Reading Course (II) for Freshmen

I. Revision of the reading skills learned in Book One II. Understanding paragraph level in detail III. Introduction to paragraph writing

Reading Course (II) for Freshmen I. Revision of the reading skills learned in Book One word level 1. Recognizing word meaning (word level) paragraphlevel 3. Understanding paragraphs (paragraph level) a. Context clues definition clues and example clues b. Semantic relationships class relationship and contrast relationship sentencelevel) 2. Understanding sentences (sentence level) a. Complex sentence structure b. Unfamiliar use of language a. Distinguishing Topic from Main Idea

Reading Course (II) for Freshmen II. Understanding paragraph level in detail 1. distinguishing topic from main idea a. Topic: the subject of a paragraph, it is usually expressed in words and phrases. To find out the topic of a paragraph, ask “What or who is this paragraph about?”, the answer to this question will be the topic of the paragraph. b. Main idea: the author’s point, the controlling idea, the core, the central focus of a paragraph, the author’s reason for writing the paragraph. It usually appears in sentence. To find out the main idea, ask “What is the reason or purpose for the author to write the paragraph?”, and the answer to the question is the main idea.

Reading Course (II) for Freshmen Eg1. 1. Many people all over the world use their bodies as well as their voices to communicate. 2. Two very common examples are the “thumbs-up” sign, or gesture, to mean OK, fine or good and the “thumbs-down” gesture to mean the opposite. 3. There are many other ways in which we use our hands to say something—and there can be very confusing for people who come from different countries. 4. For example, when Russian soldiers lives in Bulgaria. 5. When the Bulgarians wanted to say “yes” they moved their heads form side to side. 6.The Russians moved their heads from side to side when they wanted to say “no”… Q: 1. What is the topic of this paragraph? Q2. What is the main idea of the paragraph?

Reading Course (II) for Freshmen Eg Another example is the “beckoning gesture”, a gesture used to tell somebody to come nearer. 2. Some people beckon with on dinger, or sometimes two, but the most common way to beckon is with the whole of the hand. 3. The hand opens and closes. 4. The problem is, some people do this with the hand facing upwards and other do it with the hand facing downwards. 5. If you come from England or France, you always beckon with your hand facing upwards and say “goodbye” with your hand facing downwards. 6.This is the exact opposite of people who come from Italy, who beckon with their hand facing down and say “Goodbye” with their hand facing upwards. 7. You can imagine the confusion when a Frenchman beckons to an Italian. 8. The Italian will appear to beckon to the Frenchman and then turn round and walk away. Q1: What is the topic of the paragraph ? Q2: What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Reading Course (II) for Freshmen 2. Introduction to a new reading skill: Finding the Main Idea a. Topic sentence: the sentence that states the main idea. Its location is not fixed. b. Details: the proof or explanation that support the general concept, an expansion of the main idea, in turn, an expansion of the topic. cf: main idea vs.details Main idea: a generalization Details: specific statements cf: topic sentence vs. main idea topic sentence: stating the main idea, a sentence main idea: expressing the writer’s reason for writing, generalization

Reading Course (II) for Freshmen Eg1. 1. Many people all over the world use their bodies as well as their voices to communicate. 2. Two very common examples are the “thumbs-up” sign, or gesture, to mean OK, fine or good and the “thumbs-down” gesture to mean the opposite. 3. There are many other ways in which we use our hands to say something—and there can be very confusing for people who come from different countries. 4. For example, when Russian soldiers lives in Bulgaria. 5. When the Bulgarians wanted to say “yes” they moved their heads form side to side. 6.The Russians moved their heads from side to side when they wanted to say “no”… Q1: What is the topic of this paragraph? Q2: What is the main idea of the paragraph? Q3: Which sentence is the topic sentence ? Q4: What are the details of this paragraph?

