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America
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What is America?

America as a topic of academic study spans nearly every discipline, from history and political science to public health, literature, and cultural studies. Its breadth makes it a common subject in introductory college courses as well as upper-level seminars, where students are asked to examine the nation's political institutions, social tensions, and evolving identity. What makes the topic academically rich is precisely its complexity: the United States has served as a site of competing visions, from debates over economic policy and national power to questions of individual rights and social change. Papers touching on figures like Edward M. Bannister, Sam Patch, and Heather Whitestone illustrate how individual stories can illuminate broader national narratives.

The papers archived under this topic reflect a wide range of approaches. Historical analyses trace developments across defined periods, such as America's rise to world power during the Gilded Age or the military origins of the republic from 1763 to 1789. Policy-focused essays examine specific controversies, including welfare from a libertarian perspective, same-sex marriage, and the Cuba-related Helms-Burton legislation. Other papers take a social or public health angle, addressing issues like childhood obesity or health promotion strategies. Comparative and philosophical approaches also appear, as in contrasting the theories of David Hume and William James within an American intellectual context.

A strong essay on America establishes a focused thesis rather than attempting to survey the entire nation's history or character. Evidence drawn from primary sources, policy documents, historical events, or specific case studies carries more weight than broad generalizations. The most common pitfall is treating "America" as a monolithic subject — the strongest papers define a precise time period, population, or issue and argue a clear, defensible position about it.

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Paper Undergraduate
INA Section 245(i) and the Reuniting Families Act Compared
Why did 245(i) expire, why was it not renewed?
Paper Undergraduate
Kammen's A Machine That Would Go of Itself: Book Review
In the 21st century the U.S. Constitution is often presented as a sacred document by both liberals and conservatives. This was seen in the recent controversy over the confirmation of the first female Latina justice,…
Paper Doctorate
Airport Security Coordination and Future U.S. Policy
Coordination of the Airport Security Mission
Paper Undergraduate
Academic Fads as a Practical and Ethical Challenge in Higher Education
The notion of academic transformation has long permeated discussions on higher education in America. As culture, economy and political pressures have shifted, so too have the demands and imperatives felt by the…
Research Paper Undergraduate
No Child Left Behind Act and Its Impact on English Language Learners
The United States is no longer a "melting pot, but has rather emerged in the 21st century as a "salad bowl" where many minorities may not readily become as assimilated into mainstream American society as in years past.
Research Paper Undergraduate
Faith and Survival in Mary Rowlandson's Captivity Narrative
¶ … Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson by Mary Rowlandson. Specifically it will discuss Rowlandson's captivity with the Indians, and her strong will to survive.
Paper Undergraduate
Elder Care: Family Decisions, Abuse, and Legal Protections
The baby generation has begun the march into their silver years, their retirement years. These years in a person's life represent, too, the years when the body's betrayal of the mind, or vice versa, often result in an…
Paper Undergraduate
The Intertestamental Period: Background for the New Testament
The period between the Old and New Testaments in the Bible is also known as the Intertestamental period, where various historical developments and influences set the stage for the events described in the New Testament.
Research Paper Undergraduate
ADHD Incidence in Children: Trends, Statistics & Diagnosis
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neurological condition characterized by inattention, restlessness and impulsivity, is commonly diagnosed in early childhood and affects between 3 and 5% of American…
Paper Undergraduate
Slavery and the Slave Economy in Colonial America
Modern observers likely know in general terms that many Africans were enslaved through the 17th to 19th Centuries, but few probably know the extent of suffering that newly enslaved Africans endured from the outset, nor do many modern observers likely know the legal sources that were used to justify and legitimize the practice in the Old and New Worlds. In fact, some authorities argue that it was not until the end of the 17th Century that racial divisions had become sufficiently codified to protect the "peculiar institution" of slavery in the New World. Given the impact that slavery has had on American society, gaining a better understanding of the origins of the slave economy and its implications for civil rights in the United States represents a timely and valuable enterprise. To this end, this paper provides a review of the relevant literature to describe the background in which slavery emerged and a description of the slave economy. Throughout most of the 17th Century, the tobacco economies of Virginia and Maryland depended of the contract labor of white indentured servants, who were employed for a term of four to five years, then freed.