1. American ignorance 2. The table made of slab from "Rice Husband" 3. The following quotation from "Two Kinds": "It was as if I had said the magic words. Alakazam! -- and her face went blank, her mouth closed, her arms went slack, and she backed out of the room, stunned, as if she were blowing away like a small brown leaf, thin, brittle, lifeless."
LOVE the breaking points idea. Cultural differences would work well, too--just make sure you analyze them (and not list them). The motherly instincts one could be awesome--I wonder if all the mothers have the same instincts or if the motherly instinct differs for each mother.
Since there are three daughters who are married, that topic would lend itself well to our five paragraph structure. There is LOTS to analyze there, too (you might have to narrow your focus. For example, the role of the mothers in their daughters' marriages or the communication between the husbands and wives).
Breaking points would be awesome, as would the influence/impact of past tragedies on the present. How is the present influenced by what has come before?
1. The first vignette about the mother and her swan. 2. The end table made of slab. 3. I also want to analyze the chapter "Without Wood." There are many symbols and topics in this chapter. But is it a huge chapter to analyze or should I pick something smaller?
You can do an analysis on one vignette or one short story--you just need to be able to argue one main thing about the passage and then divide that argument into three supporting points. For example, you could analyze three specific symbols in "Without Wood" and show how the symbols are working together to illustrate one main point. What you can't do is jump from one point to another to another with no focus or unifying argument--that won't work for this paper.
1. the attempt of the daughters to try to find a balance between the modern American style with the old, traditional Chinese style 2. the effect of the mother-daughter relationship on their own relationships 3. how the mothers' past shape the daughters' future
I like all of these, Jack--good thinking here. Not sure if you already have a focus in mind for #2, but it's so interesting to me how the mothers make decisions often in such passive and subtle ways. They "seem" to let things happen, like Waverly in her chess matches, but they are really firmly in control...
1. Competition between the mothers and the daughters 2. Mothers' sacrifices for the daughters' opportunities 3. Lena and Harold's marriage in "Rice Husband"
1. The idea that the daughters will never be good enough for their mothers. 2. The relationship between Lena St. Clair and her mother Ying-ying St. Clair in "The voice from the wall" 3. The struggle with perfection between daughters and mothers
Good ideas, Maddie--you might need to focus a bit in order to develop a thesis, though. For example, is it the daughters who never think they are good enough for their mothers--or the mothers who feel the daughters aren't living up to their expectations? Or both? Same applies to the struggle for perfection...who is driving the perfectionist image? And do the mothers expect perfection from themselves?
Daniel, in #3, who is "their"? The mothers? And whose transition into American life would you be discussing? the mothers? I like this idea, but I am not sure we see a whole lot of the actual transition to America; there is a lot before (in China) and after (in America), but not a lot about their early days in America...
These all have potential, Charlie--the key is developing a specific argument about whichever one you choose. Move forward with the one that you feel you can best analyze.
I like all three of these topics and think they would all work well, but I am intrigued by #2, specifically what you have in parentheses. Are you suggesting that that mothers are using the Chinese traditions to manipulate their daughters? Whose reasoning would you be analyzing?
I like all three. #2 is especially original and makes me wonder if all of the daughters differ from their mothers in the same ways (since they are all influenced by American culture). Are the mothers that similar? Are the daughters that similar? Or are we dealing with eight totally different individuals here?
1. The relation between all of the Joy Luck mothers, competitive. 2. Piano 3. The daughters trying to live the american dream but the are tied down by their mothers' and their chinese heretige
#3 has lots of original potential, but you would need to find something to argue. For example, I sometimes wonder if the daughters are more reacting to their mothers rather than proactively pursuing their own dreams and goals. Do any of them have clear goals/dreams?
1. the craziness of the mothers fear impact on the daughters 2. the symbol of the marble end table 3. what the daughters think about their moms wanting them to be perfect.
