Read the following paragraph and answer the questions after the paragraph.

Question

The United States has not made a mistake by admitting millions of immigrants since the law was changed in 1965. Indeed, America’s liberal immigration policy is one of our proudest public accomplishments. But America’s liberal immigration policy is more likely to find continued acceptance among most Americans and keep the nativists at bay if the immigration preference system is changed to assure a fairer and more nationally diverse pool of immigrants. So let’s not turn our backs on one of the most successful American ideas. Let’s get it right.
—Peter Salins
1. What is the paragraph’s topic sentence? Does Salins state his opinion about a certain issue? Is this opinion debatable?
2. Whom do you think the author is addressing in this paragraph? How did you come to this conclusion?
3. What evidence does the paragraph provide to support the topic sentence? How would you classify it?
Evidence Type
____________ ____________
____________ ____________
____________ ____________
4. How is the evidence in this paragraph organized: general to particular, particular to general, from one extreme to another? ______________________________________

Answer 1

1. “The United States has not made a mistake by admitting millions of immigrants since the law was changed in 1965.” Salins’ position is stated, and it is debatable.
2. The author is probably addressing people who oppose immigration.
3. Evidence
Type
millions of immigrants admitted to the U.S.
statistic
immigration laws change in 1965
fact
America’s liberal immigration policy is one of our
statement from authority
proudest public accomplishments

4. Particular to general