Unit-One-Hit-the-Nail-on-the-Head-教案河南师范大学.doc

Unit One Hit the Nail on the Head
  2009-2-28

教学时数：4学时
教学目的与要求：通过本单元的学习，要求学生熟悉课文内容，掌握新的英语词汇和理解课文基本大意，能够对课文的主旨进行简单总结和评论，并独立完成本单元练习题。
教学重点：重点句子的理解。
教学难点：creep, loiter, march, meander, pace, patrol, plod, prowl, ramble, roam, saunter, shuffle, stagger, stalk, step, tread, trudge, and walk 的词义辨析。
About Style  语体（文体；风格）
1. variation in a person’s speech or writing. Style usually varies from casual to formal according to the type of situation, the person or persons addressed, the location, the topic discussed, etc. a particular style, e.g. a formal style or a colloquial style, is sometimes referred to as a stylistic variety (语体类型)。Some linguists use the term “register” for a stylistic variety whilst others differentiate between the two.
2. Style can also refer to a particular person’s use of speech or writing at all times or to a way of speaking or writing at a particular period of time, e.g. Dickens’s style, the style of Shakespeare, an 18th –century style of writing.
About the author:
Alan Warner(1912- ), English teacher at Makerere College, Kampala, Uganda. The selection is Chapter 7 of his book A Short Guide to English Style (1961), which consists of three parts: Part One, How to write clean English; Part Two, the development of English style; and Part Three, English styles today. In writing the book, the author has tried to keep in mind the special needs and difficulties of those students for whom English is not the mother tongue.
I．Background Information
1．Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880), French novelist, was associated with, thought not representative of, the movement of naturalism and known as one of the greatest realists of nineteenth-century France. He devoted his life to long hours spent in heavy toil over his work. His writing is marked by exactness and accuracy of observation, extreme impersonality and objectivity of treatment, and precision and expressiveness in style, or the principle of the mot juste.
2. Mrs. Malaprop is a famous character in Sheridan’s comedy The Rivals (1775). She is noted for her blunders in the use of words. “As headstrong as an allegory (alligator) on the banks of the Nile” is one of her grotesque misapplications. She also requests that no delusions (allusions) to the past be made. She has given us the word malapropism as a name for such mistakes.
(谢里丹Sheridan，Richard Brinsley, 英国剧作家，政治家。1751年10月30日生于爱尔兰，卒于1816年7月7日。谢里丹先入哈罗中学，后学法律。从1775年他的第一部剧作上演，到1779年共写了7部剧本。自1776年至1809年一直经营朱瑞巷剧院。1780年后主要从事政治活动，当过议员，并在外交部、财政部和海军内任过要职，拥护自由民主，反对不义战争和反对压迫平民。谢里丹最有名的剧作《造谣学校》是英国风俗喜剧最佳作品之一。他的全部作品几乎都是以明快的机智嘲弄当时那个感情脆弱的社会，并以卓越的性格描绘著称。其他作品有喜剧《情敌》、喜歌剧《陪媪》、据17世纪末英国剧作家范布勒《失足》改写的喜剧《斯卡巴勒之行》、滑稽剧《批评家》以及据同时代德国剧作家科采布《秘鲁的西班牙人》改编的悲剧《皮扎罗》等)
3．Hindi is a literary and official language of northern India. Swahili is a Bantu language that is a trade the governmental language over much of East Africa and in the Congo region. Bantus are people belonging to a group of tribes found in equatorial and southern Africa.
4. Carpenter The chief work of the carpenter is to cut, shape, and fasten lumber, timbers, and other materials according to the intention of the designer. Building plans show dimensions and locations, but rarely give the carpenter all the necessary information. A carpenter must draw on experience and ingenuity of many part of the job. Most carpenters work in crews of general contractors or a re employed as maintenance workers in buildings, factories, or institutions.
5. Christmas is the festival celebrating the birth of Christ. In most countries it is observed on December 25. Christian churches throughout the world hold special services on Christmas Day to give thinks for the birth of Christ. In addition to religious observances, Christmas is a time of merrymaking and feasting. Wherever Christmas is celebrated, there is a spirit of kindness and giving, in keeping with the Biblical message:
Glory to God in the highest;
and on earth peace, good will toward men.
6. Dickens, Charles (1812-1870), an English novelist. He tried in his work not only to entertain but to bring about social reforms. In his novels Dickens attacked such evils as poorhouses, unjust courts, greedy employers, faulty schools, and imprisonment for debt.
