欢迎访问甘肃省省级重点课程即精品课程---大学英语网站。died, leaving his family a prosperous farm and his children educated)(3 mins)
14. T explains the language points of the remaining paragraphs and gives them practice. (10 mins)
15. Ss sum up the main idea of this section. (hint: Author’s reflections on the story of Tony)(5 mins)
16. (1) Ss scan the text again to find out all descriptions of Tony’s physical appearance.
(They are: Line 3 He was about five-foot-seven or eight, and thin.
Lines 50-51 He seemed to stand a little straighter. He was heavier. He has a look of confidence.
Line 60 …Neatly dressed)
(2) T points out to Ss that a good writer only includes those details that will help get across his/her points to the reader. The above-mentioned descriptions of Tony’s physical appearance, for example, show how Tony became more and more successful. (5 mins)
Language Points
1. Turn away: refuse to help
He’s my son after all; I can’t just turn him away when he is in trouble.
2. Work out: plan
My mother allowed me to take the trip, but asked me to work out the total cost first.
Finally I worked out that the parcel had been sent to Paris by mistake.
3. Do with: used in questions with what: deal with
What do you do with such rude boys?
4. Personnel:
Personnel has/have received you’re application form.
All personnel in this company are entitled to medical insurance.
5. Turn down: refuse
He was offered the job but he turned it down because it involved too much traveling.
6. Call on: visit
He wanted to call on his girlfriend after work, and then go to see a movie with her.
7. Down payment: an initial amount of payment
8. Discard: throw away
I’m going to discard those magazines if you finished reading them.
8. Abandon: give up
My car broke down and I had to abandon it on the main road.
9. Pass away: die
The old lady passed away peacefully.
Post-reading activities
1. (1) Ss read Writing Strategy and instructions for Theme-related Language Learning Tasks;
(2) Ss read Lines 68-71 in text;
(3) Ss work alone or in pairs to find out those details that illustrate Tony’s “vision, determination, self-control, optimism, self-respect and above all, integrity”.
(4) Some Ss report their findings to the class. (15 mins)
2. T guides Ss through several after-text exercises. (20 mins)
3. Theme-related Language Learning Tasks (1 period)
Writing Practice
I. A Brief Introduction
A Brief Guide to Writing Narrative Essays
Narrative writing tells a story. In essays the narrative writing could also be considered reflection or an exploration of the author’s values told as a story. The important aspect to remember is that you should have a story. In a successful narrative essay, the author usually makes a point.
Features
1) The story should have an introduction that clearly indicates what kind of narrative essay it is (an event or recurring activity, a personal experience, or an observation), and it should have a conclusion that makes a point.
2) The essay should include anecdotes. The author should describe the person, the scene, or the event in some detail. It’s okay to include dialogue as long as you know how to punctuate it correctly and as long as you avoid using too much.
3) The occasion or person described must be suggestive in that your description and thoughts lead the reader to reflect on the human experience.
4) The point of view in narrative essays is usually first person. The use of “I” invites your readers into an intimate discussion.
5) The writing in your essay should be lively and show some style. Try to describe ideas and events in new and different ways. Avoid using clichés. Again, get the basic story down, get it organized, and in your final editing process, work on word choice.
II. A Sample Essay
Henry’s Big Break
My great-grandfather, Henry A. Benson, is the most famous person in our family. He rose from delivering newspapers in his small hometown of Cross Plains, Texas, to becoming the editor in chief of one of the biggest papers in the state. He tells many stories about his days as a reporter, but his favorite one takes place on a late spring afternoon in 1941. That’s the day great-granddad got his big break.
Inside the offices of the Center State Chronicle, 15-year-old Henry took a deep breath. He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his worn-out jeans so that the paper’s editor, Mr. Walsh, wouldn’t see how nervous he felt.
“Mr. Walsh,” Henry said, “I’ve delivered your paper for three years now. I’ve never missed one day. If you make me a reporter, I won’t let you down.”
“Henry,” Mr. Walsh replied, “there’s a big difference between being a delivery boy and being a reporter. Maybe after you’ve finished school.”
Trying not to let his disappointment show, Henry left the newspaper office. What was he going to do? He got his battered bicycle and pedaled across town toward home. Near an old bridge, Henry saw skid marks on the pavement. Tire tracks showed where a car had recently left the road. Henry spotted a sedan lying at the bottom of the ravine.
Henry flagged down a passing car to fetch an ambulance. Then he scrambled down the ravine. The car’s right front tire was shredded, which must have been why the car ran off the road. The driver lay slumped over the steering wheel. He was a middle-aged man wearing a rumpled brown suit.
“Are you all right?” Henry asked the man.