1. Changes in the Way We Live
Unit One

2. Teaching Objectives
Get to know how people can change their way of life
Grasp the writing strategy—one topic sentences + several detail sentences
Learn the differences between country life and city life
Master the key language points and grammatical structures in the text

3. Text Organization Parts Paragraphs Main Ideas I 1-3
Life in the country is satisfying II
4-7
Life in the country is good yet sometimes very hard
III
8-11
The family managed to get by with the sharp decrease in income IV
12-15
Two qualities make it possible to enjoy life in the country

4. Understanding the Text
Questions for Part I:
 How is the author special as a farmer and a writer?
 Why life in the country is s self-reliant one?
How is the life in the country satisfying?

5. Understanding the Text
Questions for Part II:
 What is the tough part working in the country?
 How tight schedules do the author’s and his wife have?
 How many ways are mentioned to preserve food in this part

6. Understanding the Text
Questions for Part III:
 Why does the author says that “The timing was terrible”?
 What are the ways they adopt to manage their life with much less money?
Questions for Part IV:
 What are the two qualities needed to enjoy life in the countryside?

7. Key Words & Phrases urban, suburban, rural long-overdue
demanding (tight) schedule
on balance
be stuck with
set aside
on a tight budget
on a small / large scale

8. Supplement Reading— Robert Frost
His family background
Major works: The Road Not Taken, After Apple-Picking, Mending Wall
Characteristics of his works: simple yet instructive, using the setting of the rural area to explore complex social and philosophical themes
Literary contribution

9. Writing Strategy One topic sentence + several detail sentences:
It is easier for readers to grasp the main idea, and is proven effective.
Use of transitional devices:
 the use of time words or phrases (find examples)
 the use of transitional words

10. Text B American Family Life
Guide the students to study the words
Summarize the main idea of the text
Understanding the text: The three aspects of our life have changed:
 the way we work
 the way we eat
 the way we entertain

11. Writing Assignment
Directions: write a passage on the topic: Reading Classics VS. Fashion Magazines. Your passage should be based on the following points:
1. What can we obtain from classics?
2. Why fashion magazines are popular?
3. How can we strike a balance between the two?