Debates about immigration often focus on its economic costs and benefits. Yet that focus misses the bigger picture, Peter Coy argues. Coy, a writer for The New York Times, suggests that the real resistance to immigration lies much deeper than data about jobs and economic impact. Coy explains that opposition to immigration often stems from the stories we tell ourselves about immigrants and immigration, stories that are often colored by unchecked biases and assumptions.
- In the first three paragraphs of his argument, Coy starts with what others are saying about immigration. What views about immigration does he present in these three paragraphs? What strategies from the Introduction and Chapter 1 does Coy use to enter this conversation?
- What are three major misconceptions people have about immigration? According to Coy, what are the consequences to these misconceptions? Look at this infographic, which addresses many of the common misconceptions about immigration. What information from this infographic did you find surprising, and why?
- Coy uses voice markers throughout his argument to signal who is saying what. Where do you see him using a strategy from Chapter 5 to mark his own ideas? What strategy or template is he using? Where do you see him using a voice marker to alert readers that a particular view should be attributed to someone else? Do you find these voice markers helpful as a reader? Why or why not?
- Coy refers to people’s feelings about immigration as a “squishier” question. Why do you think he describes it this way? According to Coy, what groups of people are most likely to oppose immigration, and what are the different reasons they have for resisting immigration?
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