Objectives
Students will be able to:
1. grasp the main idea (America is deteriorating into \"the most insecure nation\") and the structure of the text (opening - body - conclusion);
2. learn to use comparison and contrast in writing more effectively and to use keywords for more efficient reading;
3. master the key language points and grammatical structures in the text;
4. conduct a series of reading, listening, speaking and writing activities related to the theme of the unit.
Time Allotment 1st period Pre-reading tasks Cultural notes 2nd period Text organization Language study 3rd period Language study Text analysis 4th period Post-reading tasks Pre-reading Tasks
1. T asks Ss the following questions on the recording: 1) Who is Mr. Saturday Night Special? (the gun)
2) What is the message of the song? (It's dangerous to have guns.) 2. Group work: The security measures we take
1) Ss form groups to discuss either of the following two questions
In our families, what measures do we take to prevent burglaries? For example, is there an anti-burglary door at your apartment?
In our contact with the outside world, what precautions do we take to steer clear of danger? For example, do we speak to strangers? 2) Some Ss report discussion results to class.
3. T may lead in to the text by saying; Once upon a time in China, no one picked up and pocketed
anything lost on the road, while no family had the need to boll the doors at night (路不拾遗, 夜不闭户). However, this is no longer true nowadays. The same change has taken place in the US. Let's see how insecure a nation the US has become.
Text Organization and Analysis Parts Part One Part Two Paragraphs Paras 1-3 Paras 4-15 Main Ideas In America, the era of leaving the front door on the latch has drawn to a close. A new atmosphere of fear and distrust creeps into every aspect of daily life. As a result, security devices, in varied forms, are put to use. By locking our fears out, we become prisoners of our own making. Part Three Paras 16-19 When we read, we are not only learning new vocabulary or structures, but also looking for key information. Identifying keywords is even more important if our reading time is not that plentiful. “Lock” is the keyword in this text, by locating “lock’s” throughout the text, we get a
pretty good idea of what this essay is about.
There are several examples of comparison and contrast in this article: Para 1 vs. Para 4, Para 10 vs. Para 11, Para 12 vs. Para 13- The first pair acts as the opening of the whole piece of writing. The latter two are just two supporting details for the central argument.
It's interesting to see how the author threads his narration back and forth between the past and the present. Never for once does he write “in the past” or “at present” explicitly. He has still cleverer devices al hand, like a subtle tense change (e.g. simple past in Para I vs. present perfect in Para 4), a phrase that indicated an old habit in contrast with a phrase indicating the current slate (i.e. “used to” vs. “no longer” in Para 11), or a summary sentence (“It wasn’t always like that” in Para 12).
Cultural Notes
1. Crime prevention: In the United Slates today, Americans are growing more concerned with their security. It is reported that the crime rate is soaring. To help people protect themselves from crime, police departments in many slates have offered to citizens safely lips. such as how to protect yourself when using a bank's automated teller machine, how to protect yourself from a carjacking, how to protect yourself from motor vehicle theft, how to protect yourself in parking garages, how lo safeguard your home while on vacation, and how to protect yourself while walking at night. Here is one set of lips in detail.
• Avoid walking or running alone at night. Instead go walking or Jogging with a friend. • Don’t use headphones while walking, driving or jogging. • Always walk in well-lighted areas. • Avoid the use of short cuts.
• After dark, keep away from large bushes or doorways where someone could be lurking. • Always slay near the curb.
• If someone in a vehicle slops and asks for directions, answer from a distance- Do not approach the vehicle.
• If followed, go immediately to an area with lights and people. If needed, turn around and walk in the opposite direction; your follower will also have to reverse directions. • Do not display cash openly, especially when leaving an ATM.
In Britain there is Neighborhood Watch which is an arrangement by which people who live in a particular street or area watch each other's houses and tell the police if they see anything suspicious. Many people have formed local Neighborhood Watch groups to try to prevent crime, but others have refused to join them because they do not like the idea of being watched by their neighbors.
2. Airport Security: Extraordinary challenges require extraordinary measures. The terrorist attacks on America of September 11. 2001 require that Americans reform their Nation's aviation security system in fundamental ways. On September 27. President Bush launched the process of reform by announcing his proposals for — an expanded federal air marshal program — a $500 million federal grant program to strengthen aircraft security and federal management of airport security and screening services.
Language Study
1. on the latch: (of a door) closed but not locked
Examples: Lei yourself in; the door is on the latch-
Don't forget to leave the front door on the latch if you go to bed before I come back.
