Argumentative Reflection

The assignment I will be talking about today is my Thomas Paine Argumentative

Essay. This assignment was completed during my 2nd semester of 11th grade in my AP
English class. For this assignment, we were asked to argue whether or not the concept
of the melting pot still exists today. This assignment is an argumentative piece because
we had to present a claim and provide valid evidence to prove our thesis. We also had
to find a counterclaim and prove it was wrong with accurate evidence such as facts
and/or statistics.
The SLO’s I met while completing this assignment were critical thinker and
effective communicator. I was a critical thinker by comparing two different times, the
1780s vs now. I was also a critical thinker by referencing relevant statistics to help prove
my claim, like the amount of diversity we have in America. I also provided information to
help demonstrate how counterclaims are not correct. For example, the effects
discrimination has had on American citizens. I was both an effective communicator and
a critical thinker when looking for the appropriate vocabulary to express and share
accurate information. I was also an effective communicator by using persuasive
strategies with my audience, and by providing evidence for my audience to see how the
concept of the melting pot does not still exist today.
This assignment helped me work on being an effective communicator and a
critical thinker by allowing me and teaching me how to conduct research and find
accurate statistics. It also helped me by giving me the opportunity to widen my
vocabulary. When it comes to being an effective communicator and a critical thinker I
still need to improve on being able to reference history-related events and being able to
write a cohesive essay that does an efficient job to communicate the information I am
providing. I will use these skills in the future when giving a presentation or during an
interview. I will also use these skills in the future when working with others in the career
I plan on perusing.
Damariz De La Cruz

AP English

Ms. Vanhill

Block 2

24 May 2018

Thomas Paine: Argumentative Essay

America was once considered a melting pot, a place where different races were able to

blend and mix in order to create a just society. Today it seems as if the value of the melting pot

has lost its meaning. Thomas Paine once believed that America was a place full of peace, full of

diversity, and governed under a just system. According to him, everyone is accepted and there is

no discrimination. However, the statement cannot fully relate to today’s society. Paine’s

characterization of America holds true today through the diversity in America and with the

government it is under, but falls short due to the discrimination there is.

America is full of diversity, it has a variety of different races just as Paine ones described.

Statistics have shown that about 18% of the U.S. population is made up of Hispanics, .17% of

the U.S. population is made up of Asians, and there are about 43 million African Americans.

This demonstrates that America has allowed different races to mix and live together. This is

important because it gives an idea of how just like in the past America is giving the opportunity

for there to be a variety of races living together. This helps prove the claim that America is full

of diversity because it gives an image of racial differences within America.

 As previously stated by Paine, America’s government was formed to give unalienable

rights to its citizens in order to create a fair system. Though there have been many counter-

arguments that go against the belief of the American system, many of those claims state there

have been biased rulings within the system as it was built to accommodate the white superior

male. That can be true for the very beginning of American history but in today's society,

everyone regardless of gender, social status, and cultural background, every individual has the

right to practice the unalienable rights as long as one is a citizen. For example, these rights

include the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to an attorney, as well as many

other rights. This helps prove the claim that America is still under a just society because it shows

how equal rights are being given to all its citizens.

Although many, just like Paine, believe America accepts everyone and gives them the

freedom to be who they are, they are wrong. American citizens have faced a plethora of

discrimination such as, racism, sexism, and homophobic behavior. Studies have shown that many

people have ended their life after constantly facing these different types of discrimination and it

has also lowered their opportunities of succeeding. This demonstrates that America has not given

everyone the opportunity to be themselves because of fear of facing more discrimination. This

helps prove the claim that Paine’s argument about America accepting everyone is not true today

because of discrimination.

Overall, Paine’s characterization of America holds true today through the diversity in

America and with the government it is under, but falls short due to the discrimination there is.

There is still a multitude of diversity in America and the numbers will only continue to grow.

Today, America is still governed by a just system and it has provided equal rights to all its
citizens. The only thing that cannot still be said today is that America has accepted everyone

since there is a large amount of discrimination going on and the numbers are not decreasing.