The Essay Two Ways To Belong In America Persuades
The Essay Two Ways To Belong In America Attempts To Persuade The Re
The essay, "Two Ways to Belong in America" attempts to persuade the reader. Read the essay at this link and write your Reflection Paper 3 on this essay. These papers will be your reflective response to a reading. The process will be relatively simple: You will read a text that will be assigned within the module. You will then write a Reflection Paper based on that text and your observations of it.
The purpose of a Reading Reflection Paper is to understand your informed opinions about what you may have learned from the text. Each reader will respond to the text differently based on their personal experiences and lifestyles. Keeping this in mind, the purpose of this paper is to consider how these ideas reflect, contradict, or align with your interpretations. This will be an opportunity for you to recognize and challenge your opinions. Here is a list of the basic requirements:
1. The paper must be written in MLA format. If this is not done you will lose points.
2. Each paper must be words.
3. Outside sources are not required — just use the text that you are responding to.
4. Writing must be formal language with correct spelling and punctuation.
5. Each paper must take one idea/topic from the text and write about it — do not summarize.
6. When composing your paper think of the following: What is the one new thing that you have learned? Or it could be the one thing that disturbed you the most. How does the learning of that one thing challenge your prior ideas (or support them)? And how does learning this affect your view of the world around you?
7. Remember: This paper is meant to help you find what is meaningful to you in the reading. I do not need you to summarize the material. I want to know what it means to you.
8. Check the rubric and the samples for Reflection Papers and make sure to ask questions as needed.
Paper For Above instruction
This reflection paper focuses on the essay “Two Ways to Belong in America,” a compelling narrative that explores the contrasting attitudes of two sisters regarding their American identity and immigration status. The essay presents a nuanced perspective on assimilation, cultural identity, and the American Dream, prompting deep reflection on my own perceptions of immigration and belonging. For this reflection, I will delve primarily into the idea of cultural integration and how the differing approaches of the sisters challenged or reinforced my understanding of what it means to be an American.
One idea that resonated deeply with me was the concept that assimilation does not necessarily mean relinquishing one's cultural identity. The essay illustrates how Sylvia, who chooses to embrace American customs fully, and her sister, who maintains her native traditions, both consider themselves Americans. This challenged my prior assumption that complete assimilation required abandoning one's cultural roots. According to the essay, both sisters seamlessly integrate into American society while preserving their cultural heritage, illustrating that cultural diversity and national identity are not mutually exclusive (Nguyen, 1997). This made me reflect on my understanding of multiculturalism as a strength rather than a weakness in the fabric of a nation.
I was particularly disturbed by the idea that some perceive assimilation as losing one's original cultural identity, which may lead to a gradual erasure of cultural diversity within immigrant communities. This concern aligns with existing debates about cultural homogeneity versus multiculturalism in America. I realized that my prior view maintained that full assimilation might threaten cultural plurality, but the essay challenged this view by suggesting that integration and cultural preservation are not mutually exclusive. Learning this broadened my perspective, leading me to appreciate the ways in which immigrants and their descendants can maintain cultural uniqueness while also contributing to the American fabric.
This reflection has significantly affected my view of societal integration. I now see that embracing American identity does not necessarily mean abandoning one's roots, but rather finding a harmonious balance that enhances both individual and collective identities. This understanding encourages me to reconsider my assumptions about cultural assimilation and to recognize the value of diverse cultural expressions within a unifying national identity. Overall, Nguyen’s essay has challenged and expanded my understanding of what it means to belong in America, emphasizing that integration and cultural retention can coexist beneficially, enriching the social tapestry of the nation.
References
- Nguyen, T. (1997). Two ways to belong in America. The New York Times.