be the use of sources (both primary and secondary), originality of
interpretation, and coherence of the argument. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and
sentence and paragraph construction, as well as the use of proper documentation, will also
be evaluated. Citations should follow the rules of the Chicago Manual of Style, which may be
found on the library Website’s “Reference Shelf” under Chicago/Turabian Notes:
http://www.lib.umd.edu/ues/guides/citing-chicago
If you need assistance with any aspect of paper writing, please go to the Writing Center,
TLF 0125: http://www.english.umd.edu/programs/WritCenter/
The University’s Code of Academic Integrity will be strictly enforced in this course. If
you are not familiar with its terms, please go to:
http://www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu/code.html#honor_pledge.
Instances of plagiarism will be reported and penalized, according to the following
definition: http://www.life.umd.edu/grad/MLfsc/plagiarism.pdf
Syllabus
Note: readings designated (C) are available on the course website on Canvas, under “Files.”
Jan. 28
Course Introduction
Feb. 4
What Makes a Citizen? What Makes a Nation?
Aristede Zolberg, A Nation by Design, chap. 1; Paul Spickard, ed., Race and
Immigration in the United States, Introduction and chap. 1.
Feb. 11
How is Citizenship Constructed?
Zolberg, chap. 2; Martha Gardner, The Qualities of a Citizen:
Women, Immigration and Citizenship, 1980-1965, chaps. 1-2 (C).
Feb. 18
Who Should Become an American?
Zolberg, chap. 3; Spickard, chap. 2.
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Feb. 25
Inclusion and Exclusion
Zolberg, chap. 4; Spickard, chaps. 3-4.
March 4
The Implications of Anglo-American Identity
Zolberg, chap. 5-6; Spickard, chap. 5.
**Library Orientation—room TBA**
March 11
The Rise of Immigrant Communities
Zolberg, chap. 7; Anzia Yezierska, Bread Givers (all).
March 18
No class – Spring Break
March 25
Closing the Door
Zolberg, chaps. 8-9; Spickard, chaps. 6-7, 9.
**Research paper proposals due by midnight**
April 1
Living with Difference?
Zolberg, chap. 10; Spickard, chap. 10.
April 8
The Need for Immigrants
Zolberg, chap. 11; Tyche Hendricks, The Wind Doesn’t Need a Passport (all).
April 15
Many Routes to America
Spickard, chap. 8; Ben Fong-Torres, The Rice Room (all).
April 22
Migration from Three Sides
Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo, Domesticá (all); Rhacel Parreñas, Children of
Global Migration, Introduction and chaps. 3-7.
April 29
Research Presentations I
May 6
Research Presentations II
**Final papers due by midnight, Monday, May 13**
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