Reading Course (II) for Freshmen Eg Another example is the “beckoning gesture”, a gesture used to tell somebody to come nearer. 2. Some people beckon with on dinger, or sometimes two, but the most common way to beckon is with the whole of the hand. 3. The hand opens and closes. 4. The problem is, some people do this with the hand facing upwards and other do it with the hand facing downwards. 5. If you come from England or France, you always beckon with your hand facing upwards and say “goodbye” with your hand facing downwards. 6.This is the exact opposite of people who come from Italy, who beckon with their hand facing down and say “Goodbye” with their hand facing upwards. 7. You can imagine the confusion when a Frenchman beckons to an Italian. 8. The Italian will appear to beckon to the Frenchman and then turn round and walk away. Q1: What is the topic of this paragraph? Q2: What is the main idea of the paragraph? Q3: Which sentence is the topic sentence ? Q4: What are the details of this paragraph?

Reading Course (II) for Freshmen Eg A good vocabulary is necessary for fast reading. 2.The longer it takes for you to recognize and interpret the definition of a word, the longer it will take you to apply it to the total meaning of the phrase, sentence or paragraph you are reading. 3.Often it is your vocabulary that determines your reading speed. 4.If you have a good vocabulary in the social studies area, you will read material in the subject much faster than an area such as science, where you may have a weaker vocabulary. 5.A very rapid reader responds to the meanings of words by their sight or contextual use rather than by their sound. 6.A slow reader must see the words and think the sounds in his mind before the words have any meaning to him. 7.One of the best ways to develop your reading power is to develop your vocabulary. Questions: 1. What’s the topic of this paragraph? 2. What is the main idea of this paragraph? 3. Which sentence is the topic sentence? 4. What are the details? 5. What is the function of sentence 7?

Reading Course (II) for Freshmen III. Introduction to paragraph writing Topic sentence (1 sentence) ---supporting sentences (details, or expansion of the TS, 3-5 sentences) ---- sometimes a transition sentence ( 1 sentence) ---- conclusion sentence (1 sentence)

Reading Course (II) for Freshmen Questions: 1.What’s the topic? 2.What is the main idea? 3.Which sentence is the topic sentence? 4.What sentences are details? 5. Which sentence is the conclusion sentence? Eg Just as you have more than one type of vocabulary (science, math, social studies), so you have more than one type of comprehension. 2.This is a literal understanding which is basic to good recall of what you read. 3.This type is used when you need to remember facts, dates, places, events, and main ideas presented. 4.Then there is a critical understanding which is needed to judge what you read, to compare and contrast the main ideas being presented with what you know and feel about the subject. 5. This type also requires that you recognize bias and propaganda and distinguish fact from opinion. 6.Still another type of comprehension is aesthetic understanding or being able to appreciate the style and technique of an author, to recognize satire, irony, humor, and the author’s ability to stimulate the senses. 7. It is important that you develop all levels of your comprehension powers if you want to read faster.

Reading Course (II) for Freshmen 泛读 (II) 成绩构成： 1. 期末考试卷面： 70% 2. 平时成绩： 30% 平时成绩由组成：出勤 20 分，课堂及网络课堂表现各 20 分， 作业 60 分 （六次作业 + 两次实践 ） 其中： a. 出勤： 请假一次扣 1 分，旷课一次扣三分，迟到早 退扣两分 b. 网络课堂参与程度： 10 分，以及学生参与网络学习 的频率和质量给分

Reading Course (II) for Freshmen Webcourse of Extensive Reading (II) Do the following steps and register in the webcourse of Extensive Reading (II)

Reading Course (II) for Freshmen

Homework: 1.Answer any one of the following two questions you are interested in, and upload your answer. A. Do you think the disagreement between two generations about career choice is universal? What is the situation between your parents and you on this point? B. Is there a generation gap in China? If there is one, what are the causes? 2.Review and preview work A. Review the reading skill we learned on P.1 and do exercises on P.8. B. Preview Section A, B, and C of Unit One, and do all the exercises in the three sections.

Reading Course (II) for Freshmen 3. Discussion: How do you understand the meaning of the sentence on P15, L25: “ Despite the myth of mobility in America, the true rule, experts say, is rags to rags, riches to riches?” After class, review and preview your work, upload your answer of the questions and have discussions in the webcourse. Do not forget.