There are some similarities between Fan Shen’s and David Bartholomae’s articles, although they are different. But before talking about similarities and differences I will summarize both texts including my own thoughts. Fan Shen in his text talks about how language shapes an identity. He tells us about his own experience as a new immigrant from China, presenting the problems he encountered while he was learning how to write compositions in English language. Using …showed first 75 words of 750 total…

…showed last 75 words of 750 total…American. It was a “situational passing”, like we said in class. In order to be a successful writer in America, he had to feel what it is like to be an American. He was striving to think the English way to in order create a “new English self”. Since he didn’t lose his old identity, this kind of passing is good not just for success but also for smooth absorption in a new culture.