Unit One Changes in the Way We Live

Book 3 Unit One Changes in the Way We Live

Objectives

Students will be able to:

1. grasp the main idea of Text A (tolerance for solitude and a lot of energy made it possible for the

writer's family to enjoy their pleasant but sometimes harsh country life);

2. appreciate the various techniques employed by the writer (comparison and contrast, topic

sentences followed by sentences providing details, use of transitional devices, etc.);

3. master the key language points in Text A and learn how to use them in context; express

themselves more freely on the theme of Changes in the Way We Live after doing a series of

theme-related reading, listening, speaking and writing activities;

4. write an eassy using comparison and contrast.

Teaching Steps

Step 1: Warming up

Task 1:

1. What’s the ideal lifestyle in your mind?

2. Do you believe in the saying “a penny saved is a penny earned”?

3. What are some of the things that come to your mind when we talk about healthy lifestyles?

Make a list of healthy lifestyles.

Task 2:

1. Divide the class into two halves

2. Half of students are conducting a poll for the Student Union aiming at improving college

students’ life style.

3. Report to the class (students’ lifestyle and ways to Improve the Lifestyle)

Task 3:

Discussion --- City Life vs. Country Life (advantages and disadvantages)

Step 2: Global Analysis of Text A

Part one (Paras. 1-3)

1. Analyze the sentence "I am not in E.B. White's class as..."

2. Ask Ss to go over Paras. 2 and 3 and find the topic sentence of each (the first sentence of each

paragraph). Then have them analyze the relationship between the topic sentence and rest of the

paragraph. (The rest serves as supporting details to illustrate the point the topic sentence brings

out.)

Part Two (Paras. 4-7)

Ss get the time words and phrases in Para.4.

Sandy's schedule in Para.5

Ask Ss to find the names of vegetables and fruits in Para. 7 and remember them.

The transitional words in Para. 7: first - then - then - eventually

Part Three (Paras. 8-11)

Ss read Para.10 and try to understand how the writer manages his family account.

How does the writer cut back their expenses in Para. 11.

Ss talk about their own daily cost.

Part Four (Paras. 12-15) Ask Ss t find out the special qualities that render country life possible and make comments on

them.

Step 3: Language points (omitted)

Step 4: Check on Homework

1. Check if Ss have done in their spare time the rest of the exercises on Text A and discuss with

them common errors that crop up.

2. Check on Ss' home reading (Text B).

Step 5: Writing Assignment (comparsion and contrast)

Choose one of the following topics:

Recent changes in Chinese family life

Living On-Campus vs. Off-Campus

My College Life and Middle School Life

1) Definitions of comparison and contrast

Comparison: You are asked to explain how two or more things are alike.

Contrast: You are asked to explain how two or more things are different.

2) Two methods to organize a comparison and contrast essay

Point-by-point method (or alternating arrangement): You alternate points about A (one

thing) with comparable points about B (another thing).

Item-by-item method (or block arrangement): You discuss all of A, then all of B.

3) Usually, comparison and contrast essay writing consists of three parts: Introduction, Body

and Conclusion.

Introduction often begins with a sentence that will catch the reader’s interest. Then name the

two subjects and state that they are very similar or quite different, having many important (or

interesting) similarities or differences.

Body discusses how both subjects are different or similar with the two methods (alternating

or block arrangement).

Conclusion gives a brief, general summary of the most important similarities and differences.

End with a personal statement, or a prediction.

4) In order to write a better composition, the writer should be familiar with some useful

expressions. (Refer to Some Useful Expressions for detail.)

Some Useful Expressions

Similarity:

like, similar to, also, similarly, in the same way, likewise, again, in like manner

Difference:

unlike, compared to, in contrast, contrasted with, on the contrary, conversely

Other:

yet, still, but, nevertheless, at the same time, regardless, despite, while, on the one hand … on the

other hand