lesson one

Lesson One

• Face to Face with

Hurricane Camille

Aims 1. Understand the text and

appreciate the language features

2. Know the writing technique of a narrative.

3. Master the method of learning English through the reading of news

The literary style

A piece of narration is mainly developed in the actual time sequence. The writer tells the readers what happens first , what next.

chronological development

The Literary termsThe essentials of narration:

1. characters2. plotA good story has a beginning, a middle, an end, even though it may start in the middle or at some other point in the action and move backward to the earlier happenings.

The Literary terms

Narration is concerned with action.

It goes around people called characters in some kind of struggle or conflict against other people, nature, society or themselves.

The Literary terms protagonist --- leading character antagonist -- the people or forces protagonist fights against

suspense -- a state of uncertainty

The Literary termsflashback ---

interruption of chronological sequence by interjection of event of earlier occurrence

climax -- the most exciting, important interesting part on the story,

denouement --- the ending of a story

  climax falling action denouement rising action  conflict beginning suspense ending 

• Who is the protagonist or leading character in the story?

• John Koshak

•What opposing forces make up the conflict?

• Nature, the storm

• Try to find out the sentences indicated the conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist.

• She felt anger against the hurricane. We won’t let it win.(para.23)

• How does the writer give order and logic movement to the sequence of happenings?

• the story moves chronologically.

•What’s the function of the first six paragraphs?

The first six paras give us the framework we need for the beginning of the storm in para 7.

Background and historical facts about the Koshak family and Hurricane are woven into the narrative of the story.

• What does the writer focus chiefly on ----developing character, action (plot), or idea (theme)?

The focus is mainly on action. We learn very little, except snatches, about the characters, and the main theme ( the importance of love and life over all else) is the direct result on the action.

• How does the writer build up and sustain the suspense in the story?

He builds up the suspense a) by the careful explanatory introduction and gradual description of the onset of the storm. b) by relating a series of near tragic misshapes that gradually lessen the family's chances of survival, c) by inserting at an exciting moment facts about the power of the hurricane.

• At what point in the story does the action reach its highest point?

At the end of prar 26, just before the storm begins to subside.

• Is the last paragraph important ? Why?

•Yes, it states the theme of the story.

•What’s the theme of the writing?

• Theme ----• man vs nature

• There are several descriptions indicate the feeling of the characters. Find them out and tell me what feelings indicated by the descriptions.

• 1.Grandmother Koshak tell her husband she loved him, and her husband answered “I love you”----his voice lacked its usual gruffness.

• She feared death would soon come, and she wanted to remind her husband of her undying love. This would help to encourage each other and make them feel better to face the death.

• 2. Grandmother Koshak ask the children to sing.---- In order to get their minds off the storm and make them feel less afraid.

John put his arm around his wife----John was trying his best to comfort and encourage his wife, for he also felt they were going to die.

•What’s the function of these kind of descriptions in a narration?

• Build the characters• Readability

• Now can you tell me how many parts are there in the text?

Organizational pattern

Sect I. para 1-6 introduction – the setting of the story

background information time place

characters reasons actions

Organizational pattern

Sect II para 7-27- How the family was brought face

to face with the hurricane.- How the family was fighting

against it and survived.- How many onslaughts did the

hurricane make on the Koshaks?

1. (p7) on the first floor the house was leaking. They used all kinds of utensils to fight against the water.

2. (p 8-13 ) on the staircase When the sea water reached the house, they retreated to the staircase

3. (p 14-21) in the bedroomWhen the stirs were broken, they retreated to the bedroom.(p 19-20) interposition

1) giving additional information about the devastating force of the hurricane, implying if anyone could survive, it must be a miracle.

2) creating suspense

4. (p22-26) in the TV room When the bedroom walls

collapsed, they had to retreat to the TV room.

Organizational patternSect. III para 27~39

conclusion the scene after the storm the relief work done by the state the relief work done by the Koshaks

Organizational pattern

The most important part is the last para. "I realize we lost nothing important".

Organizational pattern

--- What 's the purpose behind the story by giving us a reflection from grandmother?

Human beings are more important than anything else in the world. ( the material things)

• Background (1-6)• Developing of the action(7-26)• Beginning (7)on the first

floor• Rising action (8-13: on the

staircase;14-21:in the bedroom (an interposition—19-20))

• Climax (22-26): in the TV room

• Ending:27-39

Language features

1. the effective use of verbs The effective use of verbs is the only way to focus on action, esp. one syllable verbs, because one syllable verbs save time.

lash, lap, skim, scud, yell, dump, shot, snap, hit, whip

Language features

2. short elliptical sentences a) increase the tempo of action b) create the atmosphere of

tension, danger and urgency 

Language features

3. successful achievement of chronological development

Chronological development is achieved by :connectors --- so, then, but.transitional phrases -- seconds later, after that , for an instant, by this time, etc

Language features

4. the words with [æ] which vividly describe the violence of the hurricane.

[æ] --- quick, unpleasant effect lash, crack, snap, slashing, smash, shatter, rampage, collapse, lap

How to learn English through reading news?

• Selection• Vocabulary• Sentence patterns• Reading----listening----

speaking and writing