This research topic is especially interesting to me for a variety of reasons. Being a college student, I have an intimate knowledge of tuition rates and how it affects students hoping for a higher quality education. I have always been interested in learning more about undocumented students and their place in education in the United States. Education has always been a necessity in America; it leads to the rest of our lives. I believe that politicians, leaders, and government officials have an opportunity to aid students in America in achieving higher education. I have not had a specific experience with this topic due to the fact that I am not an undocumented student, but as a college student I have had experience with the opportunities given to certain students in order for them to complete a college education because I have personally been given an opportunity to go to an out-of-state school with a scholarship due to my academic record. I believe that an undocumented student who was brought to the US by their parents when they were born should have the same opportunity to further educate themselves in college as well. When they have lived in the state for most of their lives, there is no reason that they should not qualify for instate tuition. 

So far in my research, I have found three credible sources -- argumentative and informative -- that have provided me with evidence to better my argument. First, I came across a great informative source, An Overview of College-Bound Undocumented Students, by the Educators for Fair Consideration, which provided me with a variety of information regarding this topic. The central claim of this article is to generally inform readers on whether or not undocumented students should qualify for instate tuition and financial aid. The main evidence includes: The Undocumented Population, Challenges that Undocumented Students Face in Pursuing a College Education, and Current Federal Laws and State Legislation Affecting Undocumented Students. Each of these points is listed as a heading with more evidence explained regarding each. For example, under the undocumented population heading it provides the number of undocumented immigrants of all ages in the U.S., the number of undocumented students eligible for the DREAM Act, the number that are under 18 in the U.S., the number calculated each year who have lived in the U.S. for five or more years graduating from high school, and lastly the number enrolled in college in the U.S. Under the challenges that the undocumented students face it lists financial obstacles, the low number of states that have passed laws for in-state tuition and financial aid, and the difficulty the students have with private colleges. The last heading includes descriptions of each law affecting undocumented students; these include Plyler vs. Doe, the FERPA Act, California State Law, and the bills regarding the DREAM Act. The author of this source is very credible being that he is a group that solely deals with undocumented students and working to aid them to higher education. There are also several sources listed below the article that are reliable with the topic because they deal with the acts involving this issue, immigration, and education funds for the undocumented.

Second, I found an article that discusses "The Struggle to Grant Instate Tuition to Undocumented Students" (Salinas, 847). I would refer to this article as an argumentative article because it explains the struggle of the undocumented students facing financial obstacles when trying to pursue a college career while also expressing that granting instate tuition to the students would not interfere with federal law. The language in this article seems biased and is argumentative as well. The main evidence in this article are the "Position of the United States on Undocumented States," "Educating the Undocumented," and the "Implications". Each of these points thoroughly explains the laws and the reality of this issue. The author of this article is very credible; she is a lawyer, being a lawyer makes her knowledgeable of the laws regarding this topic, and how granting instate tuition would not affect federal law. She writes the article with a bias being for undocumented students receiving instate tuition, and her values support her argument. 

Third, I chose should Undocumented Students be allowed to pay Instate Tuition?, by the News Desk. This article was different because it provided an actual experience of an undocumented student not receiving instate tuition. The article goes on to explain that even though she had lived in New Jersey for basically her entire life, the undocumented student did not receive instate tuition. The main claim is that she was not able to even make it through her first year of college due to financial struggles with the out of state cost. The major evidence is the information provided about the student, the college costs, and the argument for tuition equity. The article is written by a news reporter, this makes this source reliable because this article was an actual interview performed by the reporter. It shows its credibility by providing a video of the interview. In my opinion, the major value of this article is the real life story that matches with the argument. The author's bias seems to be towards allowing these students to be given instate tuition.

This research question is arguable because it is a major problem for the population of undocumented students, and therefore is valid information and evidence provided to prove that. Most of my sources agreed with each other in that each of them stated most of the same laws, problems, and solutions for this issue. The two argumentative articles agreed with each other, stating that granting undocumented students with instate tuition would not affect federal law as well as aiding them in pursuing a dream of a college education. This reflects on my perspective being that I share the same beliefs and opinions as each of these do. 
