绪章绪论

A brief introduction to the learning background, objectives and Learning methods of the course

●0.1Problems of English Majors, causes and our Suggestions

If you find yourself a little confused in your English study, making much effort with very slow progress, you need to listen now---these suggestions are tailored for Chinese adult English learners who have been plagued by ineffective or even wrong way of English learning and writing.

●0.2What this Course Has for YOU

The course of Advance English is not merely to lift the students up in terms of vocabulary and cultural knowledge,not even in terms of rhetorical devices.
It aims to help you lay a solid foundation of reading comprehension, enhance sensitivity to language and thinking, appreciate and analyze exquisite language,  while promoting your critical thinking. All in all, make you an ADVANCED learner who is both perceptive and persuasive.

第一章Pub Talk and the King’s English

In this text, the author presents for us an interesting side of British culture--pub culture. And we will be shown panoramic view of the evolution of the English language. Neither you should overlook as an English major or if you hope to understand the British people and their language better.

●1.1 Introduction to English pub culture and the author

What is fascinating about the English pub culture?

●1.2Structure analysis

What’s the author’s purpose of writing the article? Is he explaining something or arguing about something? Today we talk about the topic as well as the structure of the article.

●1.3Charm of conversation and bar friends (paragraphs 1-3)

What does the author like most about conversation as a significant part of English culture?

●1.4King’s English and the history of Australians (paragraphs 4-7)

Has the King's English always been the dominating language in Britain? What historical events underly its evolution?

●1.5Norman conquest and its influence on English ( paragraphs 8-10)

What does this "foreign invasion" bequeath England and its people?

●1.6Bilingual education (paragraph 11)

What did the bi-lingual situation mean to the common English people? And how was their culture affected?

●1.7Shakespeare’s influence on English (paragraphs 12-13)

Shakespeare is the name to start with if you need to get some real knowledge about England. The contributions of this monumental playwright cannot be exaggerated.

●1.8The Elizabethan Literature and the meaning of language (paragraphs 14-17)

The Elizabethan era to Egnlish people was what the Tang Dynasty to China.

●1.9Spoken language vs. written language (paragraphs 18-21)

Good to know----for language majors especially!

第二章Inangural Address

This address ranks No. 1 among the most visited American documents in past 50 years in the U.S. It is indeed an acme of art of language. Get a closer look and find out why i is appealing, and what we can learn from it to communicate better.

●2.1Historical Background--The Cold War

To understand better what is underlying today’s world politics, and more specifically, what happened when John F. Kennedy became president of the US, we need to start with the Cold War.

●2.2Kennedy's Life and Death

John Fitzgerald Kennedy is remembered as one of the greatest presidents of the United States. What is he known for?

●2.3Structural Analysis

Let’s look at the main structure of the address~

●2.4Renewed American Values and Beliefs

In this introductory part, what did the president-elect say about his election? Weigh and chew each and every word. There is much more than just the simple words.

●2.5Para 2-5. Let the word go forth

A general statement of his basic polices. 

●2.6Para.6-10 To our allies

What did Kennedy promise to the nation groups that were allies or allies-to-be of the US? How are the simple meanings conveyed in very touching ways? And how are some warnings given in the disguise of pledges?

●2.7Para.11-20 To our adversary

It is by no means an easy job to address ones' adversay without much offense. How did Kennedy illustrate what was in his broad mind, and what did he make people realize were beyond the tension between the two camps? Find out the magic power of his speech.

●2.8Para.21-27 To my fellow Americans

Why was this part punctuated with applauses and cheers?

●2.9Rhetorical Devices in this Address

The art of his language is so impressive we feel like his words keep lingering in our ears. What may explain that art?

第三章Love Is a Fallacy

This story is telling us that love is illogical. Do you agree? You must be curious why the title is so pessimistic a remark. Let’s have a closer look, then.

●3.1General Introduction of the Story

What is this story all about, which is given such a strange title, downgrading love to a fallacy?

