大学英语教案

The Lesson PlanPart A How to Avoid Foolish OpinionsUnit 7, Book IV ReadingNew English CourseYang LiDepartment of Foreign Languages Tsinghua UniversityJune 25, 2003Table of ContentsTeaching Objectives 3Teaching Methods3A Brief Description of the Class3Language Points3Teaching Procedures4Evaluation6Appendix9Teaching Objectives to help students learn the important words in this text to familiarize students with some commonly used prefixes to prompt students to identify the topic statement and the flow of the detailsTeaching MethodsNew English Course (Reading) is a course designed to help the students with their English language integrative skills. Though, as the name implies, the focus is mainly on reading skills, students will be guided to use the other skills listening, speaking, writing and translating unconsciously.A Brief Description of the ClassUnit Name: Unit 7Part A How to Avoid Foolish Opinions (Book IV Reading)Time: 90 minutes (2 sessions)Place: Language LabStudent Level: Lower IntermediateLanguage Points: Words and Expressions: prone, fatal, cautious, dogmatic, conviction, maintain, as to, on ones guard, warrant, rid of, diminish, seek out, compare, subject to, conceal, seeing that, short of, cocksure wary of, superior, adjust to, conceitPrefixes: super-, sub-, uni-, un-, in-, de-Grammar: Subjunctive mood: Aristotle could have avoided (L5) if I were writing a book (L11) he would have liked to undo the whole of (L51) by considering what Gandhi might have said . (L58-59)Paraphrases (sentences that students may find difficult): I should not commit myself until I had seen one (L12)If an opinion , that is a sign that you are subconsciously aware of having no good reason for thinking as you do. (L21-24)The most savage controversies are those about maters as to which there is no good evidence either way. (L27-29)I found this very profitable in diminishing the intensity of insular prejudice. (L39-40)This reflection should generate a certain caution. (L44-45)It is more difficult to deal with the self-esteem of man as man, because we cannot argue out the matter with some non-human mind. (L78-79)Language Skills to be Developed: Scan texts Find topic statements Follow the sequencing of reasons Summarize and evaluate main points Brainstorm and learn prefixes to enlarge vocabulary bankTeaching Procedures: Warm-up Activities (8 min)Step 1: Ask students to discuss four statements with their partners (on ppt1See Appendix A) and work out: What are foolish opinions according to them?What are the causes of peoples foolish opinions? How to avoid foolish opinions?In this section, students will be involved in their active communication with others, since the statements are light, they would not realize this activity is a TASK. If their answers are exactly the same with those in the text, I would praise them for their careful preview; if not, that doesnt mean they did not preview, on the contrary, if theirs is different from those in the text, I would praise them for their independent thinking. Both will help me naturally lead the class into the next step.Lesson Body (72 min)Step 2: Summarize students answers and introduce what we are going to study: Russells How to Avoid Foolish Opinions. Since Russell, the name, cannot be new to Chinese students, especially Tsinghua students, I will prompt to say what they know about the author, and then I will show them the ppt and summarize with a few words. Step 3: Ask students to scan the text and find out the 5 rules to avoid foolish opinions.First ask the whole class whether most of the paragraphs have topic statements. Since students are required to preview the text, this might not be difficult. Then ask them how many rules are suggested by Russell and what are they respectively (in the text sequence). After that, I will affirm them by clicking the ppt. If students did not tell in desired sequence, let it be and ask other students to say the missing one(s). Step 4: Extract examples and details for each paragraph/rule2.Have a careful study of Para. 2 to 6 (See Appendix A).Besides asking students to extract examples, ask them to identify language points such as useful words and expressions, useful yet somewhat new prefixes, difficult sentences, etc. (See Appendix B for vocabulary and expressions and Appendix C for prefixes). Be prepared to answer their questions on the text. If they fail to identify any above-mentioned points, I would point out the points myself and ask students to either make sentences with words and expressions or paraphrase. Step 5: Identify the organization of the text. Ask students to tell whether this essay is well organized and how they can demonstrate this. Very apparently, this essay is well organized: The first paragraph tells us what to expect in this essay, and the remaining five paragraphs describe one rule each, with examples. Besides, the author has arranged his “simple rules” in a particular order from the simplest and most concrete to the hardest and most abstract.This sequencing (from the most general to the most specific) is quite commonly used to attain the logical order of a piece of writing. Give students a set of sentences which are out of the logical order, and ask them to discuss them and rearrange them in this order. (See Appendix D)Point out students can apply this style of flow of text to their own writing. Lesson Closure (10 min)Step 6: Make a summery of the essay. Identify the style of the text exposition Ask students to retell the five rules by Russell Refer to the ppt again for useful words and expressions Re-point out the characteristic organization of the text and the merits of such a sequence Point out the human significance of the essay: how to apply what we have learned from the essay and daily life to avoid foolish opinions, though “To err is human”everyone is prone to foolish opinions. Step 7: Assign homework Finish all the exercise in Part A Get ready for the Quiz (See Appendix E)Step 8: Point out that owing to the limitation of time in class, students should refer to the uploaded materials in the Internet Classroom3 for the stuff we cannot cover in class. Evaluation: Students will be evaluated through the quiz (See Appendix E) and the assignment. Notes: 1.ppt: Microsoft PowerPoint. A software by Microsoft which is designed to create and show slides on computer. 