Literary Elements
Family Ties (Barack Obama)
Family Ties (Amy Tan)
Family Ties Vocabulary
More Family Ties Vocabulary
100

This is the main idea or opinion of the paper that you are trying to write.

What is a thesis?


100

This was an issue that Barack Obama struggled with while growing up.

What is figuring out what role race played in his life?


100

These are some things that affected Tan's feelings about her heritage as she was growing up.

What are her desires to impress American boys, feeling embarassed about her mother and her mother's strict rules?


100

This is the definition of discrimination.

What is being accused of something based on how you look?


100

This is what an adversary would try to do if you were racing with them.

What is they would try to beat you?


200

When the author hints or mentions something that is about to happen.

What is Foreshadowing?


200

This is why Obama took up basketball.

What is to develop his own sense of identity?


200

This is what caused Tan to want to know her mother.

What is Amy thought her mom was going to die?


200

This is an example of someone's heritage.

What is a holiday tradition?


200

This means the same as unpredictable.

What is erratic?


300

These are the reasons for writing a Narrative Essay.

What are Persuade, Inform and Entertain?


300

This is why Obama went to Kenya.

What is to better understand his father?


300

This is who suffered from depression.

Who are Amy and her mother?


300

This is an example of intentions.

What is planning to get better grades?

300

When you pretend to be something or someone that you are not.

What is to impersonate?


400

These are the 3 elements of a good introduction.

What are 1- a good hook, 2- a well formed thesis and 3-introducing your big ideas.


400

This is how Obama identified with his father and grandfather.

What is they all struggled with their conflicting cultures?
400

These were the themes of "A Mother's Ghosts" (Amy Tan's story). There are 3.

What are mother daughter bonds, a writer's attempt to find her voice and a first generation American's struggle to find her voice?
400

This is an example of a memoir.

What is writing about personal experiences?


400

When you uncover a secret.

What is a revelation?


500

This is how Obama's father and Tan's mother were present in their kids' lives.

What was Obama's dad was not around while Amy's mom was?


500

This is how Obama's MOTHER and Tan's FATHER influenced their kids.

What is Obama mama was strong and independent.

Tan's father was gentle and understanding.

500

If you are looking for safety from a thunderstorm you are looking to find this.

What is refuge?


500

This is wild, confused or violent.

What is turbulent?