DREAM Act Essay Guidelines

Your essay should argue for or against the idea that young children who are brought into the United States as illegal immigrants but who graduate high school or college or serve in the military should be allowed to apply for legal citizen status. Are you for or against the DREAM Act?

Your essay should include the following:

v  An introduction paragraph containing a hook, a bridge, and a thesis statement with at least 7-11 sentences.

v  Three body paragraphs, each with a topic sentence; adequate, specific, and reasonable support; a counterclaim; rebuttal; and concluding sentence, all within 9-15 sentences.

v  A concluding paragraph that summarizes the thesis statement and supporting details and provides closure for the argument with at least 7-11 sentences.

v  A Works Cited page and in-text citations for all THREE+ outside sources (use 2 of the sources listed  below and one you find for yourself) used for support in the essay.

There are several websites that have information about the DREAM Act. Here is a list sites you may use to help you research for your essay.

1. nilc.org
2. dreamact.info
3. immigrationpolicy.org
4. dreamactivist.org
5. whitehouse.gov
6. usimmigration.com
7. elpueblo.org
8. thedreamisnow.org
9. migrationpolicy.org
10. crfimmigrationed.org
11. balancedpolitics.org

There are also many articles from reputable newspapers and websites that could have pertinent information for your essay.

1. Slate
2. Yakima Hearld
3. The New York Times
4. CNN
5. USA Today
6. NPR
7. Washington Post