Lesson Four Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Department of Foreign Languages and Literature...
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Transcript of Lesson Four Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Department of Foreign Languages and Literature...
Lesson Four
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department of Foreign Languages and Literature
Pu Dong-mei
Text A A Drink in the Passage
Contents1. Teaching Objectives
2. In-class Discussion
3. Background information:
1) about the author
2) about the text
a. first person point of view
b. flashback
c. figurative language
4. Language points
5. Text analysis: 1) theme, style; 2) structure
6. Comprehension questions
7. Writing devices: flashback writing
Teaching Objectives
1. Introduction to the first person point of view; and
flashback writing and its features
2. Comprehension of the whole text
About the authorAlan Paton (1903, Pietermaritzburg, Natal, S.Af. —1988, near Durban),
South African writer and political activist.
While principal of a reformatory (少管所 )housing black youths, Paton
introduced controversial progressive reforms and wrote his best-
known work, the novel Cry, the Beloved Country (1948), focusing
international attention on the issue of apartheid. To offer a nonracial
alternative to apartheid, he helped found the Liberal Party of South
Africa in 1953 and led the organization until it was banned in 1968.
His other works include the novel Too Late the Phalarope (1953) and the biographies Hofmeyr (1964) and Apartheid and the Archbishop (1973).
About the author
Alan Paton (1903-1988)
“I do not like to mention it
But there is a voice I cannot silence.”
—Paton
Paton, craggy old liberal, hater of and hated by
apartheid, loved and unloved by the ANC,
famous for Cry, the Beloved Country.
Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), America’s 28th president (1913-
1921), was a professor of law, the president of Princeton
University, and the governor of New Jersey before he was elected
to the White House.
When Woodrow Wilson took office, he faced economic crisis,
democratic decay, and a world at war. Meeting those challenges
with progressive ideas and high-minded ideals, he reinvented the
presidency, crafting a vibrant legacy that has defined the powers
and responsibilities of every president to this day.
Zimmerman NoteZimmerman Note
The Zimmerman Note was a communiqué authored by
German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmerman and
intercepted by American Intelligence. The note had been
designed to entice Mexico into declaring war against the
United States should the U.S. declare war on Germany. As a
reward, Mexico would then receive Arizona, New Mexico, and
Texas after the war.
Full Text of The Zimmermann Telegram
On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare
unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor to
keep neutral the United States of America.
If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the
following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together
and together make peace. We shall give general financial
support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the
lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details
are left to you for settlement.
Full Text of The Zimmermann Telegram
You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany and Japan.
Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few months.
Zimmerman
(Sent January 19, 1917)
Theme In this essay, the two authors discuss the definition of history, the
role of the historian and the reasons why historians disagree. They point out the common misunderstanding that history is just names, dates and statistics of the past and the historian's job is to find and remember as many of them as possible. They tell us that historians do not just collect facts. They give meaning to the facts. And because they have different interests and a different understanding of human motivation and human behavior which in turn is due to their different background in age, sex, race, class, education, religion, politics, etc. They tend not only to be interested in different facts but also interpret the same facts differently. They two historians therefore emphasize the importance of understanding the historians' approach, perspective and philosophy rather than the facts they have used or left out.
Style
This is a piece of expository writing. The language used is a little formal, with impersonal structures, long sentences and formal words, which are typical of academic writing.
The purpose of expository writing is to explain or to give the reader information to help him understand the world around him.
Structure
The text can be divided into three parts:
Part 1 (Paras. 1-3):
students and common people's misunderstanding of the study of
history and the reason why historians disagree
Part 2 (Paras. 4-12):
the definition of history and explanation of the reason why
historians disagree by illustrating why the U.S. entered WWI in
details
Part 3 (Para. 13):
the impossibility of eliminating all disagreement
Comprehension Questions1. What are the three definitions of history?
in the broadest sense the whole of the human past
in a restricted sense the recorded part of human life
in a common sense what historians write about the past
2. What is the role of the historians?
Historians do not just collect facts. They give meaning to the facts.
3. Why do historians disagree?
Because historians have different interests and a different understanding of human motivation and human behavior which in turn is due to their different background in age, sex, race, class, education, religion, politics, etc., they tend not only to be interested in different facts but also interpret the same facts differently.
Comprehension Questions Cont’d4. What is the misunderstanding the authors are trying to clarify in
Para.1? History is just the facts of names, dates and statistics of the past.
The study of history is the study of these “facts” about the past.
5. What is the confusion of the students put forward in Paras.2-3?
1. Historians who are wrong may have their “facts” correct.
2. Contending historians more or less agree on the same facts,
but come to different conclusions.
3. It seems that historical truth becomes a matter of personal
preference.
4. It’s hard to decide which of the two opposed points of view
about an event is correct.
Comprehension Questions Cont’d6. What is the main idea of Paras. 7—8? How are the two paragraphs
developed? Paras. 7—8 is about the factors for American entry into WWI. The two paragraphs are developed by way of exemplification.7. What is the main idea of Paras. 9—10? What are the
interpretations of the three schools? Paras. 9—10 is about how the three schools interpret these
factors. First group: These are the only important ones and they are
equally important; Second group: The list is incomplete—leaving out Wilson’s pro-
British attitude; Third group: These are not of equal importance—bankers’
influence is the most important.
