Discussion question for Amy Chua

 A. Discuss these questions with your group.

1. Describe Amy Chua’s parenting style. What are some specific examples of how she controls her children?

2. What does David Brooks think of her parenting style?

3. What does Brooks think is an important skill for children to learn?

4. How does Amy Chua think that children learn best?

5. How does David Brooks think that children learn best? What examples does he give?  

***6. When Brooks says that “in some ways the school cafeteria is more intellectually demanding than the library,” what does he mean?

7. What is the main idea of the reading? 

8. Do you agree with Brooks or Chua? Explain.

 

 

 

B. Paraphrase one of  the following from the article. Be sure to include the name of the author (David Brooks) and the name of the article (“Amy Chua Is a Wimp”)

1. “Yet mastering these arduous skills is at the very essence of achievement.”

2. “They’ll grow up skilled and compliant but without the audacity to be great.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C. Think about the following questions: 

1. How is learning in groups beneficial?

2. How does spending time with peers outside the classroom help a child’s development?

3. How can a strict parenting style be harmful to a child?

4. How can a strict parenting style be helpful to a child?

 

***For several of the above, try to find a sentence from the article to support your point. Paraphrase those sentences.

 

Homework:  

Prepare for the midterm. You will have 2 hours to do the midterm on Thursday. We will spend the first part of class doing reading work. You must have your cameras on while you are doing your midterm.  You will write the midterm directly onto Canvas.  

***I will choose two out of four of the above questions for your midterm.  (Part C) You will have to write about one of them.  

 

The reading midterm is next Tuesday.