1. Amy Tan Page 1015 2007 COs – 1a 2010 COS – RL.11-12.1; RL.11-12.6;
RL ; W ; W ; W ; W ; SL ; L ; L ; L
AHSGE – R.IV.2

2. Amy Tan
Her stories often explore familial relationships.

3. Literary Terms (p. 1016)
Motivation – refers to the underlying reasons for a character’s behavior.
A writer can reveal motivation directly by telling us what makes a character tick. More often, however, a writer describes characters through their speech and actions, without telling us exactly why they behave as they do.

4. Rules of the Game Vocabulary
Previewing the Vocabulary
ancestral adj.: inherited.
intricate adj.: complicated; detailed.
obscured v.: concealed; hidden.
retort n.: quick, sharp answer.
touted v.: highly praised.
prodigy n.: extremely gifted person.
malodorous adj.: bad-smelling.

5. Rules of the Game Vocabulary
Previewing the Vocabulary
concessions n. pl.: acts of giving in.
careened v.: lurched sideways.
successive adj.: consecutive.

6. Rules of the Game Vocabulary
Vocabulary Activity
Select a Word Bank word to replace the underlined word or words.
ancestral
intricate
retort
malodorous
successive
The pattern of this lace is very detailed.
How could anyone like such bad-smelling cheese?
Two consecutive storms flooded the area.
Her father loved their inherited home.
Mark’s sharp answer surprised his sister.
intricate
malodorous
successive
ancestral
retort

7. Quickwrite
How does someone learn the rules of the game? Explain.

8. “Rules of the Game” (p. 1017)
What skill does Waverly learn from her mother?
How does Waverly use this skill against her mother?
What gifts do Waverly and her brothers receive from the Santa man?
How is playing chess with Lau Po beneficial for Waverly?
Describe the incident at the market between Waverly and her mother.

9. “Rules of the Game” (p. 1017)
What motivates Mrs. Jong to show off her daughter?
Why does Waverly resent her mother’s showing her off?
The story ends with Waverly playing a fantasy chess match. Explain the significance of the match.

10. Activity P. 1026 Writing – Rules of Your Game
Have you ever had an experience like Waverly had in this story? Think back to a time when you learned about the rules of life. What happened? Whose rules did you break? In a few paragraphs, write a narrative about this incident.
Your narrative will be graded for the following items:
Set out a problem or situation
Use of dialogue (Remember new speaker means new paragraph)
Follow sequence of events
Use of precise words, phrases, details, and sensory language
Conclusion that reflects on the lesson you learned