2.paragraph/rule: In this text, one paragraph contains one rule to avoid foolish opinions.3. the Internet Classroom: where Tsinghua students can communicate with teachers or among themselves after class. See Appendix FAppendix: Appendix A: PowerPointAppendix B: Words and expressionsbe prone to: tending to suffer from an illness or show a particular negative characteristicYoure more prone to illnesses when youre tired and your body is run-down.You have to bear in mind that Angela is rather prone to exaggeration.Im prone to forget names. + to infinitiveLIABLE, PRONE mean being by nature or through circumstances likely to experience something adverse. LIABLE implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because of position, nature, or particular situation *liable to get lost*. PRONE stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something *prone to procrastination*. count: to calculate the number of units in a groupIf you dont do as I tell you by the time Ive counted (up) to three, therell be trouble - one, two, three. The teachers counted the students as they got on to the coach. TTherell be eight for dinner, counting (= including) ourselves. TTo count down is to count backwards to zero, esp. before sending a spacecraft into space.to consider or be considered as(formal) I count myself fortunate to have had such a good education. TIve had three jobs in the last five years, but one of them was unpaid, so that doesnt count. IIve always counted Lucy among my closest friends. Tto have value or importance; to matterIve always believed that happiness counts more than money.In our university/class, everybody counts.If people spoil their voting papers, their votes dont count (= they are ignored).fatal: very serious and having an important bad effect in the future or (of illness, accidents, etc.) causing deathHe made the fatal mistake of believing what they told him.This illness is in almost all cases fatal.DEADLY, MORTAL, FATAL, LETHAL mean causing or capable of causing death. DEADLY applies to an established or very likely cause of death *a deadly disease*. MORTAL implies that death has occurred or is inevitable *a mortal wound*. FATAL describes conditions, circumstances, or events that have caused or are destined inevitably to cause death or dire consequences, and stresses the inevitability of what has in fact resulted in death or destruction *fatal consequences*. LETHAL applies to something that is bound to cause death or exists for the destruction of life *lethal gas*. 确定的死亡原因, 可能为谋杀而策划的.commit: People might be said not to commit themselves if they refuse to express an opinion on a subject.We dont want to commit ourselves to a financial plan until more details are known.I cant commit myself on that subject until Ive taken legal advice.to promise or give (your loyalty or money) to a particular principle, person or plan of actionI think I can come tonight but I wont commit myself till I know for sure. TLots of women complain that the problem with men is that they wont commit themselves to a relationship. TThe government claimed to commit itself to improving health care. Tcautious: a cautious person takes care to avoid risks.Hes a cautious driver.sth which is described as cautious is careful, well considered and sometimes slow or uncertain.a cautious approach/ cautious criticismCAUTIOUS, WARY, mean prudently watchful and discreet in the face of danger or risk. CAUTIOUS implies the exercise of forethought usually prompted by fear of danger *a cautious driver*. WARY emphasizes suspiciousness and alertness in watching for danger and cunning in escaping it *keeps a wary eye on the competition*. CAREFUL stresses attention, care and concern.medieval: of or from the Middle Ages (= the period from about 1000 AD to 1500 AD, or from about 600 AD to 1500 AD), when the power of kings, people of high rank and the Christian Church was strong.a medieval building/painting/towndogmatic: the imposing of ones will or opinion as though these were beyond challenge 独断的，教条的 Theirs is one of the most dogmatic political parties in Europe.conviction: a determined belief or fixed opinionPauls a man of strong convictions. CShe had a deep/firm/lifelong conviction (that) there would be a better life after death. C + (that) clauseYou cant do this kind of work if you dont have conviction (= did not sound) about what youre doing. Umaintain: to express firmly your belief that something is trueThroughout his prison sentence Dunn has always maintained his innocence. THe maintained that he had never seen the woman before. + that clauseto keep (a road, machine, building, etc.) in good conditionA large country house costs a lot to maintain.The roads around the town have been very poorly maintained.to continue to have; keep in existence, or not allow to become lessDespite living in different countries, the two families have maintained close links. Tas to: as to/as for means to change the subject to.As to where well get the money from, well talk about that later.as to means about.I cant answer questions as to how long this will