2. close up: shut (sth,) esp. temporarily
Examples: I wanted so much to close up my store and go traveling.
On the New Year's Eve all the stores were closed up in my hometown.
3. urban: of, situated in or living in a city or town
Examples: Motor vehicle emissions, to a large extent, are responsible for urban air pollution.
We would adopt drastic measures to cut back not only on carbon dioxide but acid rain and urban smog as well.
4. statistics: collection of information expressed in numbers
Examples: The US Immigration and Naturalization Service said government statistics on
foreign workers were incomplete,
The statistics indicate that roughly every 22 years a major drought occurs in the United States.
5. era: a period of history or a long period of time
Examples: The dinosaurs died out about 66 million years ago, at the end of the Mesozoic Era.
We are living in the computer era.
Young Students should study hard to ensure the country's fast economic and social development in the era of globalization.
6. hook up to: connect or attach (sth.) to (sth. else) with or as if with a hook
Examples: My computer is hooked up to the Internet, so I can communicate with my students
at home via email.
The alarm systems in the banks are hooked up to the local police station.
7. build in / into: make (sth.) as part of the structure
Examples: The cupboards in the kitchen are all built in.
We are having shelves built into the wall over the bed.
Her car trunk had been pried open and all her equipment was gone.
8. feature: give a prominent part to (sb./sth.)
Examples: Modern libraries often feature telecommunications links that provide users with
access to information at remote sites.
East Asian dramas often feature ethical conflicts, divided loyally, or concerns about the afterlife.
They had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner featuring roast turkey.
9. put up: build or erect
Examples: He put up a new fence around his house.
Most of the old buildings were pulled down so that blocks of apartments could be put up.
10. take off: (aircraft, bird or insect) move from the ground and begin to fly
Examples: Kids like watching planes lake off and land.
The plane didn't lake off on lime because of the heavy storm.
11. hold/keep (sb.) at bay: prevent (an enemy, pursuers, etc.) from coming near Examples: Eating oranges keeps colds at bay.
She left the light on at night 10 keep her fears at bay.
12. sideways: to. towards or from the side (a., ad.)
Examples: Alfred shot him a sideways glance.
If you would move sideways to the left, I can get everyone on the picture.
13. stand for: represent: mean
Examples: He hates us and everything we stand for.
That newspaper is often thought to stand for freedom of speech. \"GMT\" stands for Greenwich Mean Time.
14. be bathed in: cover or envelop as if with liquid
Examples: The fields and woods were bathed in a golden light at sunrise.
He was interviewed in a room bathed in soft red light. She bathed her feet in warm water to relieve the pain.
15. analyze: examine sth. in detail in order to understand it. esp. by considering separately ail the
elements it consists of
Examples: Assemble your knowledge and analyze it: that is the way forward.
We will analyze the results of the poll and report on our findings tomorrow.
Television stations and networks analyze their audiences for the guidance of advertisers.
16. with/by a small/large margin:
Examples: Governor Bush won the election but by a small margin.
Demand for college education exceeds capacity by a large margin.
With the improvement of their living conditions, people's demand for air-conditioning has increased by a large margin.
17. civilize: cause 10 improve from a primitive stage of human society to a more developed one
Examples: Some people believe that it is the duly of the government to civilize the jungle
tribes at the earliest opportunity. Others argue that the tribes should be left alone to follow their traditional way of life in peace-
The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center has shocked the civilized world.
18. reflection: I) a thing bringing discredit or criticism (followed by on)
Examples: The fact that we all failed the lest was a reflection on our teacher.
When children are criticized by their teachers, mothers often see it as a reflection on themselves.
2) reflecting (careful thinking) or being reflected
Examples: After much reflection. I've come to a decision.
After thirty years as a teacher, his reflections on life were worth listening to. His unhappiness is a reflection of his mistaken marriage.
19. look back on: think about (sth.) in one's past
Examples: When you look back on your life. what moments would you cherish the most?
In his speech the president looks back on the economic recovery and makes clear his desire to reduce the federal budget.
Post-reading Tasks
1. Group discussion:
1) What do you think has led to deterioration in security in the U.S?
2) What do you understand by the author’s remark “we have become so smart about self-protection that, in the end, we have all outsmarted ourselves?”
2. T guides Ss through some after-text exercises and checks on Ss’ home reading (Text B). 3. Essay-writing
T asks Ss to write an essay entitled Why We Are against Gun Control.
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