Essay Topic: Demographic Changes in Texas

Guidelines:

Be sure to follow all formatting guidelines provided in the syllabus. Your final product must have a cover page with a word count, an essay that is 4-6 pages in length and a works cited page. The minimum writing requirement is two full pages. This only allows you to receive a grade. An essay that is only two pages long will not receive a passing grade, but it will receive a grade. If the minimum expectations are not met, the assignment will be marked incomplete and receive no points. Be sure to provide a proper reference in MLA format for all works consulted on a separate Works Cited page.

A minimum of two academic journal articles must be cited in the essay. Non-scholarly sources can be cited, but they will not count toward the minimum research requirement.

Background:

Being the second largest state in the United States in terms of area and population, Texas has experienced major changes over the years. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in its diverse citizenry. These population transformations have had a tremendous impact upon Texas as a community. This assignment will allow you to explore those changes, identify patterns and apply a critical assessment of how those changes may shape the future of Texas.

Activity Prompts:

1. Research some of the data collected on the demographics of Texas. Here are a few online sources to help you get started:

1. https://www.dallasfed.org/assets/documents/research/pubs/fotexas/fotexas_petersen.pdf
2. http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/states/48000.html

• http://txsdc.utsa.edu/

1. Compare historical statistics with contemporary findings by examining demographic (race, age, income) changes in Texas.

1. Your assignment is to fully addresses the following questions:

1. What general patterns do you see within the demographic data?
2. Describe the demographic category that most caught your attention? Why?
3. What factors likely contributed to the changes taking place in the demographic category you identified?
4. What impact might the changing demographic you identified have on Texas over the next 40 years? How can these changes be addressed by the state government?
5. What effect will the changing demographic you identified have on partisan politics in Texas?