OVERVIEW: First, read the ethnography Labor and Legality (Gomberg-Munoz, 2011). Then, using the following questions as a guide, write a 5-page summary of the book, using evidence from the ethnography and outside sources to back up your claims. For your paper, you need a total of 4 sources: (1) the ethnography, (2) the Perspectives textbook, (3) one scholarly source*, and (4) one popular source*. (*You may be the scholarly and popular sources you turned in before spring break.) Final paper is due to Blackboard on April 26.
QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS IN YOUR PAPER:
1. Who is the author? Why is she a credible source of information?
2. Why did Gomberg-Munoz choose to study this topic?
3. What specific question does this ethnography seek to answer?
4. What is Gomberg-Munoz’ main argument or thesis?
5. How does your own family history tie into the topic of labor migration? Did any of your ancestors migrate to the US in search of work and opportunity? Where did they come from, when and why?
6. Which research method(s) did the author use to acquire her data?
7. Recount the story of one worker’s migration. (Each chapter starts with one worker’s story.) Why did this individual come to the US? How is he adjusting? What are the pros and cons of migration from his perspective?
8. How have patterns of Mexican labor migration changed over time? (Use Gomberg-Munoz and/or outside sources to answer this.)
9. How effective are current US border control policies in stopping the flow of undocumented migrants from Mexico? (Use the ethnography and/or outside sources to answer this topic.)
10. Has labor migration from Mexico increased or decreased in recent years? Why?
11. Who might disagree with Gomberg-Munoz’ approach and why? Find a “restrictionist” or “anti-immigration” source, and explain why they support that position.
12. Find one outside source that supports Gomberg-Munoz’ anti-racist approach to immigration. Explain their argument.
13. Using both the ethnography and the textbook chapter on race and ethnicity as sources, to what extent are US labor and immigration policies regarding Mexicans racist or ethnocentric? (You may also use an outside source on this.)
14. In what way does this ethnography either support or challenge ideas we learned in the textbook about (a) reciprocity? (b) informal means of social control?
15. How useful are ethnographic methods in giving us an “insider’s” perspective on undocumented migrants?
16. What is one strength of this ethnography? What is one weakness of this ethnography?
17. How useful did you find this ethnography in understanding the lives of undocumented Mexican migrants?
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:
1. Cite all sources, including the textbook, using in-text citations and a “works cited” section.
2. Use at least one scholarly source and one popular source, in addition to your textbook and the ethnography.
3. Give examples to support your claims.
4. Use active (not passive) voice and direct sentence construction. (ex. “The boss fired Juan”, rather than “Juan was fired.”)
5. Keep your paragraphs short. Each page should include 2-3 paragraphs.
6. Paper length: 5 pages or 1500 words.
7. Use 12-point font, normal margins, and single-spaced line spacing.
8. Include a “works cited” section at the end.
