Unit Four---Me and My Big Mouth

Lead-in questions & Group discussion 1. Are you a football fan? Who is your favorite footballer? Why do you admire him or her? 2. With the increase of professionalism in football, player ’ s incomes have dramatically increased in recent years. Some people do not think they have proved themselves worthy earners of so much, while others think that they have contributed so much. You are expected to organize yourselves into groups of three or four and debate on this issue.

Lead-in questions & Group discussion 3. When your football-playing career comes to an end, you are considering how to spend the rest of your life. Two choices are here: to be a coach for Fudan University football team or to be a well-paid sportswear spokesman for a great company. Talk to your partner and exchange your ideas. 4. Is the concept of hiring a famous person to be the spokesman a popular marketing strategy around the world today? Can you give some examples?

Lead-in questions & Group discussion 5. Have you ever bought certain products on impulse/ rashly just because your idol is none other than the spokesman in the commercial? Share your experience with your partner. 6. What ’ s your personal opinion about this phenomenon?

the main idea of the text 1. What is the meaning of the words “ big mouth ” ? 1. What is the meaning of the words “ big mouth ” ? He is the mouth of the House. 议院的代言人 /spokesman He is the mouth of the House. 议院的代言人 /spokesman Big mouth: a slip of the tongue/ have a loose tongue: 随口乱讲 Big mouth: a slip of the tongue/ have a loose tongue: 随口乱讲 Have a rough tongue: 说话粗鲁 Have a rough tongue: 说话粗鲁 Have a ready tongue: 有敏捷的口才 Have a ready tongue: 有敏捷的口才 Have a bitter tongue: 嘴刻薄 Have a bitter tongue: 嘴刻薄 A silver tongue: 流利的口才 A silver tongue: 流利的口才 Watch your tongue: 说话要留神 Watch your tongue: 说话要留神 Big words/ talk: 大话 Big words/ talk: 大话 Make a living as an entertainer/ 吃开口饭 Make a living as an entertainer/ 吃开口饭

the main idea of the text 2. What can we infer from the title? What might be mentioned in this text according to the title? 2. What can we infer from the title? What might be mentioned in this text according to the title? 3. In the very beginning of the whole text, the preface （题记 / 前言 / 序） says “ How Terry Bradshaw fumbled his way to success ”. What ’ s the meaning of the word “ fumble ” ? 3. In the very beginning of the whole text, the preface （题记 / 前言 / 序） says “ How Terry Bradshaw fumbled his way to success ”. What ’ s the meaning of the word “ fumble ” ? ---Fumble in one ’ s pocket for a key 摸钥匙 ---Fumble in one ’ s pocket for a key 摸钥匙 ---Fumble along the dark path 摸索 ---Fumble along the dark path 摸索 ---Fumble for the right word to say 搜索枯肠寻找恰当的词来说 ---Fumble for the right word to say 搜索枯肠寻找恰当的词来说 ---Fumble with a shoestring 笨手笨脚的解 / 系鞋带 ---Fumble with a shoestring 笨手笨脚的解 / 系鞋带 -----The word ” fumble ” is used to present a vivid picture from which we can imagine what and how Terry Bradshaw did on his way to success. Things were not that smooth and easy as expected. Maybe he said or did something foolish. He even made an exhibition of himself sometimes. He met with challenges one after another and had to cope with frustration. He looked clumsy and felt he was walking on thin ice to a certain degree The word ” fumble ” is used to present a vivid picture from which we can imagine what and how Terry Bradshaw did on his way to success. Things were not that smooth and easy as expected. Maybe he said or did something foolish. He even made an exhibition of himself sometimes. He met with challenges one after another and had to cope with frustration. He looked clumsy and felt he was walking on thin ice to a certain degree.

the writer’s purpose of writing? ---To narrate his personal experience, and share his perspectives and understanding of success The writer tells us of his experience and he seems to tell us that success lies largely in the discovery of one ’ s real potential It is important to know who you are and what you can do to be the best of your self. ---To narrate his personal experience, and share his perspectives and understanding of success The writer tells us of his experience and he seems to tell us that success lies largely in the discovery of one ’ s real potential It is important to know who you are and what you can do to be the best of your self.

Structural analysis of the text This text is a narration. Narrative writing is usually organized in a chronological order. In the text the writer recounts a series of happenings, which consist of an introduction, the conflict, the climax and a solution to the conflict. Basically, the story falls into four parts. This text is a narration. Narrative writing is usually organized in a chronological order. In the text the writer recounts a series of happenings, which consist of an introduction, the conflict, the climax and a solution to the conflict. Basically, the story falls into four parts.

