This section lists, in particular detail, the many primary and secondary sources he used to create his work. Most interestingly, the author begins by pointing out that he was himself subject to the prejudice and suspicion aimed at newly arrived immigrants when he arrived on American shores from Germany with his parents. He therefore has first-hand experience of both being at both ends of the immigration phenomenon. Once he and his family were thoroughly integrated into American culture, the author acknowledges that he was every bit as prejudiced against new arrivals as his native-born counterparts. In addition to first-hand experience, Schrag also notes that he has been writing on the subject of immigration for decades. Much of the material he used for his research during these years also serves as basis for the book. In addition, Schrag is very specific when listing the sources he uses as a basis for his work. These include both primary and secondary sources that relate to immigration issues over the time periods he addresses in his work. All his statements and claims are therefore thoroughly supported.
While the PowerPoint presentation does include the occasional citation, there is no specific list of references to support the information provided. Again, this is an element that might be included in the chapter itself.
By taking an objective view of the immigration phenomenon over centuries of American history, Peter Schrag is able to reveal the dichotomy between...
In this, he is even able to objectively consider his own attitudes, particularly when he was young, towards the same immigrants of whom he was a part during his young years. Furthermore, he also acknowledges his own prejudices not only towards immigrants of various varieties, but also the way in which his friends encouraged and fortified this attitude. Finally, the author acknowledges that his prejudice extended even to his native origins, in terms of rejecting his native German roots as "boorish" and completely uncultured in favor of his adopted country, the United States. By considering these actions and thought processes in retrospect, the author is able to provide an objective view not only of his country's flaws, but also of how these manifested in his young self. In short, the basic moral displayed by the book and its message is that, although immigrants have consistently been regarded as a threat to American culture, this is not in fact either a morally sound or practically realistic view, especially in the light of the core values promoted by the Constitution of the country. In other words, Schrag's morals are explicitly presented.
In contrast, the moral and political standing of the PowerPoint author remains implicit, with information presented in an objective way, but without personal viewpoint or comment.