7. Shakespeare, William (1564-1616), an English poet and playwright. He has long been recognized as the world’s finest dramatist and a poet of high rank, and most modern critics consider him the world’s greatest literary figure. His plays have been translated into all major languages and numerous minor ones; performed repeatedly in almost every country; and in Europe and America staged oftener than those of any other playwright. His plays have been made into motion picture, radio, and television productions and have formed the basis for operas and musicals.
II. Teaching Points
Para 1:
1.      The sentence “So with language; . . . firmly and directly” establishes the link between the driving of a nail and the choice of a word.
2.      Paraphrase: A word that is more or less right, a loose phrase, an ambiguous expression, a vague adjective, will not satisfy a writer who aims at clean English.
A writer who is particular about the exactness of an expression in English will never feel happy with a word which fails to express an idea accurately.
Para 2:
1. Paraphrase: Choosing words is part of realization, of defining our thought and feelings for ourselves, as well as for those who hear or read our words.
To a certain extent, the process of finding the right words to use is a process of perfection where you try to search for words that may most accurately make your thoughts and feelings, and words that may most effectively make your listeners and readers understand your thoughts and feelings.
Para 3:
1. Paraphrase: It is hard work choosing the right words, but we shall be rewarded by the satisfaction that finding them brings.
Finding the most suitable word to use is no case easy. But there is nothing like the delight we shall experience when such a word is located.
2. Paraphrase: The exact use of language gives us mastery over the material we are dealing with.
Once we are able to use language accurately, we are in a position to fully understand our subject matter.
3. How can I know what I think till I see what I say? This sounds stupid, but there is a great deal of truth in it.
It sounds irrational that a person does not know what he himself thinks before he sees what he says. But as a matter of fact, it is quite true that unless we have found the exact words to verbalize our own thoughts we can never be very sure of what our thoughts are; without words, our thoughts cannot be defined or stated in a clear and precise manner.
Para 4:
1. human and humane
human — relating or characteristic of humankind or people; of, characterizing, or relating to man
humane — having or showing compassion or benevolence; characterized by kindness, mercy, sympathy. Humane is an earlier form of human. The two words are of the same origin.
Para 7:
1. Malapropism: the unintentional misuse of a word by confusing it with one that resembles it, such as human for humane, singularity for singleness.（音近词的滑稽误用）
Para 9:
1. But the misuse of “imprison” is a different case. It is wrongly chosen because the user has failed to recognize its connotation.
Para 10:
1. March: walk with firm regular steps like a soldier 齐步前进，行军
Pace: walk with slow, steady steps, especially backwards and forwards踱方步
Patrol: go at regular times round an area, building, etc. 巡逻
Stalk: walk stiffly, proudly, or with long steps高视阔步地走
Stride: walk with long steps or cross with one long step大踏步地走
Tread on: step on踩，践踏
Tramp: walk with firm heavy steps用沉重的脚步走
Step out: (U.S.) go outside or go somewhere暂时走开
Prance: move quickly, happily, or proudly with a springing step欢跃的走
Strut: walk proudly or stiffly, especially with the chest pushed forward and trying to look important 趾高气扬地走
Prowl: move about an area quietly, trying not to be seen or heard 徘徊，潜行
Plod: walk slowly along (trudge) 沉重缓慢的走
Stroll: walk a short distance, slowly or lazily, especially for pleasure. 闲逛 散步
Shuffle: walk by dragging one''s feet slowly along 拖着脚走
Stagger: walk or move unsteadily and with great difficulty, almost falling蹒跚
Sidle: move uncertainly or secretively, as if really to turn and go the other way 侧身而行
Trudge: walk with heavy steps, slowly and with effort (plod) 步履艰难的走
Toddle: walk with short, unsteady steps, as a small child does 蹒跚行走
Ramble: go on a walk for enjoyment 漫步
Roam: wander with not very clear purpose漫步
Saunter: walk with an unhurried way, and especially in a confident manner (lounge)闲逛
Meander: wander in a slow easy way漫步 散步
Lounge: move in a leisurely, indolent manner (saunter) 闲荡
Loiter: move slowly or keep stopping when one should be going forward走走停停
Creep: move slowly, quietly, and carefully so as not to attract attention蹑手蹑脚地走