1. The clash of the cultures for the daughters 2. How the mothers want absolute control but end up getting the opposite of that. 3. Analyzing the vignettes
All could work, but #3 might be too broad (lots of various types of rebellion in this novel--might have to focus on rebellion of a certain type or against a certain rule/person). Same goes for #2 (they seem confused in many ways). Love #1--and no one else (so far as I've read on the blog) has taken it.
1. Waverly's mother is more of a genius than she is. (dibs) 2. The daughter's successes and failures affect each other's lives 3. The mothers experiences explain and allow you to predict how they treat their daughters
1. "Why don't you stop it?" (people should take control and why they don't) 2. high expectations lead to rebellion 3. how important is it really to have a good understand of your heritage?
I wish you had written more specifics here, Dakota. I like the idea of you focusing on the lack of balance in characters' lives, but I wonder exactly how you will narrow your focus enough to fit a paper this (relatively) short. Mothers know best and Chinese tradition also sound good but broad...make sure whichever one you pick, you have a clear, specific thesis that can be proven in just three body paragraphs.
1.) The mother's affect on the daughter's marriage. 2.) The garden symbol and Biblical allusion in "Without Wood." 3.) The furniture in "Rice Husband."
Proofread, Shawn: "The mothers' effect on the daughters' marriages" is what I think you mean. If you mean one specific daughter and one specific mother (your apostrophe placement suggests that), then which mother and daughter?
I like the idea of you examining the garden allegory in the story, but you will need to make sure you have enough to argue to thoughtfully fill three body paragraphs. I think you could, but you would have to work really hard in order to have enough substance and not repeat yourself.
1. The different ways the moms have for loving their daughters. 2. How the mothers don't talk english very well, but they say something very powerful to their daughters. 3. The jade pendant that Suyuan Woo gave to June.
Hmm...what does "balanced life perks and the disadvantages" mean? The pros and cons to having "everything"? To feeling like life is all balanced? This one could be cool, but you will need to have a specific vision and argument to pull it off well.
I also like the inner family competition idea. We talk about how the mothers compete with each other, and how the daughters compete with each other, but the idea of the mothers competing AGAINST the daughters is interesting.
I like this one, Mackenzie. It tries to get under the surface of the characters' motivations--and why they think differently than they act. Very smart.
1. The reoccurring argument between faith vs. fate. (superstition/religion) 2. The constant desire for the daughters to be something they're not. (shirley temple) 3. Failure of marriages and comparison to superstitions. (empty bowl of rice)
1. How the daughter's relationship with their mother affected their relationships. 2. Different mothering styles and how they affected their child's personalities. 3. Difference between Chinese and American cultures.
1. Chess (As she finds out secrets of chess, she untangles problems in her life) 2. Furniture (Unstable furniture = unstable life) 3. Piano (Symbol of victory or a sign of hopelessness)
1. Cultural Influence (Chinese vs. American) 2. the natural competition between the mothers' and daughters' 3. The sacrifices the mothers are giving up for the future of their daughters
Not many people seem to be doing ghosts, so I am leaning towards this one for you...but all three would work (if you choose #3, though, just make sure you analyze and not summarize!)
oooh, I love #2...you made me think about the fact that the mothers want to leave parts of their pasts behind--but then want their daughters to know and honor their pasts. Seems to be a bit hypocritical?
For #3, do you mean "How the choices of the mothers influences their daughters' lives?" If so, this one is really interesting, but it would be a challenge. Lots of potential for great success here, but you would have to really go after it.
I like the idea of #1--but I honestly don't know what you would analyze. If you have an idea, go for it.
#2 could be cool, but perhaps you could analyze what lessons are successfully passed along and which ones are lost in translation. Why are certain lessons more easily translated than others?
Water- represents life ghosts- people dont have to be dead to be ghosts chinese vs american culture- everything is so diffrent between the 2 cultures. Shaking hands, eating food, respect all together is 100% diffrent.
Kyle Kersey:
ReplyDelete1. American ignorance
2. The table made of slab from "Rice Husband"
3. The following quotation from "Two Kinds": "It was as if I had said the magic words. Alakazam! -- and her face went blank, her mouth closed, her arms went slack, and she backed out of the room, stunned, as if she were blowing away like a small brown leaf, thin, brittle, lifeless."
