"Rules of the Game" by Amy Tan Close Reading Analysis Worksheet

Help high school students go beyond general reading comprehension and support the development of critical thinking skills with this close reading analysis worksheet covering Amy Tan’s short story titled “Rules of the Game,” an excerpt from her book The Joy Luck Club. An answer key is provided. Materials are delivered in editable Word Document and printable PDF formats.

This resource may facilitate small-group discussions in which students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development. Using this resource for structured guidance, students will improve their ability to present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly and convincingly.

By engaging with this close reading activity, students will:

• Identify what the text states both explicitly and implicitly
• Consult reference materials to verify interpretations of language
• Discern the intended effects of words and phrases as they are used in the text
• Consider the title’s dual meanings
• Determine the function of a given paragraph
• Describe tone in context
• Explore how characters think, behave, interact, and develop
• Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, simile, foreshadowing, onomatopoeia, ambiguity, and more
• Reflect on how point of view shapes the reader’s understanding of events
• Consider themes in context
• Support claims and inferences with sound reasoning and relevant evidence
• Write about fiction with clarity, accuracy, and precision