BBS & BA-BSW First Year
New Course 2019
English
Patterns for College Writing
A Rhetorical Reader and Guide
Laurie G. Kirszner
Stephen R. Mandell
Why Chinese mothers are Superior
- Chua Amy
Purpose and Audience
1. What preconceptions about Chinese mothers does Chua
think Westerners have? Do you think she is right about this?
The preconceptions about Chinese mothers Chua think
that Westerners have is that Chinese parents are stereotypical, overbearing and
indifferent to their children's needs. While I do not believe that the
perception itself is correct, I do think she is correct in stating that many do
believe this to be true.
2. Does Chua seem to expect her readers to be
receptive, hostile, or neutral to her ideas? What evidence can you find to
support your impression? How do you know?
Ans: She seems to anticipate her readers to react
negatively to her ideas. When she talks about the time she called her daughter
garbage". She mentions that she was ostracized by a social circle when
mentioning this incident. She also me of books that portray Asian mothers as
heartless. aware that this parenting style is not well-received daughters, do
many of the things Westerners. In the very first paragraph, she states how her
own d. Sophia and Louisa, were never allowed to do many of which western
parents allo tern parents allow their children to do. She also done on differences
between Chines and Westerners way of parenting (p.5). Similarly, she tells when
she called her daughter 'garbage' how one of her guest reacted by leaving the
party (p.8).
3. What is Chua's thesis? Where does she state it?
Ans: Chua's thesis, which she states in paragraph 11,
is that there three main differences between Western parenting and Chinese
parenting.
4. In an interview, Chua said that the editors
of the Wall Street Journal, not she, chose the title of her essay. Why do you
think the editors chose the title they did? What title do you think Chua would
have chosen? What title would you give the essay?
Ans: The editors likely chose this title because it is
a controversial statement that would draw in readers. Chua's point doesn't seem
to be to claim superiority; her goal seems more oriented toward explaining the
nuances of these parenting techniques to dispel the criticism they receive and
to talk about how these techniques differ from Western techniques.. Her title
may have been something along the lines of "How Chinese and Western
Mothers Differ." I would have chosen a similar title as we believe that
the author's goals should be recognized in the title.
