Unit 4 Matriculation Fixation Teaching Plan 教案

Unit 4 Matriculation FixationTeaching PlanLearning Objectives1) Rhetorical skill: narrative and descriptive writing2) Key language & grammar points3) Writing strategies: subtopics4) Theme: the meaning of high educationPre-class Activity: none.Relationship to Current Unit: Materials: Teachers Book (6), English-English Dictionary, Blackboard, PPTEstimated Time of Lesson: 270m, 6 sessionsTime Allocation:P 1-21. Pre-reading: playing games / word puzzle / picture activation / short stories 10m2. Global Reading: text introduction, culture notes, author, structure15m3. Detailed Reading (a): Text I: Paragraph 1-665mP 3-44. Detailed Reading (b): Text I: Paragraph 7-1590mP 5-65. Consolidation Activities (a): Text Comprehension; Writing Strategies20m6. Consolidation Activities (b): Language work; Oral Activities; Writing70m7. Further Enhancement (Optional): Text II / Other Comprehensive PracticesSection One Pre-reading ActivitiesI. Picture ActivationWhy do some people have an obsessive interest in attending elite colleges?II. Pre- reading Questions1. Admission to a good university has always been an important goal for many teenagers. There is a great chance that you have experienced all the pains and joys of fighting for this goal. Now in a different stage of life, would you like to rethink the importance of this goal that has framed and is still framing many young lives?Open for discussion.2. It is undeniable that education enlightens the educated and offers them a greater chance for success. Yet, we know there are many high-achievers who do not have a brilliant educational record and also many mediocrities who have attended prestigious universities. What do you think is the most important element for one to live a successful life? Open to discussion.Section Two Global ReadingI. Text IntroductionIn the essay the author offers his advice to those parents who have college-bound children. He first criticizes those parents who boast of having got their children into select universities. He points out that a good university does not necessarily guarantee a successful career. This is supported by the example of his high school friends. Then he tells those disillusioned parents whose children are unlikely to enter prestigious universities that many people achieve huge success in this society without a degree from a prestigious university. This is supported by his own experience. Finally he reminds those parents that “. life doesnt have just one act. There is often Act Two. And Act Five.”II. Culture NotesPrussian (Paragraph 9) the adjective form of “Prussia.” Prussia was a former kingdom of Germany. Originally a small country on the southeastern shores of the Baltic Sea, it became a major European power, covering much of modern northeastern Germany and Poland, under Frederick the Great. After the Franco-Prussian War of 18701871, it became the center of Bismarcks new German Empire.Amherst (Paragraph 11) Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, three of the Five Colleges. Vanity Fair (Paragraph 12) Vanity Fair is an American magazine of pop culture, fashion, and politics published by Cond Nast Publications. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. The current editor is Graydon Carter.Bill Gates (Paragraph 12) US entrepreneur; full name William Henry Gates (1955 ). He co-founded Microsoft, a computer software company. He is one of the richest men in the world today. David Geffen (Paragraph 12) (1943 ) a record executive, film and theatrical producer, and philanthropist. He has been dubbed “Hollywoods first crossover business star.” Born to a Jewish family in New York, Geffen attended the University of Texas at Austin but soon dropped out. Michael Dell (Paragraph 12) (1965 ) the chairman of the Board of Directors of Dell, the company he founded in 1984 with $1,000 and an unprecedented idea to build relationships directly with customers. In 1992, Mr. Dell became the youngest CEO ever to earn a ranking on the Fortune 500.Graydon Carter (Paragraph 12) (1949 ) Canadian-born American journalist and author. He is editor of Vanity Fair. He also co-founded, with Kurt Andersen, the satirical monthly magazine Spy in 1986. Madonna (Paragraph 12) (1958 ) US pop singer and actress. Albums such as Like a Virgin (1984) and her image as a sex symbol brought her international stardom in the mid-1980s.Ronald Reagan (Paragraph 12) (19112004) 40th president of the US (19811989). He was a movie actor before entering politics and then served as the governor of California (19671974). Warren Buffet (Paragraph 12) (1930 ) famous American investor F. Scott Fitzgerald (Paragraph 12) US writer; full name Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (18961940). His novels, in particular The Great Gatsby (1925), provide a vivid portrait of the US during the jazz era of the 1920s.III. AuthorJoe Queenan (born November 3, 1950) is a humorist, critic and author from Philadelphia who graduated from Saint Josephs University. He has written for numerous publications, such as Spy Magazine, TV Guide, Movieline, The Guardian and The New York Times Book Review. IV. Structural AnalysisPart 1(Paras. 1-2) the introductory part in which the author uses an anecdote as a starting point of the essayPart 2(Paras. 3-8) by relating his own experiences, the author tries to give some advice to the parentsPart 3(Paras. 9-12) many people achieve huge success in this society without a degree from a prestigious universityPart 4(Paras. 