Inference - to make a logical guess using text evidence and background knowledge
1. Often readers must infer, or make a logical guess about the theme of a text. Some authors hint to the theme in a title. Read the title of the poem. What do you think the poem is about?

in both pieces of work, the authors make reference to different cultural minorities (japanese and latinos) which have to adapt themselves to the ideals of the american society. in the case of the poem "response to executive order 9066", the story of a young american of japanese descent tells her story in first person, making the narrative more vivid. there are some references that make evident that the main character is of japanese descent (such as her surname). the reader can perceive how this girl is discriminated by one of her friends, and the way in which she reacts: she does not know what to do, and acts politely towards her friend. on the other hand, the short story "mericans" depicts a young mexican american girls who feels that is trapped between the "old world" and the "new world". this could make reference to her feeling trapped between her mexican heritage, and her american life. the most ironic moment in this short story, is when tourists try to speak spanish to her, and she answers in english perfectly. there are also some symbols present in the story, such as "la virgen de guadalupe" clearly related to mexican culture.

both pieces of work tell the story of a young girl that struggles with certain stereotypes of what being american means, such as her cultural heritage, her skin colour, her costumes, and her names.

what do you mean by that?