Basic Outline for Two Kinds

Basic Outline for Two Kinds

Introduction:

1. Opening sentence that grabs the reader's attention
2. Thesis statement: Amy Tan's story Two Kinds makes a powerful statement about the mother-daughter relationship. Through this story, the reader learns that mothers and daughters are very much alike, even if they have different cultural mindsets.
3. Summary of points you'll use to support the thesis statement

Body:

1. Transition sentence
2. First point you'll use to support the thesis:
3. Information from the story to support the thesis
4. Information from research to support the thesis
5. Next paragraph: Transition sentence
6. Information from the story to support the thesis
7. Information from research to support the thesis
8. Next paragraph: Transition sentence
9. Information from the story to support the thesis
10. Information from research to support the thesis

Conclusion:

1. Restate thesis
2. Summarize points you used to support thesis
3. Refer back to attention getter

Research Notes

Source One:

The incomplete cultural understanding of both the mothers and the daughters owes to their incomplete knowledge of language. Additionally, the barriers that exist between the mothers and the daughters are often due to their inability to communicate with one another. Although the daughters know some Chinese words and the mothers speak some English, communication often becomes a matter of translation, of words whose intended meaning and accepted meaning are in fact quite separate, leading to subtle misunderstandings.

SparkNotes Editors. (2003). SparkNote on The Joy Luck Club. Retrieved June 21, 2010, from

Source Two:

“In fact, most adolescents, while conforming to peer expectations about more superficial matters such as clothes and entertainment, tend to hold and support the same opinions and support the same values as their parents on important issues such as basic moral principles, education and career goals, and the like”

Snyderman, N. L. (2003). Girl in the Mirror: Mothers and Daughters in the Years of Adolescence. New York: Hyperion.

Source Three:

“Tan's stories derive from her own experience as a Chinese American and from stories of Chinese life her mother told her.They reflect her early conflicts with her strongly opinionated mother and her growing understanding and appreciation of her mother's past and her strength in adapting to her new country.”

“A central theme of Tan's stories is the conflict faced by Chinese Americans who find themselves alienated both from their American milieu and from their Chinese parents and heritage.”

Stein, K. F. (n.d.). Short Story Writers- Amy Tan. Salem Press. Retrieved June 24, 2010, from

Source Four:

“It is also the working out of their miscommunication and misunderstanding in the process of talking story that makes the … mothers and daughters understand one another and forge their connection.”

Yu, Y. (n.d.). Relocating Maternal Subjectivity: Storytelling and Mother-Daughter Voices in Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club. thirdspace: a journal of feminist theory & culture. Retrieved June 24, 2010, from

Source Five:

“All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his.”

-- Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

For More Information

To search free psychological journals online:

To learn about Amy Tan:

TIP: Since she uses her own relationship with her mother as inspiration for a lot of her writing, I bet you'll find some helpful information here :-)