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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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Cultural differences in health practices between African Americans and the Amish

African-American people traditionally have different communication patterns and family roles than their white counterparts. They are more likely to have families headed by single parents (usually single mothers) and…

Essay Doctorate

Growth and acceptance of ethnic writers in American literature

This essay looks at a number of questions which ask about the American literary tradition and the American canon. Because American literature has been so long dominated by white majority writers it is difficult to see an American canon that includes a great deal of diversity. But, there is a lot of diversity in the new American tradition. It is led by people who have a new voice inspired by their perspective.

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Nationalism, imperialism, and militarism as causes of World War One

Five page paper on World War One. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the immediate cause of World War I. But the events that led to the Great War go further back into the nineteenth century. Nationalism, imperialism, and militarism all played a part. This paper analyzes how the forces of nationalism, imperialism, and militarism irrevocably led to World War I. Alliance system and the American involvement are also discussed.

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Creation myths in Genesis, Hesiod's Theogony, and Ovid's Metamorphoses

This essay analyzes Genesis, Ovid's Metamorphoses, and Hesiod's Theogony in order to better understand the connections between each text. In particular, each text's description of the primordial chaos before creation, the list of creation events, and gods' relation to these events reveals crucial insights into the limits of human understanding of the universe. These creation myths are attempts to humanize and come to terms with an inhuman universe.

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The Ford Mustang's evolution and market impact since 1964

In the early 1960s, one of the only truly "American" sports car was the Corvette. Unfortunately, for most people at the time, the price of a Corvette was simply too high. The Thunderbird, previously a sporting car, had…

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Shirley Chisholm's advocacy for black feminism and education

Shirley Chisholm was one of the most influential black women of the 1960's through the 1990's. She went from a very poor background to become the first black woman to win a seat in Congress. She was also the first African American to run for president. Although she did not come close to winning the nomination, she set a precedent that black people, and women, can do anythig that they set their minds to. This essay discusses chisholm in relation to the concepts contained in Patricia Collins' book.

Paper Doctorate

Human resource management solutions for IT industry organizational restructuring

This document details specific models of HRM and Change Management within the context of a fictitious case. This reference material also attempts to identify areas of improvement within the context of HRM. The subsequent section then identifies methods in which to help improve the implementation of these improvements within the context of the underlying business. The document finally concludes with strategies aimed at future change with the company.

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John Steinbeck and Jean Baudrillard's contrasting visions of 1960s America

America has long been considered the "land of opportunity," which makes it in turn, an opportune place to travel and explore. Though vast in geography and rich in culture, America has often offered its travelers a similar experience, as these travelers so often find themselves visiting similar places and hearing similar tales of the past and the present. Additionally, travelling often brings with it a longing for the past, as is seen so often in the case of America and the search for an understanding of the "American Dream," which has for years been rooted in the land and resources that America has to offer. Is this notion still true, or is it merely wishful thinking of the past? This question can be explored further in comparing the travels through America of author John Steinbeck, and author and sociologist, Jean Baudrillard. Steinbeck, an American, and Baudrillard, a Frenchman, began their travels through America's heartland in much the same way: eager to learn and explore. And while their distinctly different cultural backgrounds and different perspectives allowed each man to experience the country in his own way, in reading their accounts, one can see vast similarities, which each add a piece to the understanding of America's changing culture in the 1960s and 1970s, especially in terms of the nation's environmental perspectives.

Essay Doctorate

Howard Zinn's critique of American economic inequality and injustice

Howard Zinn's text Passionate Declarations seems particularly important to read today, in light of what has been called the '99% movement.' This social justice movement is spearheaded by the numbers of many, many people…

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Alienation and racial identity in Smith and Walker's works

In this paper I compare and contrast the literary works of Alice Walker and Patricia Smith. In particular I look at the poetry of Smith and a Walker short story titled 'A welcome table'. I explore the manifestation of race, racism, and triumphant individualism. I do explore the preceding themes by situating the two works in the larger context of racialized fictional literature.

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