Unit 1 The written word

Reading 1

Teaching aims:

1. Students are expected to gain some knowledge about classic literature and some insight into how to write an essay about literature;

Step 1 Lead- in:

Before class, ask students to search on the Internet or in books about famous Chinese and foreign classic literature, Charles Dickens and his works. Ask students to focus on the following questions:

What is the definition of classic literature?

Who is Charles Dickens? What books did he write? ...

Begin the class by having students report their findings to the class.

Step 2 Reading comprehension:

Fast reading:

Ask students to skim the essay and try to find answers to the following three questions:

1. What is classic literature?

2. Who is Charles Dickens?

3. Who is the main character in the novel Great Expectations?

Answers:

1. Classics are the antiques of the literary world including novels, plays and poems that were written a long time ago and were so well written that people still read them today.

2. Dickens is England's greatest writer.

3. Pip is the main character in the novel Great Expectations.

Step 3 Second reading for general ideas:

Part one: information about _____________.

Part two: information about __________.

Part three: information about ________________________.

Key: classic literature; Charles Dickens; the book Great expectations

Step 4 Reading strategy:

1. What does a persuasive essay try to do?

3. How does the author try to convince the reader?

Key: 1. To convince the reader to adopt a certain point of view.