CHAPTER 7 COMPARISON AND CONTRAST MOMS UNFORGIVING MIRROR

CHAPTER 7 COMPARISON AND CONTRAST MOM’S UNFORGIVING MIRROR DEBORAH TANNEN Reporter: 英語三 S 10127050李惠能 英語二 S 10222031曾子伊 S 10227001 藍 天 Instructor: Professor Pierre Hsu Date: 2015/1/8

UNDERSTANDING THE WRITER’S IDEAS

1. What is the importance of the photograph that Tannen introduces at the start of her essay?

l the start of misunderstanding: mother only cares about Tannen’s appearance. l in reality: cares about her health.

2. According to Tannen, what is significance of “a small asymmetry” in relations between mothers and daughters?

Mother and daughter is the mirror of each other.

l“ a small asymmetry”: only mother can make the daughter change. l Tannen thinks that Mother notices her eyes because of mother’s selfish.

3. Explain what Tannen means by “mirror image” in this essay.

The “mirror image” is a symbol of the affection between mother and daughter.

4. Summarize the key points that Tannen makes about mothers and daughters.

Mothers She loves her daughter all the time, but the way she express her love may not be accepted by her daughter. When she was a teenager, she thinks her mother only care Daughters about her face. But she finally realizes her mother’s selfless love toward her.

5. What is Tannen’s attitude toward her own mother?

She eventually realizes her mother’s love for her, and understands that her mother’s criticism on her appearance is a gesture of love.

UNDERSTANDING THE WRITER’S TECHNIQUES

1. Does Tannen state her thesis or imply it? Explain.

l She states it: misunderstanding. l Tannen finds that her mom loves her in a specific way but she cannot accept this way.

2. l Tannen wrote this essay for readers of The Washington Post. l What aspects of style and organization would make her article appealing to this newspaper’s audience?

l her real experience l using metaphors l lifestyle

3. l Analyze the pattern of comparison and contrast that Tannen uses in this essay. l Does she employ a rigid block or alternating pattern or improvise?

perspective want truth mother help, protect and advise dislike daughter tell you compliment about flaws

an alternating pattern thought or example first mothers second daughters

“’My mother’s perspective had become my own. ”

4. Trace the mirror motif that Tannen uses in this essay and explain its utility.

l My mother’s perspective had become my own. l Daughters and mothers often feel that the other represents her to the world. l. I often told my mother that her hair didn’t look good—and volunteered to fix it.

example mirror utility unconsciously My mother’s perspectives reflection accept had become my own. Misunderstand Daughters and mothers They are often feel that the other the mirror Understand represents her to the of each world. other. I often told my mother that her hair didn’t look good— and volunteered to fix it. reflect back to mother Accept

5. l Examine and evaluate the transitional techniques that Tannen uses to move from paragraph to paragraph.

sixth paragraph Paragraph before after beginning main idea/ example mirror end mirror understand example Par. 2 Last par. see each other as a reflection of a gesture of love her

“Recalling that image, I understood at last that her fussing over my appearance really could have been, all along, a gesture of love. ”

l Why are her topic sentences at the outset of each paragraph especially effective in unifying the essay?

complain compare & contrast change understand

“Daughters and mothers often feel that the other represents her to the world. ”

6. What is the overall tone of Tannen’s essay?

l Newspaper’s l Daily post: easy to read life: casual

7. How does Tannen’s concluding paragraph reinforce ideas and strategies that her presents in the beginning and the body of the essay?

l carefully l Echo: l title describing the details reflection and main idea: mirror

Mirror Image Mothers & Daughters Similar caring of each other but reverse misunderstanding

l carefully l Echo: l title describing the details reflection and main idea: mirror

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.