Defining “Asian American” Is Complicated —Who Gets Left Behind?

Open Ended

Think of three words or ideas that come to mind when you hear the term "Asian American."

What influences the way you think about this term? (For example, media, personal experiences, or history.)

Multiple Choice

What does the term “Asian American” refer to?

• A group of people from a single country in Asia

• People in the United States with Asian heritage

• Only people from China, Japan, and Korea

• A specific language spoken in Asia

Multiple Choice

Why might someone feel like their identity is being misunderstood?

• If others assume things about them without asking

• If they forget their own heritage and only focus on their new environment

• If they move to a new country and people accept them

• If they learn a new language

Multiple Choice

What is the title of the text we are about to read?

• Defining “Asian American” Is Complicated —Who Gets Left Behind?

• The Complexity of ‘Asian American’: Who’s Included and Who’s Overlooked?

• Rethinking ‘Asian American’: Identity, Representation, and the Gaps in Between

• Who Counts as Asian American? -The Challenges of a Broad Identity

Open Ended

QSSSA Activity

Follow the directions on the slide.

Open Ended

Read paragraphs 1-3 with your partner and answer the question below.
QUESTION: What is the debate that is mentioned in paragraphs 1-3?
STEM: The debate that is mentioned in paragraphs 3 is...

Multiple Choice

Read paragraph 1 and answer the MC question.
QUESTION: What is the author's purpose in paragraph 1?

• To introduce Christian Vongdara’s background and experiences with identity

• To explain why students should learn more about Asian cultures and how they shouldn't discriminate

• To describe the history of Laos and its location

• To persuade the reader that Vongdara’s experience was unfair

Multiple Choice

What is the effect of the direct quote in paragraph 2?

• It provides an example of how people view Asian identity in a limited way

• It gives a historical explanation of Asian immigration to the U.S.

• It shows that Laotians do not consider themselves Asian

• It explains why some Asian countries are more well-known than others

Multiple Choice

Which definition best matches the meaning of "blur" as it is used in paragraph 3?

• To make something unclear or difficult to see

• To become less distinct or focused

• To cause something to lose sharp edges or boundaries

• To make something confusing or harder to understand

Multiple Choice

What is most likely the author’s purpose in paragraphs 1 through 3?

• To argue that all Asian Americans should be seen as the same

• To explain the challenges of defining Asian American identity 

• To highlight the importance of learning new languages

• To prove that Laotians are not Asian, and only people from China, Korea and Japan should be considered Asian

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

What is the author’s purpose in including the information about South Asians in paragraph 4?

• To show that South Asians do not consider themselves Asian American

• To highlight the challenges South Asians face in being recognized as part of the Asian American identity

• To argue that only certain countries should be considered part of Asia and not every single one of them

• To explain that South Asians and other Asian Americans have identical experiences

Open Ended

What was overlooked about Kamala Harris in the 2020 presidential election?

STEM: In the 2020 presidential election the fact that was overlooked about Kamala Harris was that _.

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

What is most likely the reason the author includes the quote from Kamala Harris in paragraph 6?

• To show that Harris rejects her Black identity

• To emphasize the role of family and culture in shaping identity

• To argue that Tamil should be the official language of Asian Americans

• To prove that Harris struggled with her identity throughout her life

Multiple Choice

Read paragraph 7 independently and answer the MC question.

What is the author’s purpose in including the historical background about the term "Asian American" in paragraph 7?

• To explain how the term was created to help Asian immigrants become U.S. citizens

• To show that the term was used to separate Asian Americans from other racial groups and to identify who is actually considered Asian identity

• To highlight that the term was created as a way for Asian Americans to assert their identity and belonging

• To argue that the term "Asian American" should no longer be used

Multiple Choice

In paragraph 7, the words “It was a declaration of our self-identity” contribute to the author’s voice by showing —

• A formal and academic tone to explain historical immigration laws

• A neutral tone that presents facts without emotion

• A strong and assertive tone to emphasize Asian Americans’ empowerment 

• A dismissive tone to downplay the importance of the term “Asian American”

Multiple Choice

Read paragraph 8 and answer the MC question.

What is the author’s purpose in including information about early Chinese immigration in this section?

• To explain why all Asian Americans are from East Asia and how Asian Americans from West Asia should not be part of the Asian heritage

• To show how early immigration patterns have shaped common misconceptions about Asian American identity

• To argue that only East Asian countries should be considered part of Asia

• To highlight how Chinese immigrants were the only Asian group to settle in the U.S.

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the Blanks

Open Ended

QSSSA Activity

Follow the directions on the slide.