Structural analysis of the text Part One: (paragraph 1) is the introductory part of the whole text. The author introduces the setting (who, when, where and why of an event), which gives reasons for the author ’ s job transition (main idea) and prepares for the following conflict (function). Part One: (paragraph 1) is the introductory part of the whole text. The author introduces the setting (who, when, where and why of an event), which gives reasons for the author ’ s job transition (main idea) and prepares for the following conflict (function).

Structural analysis of the text Part Two: (paragraphs 2-13) recounts his frustrating experiences as a toupee model (main idea) ， thus raising the first conflict and its climax(function). Part Two: (paragraphs 2-13) recounts his frustrating experiences as a toupee model (main idea) ， thus raising the first conflict and its climax(function) paragraphs 2-3 serve as the beginning of the story ’ s second part, which includes three episodes in his frustrating experiences as a toupee company ’ s spokesman. Here the writer tells his engagement with the toupee company and the company ’ s marketing strategy paragraphs 2-3 serve as the beginning of the story ’ s second part, which includes three episodes in his frustrating experiences as a toupee company ’ s spokesman. Here the writer tells his engagement with the toupee company and the company ’ s marketing strategy.

Structural analysis of the text -----paragraph 4-7 give an account of the first episode in the second part of the text, which is about his suffering when people are making a plastic model of his head paragraph 4-7 give an account of the first episode in the second part of the text, which is about his suffering when people are making a plastic model of his head paragraph 8-9 describes the author ’ s parents ’ reaction to his modeled head sent to them. So these 2 paragraphs are closely related to the previous account paragraph 8-9 describes the author ’ s parents ’ reaction to his modeled head sent to them. So these 2 paragraphs are closely related to the previous account.

Structural analysis of the text -----paragraph 10 is the second episode of the writer ’ s experience as a toupee model. The making of the film commercial is deemed as damaging to his personal image, which is evidenced by the simile “ like road kill stuck to my head ” paragraph 10 is the second episode of the writer ’ s experience as a toupee model. The making of the film commercial is deemed as damaging to his personal image, which is evidenced by the simile “ like road kill stuck to my head ” paragraphs are about the third episode of the writer ’ s toupee model experience. It is the climax of the second part of the text. In this part the writer undergoes intolerable annoyance and frustration – he has to wear the wig whenever he appears in public. His frustration is highlighted by yet another simile “ the hairpiece hanging out of my pocket like a squirrel ’ s tail ” paragraphs are about the third episode of the writer ’ s toupee model experience. It is the climax of the second part of the text. In this part the writer undergoes intolerable annoyance and frustration – he has to wear the wig whenever he appears in public. His frustration is highlighted by yet another simile “ the hairpiece hanging out of my pocket like a squirrel ’ s tail ”.

Structural analysis of the text Part Three: (paragraph 14-27) describes his problems, his progress and success in broadcasting (main idea), thus developing the second conflict, building up the second climax and reaching the solution (function). Part Three: (paragraph 14-27) describes his problems, his progress and success in broadcasting (main idea), thus developing the second conflict, building up the second climax and reaching the solution (function) paras. 14 is a transitional paragraph which marks the end of the first conflict (the second part of the text) and the beginning of another conflict (the third part of the text) paras. 14 is a transitional paragraph which marks the end of the first conflict (the second part of the text) and the beginning of another conflict (the third part of the text).

Structural analysis of the text -----paras tell us how the writer enters the broadcasting business and begins a new career, so it is the beginning of the third part of the text paras tell us how the writer enters the broadcasting business and begins a new career, so it is the beginning of the third part of the text paras build up the writer ’ s second conflict in which the writer describes how he fumbles through his first sports broadcasting and what problems he has paras build up the writer ’ s second conflict in which the writer describes how he fumbles through his first sports broadcasting and what problems he has paras tell us how the writer progresses in sports broadcasting paras tell us how the writer progresses in sports broadcasting.

Structural analysis of the text Part Four: (paragraph 28) comment on his successful career transition (main idea), thus eliciting the theme of the story --- conclusive remark (function). Part Four: (paragraph 28) comment on his successful career transition (main idea), thus eliciting the theme of the story --- conclusive remark (function) in para. 28, the writer concludes his story with his own remark that serves as an emphatic assertion of the theme: it is important to know who you are and what you can do to be the best of your self in para. 28, the writer concludes his story with his own remark that serves as an emphatic assertion of the theme: it is important to know who you are and what you can do to be the best of your self.