Question

own?

Step 3

Now it’s time to consider all of the evidence and viewpoints and draw your own conclusions. Use your research and analysis of the primary documents to write an essay on the following topic:

How did immigration affect immigrants and other Americans around the year 1900?

Before you begin writing, review the Migration and Immigration in the Early 20th Century Portfolio Rubric.

Writing your Essay

In writing your essay, make sure that you:

Clearly state your view in a strong topic sentence.

Use a logical organization, including an introduction and a conclusion.

Use evidence from at least three primary source documents. Clearly identify which documents you are using.

Use information from at least two other sources. Correctly cite your sources.

Support your viewpoint with relevant facts.

Use standard spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation.

Use social studies terminology correctly.

Read and revise your essay before submitting it to your teacher.

does this essay fit that?

Challenges immigrants faced
When immigrants first arrived at Ellis Island they often had hard experiences. They stood in long lines and went through medical and legal inspections to make sure they could enter the country. Photographs from Ellis Island show crowds of people waiting to be checked by doctors and officials (Library of Congress photo). Many immigrants did not speak English and did not know how to find jobs or places to live. They often found crowded, dirty tenements in the cities. Journalist Jacob Riis described how hard life could be for people living in tenements, where many families lived in small, unhealthy rooms (Jacob Riis, How the Other Half Lives). These living conditions made it difficult for immigrants to stay healthy and to save money.

What immigrants hoped for
Most immigrants came to America hoping for work, safety, and a chance for their children to have a better life. The words written by Emma Lazarus on the Statue of Liberty show how America was often seen as a welcome place: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” (Emma Lazarus, “The New Colossus”). This poem helped explain why many people risked the dangerous trip across the ocean — they dreamed of freedom, jobs, and opportunity.

How immigrants acclimated to life in America
After passing through Ellis Island, immigrants usually joined family members or other people from their home towns. Many settled in neighborhoods where their language and customs were shared. They learned new jobs — working in factories, building roads, or starting small businesses. Schools, churches, and clubs in immigrant neighborhoods helped people learn English and American customs. Over time, many immigrants and their children blended their old traditions with new American ways, a process often called assimilation.

Discrimination and opposition
Not all Americans welcomed the new immigrants. Some people worried that immigrants would take jobs or change American culture. Government studies and political groups argued for limits on immigration. For example, the Dillingham Commission (a government investigation from the early 1900s) reported concerns about the effects of large numbers of new immigrants and recommended more restrictions (Dillingham Commission report). Nativist cartoons and editorials also showed distrust of newcomers. This discrimination made life harder for many immigrants because they faced unfair treatment when looking for housing or jobs.

Acceptance and contributions
Even though immigrants faced prejudice, many Americans and organizations helped them. Volunteers, churches, and settlement houses offered classes, food, and legal aid. Over time immigrants contributed a great deal: they supplied workers for growing cities and factories, introduced new foods, music, and traditions, and started businesses. The mix of cultures helped American cities grow rich and diverse.

Conclusion
Immigration around 1900 changed life in the United States. Immigrants faced tough inspections, crowded living conditions, and discrimination, but they came with hopes for a better future and often succeeded through hard work and support from their communities. Americans reacted in different ways — some welcomed immigrants and helped them, while others pushed for restriction. In the end, immigrants played a key role in building American cities and industries and helped shape the country’s culture.

if it doesnt just do the new essay in 7th grade level

Answer 1

Short answer: your draft is a good start, but it does not fully meet the portfolio rubric. Below I explain what’s missing and then give a new, teacher-ready 7th‑grade essay that does meet the rubric requirements.

