1. INTRO AND CONCLUSION I-American Unit 2014-2015

2. Start Big (Background/Current Discussion) People in America often struggle to balance their cultural identity with the dominant “American” culture that surrounds them. Oftentimes, the dominant “American” culture can leave an individual feeling frustrated, lost, and confused.

3. Narrow in. (Maybe offer a reason or an effect of the discussion) Instead of trying to fit in to the dominant culture, the individual would rather reject it entirely, but that is almost impossible when a person is surrounded by it. Naomi Shabib Nye and Khaled Mattawa examine the implications of this struggle and offer ways to find the balance they need.

4. Bridge to Thesis/Thesis Statement While living in America, Susan from “Hamadi,” the father from “My Father and the Fig Tree,” and the speaker from “Borrowed Tongue” continue to practice traditions that connect them to their cultural backgrounds which allows them to maintain their cultural identity.

5. Introduction People in America often struggle to balance their cultural identity with the dominant “American” culture that surrounds them. Oftentimes, the dominant “American” culture can leave an individual feeling frustrated, lost, and confused. Instead of trying to fit in to the dominant culture, the individual would rather reject it entirely, but that is almost impossible when a person is surrounded by it. Naomi Shabib Nye and Khaled Mattawa examine the implications of this struggle and offer ways to find the balance they need. While living in America, Susan from “Hamadi,” the father from “My Father and the Fig Tree,” and the speaker from “Borrowed Tongue” continue to practice traditions that connect them to their cultural backgrounds which allows them to maintain their cultural identity.

6. Restate Thesis (use different words) Susan from “Hamadi,” the father from “My Father and the Fig Tree,” and the speaker from “Borrowed Tongue” are able to incorporate their cultural roots with the dominant “American” culture and therefore create their own cultural identity.

7. Re-present evidence from Body Paragraph #1 Susan releases her judgment of others and typical American values and instead learns compassion and gains the ability to cherish all individuals for who they are.

8. Re-present evidence from Body Paragraph #2 The father from “My Father and the Fig Tree” rejects any replica of his culture and patiently waits for a symbol of its purity to become part of his life again.

9. Re-present evidence from Body Paragraph #3 Finally, the speaker from “Borrowed Tongue” realizes that he doesn’t have to choose between the two—he can create a third option and be comfortably both.

10. So what? When these characters choose accept their cultural identity, whether through compassion, patience, or revelation, they overcome their self-doubt and the cultural oppression that created it. If young people stand up for who they are and show each other why their differences make them strong, they can lead others to do so as well.