13-15) the authors attitude towards college selectionSection Three Detailed ReadingMATRICULATION FIXATIONJoe QueenanI. AnalysisParagraphs 1-2 AnalysisThese two paragraphs make up the introductory part in which the author uses an anecdote as a starting point of the essay. Paragraphs 3-4 AnalysisAs a response to the mans story, the author tries to give some advice by relating his own experiences, i.e. his high school friends, his university days, and his present career.Paragraphs 5-6 AnalysisIt should be noted that the man is not very responsive and interested in the authors account, which evokes the authors comment “I never did find out why he was visiting the hospital.”Paragraphs 7-8 AnalysisThese two paragraphs play an important role in the essay. On the one hand, they are the authors comments elicited by the incident; on the other hand, they function as a transition to further discussion on the matter. Paragraph 9 AnalysisIn this paragraph the author criticizes parents who use the conversation to boast of their success in getting their children into a good college. Paragraph 10 AnalysisIn this paragraph the author airs his view, which is different from that of the parents mentioned in the preceding paragraph. He argues that a good university does not necessarily guarantee a successful career, and asserts that parents responsibility does not end when their children leave home for university. Paragraph 11 AnalysisIn this paragraph the author gives an illustration of the second category/group of people who are obsessed with college selection. They are disillusioned parents whose children are unlikely to enter prestigious universities.Paragraph 12 AnalysisIn this paragraph the author argues that entering a prestigious university is not a criterion to judge a persons success, because “Some kids are late bloomers. Some kids are better off in a less competitive environment. Lots of people achieve huge success in this society without a degree from a prestigious university.” In addition he offers the reassuring advice that “. life doesnt have just one act. There is often Act Two. And Act Five.”Paragraphs 13-14 AnalysisThe talk about dinner prices in these two short paragraphs seemingly has something to do with affordability, it is actually an anecdote the author uses to poke fun at those anxious parents.Paragraph 15 AnalysisIn this concluding paragraph the author humorously expresses his attitude towards college selection by saying “People . cant decide whether I am insensitive or ornery or flat-out dumb.”II. Questions for ParagraphsParagraph 2: QuestionWhat does the sentence “. fewer contacts would be made .” mean?The sentence means that since it was a local university, there would be fewer chances to establish a network of interpersonal relationships that could be potentially helpful in the future.Paragraph 4: QuestionWhat does the author mean by “. the sun never set without my thanking God for.”?The author says that every day he felt grateful to God for what he learnt from his talented and dedicated professors. Here he exaggerates to give comfort to the father.Paragraph 7: QuestionWhy does the author say that he will never participate in a mind-numbing discussion about the college selection process, once his kids have left home?The author believes that such discussions are meaningless or even harmful. Here, he seems to suggest that for those parents who happen to make the right selections for their children or whose children go to prestigious universities such a topic would be self-aggrandizing, but for those who fail to make the right selections or whose children go to less prestigious universities such a topic would be self-flagellatory.Paragraph 8: QuestionWhat does cribbage stand for?Cribbage is a simple card game that does not offer much scope for interesting discussion. So if talking about cribbage is preferred, then discussions about the college selection process must be very boring indeed.Paragraph 9: QuestionHow do those parents feel when their children enter a top university?They feel that their childrens future is guaranteed and their mission as parents fulfilled.Paragraph 11: QuestionWhat does the author mean by “. those grandiose delivery-room dreams of Amherst, Bard, and Duke are suddenly going up in smoke”?The author means that beautiful dreams which those parents have cherished since their children were born are now totally smashed and have disappeared. “Amherst, Bard, and Duke” are three prestigious private universities in the United States.Paragraph 12: QuestionWhat is the admissions office video intended to convey? And what did the author find?The admissions office video is intended to dismiss the saying that MIT is a factory that produces boring and unfashionable people who are not good at communicating with other people in social situations. However, the author saw a lot of such people on the campus.Paragraph 14: QuestionWhat is the meaning of the authors remark “Dont start worrying about dinner prices”?The author means that dinner prices would be trivial compared with the total cost of MIT.Paragraph 15: QuestionWhy does the author say “I was never MIT material”?This is a humorous way of saying that he was not a “nerd”: I never prepared myself for a prestigious university such as MIT, yet, I am a successful man.III. Language Work of ParagraphsParagraph 1“But as the briefing session wore on, I did manage to garner most of the relevant details.”Paraphrase: Though I listened absent-mindedly to the stranger who was telling me about his daughters college plans, I managed to grasp most of the important information in his speech.wear on: (of a period of time) to pass slowlye.g.Months wore on and still he heard no news of his family.My headache grew worse as the evening wore on.garner vt. to collect or obtain a large amount of something useful or important usually