●3.2Introduction of the author and the theme

To get a god understanding of the text, we need to know about the author, Max Schulman (1919-1988). You need to answer why we should study this text from the following two respects: 1. What is the author known for? And 2, what is the contemporary significance of this story?

●3.3Introduction of Dobie himself and of Petey

Who is the hero? And what are his most significante traits? What about his roommate?

●3.4Crazy for a Coat

I need your girlfriend and you need my coat. So we get into a pleasant deal....Nothing is more illogical than this logic.

●3.5Polly in Dobie’s Eyes

Dobie thinks Polly lacks simply some intelligence, which he can undoubtedly make up. Is it so?

●3.6Deal!

Dobie managed to swap a raccoon coat for a girl. Read very careflly, and find out what details are given, and to what effect in revealing the character of the heroes.

●3.7Frustrating Teaching

In paragraphs 57 to 93, Dobie is teaching Polly logic. Read closely, pay attention to the vivid descriptions and find out what states of mind are revealed through the portraits of Polly and Dobie.

●3.8Continued fights and hope

How did the dialogue go on? what did the difficulty reveal? What change happened later?

●3.9The Fallacy Lesson Backfired

How did the logic lessons backfire on Dobie? And is this logical or illogical?

●3.10 Fallacies you must be Aware of（1）

Are we guilty of ilogicality, too? The answer is a definite YES. It is especially true with students who have not been specially trained in logic. It is not late, though, to find out the problems and try to address them in our future writing.

●3.11Fallacies you must be Aware of（2）

Are we guilty of ilogicality, too? The answer is a definite YES. It is especially true with students who have not been specially trained in logic. It is not late, though, to find out the problems and try to address them in our future writing.

第四章The Sad Young Men

The 1920s is a significant period in the American history. The young nation  went through pains after it learned its ever most confusing lesson. We will learn the reasons for this with a close look at the "Lost Generation" who gave name to this age.

●4.1America in the 1920s

General Introduction of the background

●4.2Structure of the Text

The structural organization of this text is clear and simple. Generally speaking, “The Sad Young Men” can be divided into three parts.

●4.3Text Analysis

A panoramic view of the age---what was happening, and what came as a result.

●4.4Style of Language

Style of language in “The Sad Young Men”

●4.5Modernist Literature in America

The age gave birth to Modernist Literature in America. We need to know about the shaping elements of the American Lierature.

第五章Loving and Hating New York

As a great metropolis, New York is loved and hated by its people as well as passersby. What still make it magnetic to millions upon millions more? This text presents a dazzling yet intriguing slide show for us to get an idea of the sorrows and joys of modern life in a global age.

●5.1General introduction and structure analysis

A bird's eye view of this text

●5.2Detailed learning of the introduction part(paras. 1-5)

The mighty has fallen. True---but don't take this too seriously.

●5.3Life in New York (paras 6-10)

In this session, I will guide you to read and appreciate para 6 to para 10.

●5.4Manhattan (paras 11-14)

What a place...

●5.5New Yorker’s love for New York (paras 15-18)

Why is this city found nowhere else? Why is it magnetic?

●5.6A cosmopolitan city with diverse cultures (paras 19-21)

It is a world---a condensed one.

●5.7Loving and Hating New York becomes a matter of alternating moods (para 22)

Loving and Hating New York becomes a matter of alternating moods (para 22)

●5.8Writing style and skills

Writing style and skills

●5.9Additional session: deepened understanding of the theme

 This is an additional session aimed to deepen your understanding of the theme of this unit, and also to assign you a writing task. 

第六章Practical Tips for Writing

You need strong nerves to study this chapter, for it will make you blush time and again. Your past problems in writing will be covered in this chapter.

●6.1Logical Fallacies in Writing (1)

What plagues our writing:
1.the negative transference of our mother tongue and
 2. logic fallacies. 

●6.2 Logical Fallacies in Writing (2)

我们已经习以为常、视而不见的问题:
“推论滑坡“和”诉诸权威“

●6.3Logical Cohesion of Sentences

How to make our writings more cohesive?

●6.4Logical Structure in Writing

How to logically structure our writing?