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What is American?

The concept of "American" as a subject of study spans disciplines ranging from history and sociology to literature and cultural studies. It invites students to examine what defines American identity, society, and values — questions that resist simple answers. Courses in world studies, American history, and cultural analysis regularly ask students to interrogate the idea of America as both a geographic place and an evolving set of ideals. Works like J. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur's 1782 letter posing the question "What Is an American?" and figures such as Benjamin Franklin and Amiri Baraka serve as anchors for exploring how American identity has been constructed, contested, and redefined across centuries.

Student papers on this topic take a wide range of approaches. Comparative essays examine American values alongside European or Asian counterparts, or place historical periods like the Progressive Era and the New Deal in direct contrast. Other papers use case studies to analyze specific social and political developments — the Abolition Movement, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or the influence of Latin migration on American life. Cultural and media analysis appears as well, with papers exploring pop music in the 1980s, advertising's effect on dietary choices, and the evolution of the cell phone as a lens into American society.

A strong essay on an American studies topic works best when it anchors a broad theme in a specific argument. Effective evidence draws on policy documents, literary texts, historical events, or cultural artifacts rather than vague generalizations about national character. The most common pitfall is treating "America" as a monolith — successful essays acknowledge the diversity of voices, regions, and experiences that shape any aspect of American life.

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Research Paper Doctorate

Impact of Union Jobs Now Being Outsourced

In recent years, the outsourcing of union jobs has emerged as a disturbing new trend affecting millions of middle-class workers everywhere. As a result of this devastation, the U.S.

Research Paper Doctorate

Japanese Baseball Players in U.S. Team

Baseball is the favorite sport in both Japan and the United States. It proudly has the status of national sport in both American and Japan. It is an important part of the American and Japanese culture.

Research Paper Doctorate

Oil and Gas Prices Increment

In May of 2000, Forbes magazine ran an article minimizing the impact that oil prices would have on the U.S. economy. In the article, author Peter Huber writes:

Research Paper Doctorate

Book review: race and ethnicity

Asian-American Panethnicity -- by Yen Le Espiritu

Paper Undergraduate

Bilingualism One of the Inevitable

One of the inevitable consequences of living in a multicultural society is the plurality of languages spoken by different members of the community. The coexistence of communities speaking different languages in the…

Paper Doctorate

Battle analysis and military strategy

It was on March 15, 1781 that a British force of 1,900 soldiers under the command of Lt. General Lord Charles Cornwallis attacked an American army of 4,400 under the command of Major General Nathanael Greene at Guilford Courthouse. While the British could claim this battle as a victory, after all they held the field and the Americans withdrew, it was a pyrrhic victory at best. The British suffered more than 550 dead and wounded, over a quarter of their entire force. And while the Americans technically lost the battle, the British were so bruised and battered that their tactical victory ultimately resulted in strategic defeat.

Paper Doctorate

Minority groups: characteristics, experiences, and social integration

Racism affecting Native and African-American in the U.S.

Paper Doctorate

Unit 4 thematic analysis and key concepts

One enduring aspect of American identity that appears to be emerging in the twenty-first century is that of constant change. The United States of America might have reached the limits of its geographic expansion when it…

Case Study Undergraduate

Role of Life Long Learning in Creating an Ecologically Minded Society

Two profound fields of human opportunity are evolving of their natural accord toward what each believes to be more viable understandings of what it means to learn and to care about our enviroment. This piece reviews the trends in lifelong learning and those in the emergence of an ecological mindset to demonstrate their commonalities and how their similaries (along with the technological communication revolution) may make it more likely that both efforts will achieve their goals with a much happier outcome for us all.

Paper Doctorate

Sociology: Work and Leisure Work

Work and leisure is discussed since long in sociology as well as psychology. Gini in his book suggests that work is important yet over-working can be harmful and there should be a balance between work and leisure. He suggests why Americans need leisure to improve their social interaction too. Though the book lacks academic perspective, it can be conditionally recommended.Work and leisure is discussed since long in sociology as well as psychology. Gini in his book suggests that work is important yet over-working can be harmful and there should be a balance between work and leisure. He suggests why Americans need leisure to improve their social interaction too. Though the book lacks academic perspective, it can be conditionally recommended.

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