Unit 1 Growing up

Questions It’s the first class for Elle Woods in Harvard Law School. Can you see in which way is she different from her classmates? What is the assignment for the class? Why does Elle Leave the class? Do you support her or the professor?

The Art of Eating Spaghetti Hold the fork in your hand as if to poke the spaghetti Scoop up a small amount of spaghetti on your fork and raise it about 30 cm above your plate Make sure the spaghetti on your fork is completely disconnected from the remainder on your plate Put the prongs of the fork at an edge of the plate that is free of food

The Art of Eating Spaghetti Quickly point the prongs of the fork straight down toward the plate and place the points on the plate Twirl the fork to gather the spaghetti around the prongs With a quick scooping movement, gather up the roll around the prongs and place it in your mouth Gently gather up any stray spaghetti ends that don’t make it all the way into your mouth

Would you enjoy writing “The Art of Eating Spaghetti”? Why or why not? Why did Russell Baker enjoy writing “The Art of Spaghetti”? Questions again

Writing For Myself Text A Writing For Myself --- Russell Baker

Text Organization Part I (Paras 1-2) Baker was bored by everything associated with English courses, including essay writing

Text Organization Part II (Paras 3-5) Baker found himself attracted by one particular topic and wrote about it for his own joy

Text Organization Part III (Paras 6-9) The experience of writing the essay helped him discover his talent for writing and realize what he wished to do in life

Cultural Notes Grade Schools in the U.S. What American teaches wear in school

Text Analysis Narration in chronological sequence Since my childhood in Belleville Until my third year in high school Until then When our class was assigned to Mr. Fleagle for third-year English Late in the year Until the night before the essay was due

Narration in chronological sequence When I finished Next morning Two days passed When I saw him lift my paper from his desk When Mr. Fleagle finished

Selecting details A narrative comprises details. It is important to remember only those that help bring out the main idea of the narrative are useful and effective. In Para. 2, the author creates an unfavorable image of Mr. Fleagle by selecting details, describing his eyeglasses, hairstyle, clothes, jaw, nose, and manner of speaking

Repetition Make it easy for readers to follow the essay as well as impress them more deeply In Para. 2, 9 prim’s or primly’s appear in 3 sentences – vivid picture of Mr. Fleagle In Para. 5, 5 I wanted’s help to emphasize author’s strong desire to write for himself

Employment of synonymous words and phrases Dull, lifeless, cheerless, tedious Turn out, write, compose, put down Anticipate, prepare for Formal, rigid, prim, correct, proper, respectable

Vivid memories of sth., come flooding back to sb., sth. reawakes in one’s mind, sb.’s recalls sth. Recapture, relive Pleasure, delight, happiness Contempt, ridicule Topic, title Employment of synonymous words and phrases

Language points The idea of becoming a writer had come to me off and on since my childhood in Belleville, but it wasn’t until my third year in high school that the possibility took hold --- I was a child in Belleville, I had thought of becoming a writer from time to time, but I didn’t make up my mind until I was in the eleventh grade.

off and on (or on and off): from time to time, now and again, irregularly It has been raining on and off for a week. That’s why the clothes feel damp. She slept off and on last night because of the severe headache. take hold: become established The idea of one child has taken hold in most urban Chinese families. Old habits die hard. That’s why you should stop smoking before the habits takes hold.

I hated the assignments to turn out long, lifeless paragraphs that were agony for teachers to read and for me to write. --- I found it painful to write long, boring essays as required by teachers; neither did teachers enjoy what I wrote. turn out: produce American film studios turn out hundreds of films every year. New computers are soon outdated since newer models are turned out constantly.

anticipate & expect anticipate: to look forward to, especially with pleasure (usu. followed by gerund or that-clause). Sometimes it refers to taking advance action, as to forestall or prevent the occurrence of sth. expected or to meet a wish or request before it is articulated The police had anticipated trouble from the soccer fans and were at the ground in large numbers.

expect: to look forward to the probable occurrence or appearance of I can’t go to bed now. I’m expecting telephone call from America.

rigid: (often disapproving) fixed in behavior, based on correct or accepted rules The rigid headmaster would button his clothes even on the hottest days. If he had been a little less rigid about things, his daughter would not have left home at such a young age.

I prepared for an unfruitful year with Mr. Fleagle and for a long time was not disappointed --- I expected that things wouldn’t improve with Mr. Fleagle as our English teacher, and for a long time I was right in my expectations. (Note that here is a touch of irony.) face up to: be brave enough to accept or deal with (a problem or difficulty) Now that your daughter is born, you’ll have to face up to the responsibilities of being a father.

I was preparing myself for a command to report to Mr. Fleagle immediately after school for discipline… --- I expected Mr. Fleagle would order me to see him soon after school for the purpose of punishing me… command n. order The rebellious army would not obey any command from the President. v. give an order to The captain commanded his men to abandon the ship immediately.

hold back prevent the expression of (feelings, tears, etc.) She couldn’t hold back her tears at her office when she knew her dearest grandma passed away. keep back Hearing the typhoon coming, the villagers built banks of earth to hold back the flood waters.

In the eleventh grade, at the eleventh hour as it were, I had discovered a calling.--- In my eleventh grade, and one might say at the last possible moment, I had found something I wished to take up as a career the eleventh hour: the last moment before sth. Important happens The president’s visit was called off at the eleventh hour.

Discussion Do you have any unforgettable experiences in your English studying/life? Talk about these memorable occasions.

True or False Questions 1. If your fork falls on the floor, pick it up, clean it with your napkin, and continue using it. 2. When you have finished eating, refold your napkin to the way it was before and put it next to your plate. 3. You should excuse yourself if you must leave the table during a meal. 4. You should stand up to get the salt if it is out of your reach. 5. Don't burp because it is considered rude.

6. Always use the water glass to your right. 7. Keep your elbows off the table, especially when you are eating. 8. Your bread and butter plate is located towards the left of an imaginary line across your service plate. 9. When you finish your meal, put your fork and knife back on the table where they were before. 10. If there are two forks on the table, you should start using the fork closest to the plate.

11. If there are bones in your food, spit them out and put them on the tablecloth. 12. Make slurping sounds when you are eating noodles to show how good they are. 13. In the American style of using silverware, you switch the fork to your right hand to bring food into your mouth. 14. If you do not want a certain food, make an elaborate excuse about why you can't have it. 15. Ask your hostess for a doggy bag to take home the food you cannot finish.

16. If you are the guest, you should not order the most expensive item on the menu unless it is recommended by your host. 17. Go to the bathroom to remove food caught in your teeth. 18. If a piece of food falls off your plate, don't touch it and leave it on the table. 19. Spoon the soup away from you and sip it from the side of the spoon. 20. If the dessert spoon and fork are already on the table, they should be above your plate.

Key FFTFT TTTFF FFTFF TTFTT

Describe the picture in your words