All three would be awesome topics for analysis.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1. Breaking Points (mothers & daughters)
ReplyDelete2. Cultural DIfferences (American traditions and Chinese traditions)
3. Motherly instincts (love?)
LOVE the breaking points idea. Cultural differences would work well, too--just make sure you analyze them (and not list them). The motherly instincts one could be awesome--I wonder if all the mothers have the same instincts or if the motherly instinct differs for each mother.
Delete(all three would work!)
1. Past Tragedies(and how they affect the present)
ReplyDelete2. The Daughters' Marriages
3. Breaking Points
Since there are three daughters who are married, that topic would lend itself well to our five paragraph structure. There is LOTS to analyze there, too (you might have to narrow your focus. For example, the role of the mothers in their daughters' marriages or the communication between the husbands and wives).
DeleteBreaking points would be awesome, as would the influence/impact of past tragedies on the present. How is the present influenced by what has come before?
All three great topics.
1. The first vignette about the mother and her swan.
ReplyDelete2. The end table made of slab.
3. I also want to analyze the chapter "Without Wood." There are many symbols and topics in this chapter. But is it a huge chapter to analyze or should I pick something smaller?
You can do an analysis on one vignette or one short story--you just need to be able to argue one main thing about the passage and then divide that argument into three supporting points. For example, you could analyze three specific symbols in "Without Wood" and show how the symbols are working together to illustrate one main point. What you can't do is jump from one point to another to another with no focus or unifying argument--that won't work for this paper.
Delete1. the attempt of the daughters to try to find a balance between the modern American style with the old, traditional Chinese style
ReplyDelete2. the effect of the mother-daughter relationship on their own relationships
3. how the mothers' past shape the daughters' future
All three look awesome! Love how you are making connections within the relationships and between the stories here...
Delete1. colors
ReplyDelete2. "the only daughter." (91)
3. furniture
Good stuff, Bethany. I look forward to helping you with your thesis draft when you return on Wednesday.
Delete1. The American Men 2. Mothers making all the decisions 3. Letting things happen vs. Taking the initiative (Chinese way vs. American way)
ReplyDeleteI like all of these, Jack--good thinking here. Not sure if you already have a focus in mind for #2, but it's so interesting to me how the mothers make decisions often in such passive and subtle ways. They "seem" to let things happen, like Waverly in her chess matches, but they are really firmly in control...
Delete1. Competition between the mothers and the daughters
ReplyDelete2. Mothers' sacrifices for the daughters' opportunities
3. Lena and Harold's marriage in "Rice Husband"
Love all three--but especially #2 and #3!
Delete1. The idea that the daughters will never be good enough for their mothers.
ReplyDelete2. The relationship between Lena St. Clair and her mother Ying-ying St. Clair in "The voice from the wall"
3. The struggle with perfection between daughters and mothers
Good ideas, Maddie--you might need to focus a bit in order to develop a thesis, though. For example, is it the daughters who never think they are good enough for their mothers--or the mothers who feel the daughters aren't living up to their expectations? Or both? Same applies to the struggle for perfection...who is driving the perfectionist image? And do the mothers expect perfection from themselves?
DeleteLots to say about all three of these topics.
1 The side effects of immigration
ReplyDelete2 When is the mother right and when is the daughter right?
3 Balancing new culture with old tradition
I am intrigued by your first topic and would love to hear your argument about what these "side effects" are according to TJLC.
DeleteThe second topic is also super interesting--just make sure you can develop one focused argument that drives the entire paper.
1 The Piano
ReplyDelete2 The transition into america life
3 their views on Americans/ the american men
Daniel, in #3, who is "their"? The mothers? And whose transition into American life would you be discussing? the mothers? I like this idea, but I am not sure we see a whole lot of the actual transition to America; there is a lot before (in China) and after (in America), but not a lot about their early days in America...
Delete1 Marriages
ReplyDelete2 The Piano
3 The Rice husband
These all have potential, Charlie--the key is developing a specific argument about whichever one you choose. Move forward with the one that you feel you can best analyze.