last.He was uncertain as to which road to take.on ones guard: be careful and aware because a situation might be dangerous.Its wise to be on your guard against people who are trying to con you.warrant: formal to promise that (something) will be done or will happenThe retailer warranted that he would take back any faulty goods.rid.of: to make (a person or place) free of someone or something unpleasant or harmful (rid/ ridded) Our aim is to rid this government of corruption. usually + ofI didnt enjoy doing the assignments and I was glad to be rid of them. usually + ofdiminish: to reduce or be reduced in size or importanceI dont want to diminish her achievements, but she did have a lot of help. TThe memory of them will not be diminished by time. TWe have seen the value of our house diminish greatly/sharply/substantially in value over the last six months. IDECREASE, LESSEN, DIMINISH, REDUCE, ABATE, DWINDLE mean to grow or make less. DECREASE suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity *slowly decreased the amount of pressure*. LESSEN suggests a decline in amount rather than in number *has been unable to lessen her debt*. DIMINISH emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total *his visual acuity has diminished*. REDUCE implies a bringing down or lowering *you must reduce your caloric intake*. ABATE implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount *the storm abated*. DWINDLE implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller *their provisions dwindled slowly*insular: disapproving interested only in your own country or group and not willing to accept different or foreign ideasTheirs is a very insular culture, protected as it is from outside influences.seek out: formal If you seek someone or something out you look for them (and find them).After the meeting he sought out the person who had spoken about the plans. MWhile he was at the library he decided to seek some information out on the aging phenomenon. perverse: disapproving (of a person) intentionally acting in a way that is unreasonable or harmful, or (of an action or feeling) unreasonable or unexpected; incorrect, improper 刚愎的，执拗的，逆反的，不正当的 wrongheaded, determined, or cranky opposition to what is reasonable or normalJack was being perverse and refused to do anything the rest of us wanted to do.She took a perverse delight in hearing that her sister was getting divorced.The police investigating the case believed that the murderer was a person who took a perverse pleasure in pare: to examine or look for the difference between (two or more things)He compared her to a summer day. Compare some recent work with your older stuff and youll see how much youve improved.COMPARE implies an aim of showing relative values or excellences by bringing out characteristic qualities whether similar or divergent *compared the convention facilities of the two cities*. CONTRAST implies an emphasis on differences *contrasted the computerized system with the old filing cards*subject to: subject to depending on the stated thing happeningWe plan to go on Wednesday, subject to your approval.Any such settlement is subject to the courts permission.Moving all the books should not take long, subject to there being (= if there are) enough helpers.undo: to remove the good or bad effects of (an action or several actions)I did a really tough aerobics class and then went out for a meal and undid all the good work!Its very difficult to undo the damage thats caused by inadequate parenting in a childs early years.prevailing: existing in a particular place or at a particular time.The prevailing mood is one of optimism.We will have to look at the offer in the light of prevailing circumstances.Under prevailing law, the government cannot annul such marriages.refutation: formal or legal the act or process of saying or proving that (a person, statement, opinion, etc.) is wrong or falseshort: lackingWere a bit short of coffee - I must remember to get some more.Computers are in rather short supply in this office (= There are not enough).(informal) Shes like her mother - a bit short on brains (= She is not very clever).Im a little short (= I do not have much money) this week - could you lend me ten dollars?cocksure: informal disapproving too confident in a way that is slightly unpleasant or rudeHes so cocksure I dont think he ever doubts himself for one moment.be convinced of: to make (someone) certain; to persuadeYour explanation might have convinced Sheila, but it didnt convince me.He managed to convince the jury of his innocence.Its useless trying to convince her (that) she doesnt need to lose any weight. + object + (that) clauseI hope this will convince you to change your mind. + object + to infinitiveretort: slightly formal (to make) a quick annoyed or clever answerShe offered to help me but I retorted that I could do it myself. + that clause“If I were your wife Id put poison in your coffee,” she said. - “And if I were your husband Id drink it,” he retorted. + speechHe made an angry retort. Cconceal: to prevent (something) from being seen or known about; to hide (something)The entrance to the house is concealed behind high gates. TI tried to conceal my surprise when she said she was only 22. TIs there something youre concealing from me? THe managed to conceal from his parents where he was going. + wh- wordHIDE and CONCEAL. HIDE may or may not suggest intent *hide in the closet* *a house hidden in the woods*. CONCEAL usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge *concealed the weapon*. adjust: to change (something or yourself) slightly, esp. in order to make it more correct, effective, or suitableIf the chair is too high you can adjust it to suit you. TShe adj