The Language of the Immigration Debate (Middle Grades)

Objectives

Activities will help students:

• define vocabulary terms used in the immigration debate 
• understand the difference between denotation and connotation 
• analyze the impact of terminology in the immigration debate 

Essential Questions

• What do the terms used to describe immigrants actually mean?
• Why do certain terms carry negative connotations?
• How can language impact attitudes?

Materials

Handout: Key Terms in Immigration Debate [1]

Article: What Part of ‘Illegal’ Don’t You Understand? [2]

Handout: Connotations [3]

Activities

1)    As a class, briefly discuss some of the issues surrounding immigration. Use the following guiding questions to spark the conversation:

• What is immigration? What is the process for immigrating to a new country?
• Where do many immigrants come from? Where do many immigrants settle?
• Why might someone immigrate to the United States?

(Note: After the discussion, highlight that this is in the context of “immigration debate.”) Then, working in pairs, complete the handout Key Terms in Immigration Debate [1] to familiarize yourself with the vocabulary surrounding this issue.

2)    Denotation is the exact meaning of a word. Connotation, on the other hand, is more than just the dictionary definition of a word. Connotation is the suggested, or implied, meaning of a word. For example, the denotations of the words “cute” and “gorgeous” may be similar, but their connotations are different. (Note: Encourage students to list the connotations of the words “cute” and “gorgeous.”)

3)    (Note: List the words illegal and unauthorized on the board.) Individually, write down the connotations for these words. Then, compare your responses with a partner. Discuss:

• Are your responses similar or different? Any surprises?
• Have you ever done anything “unauthorized”? What were the consequences? Did you break a school rule or a household rule?
• Is doing something that is unauthorized the same as doing something that is illegal? Why or why not? (Note: An example might be that entry into the cafeteria after lunchtime is unauthorized. If a student enters, what should the punishment be? Is this a bad thing? Can you think of instances when a student might make the decision to enter even though it’s not authorized? What if entry into the cafeteria after lunchtime were illegal? How does this change the situation?)

4)    Review the vocabulary you read at the beginning of this lesson, which includes some of the terms in the immigration debate. Then read this New York Times article about immigration:What Part of ‘Illegal’ Don’t You Understand? [2]  

5)    Now that you’ve read one writer’s opinion about language, take some time to think about the language of immigration. Use the handout Connotations [3] to explore the meanings of the words in this lesson’s vocabulary list. (Note: Encourage students to use this handout for the first vocabulary word. Then, have them draw the web on separate sheets of paper for each of the other words in the list.)

6)    Share the webs from your Connotations handout in small groups. Discuss the following:

• Were your connotations similar to your classmates’?
• Where do you think your connotations came from? (Note: Point out that students may have been influenced by the media or by the attitudes of family or friends.)
• Which vocabulary terms had positive connotations?
• Which had negative connotations?
• Why do you think some words have positive connotations, while others have negative connotations?

7)    Reread the New York Times article about immigration:What Part of ‘Illegal’ Don’t You Understand? [2]  

8)    Now that you’ve analyzed which terms have positive connotations and which have negative connotations, consider the following questions: Do you think that language is important in this debate? Is it better to use the term illegal alien or undocumented immigrant or unauthorized immigrant? Why? Write a letter to a newspaper editor of your choice EITHER:

a)  urging them to adopt the term “unauthorized immigrant,” explaining why you feel this is the best term

OR

b)  encouraging them to use any term (illegal, alien), explaining why you feel that language isn’t important in this debate

OR

c)  expressing your concerns or thoughts about a particular article from the newspaper related to immigration and language

9) Share your letter with another student who has the opposite viewpoint. Use this as a way to discuss your point of view about the language of the immigration debate, and to rework your letter so it’s more effective and persuasive. Finally, send your letter to the newspaper editor.

Extension Activity

(This lesson could be the precursor to The Immigration Debate: A Lesson from Viva La Causa [4].) After completing the activities listed above, read Richard Cohen’s essay, “Realism, Compassion Missing From Immigration Debate.” [5] Click here [6] for a version in Spanish. As a class, discuss:

• Notice how Cohen uses the words undocumented immigrants as well as unauthorized immigrants. How do these terms impact his argument?
• Do you agree or disagree with Cohen? Why?