Delete1) Furniture
ReplyDelete2) The Chinese traditions (the reasoning behind them)
3) The cause of the "breaking points" of each daughter
I like all three of these topics and think they would all work well, but I am intrigued by #2, specifically what you have in parentheses. Are you suggesting that that mothers are using the Chinese traditions to manipulate their daughters? Whose reasoning would you be analyzing?
DeleteI meant why they are Chinese traditions in the first place. What is the Chinese reasoning behind them; what does it symbolize in their culture?
Delete1. The game/competition between the mothers and daughters.
ReplyDelete2. How the daughters' cultural environment shapes them into drastically different people than their mothers.
3. Symbol of trophies and what they represent throughout the book.
I like all three. #2 is especially original and makes me wonder if all of the daughters differ from their mothers in the same ways (since they are all influenced by American culture). Are the mothers that similar? Are the daughters that similar? Or are we dealing with eight totally different individuals here?
Delete1. Living through your child
ReplyDelete2. Mother knows best
3. Cultural set-backs
All three have tons of potential! Just make sure not to use second person in the paper!
Delete1. The relation between all of the Joy Luck mothers, competitive.
ReplyDelete2. Piano
3. The daughters trying to live the american dream but the are tied down by their mothers' and their chinese heretige
#3 has lots of original potential, but you would need to find something to argue. For example, I sometimes wonder if the daughters are more reacting to their mothers rather than proactively pursuing their own dreams and goals. Do any of them have clear goals/dreams?
Delete1. the craziness of the mothers fear impact on the daughters
ReplyDelete2. the symbol of the marble end table
3. what the daughters think about their moms wanting them to be perfect.
2. furniture
Delete3. bible
All these would work, Anne--pick the one that you feel you can best analyze. You need to be able to argue something about whichever one you choose.
Delete1. The clash of the cultures for the daughters
ReplyDelete2. How the mothers want absolute control but end up getting the opposite of that.
3. Analyzing the vignettes
LOVE all three of these! Ah, I wish you could write all three!
Delete1.) silence
ReplyDelete2.) confusion among the american born chinese
3.) rebellion
All could work, but #3 might be too broad (lots of various types of rebellion in this novel--might have to focus on rebellion of a certain type or against a certain rule/person). Same goes for #2 (they seem confused in many ways). Love #1--and no one else (so far as I've read on the blog) has taken it.
Delete1) Lena St.Clair
ReplyDelete2)Mothers know best
3)Failed Marriage
The first one intrigues me, Pamela--I love the idea of you analyzing one character in depth. I think this has real potential.
DeleteThe other two would also make great paper topics, though!
1. Waverly's mother is more of a genius than she is. (dibs)
ReplyDelete2. The daughter's successes and failures affect each other's lives
3. The mothers experiences explain and allow you to predict how they treat their daughters
You going to go with #1? I think "Four Directions" gives you even more to work with for this topic. Good thinking.
DeleteI like the connections in #2...
#3 is the weakest of the three (for this paper assignment).
1. "Why don't you stop it?" (people should take control and why they don't)
ReplyDelete2. high expectations lead to rebellion
3. how important is it really to have a good understand of your heritage?
I like #1--using this quote to examine the lack of initiative and control exhibited by various characters in the story.
Delete1. Unbalancement
ReplyDelete2. Mothers know best
3. Chinese tradition
Not sure "unbalancement" is a word :-)
DeleteI wish you had written more specifics here, Dakota. I like the idea of you focusing on the lack of balance in characters' lives, but I wonder exactly how you will narrow your focus enough to fit a paper this (relatively) short. Mothers know best and Chinese tradition also sound good but broad...make sure whichever one you pick, you have a clear, specific thesis that can be proven in just three body paragraphs.
1.) The mother's affect on the daughter's marriage.
ReplyDelete2.) The garden symbol and Biblical allusion in "Without Wood."
3.) The furniture in "Rice Husband."
