Error Correction
America:
Melting Pot or Salad Bowl?
The United States
counts its population every ten years, and each census reveals that the racial
and ethnic mix is changing dramatically, so by the year 20501, the "average" American will
not be descended from Europeans, but the majority of U.S. residents will trace
their ancestry to Africa, Asia, the Hispanic world, the Pacific Islands, or the
Middle East. Once the United States was a microcosm of European nationalities;
today, however, the United States is a microcosm of the world. The United
States is no longer considered a "melting pot" society by many of its
residents. Instead, many prefer the term "salad bowl" which is used
to describe American society2 since it
will soon be predominantly nonwhite. "Melting pot" implies that the
different ethnic groups blend together into one homogeneous mixture, but3 "salad bowl' implies that
nationalities, like the ingredients in a mixed green salad, retain their
cultural identities. Early generations of immigrants believed they had to learn
English quickly not only to survive but also to succeed4.
Now, many immigrant groups do not feel the same need 5because
there are many places in America, for example, Chinatown in San Francisco and
New York6, where you can work, shop, get medical
care, marry, divorce without knowing English. There are also many Vietnamese
and Mexican immigrants in Los Angeles. In addition, many immigrant groups want
their children to know their own culture. Many Hispanics, for instance, want their
children to learn both English and study the Spanish language in school. They
are fighting for the right to bilingual education in many communities where
they are in the majority7.
☺Please feel free to give
suggestions or ask questions about other ways of correcting the sentences.