after much work or with difficultye.g.Ang Lee garnered several Oscar awards for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.His lawyer has garnered considerable evidence in his defense.Paragraph 2bright but not brilliant: smart but not outstanding“with other college-bound children in the family queue”Paraphrase: with a number of children in the family who are going to college one after another in a few years“Her degree would put her within striking distance of the yellow brick road, but not physically on the road itself.” Paraphrase: After she graduates from a second-class university, she will be close to the path to success, though not directly on it, but still there will be a gap between. Note: Here “the yellow brick road” means “the road of gold,” which is a metaphor for success.within striking distance (of something): very near to obtaining or achieving somethinge.g.We live within striking distance of both Baltimore and Washington.His victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix puts him within striking distance of the world championshipParagraph 3a man of the world: a man who has lots of experience in coping with certain situations or peoplethe most intimate details: the most personal or confidential details“I told the man that many of my high school classmates had graduated from the second-tier university in question and had gone on to live rich, full lives.”Paraphrase: I told the man that many of my high school classmates had graduated from the second-class university his daughter would be attending, and now they are all living full and fruitful lives. in question: being talked about; under discussione.g.I was out of town on the night in question.I have no idea of the man in question.Paragraph 4“I told him that I myself had graduated from a second-echelon Philadelphia university not unlike the one his daughter was entering, and had managed to carve out a nice little niche for myself.” Paraphrase: I told him that I myself had graduated from a second-class university in Philadelphia, just like the one his daughter was entering, and had managed to establish quite a successful career for myself.carve out a niche: to develop a career or position for yourself by working harde.g.She carved out a reputation for herself as an aggressive businesswoman.He hopes to carve out a niche for himself as a successful writer.Pressed for biographical data: Urged to give personal informationParagraph 5“Though he tried to feign interest in my pathetic curriculum vitae, I could see that he was devastated.” Paraphrase: Though he acted as if he was interested in my pitiable CV, I could see that he was upset. pathetic adj. if someone or something looks or sounds pathetic, you feel sympathy for theme.g.Are you telling me youre frightened to speak to her? Dont be so pathetic!After the accident he became a pathetic figure, a shadow of his former self.“he was devastated” Paraphrase: . he was extremely upset and worriedNote: Note the shift of viewpoint in Paragraph 5: “pathetic curriculum vitae” and “. his daughter . was going to end up as big a failure as I” are both from the mans point of view.Paragraph 7the neurotic gabbiness: tendency to talk excessively because of over-sensitivity to or over-indulgence in certain topics“I know whereof I speak.” Paraphrase: I know what I speak of.“. every dark cloud has a silver lining.” Paraphrase: a proverb, meaning “. every trouble has something hopeful in it.”“On this subject, I am completely lapped out.” Paraphrase: I have no interest in this subject at all. “Be lapped out” means “be eliminated in a race.” Paragraph 8“This lack of interest does not stem from pure selfishness or unalloyed contempt for other peoples offspring.”Paraphrase: The reason why I am not interested in it is not because I am selfish or look down upon other peoples children. stem from: to be caused by somethinge.g.Her problems stem from her difficult childhood.He said that childrens bad behavior often stems from boredom.unalloyed: (especially of a positive feeling) not mixed with anything else; puree.g.unalloyed blessingsunalloyed reliefWe had the perfect holiday two weeks of unalloyed bliss.Paragraph 9“The most infuriating conversation is the one where the parent clearly seeks a decisive, career-validating moment of emotional closure.” Paraphrase: The most annoying conversation is the one where the parent tries to use the conversation as a means of boastfully announcing the successful end of their long struggle to get their child into a good university.top-flight adj. highest in standard or qualitye.g. Hes one of our top-flight engineers.irrevocable adj. impossible to change or stope.g. The decision will not be irrevocable until everyone concerned has been consulted.Closing the factory would irrevocably alter the character of the local community for the worse.“economic mirth” happiness and contentment with economic success“their childrens destinations” their childrens entry into top universities“issuing a sotto voce taunt to parents of the less gifted” sneering or laughing quietly at those parents of less gifted childrenParagraph 10“In real life, some children get the finest educations but still become first class screwups.” Paraphrase: In real life, some very promising children with very good schooling turn out to be complete failures.screwup n. a person that makes a mess of an undertakingscrew.up: to make a serious mistake, or to spoil something, especially a situatione.g.I reckon Ive passed the physics exam, but Im sure I screwed chemistry up.Having the car stolen completely screwed up our holiday plans.We really screwed up when we invited Jane and two of her ex-boyfriends to the party.e