
Objectives
Through this lesson, students will
be able to recap the basic facts of the plane crush and the following rescue efforts, esp. what the man in the water did;
think about the question of heroism and the power of man;
analyze the organization and the language style of the text;
learn the related vocabulary and other useful words and phrases in the text.
Warming-up Activities
Which lifestyle do you prefer?
Background information
1.About the author
Janet Mendell Goldstein(1940—)received her advanced degrees at Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania. An educator for 30 years ,she now works as an editorial consultant ,freelance [‘fri:’lɑ:ns]自由职业的writer ,and textbook author .Her work has appeared in a variety of newspapers and magazines ,including the English Journal, Faith and Aspiration ,and The Philadelphia Inquirer费城问询报. This text is adapted from an essay out of a series that she has written about contemporary life.
2.English Journal is a journal of ideas for English language arts teachers in junior and senior high schools and middle schools. EJ presents information on the teaching of writing and reading, literature, and language. Each issue examines the relationship of theory and research to classroom practice and reviews current materials of interest to English teachers, including books and electronic media. Published bimonthly, September, November, January, March, May, and July.
Symbols of the USA
There are many symbols that represent the United States of America. Some of the most popular ones are the Stars and Stripes (the US flag), the bald eagle (the national bird), the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Statue of Liberty (a gift from France), Yankee Doodle, Uncle Sam (a cartoon figure designed by Thomas Nast), etc.
The Commonwealth 州of Virginia is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the “Old Dominion [də‘minjən] 自治领” and sometimes the “Mother of Presidents” after the eight U.S. presidents born there. The geography and climate of the state are shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains乔治亚山脉 and the Chesapeake Bay切萨皮克湾, which provide habitat for much of its flora植物群and fauna动物群. The capital of the Commonwealth is Richmond里士满; Virginia Beach is the most populous city and Fairfax County维吉尼亚州地名the most populous political subdivision分支,分部. The state population is over eight million.
Pennsylvania: A state of the eastern United States. It was admitted as one of the original Thirteen Colonies in 1787. First explored in the early 1600's, the region was settled by Swedes in 1634 and granted by royal charter to William Penn in 1681.
Pennsylvania played a crucial role in the American Revolution and in the formation of the new republic. Harrisburg哈里斯堡is the capital and Philadelphia is the largest city. Philadelphia locates on the west bank of Delaware. The site was selected by William Penn with the name of “city of brotherly love”. It was “the birthplace of the nation” and the Declaration of Independence was signed here. Another major city is Pittsburgh匹兹堡.
Cliff’s notes is a series of reference book written to help undergraduate students to understand and appreciate important literary works.
With such notes, students don’t have to read the work itself and be able to write papers and take exams.
Fifth symphony : Dit—dit—dit—daaah!
Three quick Gs and a long E-flat-----Ludwig von Beethoven’s Fifth symphony just could be the most memorable musical phrase of all time. But that’s just the first five seconds. As for the rest, in nearly every note, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony tops the list of favorites. Clearly, Beethoven crafted something universal and powerful that reverberates反射回响with ageless significance in every listener regardless of their depth of musical culture.
With his classics, represented by Fate, Beethoven ushered陪同招待in a new era of music, the Romanticism.
Fast roads in the U.S.
Highways: connect cities
Superhighways: a road with six or more lanes
Interstate highways: connect cities in different states
Freeways: roads within a city
Expressways: fast roads in or near cities
Turnpike: pay money before you use it.
3.Genre
explanatory Writing
Comparison and Contrast (e.g. para.1,2, 4)
Use of Rhetorical Questions (e.g. para.3,5,7)
Repetition of Structure and Words( Para 4 if-clauses, Para 5 word “fast”)
Text analysis
1.Theme
Let’s slow down and enjoy what nature offers us and what mankind has left us and rediscover life. (The theme is summed up at the very end.)
2.Structure of the text
Part I: Para. 1-3
Two trips and a discovery
Part II: Para. 4-6
Three features of a quick fix society
Part III: Para. 7-8
The author’s proposal of slowing down and rediscovering life
Introduction
The writer compares her ride on fast roads and her return trip of a country road. The contrast made her thinking whether there was sth. Wrong with American’s quick fix lifestyle.
Body
Now instead of later
Faster instead of slower
Superficially instead of thoroughly
Conclusion
Let’s slow down,
enjoy what nature offers us,
what mankind has left us,
then
rediscover life.
