Alan McLawhorn

Aaron Kashtan
UWRT 1102
24 January 2017
Literacy

American identity is the basis for all Americans or Americanized people. To have an

American identity means to be from or live in America. However, living in the U.S. is different

than being born in the U.S. Living is sometimes more important than being born here. For

instance, I was born in Japan, but have been in America ever since I was a one year old.

Therefore, I am Americanized. Since I am Americanized, I show ways to communicate my

Americanness, in everyday life.

In some ways, I show my American identity through conversations. My family and I

sometimes talk about American identity. My mom has lived in America for almost eighteen

years, but she had lived in Japan her whole life before that. She can be considered an American,

but I think she does not want that, and instead embraces her Japanese heritage. These examples

are why we contemplate on what it means to be an American. My dad, however, is an American

and he knows the truth about Americans, or just the Americans in the southern states. He thinks

that they are redneck hicks, and that they are worthless. The fact that we talk about it shows that

we care about American identity, and therefore it represents me.

I also show my American identity through writing, like essays, articles, or even

comments. My writing for school is always in English since I do not know any other language.

Therefore, writing shows how I am American. Growing up in the U.S. is the basis for being an

American and learning English.

Being an American also affects the way I speak.