Unit 7 I. General Understanding of the Text This text is an argumentative essay in which the writer argues for a proposition: that it is unnecessary to have a telephone because it brings more trouble than help. He makes his argument effective by setting forth clearly what is to be proved and what he is against. The way he develops his argument is inductive, that is, he uses large numbers of examples to prove his point. The writer divides his essay into three major parts. 1. Introduction. The first paragraph serves as the introduction to the essay. Here he puts forward a premise on which he bases his argument. The sentence “I just haven’t got a telephone.” most clearly establishes the subject and draws the reader into the essay. 2. The body. The body of the essay consists of five sections (Paragraphs 2-6), in which the writer develops his argument by citing examples and facts as his supporting details to strengthen the main ideas. (1) (a) The writer can live a normal life without a telephone. (b) A telephone is a pest and a time-waster (2) To have a telephone at home is a nuisance. (3) Without a telephone, news either good or bad, will reach anyone just as quickly. (4) To have one’s name and address printed in a telephone directory will bring one a world of troubles. (5) A telephone at home is not of much use even in case of emergency. 3. Conclusion. The last paragraph makes a convincing finish in which the writer draws a conclusion from his preceding argument. To him it is unnecessary to have a telephone at all. A god conclusion usually reiterates the main argument. In this essay, the sentences are not complicated, nor is the syntax complex. A considerable number of first and second person pronouns are used, and numerous instances of everyday occurrences are given. The style is informal and the tone is humorous. All these traits make this essay quite different from a serious argument. In order to make his proposition more easily accepted, the writer resorts to several ways which can be categorized as follows: 1. exaggeration 2. reversal of the reader’s expectations, and 3. striking comparison. (1) Exaggeration. This is a figure of speech by which something is exaggerated out of proportion for special or comic effect. Examples of exaggeration: (a) I think if is a pest (and a time-waster.) (Paragraph 2) (b) Have you never rushed dripping from the bath, or chewing from the table, or dazed from the bed, only to be told that you are a wrong number? (Paragraph 3) (c) It will all be the same in a hundred year’s time. (Para. 3) (d) When you do get into the box, you are half asphyxiated by stale, unventilated air, flavoured with cheap face-powder and chain-smoking; and by the time you have begun your conversation your back is chilled by the cold looks of somebody who is fidgeting to take your place. (Para. 2) (2) Reversal of the reader’s expectation. This is a kind of rhetorical device the writer often uses to achieve humour so that the reader will laugh and feel funny or amused. An example of reversal of the reader’s expectation: “I have just been handed a slip of paper to say that somebody is waiting to speak to me on the telephone. I think I had better answer it. After all, one never knows, it may be something important. (Para. 7) (3) Striking comparison. This is also a stylistic device the writer uses by making a strong comparison between one item which the reader is unfamiliar with and other items that he knows well to achieve argumentative purpose. An example of striking comparison: “Perhaps you have been indiscreet enough to have your name and number printed in the telephone directory, a book with a large circulation, a successful book so often reprinted as to make any author envious, a book more in evidence than Shakespeare or the Bible, and found in all sorts of private and public places. (Para. 5) II. Duration of Time: Six periods III. Objectives On completion of the unit, students are expected to understand the writer’s argumentative reasoning, the rhetorical and stylistic devices used in the essay. IV. Difficult Points 1. informal style 2. humorous tone 3. several techniques: (1) exaggeration (2) reversal of the reader’s expectations (3) striking comparison V. Teaching Procedures A. Bring out the topic of the telephone and cell phone by asking students some questions concerning their everyday use of phone. B. Ask students to guess the main idea of the text, then tell them to go over the text rapidly once without worrying about the new words and phrases. The suggested time limit is 5 minutes. C. Questions for the students. (1) What does the writer mean by saying that “he is taking too much fro granted”? (2) What does “ the impossible” here refer to? (3) Can you guess the meaning of “I’m not on the telephone” from the context? (4) What does the writer mean by “unnecessary suspense and anxiety”? (5) What is meant by “irritating delay”? (6) What does it in “Ah, it will all be the same”? (7) What can be categorized as “dreadful necessity”? (8) What does the writer really mean by “escapism”? (9) What does the end of the text suggest to you? (10) What kind of person do you think the writer? Then do comprehension exercise in Workbook. D. Do the vocabulary exercise on page 80. Key: Section A: d. h. a. c. g. i. b. j. f. e Section B: 1. suffocate, choke; 2. (of air) not moving in or out freely; 3. having the smell of; 4. not careful; 5. a large number of copies; 6. run away secretly with a lover; 7. stubbornness; 8. rich and powerful businessman E. Details of the text. (1) ring up: phone, give a person a ring (2) pose as adj.: pretend to be i.e. The spy posed as an office worker to get into the building. My friend posed as ill when I asked him to help me. We mustn’t pose as learned if we know the ABC of English. (3) be engaged: be busy in use (4) asphyxiated: suffocate, be unable to breathe (5) ventilated: (of air) not moving (6) chain smoking: smoking continually (7) chill: a: become cold, without freezing; cause a cold feeling of fear i.e. Put the wine in the fridge to chill. You must be chilled to the bone after being out on such a cold day. b: cause a cold feeling of fear i.e. His menacing eyes chilled her. a chilling murder story (8) in your bath: when taking a bath (9) strong-minded: strong-willed (10) daze: make somebody unable to think or feel clearly esp. by a shock or blow; stupefy. (11) assure: tell firmly and with confidence, be sure (12) indiscreet: not careful, not cautious (13) escape from: get away from (14) idle: casual (15) inquisitive: curious (16) chatterbox: a person who likes gossiping (17) directory: a book of a list of names, facts arranged in alphabetical order (18) circulation: average number of copies of publications that re regularly sold (19) in evidence: present and able to be seen and noticed i.e. The police were much in evidence whenever the President appeared in public. (20) be bent on questioning: be determined to question (21) elope: run away with a lover secretly (22) fatal: resulting in death fate: n. (23) dreadful: terrible (24) obstinacy: refusal to change one’s opinion obstinate: adj. (25) willfulness: showing strong unreasonable determination (26) circumstances: (pl.) conditions i.e. under /in …circumstances (27) tycoon: a businessman with great wealth or power (28) bed-redden: confined to bed due to illness (29) essential: completely necessary important (30) put it another way: explain, say (31) aptitude: natural ability or skill, esp. in learning have / show aptitude for… i.e. She showed great aptitude / an aptitude for learning languages an aptitude test (32) see: understand (33) should find: the past tense of shall VI. Oral Work A. Role-play: A Wrong-numbered call Situation: Mr. White is suddenly awakened by the telephone early in the morning. The caller wants to speak to somebody Mr. White has never heard of and insists that he has the right number. Mr. White feels a bit annoyed but still tries to explain to him with patience. B. Interaction Activities: Advantages and Disadvantages of Having a Phone at Home Ask students to work in groups of three or four and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having a home phone. VI. Exercises in Workbook.