SEE: behold, look at, glimpse, glanced at, view, survey, perceive, notice, observe, discern, distinguish, remark, comprehend, understand, know
死的表示法：亡，故，卒，毙，薨，陨，崩，故世，献身，长眠，逝世，寿终，没了，入土，断气，溘逝，驾崩，大行，回老家，玩儿完，填沟壑，翘辫子，见马克思，一命呜呼，三长两短，香消玉陨，呜呼哀哉，跨鹤西游，吹灯拔蜡，去极乐世界。。。。。。
III. Organization and Development
1. Structure:
Para. 1 Introduction – it is an analogy between the hammering of nails and the use of language to express oneself. A man with a poor command of a language, not sure what words to use to express himself, is just like a man clumsy with a hammer, unsuccessful in his effort to strike a nail right into a box. / A man with a good command of a language, just like a skillful carpenter who easily drives home the nail with a few firm, deft blows, will drive home his point firmly and exactly with the right words and expressions.
Language use

Clumsy carpenter
(get half of the nail into a box)

Skillful carpenter
(hit the nail squarely on the head)

Carpentry

Good craftsman
(choose words that will drive home his point firmly & exactly)

Bad craftsman
(more-or-less-right words, loose phrases, ambiguous expressions, vague adjectives)

CC : SC

GC : BC

Para. 2-3 The significance of finding the right words
Paras. 4-7 Semantic difference between words sharing the same root
Paras. 8 Wrong choice of words caused by failure to recognize their connotations
Para. 9 stylistic differences between synonyms
Para. 10 The abundance of specific words in English for general notions
Pars. 11 Conclusion – English has a large vocabulary, however, only around 12,000 words are used today. Thus choose the words precisely and exactly.
2. Analogy:
An analogy is a special kind of comparison and a more concrete way to explain things. It can help to make some vast, remote, abstract, or specialized thing clear. Of the two things being compared, one is an unfamiliar subject, usually a difficult or abstract subject the writer makes a point of clarifying, and the other a familiar subject, an easy subject the writer utilizes to help explain his unfamiliar subject.
IV. Interactive Activity
1. Oral practice: Use the way of analogy to illustrate your ideas of dormitory life/ your love for your parents/ the friendship between you and one of your best friends
Written work: write a short summary of "Hit the nail on the head", making clear how the writer uses "analogy" to illustrate an abstract point.
Add-on materials
V Proverbs and Idioms
English proverbs and idioms: (very important because of their specific cultural connotations)
1. Hit the nail on the head
2. To play by ear 凭听觉记忆演奏
Neil sat at the piano and began playing, by ear, the music he''d heard his older sister practicing.
In hot water 遇到麻烦；处于困境
The company has already been in hot water over high prices this year.
(like) Water off a duck’s back 不起作用, 毫无影响
Close to the vest 把...保守秘密; 避免不必要的危险 play (it) close to the vest
A vest is a piece of underwear which you can wear on the top half of your body in order to keep warm. (BRIT; in AM use undershirt)
The shoe is on the other foot情况完全不同了；责任在别人身上；情况相反；地位倒转；位置对调
To keep an ear to the ground
To be on the watch for new trends or information. 敏锐，精明：注意新动向或信息
To bark up the wrong tree
To misdirect one''s energies or attention. 找错目标：精力或注意力集中在错误地方
To fly off handle [美口]冒火, 激动；死, 翘辫子
To twist someone’s arm
To coerce by or as if by physical force:向某人施加压力，用或好象用施加压力的办法来强迫某人服从
To charge someone an arm and a leg
an arm and a leg【俚语】: An excessively high price 非常高的价格：
a cruise that cost an arm and a leg.
Taking candy from a baby
He''d take a candy from a baby. [美口]他是个贪得无厌的人
Bottom line
The line in a financial statement that shows net income or loss. 帐本底线，盈亏一览结算线：在财务报表中用此线标明净收益或净损失
The final result or statement; upshot 结果，结局：最后结果或声明；结果：
“The bottom line, however, is that he has escaped”(David Wise)
“然而，最后的结局是他逃掉了”(戴维·怀斯)
The main or essential point 要点或关键之处：
“A lot can happen between now and December, but the bottom line—for now—is that the city is still heading toward default”(New York)
“从现在到十二月份会发生很多变化，但是现在的实质问题是，这个城市还是不准备参赛”(纽约)
Just for laughs (laugh: amusing incident or person)
If you do something for a laugh or for laughs, you do it as a joke or for fun.
To laugh up one’s sleeve: be secretly amused (at sb.) 暗笑；窃喜
To rejoice or exult in secret, as at another''s error or defeat.幸灾乐祸：偷偷地欣喜或高兴，如对他人的错误或失败
(have/get) The last laugh笑在最后; 取得最后胜利
A BLACK SHEEP败家子, 败类, 害群之马
If you describe someone as the black sheep of their family or of a group that they are a member of, you mean that they are considered bad or worthless by other people in that family or group.
A dark horse
If you describe someone as a dark horse, you mean that people know very little about them, although they may have recently had success or may be about to have success.
        Until recently A. S. Byatt was a dark horse, known only by those steeped in literature.
A white lie
If you refer to an untrue statement as a white lie, you mean that it is made to avoid hurting someone''s feelings or to avoid trouble, and not for an evil purpose.
……
VI Dictation (write a synonym and an antonym):
Dismay; toddle; imprison; maintain; singularity; expire; scrupulous; indigent; epitomize
Write three specific words for ‘say’:
VII Vocabulary: Generic and Specific words
Say: speak; tell; declare; pronounce; express; state; argue; affirm; blurt; drawl; stammer; splatter; sputter; orate; etc.
See: behold; look at; glimpse; glance at; view; survey; contemplate; perceive; notice; observe; discern; distinguish; remark; comprehend; understand; etc.
Beverage: liquor; wine; beer; tea; coffee; milk; drink; soft drink; etc.
Excitement: agitation; perturbation; commotion; disturbance; tension; bustle; stir; flutter; sensation; etc.
Delight: joy; gladness; satisfaction; charm; rapture; ecstasy; gratification; etc.
Skillful: apt; ingenious; handy; ready; quick; smart; expert; gifted; talented; dexterous; clever; etc.
VIII Some problems to consider
Organization