Research prompt

There are several reasons for your research project. First, it’s an opportunity to become familiar with the amazing resources of the Cerritos College Library. This is probably your first experience using the library’s databases, but you’ll use them more and more as your continue your education. Once, students and researchers were limited to the books and periodicals that were physically in a building. Now, information is organized and searchable.

You will practice and refine your search skills; specifically, with the exception of Google Scholar, you will not use Google or any of the mainstream search engines. You must learn to search using academic search engines; you’ll practice using various search terms; and you’ll develop skills that will be essential to your academic future.

You will also learn how and why to use MLA citation and format style, including in-text citations.

Your project will concentrate on the challenges facing Vietnamese immigrants to the U.S. during the 10 year period after the end of the Vietnam War. You will have the choice of two topics:
1. The resettlement policies of the U.S. government to Vietnamese immigrants who arrived in 1975 and then in 1978-80 (the so-called “boat people.”)
2. Explore the challenges facing the Vietnamese-America children whose parents arrived between 1975-80. Some of these stories were not published until later; but they should refer to those years when they first came in contact with American culture. You’ll find academic as well as first person material of the sort that Lac Su wrote (but you can’t use that book).

You must use at least five sources: one book (digital or hard copy), one scholarly journal, one newspaper or magazine, one website, and one video.

Your paper will be 2,000 words long. You will use Times New Roman, 12 point type, and MLA format and citation rules. The paper is due in-class at the final exam.