Unit 10 The Transaction Teaching plan综合教程三.doc

Unit 10 The TransactionTeaching PointsBy the end of this unit, students are supposed to1) grasp the authors purpose of writing and make clear the structure of the whole passage through an intensive reading of Text I The Transaction.2) comprehend the topic sentences in Text I thoroughly and be able to paraphrase them.3) get a list of new words and structures and use them freely in conversation and writing.4) be aware of the cross-cultural differences of foodTopics for discussion1) Do you often read fiction? And have you ever wondered how fiction is written?2) Have you ever attempted to write fiction or non-fiction or poetry? Where do you think the insurmountable difficulty rests?3) What do you think are the essential qualities that make a successful writer?Cultural Background The Importance of DialogueMany philosophers and writers would like to express their philosophic ideas through the form of dialogue. And one important theorist making great contribution in clarifying the function of dialogic thinking is Mikhail Bakhtin. 1) Self-other relationship “other” plays a key role in understanding:In order to understand, it is immensely important for the person who understands to be located outside the object of his or her creative understanding in time, in space, in culture. Mikhail Bakhtin (from New York Review of Books, June 10, 1993)2) Polyphony (many voices) single voice is not the carrier of truth:Truth is a number of mutually addressed, albeit contradictory and logically inconsistent, statements. Truth needs a multitude of carrying voices.Text IThe TransactionWilliam ZinsserGlobal ReadingI. Text AnalysisThe text opens with two writers answering students questions about how to write in dialogue, showing sharp contrasts from various aspects. By summarizing different methods in writing, the text later on points out that even with diversity and differentiation, the common ground of any writing is the same. Many renowned philosophers and writers such as Plato and Oscar Wilde expressed their philosophic ideas in the form of dialogue where different aspects of truth were better presented. Through dialogue between people on an equal footing, we get the revelation that different, sometimes even seemingly contradictory elements, can co-exist so harmoniously within the range of one truth. Human beings have an inclination to look at the world from a self-centered perspective, and it will result in an illusion far from truth. Therefore, it is important for one to try his best to train his mind from an early time in his life to tolerate other peoples opinions of the world because such different understanding of life helps one better pursue the truth.II. Structural Analysis1) In terms of organization, the article clearly falls into two main parts:The first part (Paragraphs 1-17) is devoted to answers given by two writers to the students questions.The second part (Paragraphs 18-22) is a generalization of the essence of writing.2) In order to deliver the sharp differences in the answers of the two writers in the first part, the author usesl Short paragraphs and the repetition of “he said ” and “Then I said ”l The rhetorical trick of contraste.g. “The words just flowed. It was easy.” (Paragraph 3) vs. “It was hard and lonely, and the words seldom just flowed.” (Paragraph 4)l Advantage of such rhetoric technique: some knowledge of different and even conflicting ideas helps one to gain greater thinking power and acquire a broader vision.3) The diversity of the writing methods in the second part is expressed by the parallel use of “some ” and “others ”e.g. Some people write by day, others by night. Some people need silence, others turn on the radio. (Paragraph 18)4) The transition paragraph from the specific examples to general discussion of the topic is Paragraph 17; The shift from the diversity to the commonality shared by all writers is realized with two words “But all” in the beginning of Paragraph 19.Detailed Reading Questions1. Do you think the process of the activity is within the expectation of both the speakers and the audience? (Paragraphs 1-17)No. Due to the differences in the background of the two speakers, different views towards the topic of writing are somewhat anticipated. But the fact that their opinions should be so conflicting to each other is a surprise to both the speakers and the audience.2. What would be the possible response of the students as suggested by the writer? (Paragraph17)The students might have a broader glimpse of the writing process. They would realize that there might be totally different writers and methods of writing and the most effective method of writing is the one that helps the writer to say what he wants to say.3. What does the writer mean when he says that all of the writers are “vulnerable and tense”? (Paragraph 19)“Vulnerable” refers to the quality of being sensitive to all the stimulus in life, and “tense” refers to the sharp awareness of expressing natural feelings in an artistic way.4. What does the writer think is the very thing that makes a piece of good writing? (Paragraph 21)According to the writer, its the existence of the personal transaction that makes a piece of good writing. The writer should devote genuine emotion in the process of writing and only thus can he arouse the expected response in his readers. 