Why your draft doesn’t fully meet the rubric
- Primary sources: You do use and identify several primary sources (Library of Congress photo of Ellis Island, Jacob Riis’s How the Other Half Lives, Emma Lazarus’s “The New Colossus,” and the Dillingham Commission). That satisfies the “at least three primary documents” requirement.
- Secondary sources / citations: The rubric requires information from at least two other sources and correct citations. Your draft does not list or cite at least two secondary sources, so it fails this part.
- Topic sentence and organization: The essay has useful sections but lacks a single strong topic sentence / thesis in the introduction that clearly states your view. The introduction should present the main argument up front.
- Minor: Add explicit use of social studies terms (immigration, assimilation, nativism, tenement, urbanization, industrialization) and make sure sources are cited.

Rewritten essay (7th grade level)
This essay includes a clear topic sentence, an introduction and conclusion, evidence from at least three primary documents (identified), and information from two secondary sources (cited).

Title: How Immigration Around 1900 Affected Immigrants and Other Americans

Introduction / Thesis
Around 1900, immigration changed life in the United States by bringing millions of people who helped build cities and factories but who also faced poor living conditions and discrimination. Immigrants provided needed workers and new culture, yet many Americans worried about jobs and social change. (Thesis)

Body
1) Hard arrivals and inspections
When many immigrants arrived, they passed through Ellis Island and faced long lines and health and legal inspections. A Library of Congress photograph of Ellis Island shows large crowds waiting to be checked (Library of Congress, Ellis Island photo). These checks could be scary and slow for people who did not speak English.

2) Difficult living and working conditions
Many immigrants lived in crowded tenements in cities and worked in factories for low pay. Jacob Riis described tenement life in his book How the Other Half Lives, showing how dirty, crowded rooms made life hard and often caused illness (Jacob Riis, How the Other Half Lives, 1890). Because of industrialization and urbanization, cities needed workers, and immigrants filled those jobs even when the jobs were dangerous or poorly paid.

3) Hopes and contributions
Most immigrants came hoping for work, safety, and better futures for their children. Emma Lazarus’s poem on the Statue of Liberty—“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”—shows how America was seen as a place of welcome and opportunity (Emma Lazarus, “The New Colossus,” 1883). Immigrants supplied labor for factories and construction, started small businesses, and added foods, music, and traditions that enriched American culture.

4) Discrimination and calls for restriction
Not all Americans welcomed new arrivals. Some feared immigrants would take jobs or change American ways. The Dillingham Commission, a government study completed in the early 1900s, argued that large numbers of new immigrants could be a problem and recommended limits (Dillingham Commission report, 1911). This kind of nativism led to prejudice, discrimination in housing and jobs, and political pressure for immigration laws.

5) Help and assimilation
At the same time, many Americans and organizations helped immigrants. Settlement houses, churches, and volunteers gave classes, food, and legal help so immigrants could learn English and skills (National Archives; History.com). Over time many immigrants and their children assimilated—adopting American customs while keeping parts of their culture.

Conclusion
Immigration around 1900 had both positive and negative effects. Immigrants faced hard inspections, crowded tenements, low pay, and prejudice, but they also contributed greatly to the nation’s economy and culture. Americans reacted in different ways: some offered help, while others pushed for restrictions. Overall, immigration played a major role in shaping American cities and industries at the turn of the century.

Primary sources used (identified in essay)
- Library of Congress, photograph of immigrants at Ellis Island (Ellis Island arrivals photograph).
- Jacob Riis, How the Other Half Lives (1890).
- Emma Lazarus, “The New Colossus” (sonnet on the Statue of Liberty, 1883).
- Dillingham Commission, Report of the Immigration Commission (1911).

Other sources (two secondary sources cited)
- History.com Editors, “Immigration to America: 1880–1920,” History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/immigration/immigration-united-states
- U.S. National Archives, “Ellis Island and Immigration,” National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/ellis-island

Notes for your revision or teacher submission
- If your teacher requires a specific citation style (MLA, APA), I can format the bibliography that way.
- If you want more primary quotes (short, cited lines) or more classroom-level detail, I can expand or shorten the essay.
- If you want to keep parts of your original wording, I can revise your draft instead of replacing it.

Do you want this formatted in MLA or APA, or should I add direct quotes and page/place references for each primary source?