Question

passage 4: writing task

directions: after reading \fish cheeks\ respond to the following prompt.

prompt: in 2 well-written paragraphs respond to the following prompt:
compare and contrast the way the two authors, jason kim and amy tan, present the themes of identity and cultural acceptance in the two texts \hello my name is ________\ and \fish cheeks\

criteria for success
paragraph 1

• topic sentence that clearly states how jason kim presents the themes of identity and cultural acceptance in his text
• 1 piece of text evidence that illustrates how kim shows these themes
• 2-3 sentences which analyze how the evidence you selected shows these themes and what they show about kims views of identity and cultural acceptance

paragraph 2

• topic sentence that clearly states how amy tan presents the themes of identity and cultural acceptance in her text
• 1 piece of text evidence that illustrates how tan shows these themes
• 2-3 sentences which analyze how the evidence you selected shows these themes and what they show about tans views of identity and cultural acceptance
• 2-3 sentences comparing tans views to kims views

paragraph 1:
in \hello my name is ________\, jason kim presents themes of cultural acceptance by describing his struggle with...
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evidence of kims struggle with cultural acceptance: (look at paragraphs 22-24)
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explain how this evidence shows kims struggle with cultural acceptance...
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paragraph 2:
in \fish cheeks\ amy tan presents themes of cultural acceptance by describing her experience of...

Answer:

Paragraph 1:

In "Hello My Name Is ______", Jason Kim presents themes of cultural acceptance by describing his struggle with his desire to completely assimilate into American culture at the expense of his Korean heritage.

Evidence of Kim's struggle with cultural acceptance:
In his essay, Kim reflects on how he spent his youth trying to hide his Korean identity, stating that he wanted nothing more than to blend in and be seen as a typical American teenager, even going by "Jason" instead of his birth name to avoid standing out.

Explain how this evidence shows Kim's struggle with cultural acceptance:
This evidence highlights Kim's internal conflict, showing that he initially believed cultural acceptance could only be achieved by erasing his native identity. His struggle demonstrates how societal pressure to conform can lead individuals to reject their own heritage in order to feel accepted by their peers.

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Paragraph 2:

In "Fish Cheeks" Amy Tan presents themes of cultural acceptance by describing her experience of feeling deep embarrassment during a Christmas Eve dinner when her family's Chinese traditions clash with American norms.

Evidence of Tan's struggle with cultural acceptance:
Tan describes her shame over the traditional Chinese food served to her white crush, Robert, wishing she had a "slim American nose" and a traditional American Christmas dinner instead of "strange" dishes like fish cheeks.

Explain how this evidence shows Tan's struggle with cultural acceptance:
This evidence illustrates Tan's struggle to reconcile her Chinese heritage with her desire to fit into American society. Her shame reveals how young people often view their cultural differences as obstacles to social acceptance, prioritizing fitting in over celebrating their unique background.

Comparison of Tan's views to Kim's views:
Similarly to Kim, Tan initially equates acceptance with conformity, wishing to replace her cultural identity with a standardized American one. However, while Kim's struggle is a prolonged, systemic effort to assimilate over years, Tan's conflict is crystallized in a single, poignant family dinner that ultimately teaches her to appreciate her roots.