5. What does the writer mean that such principles cannot be taught but can be learned? (Paragraph 22)What can be taught in writing is the writing skills, but writing skills alone cannot make a great, or even a good, piece of writing. The genuine enthusiasm for art and sincere emotion for the world, which are essential to good writing, can only be learned by heart and through ones life experiences.Text IISome Self-analysisTheodore RoethkeLead-in Questions Do you think a good writer is trained or born? If he / she is trained, what should be taught in a writing course? If he / she is born to be a writer, is it necessary to attend writing courses any more?Main ideaNotes 1. About the author and the text: Theodore Huebner Roethke (1908-1963) was an American poet, who published several volumes of poetry characterized by its rhythm and natural imagery. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1954 for his book, The Waking. Some Self-Analysis, a student essay, was one of a number Roethke wrote at the University of Michigan and was probably composed during his sophomore year, 1926-27.2. Cooper (Paragraph 4) James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. He is best remembered as a novelist who wrote numerous sea-stories and the historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales, featuring frontiersman Natty Bumppo. Among his most famous works is the Romantic novel The Last of the Mohicans, often regarded as his masterpiece.3. Muir (Paragraph 4) John Muir (1838-1914) was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of U.S. wilderness. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, have been read by millions and are still popular today. His direct activism helped to save the Yosemite Valley, Sequoia National Park and other wilderness areas. The Sierra Club, which he founded, is now one of the most important conservation organizations in the United States. His writings and philosophy strongly influenced the formation of the modern environmental movement.4. Thoreau (Paragraph 4) Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was an American author, poet, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, philosopher, and leading transcendentalist. He is best known for his book Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay, Civil Disobedience, an argument for individual resistance to civil government in moral opposition to an unjust state.5. Burroughs (Paragraph 4) John Burroughs (1837-1921) was an American naturalist and essayist important in the evolution of the U.S. conservation movement. According to biographers at the American Memory project at the Library of Congress, John Burroughs was the most important practitioner after Thoreau of that especially American literary genre, the nature essay.6. the “sissies” (Paragraph 7) Sissy (sometimes just Sis) is, firstly, a relationship nickname formed from sister, given to girls to indicate their role in the family, especially the oldest female sibling. It can also be applied to girls as a term of affection from friends who are not family members.Because of its origins in a feminine nickname, sissy is also a pejorative for a boy or man to indicate or imply that he is like a sister, that is, effeminate and fails to behave according to the traditional male gender role. Generally, it implies a lack of the courage and stoicism which are thought important to the male role. It might also imply interests seen as strikingly un-masculine. This pejorative may be given to anyone as an insult. Several variations, such as sissy boy or sissy baby, exist and any term can become pejorative or insulting if preceded by sissy and applied to a boy or a man.7. turn animal (Paragraph 7) get crazyAdditional Notes1. Many an incoherent yet sincere piece of writing has outlived the polished product. (Paragraph 2) If a piece of writing is a sincere expression of natural feelings and perceptions, even though it is not very well organized, it would have more enduring worth than another piece of writing that may be better organized but that contains no such warm feelings. 2. he doesnt give a true sense of the sublimity of American scenery (Paragraph 4) Cooper has produced a false picture of American scenery. 3. Ive associated so long with prosaic people that Ive dwarfed myself spiritually. (Paragraph 6) I have stayed too long with people of plain quality that I have lost my own creativity and enthusiasm.4. I do not have the divine urge to write. (Paragraph 12) To be divine is to possess such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods, or to be able to accomplish anything naturally and intuitively. By this sentence, the author means that he is perhaps not a natural writer, although he has got all necessary emotions ready for writing. He has yet to practice until perfection. Questions for Discussion 1. What expectations does the author have towards the course?2. What is the authors most obvious merits in comparison with many other people?3. What strengths and weaknesses does the author possibly have?4. What did his mother insist on?Key to Questions for discussion 1. He expects to glean material for his story, have his imagination stirred up, cultivate a sense of form, focus on the great instead of the insignificant, and above all, to love humanity in its forms all the more.2. The author has frenzied passion and absolute sincerity for his writing and prefers unvarnished truth.3. His strengths are the choice of the subject and people he kn