Proofread, Shawn: "The mothers' effect on the daughters' marriages" is what I think you mean. If you mean one specific daughter and one specific mother (your apostrophe placement suggests that), then which mother and daughter?
DeleteI like the idea of you examining the garden allegory in the story, but you will need to make sure you have enough to argue to thoughtfully fill three body paragraphs. I think you could, but you would have to work really hard in order to have enough substance and not repeat yourself.
1. The different ways the moms have for loving their daughters.
ReplyDelete2. How the mothers don't talk english very well, but they say something very powerful to their daughters.
3. The jade pendant that Suyuan Woo gave to June.
I like #1 the most--lots of potential here for a five paragraph essay!
Delete1. competition among mothers and daughter
ReplyDelete2. letting things happen vs. making decisions
3. fate vs. faith (chinese/american)
All three would work--make sure you pick the one for which you feel you can develop the strongest argument.
Delete1. Inner family competition
ReplyDelete2. American tradition vs. Chinese tradition
3. Balanced life perks and the disadvantages
Hmm...what does "balanced life perks and the disadvantages" mean? The pros and cons to having "everything"? To feeling like life is all balanced? This one could be cool, but you will need to have a specific vision and argument to pull it off well.
DeleteI also like the inner family competition idea. We talk about how the mothers compete with each other, and how the daughters compete with each other, but the idea of the mothers competing AGAINST the daughters is interesting.
1.Ghosts
ReplyDelete2."Why you don't stop it?"
3.Walls
The "why you don't stop it?" theme is focusing on people who know they are doing wrong and yet continue what they are doing.
DeleteI like this one, Mackenzie. It tries to get under the surface of the characters' motivations--and why they think differently than they act. Very smart.
DeleteAll three are great ideas!
1.American v. Chinese "vision"
ReplyDelete2.Balance
3.Prevention of bad outcomes
Vision of what?
DeleteNot exactly sure what 1 and 3 are all about. Balance is a good--but huge--topic!
1. The reoccurring argument between faith vs. fate. (superstition/religion)
ReplyDelete2. The constant desire for the daughters to be something they're not. (shirley temple)
3. Failure of marriages and comparison to superstitions. (empty bowl of rice)
Love all three of these! Good thinking!
Delete1. How the daughter's relationship with their mother affected their relationships.
ReplyDelete2. Different mothering styles and how they affected their child's personalities.
3. Difference between Chinese and American cultures.
#1 is a little confusing to me--seems like circular logic (how the relationship affected the relationship). What exactly are you getting at here?
DeleteI like the differing mothering styles, though...just make sure you analyze them.
1. Chess (As she finds out secrets of chess, she untangles problems in her life)
ReplyDelete2. Furniture (Unstable furniture = unstable life)
3. Piano (Symbol of victory or a sign of hopelessness)
All three are worthy symbols to analyze--just make sure you go farther than we did in class.
Delete1. Cultural Influence (Chinese vs. American)
ReplyDelete2. the natural competition between the mothers' and daughters'
3. The sacrifices the mothers are giving up for the future of their daughters
I like all three...just wondering if #3 can be easily analyzed (I want to make sure you stay away from mere summary and/or listing here).
DeleteWhat do you mean by "natural" competition?
And #1 is good--just a BIG topic.
Pick one that you can analyze deeply and clearly in 5 paragraphs, Sidak.
1. Ghosts and how they influenced people in the book.
ReplyDelete2. Mothers and daughters relationships
3. Difference between Chinese and American Influences.
Not many people seem to be doing ghosts, so I am leaning towards this one for you...but all three would work (if you choose #3, though, just make sure you analyze and not summarize!)
Delete1. dads and husbands influences
ReplyDelete2. piano
3. the joy luck club
I love #1--but I would choose EITHER the dads or the husbands. Narrowing your focus means you can go deeper.
DeleteI also would love to see what you can do with the title--but again, you have to really analyze it throughout the book. Could be tough.
1. "Bing" name symbolism
ReplyDelete2. Faith vs. Fate
3. Chinese Mythology and Zodiac relating to characters'futures and personalities
Love all three!
Deletep.s. You were awesome in the debate!
