Task C-1 My first experience of …

Teaching aim Learn to use descriptions in narrative writing Learn to use descriptions in narrative writing Learn to write descriptions Learn to write descriptions

Teaching procedure Turning-in activity Turning-in activity Focus on input reading Focus on input reading Focus on new writing task Focus on new writing task

Turning-in activity Have you ever had any embarrassing / unforgettable experiences? Discuss them with your classmates, focusing on what made them embarrassing / unforgettable. Have you ever had any embarrassing / unforgettable experiences? Discuss them with your classmates, focusing on what made them embarrassing / unforgettable.

Unity of style In an article

Beauty in simplicity an article by a high school an article by a high school student in America student in America

The snow storm

Beauty in delicacy An article by a university An article by a university student in America student in America

Debut

Input reading - Debut Read through the article by yourself and try to answer: Read through the article by yourself and try to answer: 1. What type of article is it? (narration, description, exposition … ?) 2. What is the dominant compositional technique used in the article? 3. What are described in Paras 1, 2 and 3? 4. Can you pinpoint the language used for description? 5. What is the compositional technique used in the last para? 6. What is the function of the last para?

Writing techniques employed Narration Narration Description Description Exposition Exposition Giving comments Giving comments Dominant: descriptions Dominant: descriptions

How descriptions are written Review how: Review how: Description of events, people, places, objects, actions, thinking, and so on. Description of events, people, places, objects, actions, thinking, and so on. Use of senses: see, hear, smell, taste, feel. Use of senses: see, hear, smell, taste, feel. Use of language - adjectives, verbs, adverbs, figures of speech, and so on. Use of language - adjectives, verbs, adverbs, figures of speech, and so on.

Examples from the article 1. The curtains slowly lifted and a hush fell over the auditorium. (see, hear; verbs) 2. Three female dancers and I were on stage, in different dance positions ready to perform our routine. (see; adjectival phrase) 3. The white-hot stage lights beamed down, casting blue and white tones on our skin. (see; adjectives, verb, present participial phrase)

Some specific points (con ’ t) 4. Each of us was dressed in white snug-fitted unitards and sky-blue satin skirts. 5. Still as statues, ready to give a grand performance. (simile; adjectival phrase) 6. We waited and waited for the music to commence. (narration) 7. I could feel the heat rise to the back of my neck and face. (feel) 8. My heart beat uncontrollably and my calf began to cramp tightly. (feel; verb, adverb)

Some specific points (con ’ t) 9. the audience below watched in anticipation. (see) 10. I could hear the shuffling of papers, and impatient whispers, mingled with a cough now and then. (hear; adjectives) 11. Thoughts raced through my head about the steps I had rehearsed over a thousand times. (thinking; verb) 12. I wondered what my family thought, sitting there feeling just as nervous as I. (thinking; present participial phrase)

Some specific points (con ’ t) 13. My eyes wandered over to the face of the other girls with eyes full of fear, lips tense and still with fright. (action, see; adjectives) 14. By now, I knew my dance instructor was probably have a massive coronary. (thinking) 15. I thought I was going to die of embarrassment myself. (thinking) 16. Panic-stricken (and still no music), one of the girls started to dance, slowly swaying her body from side to side. (see; adjective, present participial phrase)

Some specific points (con ’ t) 17. All three of us followed her lead. (narration 18. We improvised the best we knew how, but it was awkward. (feel / see) 19. The audience found it quite humorous, as stifled laughters echoed up to the stage, amplified ten times in my head. (see, hear; adjective, verb, past participle) 20. The music then started three minutes too late. (narration) 21. This threw us off even more. (see; verb)

Some specific points (con ’ t) 22. We were all over the place, each of us out of sync with the other. (see; independent structure) 23. I was leaping while another girl spun, skirts flowling gracefully. (see; verb, independent structure) 24. One girl danced right off the stage, and the other two followed. 25. Unbeknown to me, I was left dancing alone, floating around, leaping here, and playing there, until I realized no one else was present. (past and present participles)

Some specific points (con ’ t) 26. I stood mortified, then casually, but gracefully spun off and exited the stage. (adjective, adverb, verb) 27. The curtains quickly dropped. (see, “ lift ” ) 28. I felt like crying. 29. The other girls calmly disappeared. 30 – 31. After the dance concert was over, we found out that the instructor had actually fainted. We never did discover what the trouble was with the music. (exposition)

Some specific points (con ’ t) 32 – 35. I will never forget that day. I look back at it now and find the whole event comical. I learned that it ’ s not a bad but a good thing to laugh at oneself, for life is full of many embarrassing situations (lord know I ’ ve been part of many of them). They have added spice and vitality to my life and have made a better huamn being of me. (comment; present tense; highlight significnace of the event)

Language - Use of ‘ debut ’ debut ['deibu:] debut ['deibu:] Meaning - a first appearance before the public, as of an actor n. 初次登台, 初次露 面 Meaning - a first appearance before the public, as of an actor n. 初次登台, 初次露 面 Synonyms – first appearance, introduction, launching, unveiling, Synonyms – first appearance, introduction, launching, unveiling, Antonym – farewell performance Antonym – farewell performance

Examples – translate into English Examples – translate into English 1. 首次进入社交界，首次演出 2. 歌手初次登台 3. 首次出场, 首次露面 4. 初出茅庐 5. 她初上荧幕。 6. 她的初次进入社交界 7. 她初次登台获得成功。 8. 一个新的外交政策的出台 9. 她第一次在音乐厅登台演出就把听众镇住了。 年她初次登上国际赛场。

1. a social debut 2. a singer's debut 3. make one's debut 4. a beginner; a debut 5. This is her TV debut. 6. her debut into society 7. She made a successful debut. 8. the debut of a new foreign policy 9. Her debut took the concert hall by storm. 10. She made her international debut in 1996.

Writing task Title: My first … Title: My first … Instruction: Write a composition of at least 500 words with “ My first …” as part of the title. Imitate the writing style of the sample. Instruction: Write a composition of at least 500 words with “ My first …” as part of the title. Imitate the writing style of the sample. Requirements: Requirements: Try to use newly-learnt words Try to use newly-learnt words Underline good words, phrases, and expressions Underline good words, phrases, and expressions Try to write concretely Try to write concretely Note down number of words Note down number of words No delayed work No delayed work

In-class fast writing training Do brainstorming about the new writing task, and produce a complete written piece within 15 minutes. No more than 3 superficial errors. Do brainstorming about the new writing task, and produce a complete written piece within 15 minutes. No more than 3 superficial errors.

Peer reading Read your partner ’ s work, give comments and detect errors. Read your partner ’ s work, give comments and detect errors.

Presentation of students ’ work in class The teacher read students ’ representative written work to the class and give comments. The teacher read students ’ representative written work to the class and give comments.

Homework Write a composition of about 400 words with “ My first experience of …” as part of the title. Write a composition of about 400 words with “ My first experience of …” as part of the title.