Example 2: Argumentative Brief (Student sample, CO250) Claim: Employment-based immigration is beneficial to our country at current levels and should not be reduced or restricted.

• Reason: These immigrants are responsible for many of our current technological advances in the communications and computer industries.
  • Evidence: Intel Corporation created dynamic and static random access memory; all but two of the engineers that made this innovation possible were immigrants. Source: Gilder 4)
  • Evidence: Innovations by immigrants have allowed companies to capitalize on new product technologies. (Source: Kerrigan 2)
• Reason: Cutbacks would hurt many Silicon Valley companies, which are a vital part of the U.S. high-technology industry.
  • Evidence: These companies feel that immigrants represent the future of Silicon Valley. (Source: Brown 12)
  • Evidence: There are very few people qualified for many of these positions; immigrants add to them. (Source: Gilder 1, 2 and 4)
  • Evidence: With so many companies competing to fill these same spots, there are (many times) no qualified Americans available for some companies. (Sources: AILA 2; Brown 2)
  • Evidence: Current policy allows companies to hire foreign students graduating from U.S. colleges and universities. (Source: Brown)
  • Evidence: Many Silicon Valley companies are heavily dependent on immigrants. (Sources: Gilder 3; Brown 1)
  • Evidence: Cutbacks could jeopardize revenue. (Sources: Gilder 4; Mills 346)
  • Evidence: It is necessary to have the most highly skilled workers as possible in order to have a technological edge. (Sources: Ling-Ling 3; AILA 2)
• Reason: These immigrants are not a burden to the U.S. economy, but instead contribute to it in a positive way.
  • Evidence: New immigrants must prove that they won't be a burden before they are allowed to enter the U.S. (Source: AILA 3)
  • Evidence: Immigrants stimulate job growth. (Source: Kerrigan 2)