1. rebellion
ReplyDelete2. how the mothers want to leave their past behind
3. cultural differences
oooh, I love #2...you made me think about the fact that the mothers want to leave parts of their pasts behind--but then want their daughters to know and honor their pasts. Seems to be a bit hypocritical?
Delete1 CHinese mother's hope and communication with her daughter born in America
ReplyDelete2 Piano
3 Mother knows the best
All three would work, Misaki--pick the one that you can develop a strong argument for!
Delete1. The Wall.
ReplyDelete2. Silence.
3. How the choice of the mothers influence their daughters life's.
I like #1 and #2.
DeleteFor #3, do you mean "How the choices of the mothers influences their daughters' lives?" If so, this one is really interesting, but it would be a challenge. Lots of potential for great success here, but you would have to really go after it.
1. Mother knows best.
ReplyDelete2. Competition between the mothers.
3. Chinese traditions.
All will work well.
Delete1.prodigy images
ReplyDelete2.how daughters understanding mothers stories
3.relationships
"Relationships" is too broad, but I like 1 and 2.
Delete1)The Piano
ReplyDelete2) Marriages
3)Furniture and balance quotes
Furniture and balance quotes might be too much for one paper--each one could be its own topic.
Delete1. How faith plays a role
ReplyDelete2.Piano
3. Ghosts
How faith plays a role in what? Can you get more specific here?
DeleteOtherwise, these look good.
1.) Bing (and how his name reappears)
ReplyDelete2.) What things from China and their past are the mothers teaching their daughters?
3.) Do mothers know best?
I like the idea of #1--but I honestly don't know what you would analyze. If you have an idea, go for it.
Delete#2 could be cool, but perhaps you could analyze what lessons are successfully passed along and which ones are lost in translation. Why are certain lessons more easily translated than others?
#3 would be good as well.
1) mom's and daughter's relationships and how they challenge the daughter's marriage
ReplyDelete2) furniture
3) rebellion
All look good!
Delete1.) facial and body details (eyes)
ReplyDelete2.) ways of thinking (positive and negative)
3.) interaction of fate and faith
Love #1! I also love your topics that you showed me at the end of class.
Delete1. Ghost and spirits
ReplyDelete2. Furniture
3. The expectation of the mothers for their child
Good stuff, Ray--just make sure you analyze whichever topic you choose.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete1. Mother Daughter relationship
ReplyDelete2. Rice Husband
3. Chess
These would be fine. Push yourself to analyze.
Delete1. Mahjong
ReplyDelete2. Vignette titles
3. Bible
The vignette titles? They don't have titles...
DeleteMahjong is a new one on the blog--would love to see an analysis of it.
1.expectations
ReplyDelete2.superstitions
3.mothers holding on to memories
Good stuff--but really broad. You will probably need to focus to be able to analyze something in depth in just five paragraphs.
Delete1. furniture
ReplyDelete2. mother's influence on daughters
3. superstitions
All three are good--but same as Ian above...these may be too broad for this short a paper.Narrow your focus to something you can go DEEP with.
Delete1. silence
ReplyDelete2. parenting
3. expectations
Parenting and expectations are pretty broad, Amy...focus and achieve depth.
Delete1. the idea that "mothers know best"
ReplyDelete2. Fate vs. Faith
3. Chinese vs. American cultural differenes
All good, McKenna.
Delete1. Mother daughter competition.
ReplyDelete2. Daughters desire for independence
3. Rebellion between the women and their husbands.
Good--just make sure you have some specific argument in your paper, Matt. You need to have a specific take on any of these.
Delete1. Plants/garden
ReplyDelete2. Chapter titles
3. Cultural Differences
Love 1 and 2!
Delete1. dads
ReplyDelete2. parental strictness
3. mariage
these are pretty broad, Q...you need to focus here.
DeleteWater- represents life
ReplyDeleteghosts- people dont have to be dead to be ghosts
chinese vs american culture- everything is so diffrent between the 2 cultures. Shaking hands, eating food, respect all together is 100% diffrent.