Comprehension Questions Cont’d
8. What can be concluded in Paras. 9—10?
Conclusion: Subject—the same: American entry into WWI facts—different reason—different points of view
9. What are the two reasons listed in Para. 11 to explain why
historians disagree? 1. They begin from different premises. 2. They are merely considering different levels of causes and
effect.
Comprehension Questions Cont’d
10. How do the authors view the controversy among historians?
The controversy not only lies between historians, but also
happens to the same historian with the discovery of new
information and progress of the society. It is impossible to remove
the controversy and it is the very existence of the controversy
that lends excitement to the study of history.
11. Of the three possible definitions of history the authors have listed
in the text, which do you think is the most accurate? Why?
12. Do historians ever agree in their interpretation of a historical
event? Can you think of a few examples on which the historians
sharply disagree? How come they disagree since they are dealing
with facts?
Writing Device: Exposition
1. What is exposition?
Exposition means expounding or explaining.
2. Who are most likely to use the expository writing style? It is most frequently used by a student, a scientist, or a
professional.
3. In which scope and field do they use it?
An expository paper explains or explores sth., such as the process
of making a machine, the causes of a natural or social
phenomenon, the planning of a project, or the solution of a
problem. That is, use an expository writing when we explain how
the object is made, how it is used, and how it may change. It
mainly deals with processes and relationships.
Writing Device: Exposition con’t
4. What is the most important quality of exposition? How to achieve
it?
The most important quality of exposition is clarity. To achieve this
the writer should:
1) Limit his subject or the scope of discussion, for it’s impossible to
explain many things clearly in a short essay.
2) Prepare enough material (details of examples) to help his
explanation; the reader often finds abstract discussions hard to
follow if they are not illustrated by concrete examples.
3) Present his facts and views in proper order, in the order of time or
of logical sequence depending on the nature of the subjects.
4) Make his exposition, if possible, interesting or moving;
Writing Device: Exposition cont’d
5. What methods are adopted for paragraph development in the expository writing?
1) Illustration — the use of example to illustrate a point, helping to clarify a writer’s thought by making the general specific, and the abstract concrete; and also adding interest and help to persuade or convince the reader;
2) division and classification division—separate things into parts (glasses—[\frame, lens); classification—organize things which share certain qualities
(courses—obligatory and optional);3) comparison and contrast (the subject-by-subject pattern, the point-by-point pattern);
4) Analogy — shows the similarities between two different class;5) cause and effect;6) definition;
Translation on Page 114
1) Import of that country’s beef was suspended because
of the mad cow scare.
2) During the war, they had to suspend the construction
of the railway.
3) It was a serious offence to take drugs. Robert was
suspended from school for two weeks.
4) She was reading in a hammock suspended from two
tree branches.
5) The sales suspension has brought us a heavy loss.
Translation on Page 114
6) This is perhaps the longest suspension bridge in Asia.
7) The author is very good at creating suspense.
8) He used to watch with great envy children of wealthy
people go to school.
9) I rather envy their school for its beautiful campus.
10) She averted her face so that people would not see her
blush.
11) He has always had an aversion to publicity.
12) The government’s policy succeeded in averting a
serious economic recession.
Translation on Page 114
13) Michael Jordan is the envy of many black kids.
14) Every summer, hundreds of thousands of people are sent to guard the riverbanks against floods.
15) It was not easy to get the golden apple, for it was guarded by a ferocious giant.
16) Xicheng was practically unguarded so Zhuge Liang narrowly escaped being captured.
17) The prisoners of war killed the guards and escaped into the woods.
18) He is probably the greatest guard in the history of basketball game.
Translation on Page 11419) They took the Americans off guard by launching the
sudden attack on a Sunday.
20) There were two armed soldiers standing guard at the bridge.
21) Napoleon exhibited his military talent early in life.
22) These exhibits are all insured and carefully guarded.
23) When the exhibition is over, the exhibits will be given to the host country as gifts.
24) She is going to exhibit some of her most recent sculptures at the National Art Gallery.
Translation on Page 1201) It’s widely rumored that Linda’s getting promoted.
2) It is estimated that the project will cost RMB three billion.
3) It is assumed that the Labor Party will remain in power.
4) It was proposed a few years ago that the president be elected for on term only.
5) It was announced that another bridge across the Yangtse would be built next year.
6) It was believed even then that the abnormal state of affairs wouldn’t last long.
Translation on Page 1201) The jury is having trouble reaching a verdict.
2) Whenever either of us is in a tight corner, we always come to each
other’s help.
3) Statistics are facts obtained from analyzing information given in
numbers.
4) Statistics is a branch of mathematics concerned with the study of
information that is expressed in numbers.
5) Neither his friends nor his father was surprised when he was
admitted by Tsinghua University .
6) Xiao Li is one of the best football players in our university who
have ever participated in intercollegiate championships.