Created by Ms. Gersh

E.S.L.- Second Language Department

Christopher Columbus High School

Bronx, New York

 

 

 

Your neighbor, Marvin, has just come to the Bronx from West Africa.  He doesn’t speak English, and he can’t find a job.  He is having a hard time living in the Bronx, and is angry that he ever came.  He thought life in New York would be easy.  He feels lost, and doesn’t know who can help him or where he can go for help. 

 

Every year, thousands of immigrants come to America, looking for a better life.  Many immigrants come to America with hopes of better jobs, more money, and a safe environment for their family.  However, when they arrive, they are often faced with new problems they never had to deal with before.  Such problems make it harder for immigrants to make the life they have hoped for, and obtain their dreams and goals.

 

What was it like when you first came to the Bronx?  Did you or your family experience problems? 

 

You have been chosen by Mayor Bloomberg to help the city learn about different problems immigrants have when they first come to the Bronx.   You will do research to find out the different problems new immigrants have.  You will also come up with ideas on how these problems can be fixed, so that immigrants can have an easier way of fitting into America’s society.

 

 

 

Your research team will be producing a report that can result in real progress for immigrants coming to New York.  Using the Tips Public Policy Analyst you will be

able to develop convincing arguments for the use of specific policies.

 

 

 

You will complete the following:-

 

1.    You will work in groups of 3 to complete all worksheets.

2.    You will hand-out survey questionnaires to 5 different people (per student) and gather the information from the completed surveys.

3.    You will create a chart from information gathered from the survey.

4.    You will research and write a 4 paragraph letter to Mayor Bloomberg about problems immigrants have when they arrive to the Bronx and policies to help fix these problems.

 

Use the 6-step Public Policy format. In your groups, complete the handouts to collect information for each step.

 

1. What is the problem?                                              

     Define the social problem-Worksheet #1

2.   Where is the evidence?                                    

       Gather evidence - Worksheet #2

3.   What are the causes?

          Identify causes- Worksheet #3  

4.   What is the existing policy?

         Evaluate a policy – Worksheet #4

 

   5.What policies can you create to correct the problem?

     

Develop solutions – Worksheet #5

6.What is the best policy to correct the problem?

 Select best solution – Worksheet #6

 

 

www.whyy.org/immigrants/people.html#work         

Challenges(problems) immigrants have when coming to America

www.svcn.com/archives/saratoganews/04.15.98/CoverStory.html

A story of teen immigrants in America

http://www.girlhealth.org/new_american/facts.html

Being a new teen in America

http://theseoultimes.com/ST/db/read.php?idx=40&head=1

What is it like for an immigrant to learn English?

http://depts.washington.edu/~uweek/archives/2002.02.FEB_07/news_e.html

Immigrant teen drop out rate in schools

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/speakout/mystory/immigrant.html

The Immigrant Experience

 

 

 

Your work will be graded according to the following rubric:

 

	4	3	2	1
INFORM-ATION	Accurate information.   Shows an excellent grasp of the issue.   Successfully presents multiple strategies and/or resources available.	Accurate, specific information.   Shows a strong grasp of the issue.   Discusses more than one successful strategy and/or useful resources	General Information Uses one specific strategy and/or resource.   Has limited understanding of issue.	Inaccurate information
LETTER	No errors of grammar/punctuation.	Few minor errors of grammar/punctuation.	Has errors of grammar/punctuation that do not affect comprehension	Serious errors that affect comprehension.
FORMAT	PPA Format followed exactly	PPA Format followed generally	PPA Format is followed inconsistently	Little evidence of PPA Format
CHART	Information clearly used from surveys   Successfully created a chart from survey information gathered	Some information used from surveys   Some directions followed to complete chart	Little information used from survey   Directions not followed to complete chart	Little evidence of survey information gathered

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 Policy Steps:

 

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/select.html

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/gather.html

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/identify.html

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/existing.html

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/solutions.html

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/bestsol.html

 

Search Engines:

 

https://www.google.com/

http://www.yahoo.com/

http://www.yahooligans.com/

http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/KidsClick!/

 

 

Reading

c	Read and comprehend informational materials.

 

Writing

a	Produce a report of information.

 

Speaking, Listening, and Viewing

b	Participate in group meetings.

 

Conventions, Grammar, and Usage of the English Language

a	Independently and habitually demonstrate an understanding of the rules of the English language in written and oral work.
b	Analyze and subsequently revise work to improve its clarity and effectiveness.

 

 

Social Studies Standards

Compare and contrast the experiences of different ethnic, national, and religious groups, including Native American Indians, in the United States, explaining their contributions to American society and culture

• research and analyze

 

 

This PPA WebQuest will help you better understand the different problems immigrants face when they arrive, and the different ways these problems can be solved.  With your research effort, you will educate Mayor Bloomberg on how to make the Bronx an easier place for immigrants to live.  By completing this webquest, you will have a better idea how to create and implement new public policies.

 

            The immigrant experience in America has been described as one of success and integration in to a growing mosaic of peoples and cultures. However this is not achieved easily any most people have not found the transition to American life an easy one. That so many people have successfully achieved an accommodation with the lifestyles and values they have found in the U.S. could be thought of as being a triumph of the human spirit. Your study should show just how hard this transition can be; and maybe point the way toward making the path to success in America easier for those people who come here today.