高英6 Fine arts of putting things off.docVIP

Unit Two Text 1: The Fine Arts of Putting Things Off Ⅰ. Learning objectives Ⅱ. Warm-up questions How do you find the text, easy or difficult? (general impression) What are the specific difficulties you came across when reading the text? Diction (formal, big words) Style (formal) Tone (serious? humorous?) Allusions III. Questions on the text 1. What is the author’s argument/message? You can well put off till tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is not altogether a bad practice. Sometimes it is recommendable.. (Compare with conventional ideas: Never put off till tomorrow what you ca do today. Procrastination is the thief of time 2. How would you comment on the author’s tone? half serious, half joking 3. Read quickly the beginning of each paragraph. Can you see the general organizational pattern of the text? Work out the outline I Opening to present the topic (para 1) II Classification of human beings into two categories III Main argument: Procrastination as a worldwide way of life Para 3: literary/artistic Para 4: military, diplomatic, legal Para 5: commercial/business Para 6: administrative Para 7: academic Para 8 medical IV Conclusion IV. Analysis of the text Paragraph 1: What advise did Lord Chesterfield give to his son? Was he himself a good example of doing things promptly? Explain the irony. To support his theme that even well-known people are in a habit of delaying things, the author gives several examples. What examples are given? (Quintus Fabius Maximus, Moses, Hamlet) Read the notes and explain in your own words what is the thing that each of them postponed? Quintus – delayed battle (caution and delay to wear out the enemy.) Moses – delayed passing God’s message to Pharaoh. Hamlet – put off revenge 3. Are you impressed/amused by the author’s effective opening? What’s your impression of the author’s style? In the first paragraph, the author refers to 5 people who are well-known either in history or literary