Unit 2 Lessons from Jefferson

Unit 2 Lessons from Jefferson

Teaching Time: 400 mins

Students’ level: Business English major of the second semester of the 1st year. Teaching Objectives:

1. Get to understand Jefferson and learn his ideas and its meaning in the society of present. Understand ―Go and see‖, ―You can learn from everyone‖, ―Judge for yourself‖, ―Do what you believe his right‖, ―Trust the future; trust the young‖, ―only a nation of educated people could remain free‖. Try to understand the history of the Declaration of Independence; Jefferson’s devoting and achievements; the presidents: Washington and Lincoln

2. About the text, Ss should grasp the text content, text structure, basic vocabularies and required grammar points of the section.

Words: action, agreement, appoint, conflict, constantly, create, custom, educate,

error, existence, false, hesitate, influence, latter, obtain, hesitate, talent, threaten.

Phrases & Expressions: get out of one’s way, leave to, act on, leave behind,

inexistence, above all

Grammar: omitting sentences, …nor, emphasize sentences 1. About the reading, help Ss review the reading skills they learnt .

2. About the writing, Ss should get to grasp one skill of paragraph developing —topic sentences

Teaching Procedures: I. Pre-reading Activities 1. Warm-up Questions

1）Do you admire any great political figures or statesmen both at home and abroad? Who are they? And why?

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Zhou Enlai was one of the major leaders of the Chinese Communist movement. He was the first premier of the People's Republic of China, a post he held until his death in 1976. He was educated in Japan and Europe and achieved high rank in the Communist movement at an early age. He was well known as a skilled international negotiator.

The Chinese revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen had a tremendous impact on the development of modern China. Sun was the catalyst in the overthrow of Manchu rule.

As prime minister of Britain during World War II, Churchill roused the British to stand against Nazi Germany. The sight of Churchill, with his cigar and two fingers raised in a \"V for victory\" salute, inspired Britons to rise to what he called \"their finest hour.\"

Napoleon Bonaparte was the greatest military genius of the 19th century. He conquered most of Western Europe and Egypt for France, while instituting reforms in these new territories aimed at guaranteeing civil liberties and improving the quality of life. He crowned himself emperor of France in 1804 and introduced reforms intended to unify the revolution-fractured nation. Many of Napoleon's reforms are still in effect today.

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2）. Of the American presidents, how many do you know? Can you recognize the people in the following pictures and say something about them?

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George Washington (1732-1799): Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, statesman and first President of the United States, born in Westmoreland County, Virginia on February 22, 1732.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865): the 16th President of the United States, born on February 12, 1809 in a backwoods cabin three miles south of Hodgenville, Kentucky, preserved the Union during the Civil War and brought about the emancipation of the slaves.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945): the 32nd President of the United States; elected four times; instituted New Deal to counter the great depression and led country during World War II.

Bill Clinton (1946-): the 42nd President of the United States (1993-1996) and the first president born after World War II, elected to a second term in 1996.

2. Background introduction: the Declaration of Independence, social class, Jefferson & French Revolution Thomas Jefferson

1）A Brief Introduction to Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) is best remembered as a great President and as the author of the Declaration of Independence. He also won lasting fame as a diplomat, a political thinker, and a founder of the Democratic Party.

Jefferson's interests and talents covered an amazing range. He became one of the leading American architects of his time and designed the Virginia Capitol, the University of Virginia, and his own home, Monticello. He greatly appreciated art and music and tried to encourage their advancement in the United States.

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Jefferson invented a decoding device, a lap desk, and an improved type of moldboard plow. His collection of more than 6400 books became a major part of the Library of Congress. Jefferson revised Virginia's laws and founded its state university. He developed the decimal system of coinage that allows Americans to keep accounts in dollars and cents.

Jefferson did not consider himself a professional politician. Instead, he regarded himself as a public-spirited citizen and a broadminded, practical thinker. He preferred his family, his books, and his farms to public life. But he spent most of his career in public office and made his greatest contribution to his country in the field of politics.

2）Jefferson’s Chronology

Date Event

April 13, 1743 Born at Shadwell, Goochland County (now Albemarle County), Virginia.

1762 Attended the College of William and Mary, where he studied law. 1769 Joined the Virginia colonial legislature.

1770 Began to build a mansion home he designed, called Monticello. 1772 Married a well-to-do widow, Martha Wayles Skelton. They had six children. Only two daughters lived to be adults.

1776 Asked by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia to draft the Declaration of Independence.

1776—1779 Represented the state of Virginia at the Continental Congress. 1779—1781 Chosen as the governor of Virginia. 1782 His wife Martha died.

1785—1789 Acted as American minister to France.

1789—1793 Served as the nation's first secretary of state under President Gorge Washington.

1797—1801 Served as vice President under John Adams.

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1801—1809 Became the President of the United States. 1819 Founded the University of Virginia.

July 4, 1826 Died on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. 3）The Declaration of Independence

In April 1775, colonists in Massachusetts took up arms against British troops. The American Revolution had begun. The following year, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia asked Jefferson to write a document declaring America's independence from Britain.

The Continental Congress approved Jefferson's work with few changes. The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. The bonds that tied the colonies to Britain were broken.

Jefferson wanted the reasons for America's independence stated clearly so the world would understand. He wrote \"all men are created equal,\" with rights to \"life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.\" Governments are created to secure people's rights. The people could change a government that no longer protected their rights.

4）Jefferson and the French Revolution

Jefferson served as minister to France from 1785 to 1789 when revolution was imminent in France. He sympathized with the revolution, feeling it was similar in purpose to the American Revolution. Thanks to his political writings and his legal reforms in Virginia, French reformers regarded Jefferson as a champion of liberty. Marquis de Lafayette, who had fought for America’s Independence, and other advocates of democratic principles often sought his advice.

Key words and expressions:

A. New words and old words Old words or expressions announcement New words or expressions declaration 7

freedom get done in person examination put in a position of responsibility small, narrow boat documents at the place of action low in position source displease scare refuse mistake not true opinion feel doubtful like better the second of two disagree without question having the same opinion unfavorable remarks point of view result feel angry or bitter at now tie never-ending

independence obtain personal investigation appoint canoe papers on the spot humble origin dissatisfy threaten reject error false judgment prefer the latter the latter conflict unquestioning agreement criticism philosophy effect resent the present chain perpetual 8

say, comment very bad science or practice of farming study of ancient human life protecting good or better the state of existing have an effect on art and science of building continuously do, carry out special natural ability means chief, main, most important one complete book have a very exciting feeling clear the same the yearly return of a special date abandon heritage

B. Chinese and English phrases Chinese 有趣 某人的遗训 至少 独立宣言 现代青年

remark evil agriculture archaeology conservation superior existence influence architecture constantly perform talent device central volume thrill self-evident equal anniversary leave behind legacy English be of interest lessons from somebody at least Declaration of Independence modern youth 9

获得知识 来源很广 亲自做调查 被任命为 调查 州议会大厦 研究文件 有关这一问题 做现场调查 向…..学习 论出身 论所受的教育 属于 社会阶层 出身卑微 发号施令 想尽办 烧饭锅 自己作判断 接受别人的意见 不经认真考虑 判断真理和谬误 一切真实和虚伪的东西 做出正确的判断 完全信任 毫不犹豫 相互冲突的思想 力量的源泉 绝对的一致

obtain knowledge from many sources personal investigation be appointed to to find out the state capitol study papers on the subject make on-the-spot investigations learn from by birth by education belong to social class of humble origin give an order go out of one’s way cooking pot judge for oneself accept other people’s opinions without careful thought judge truth and error everything true and false form a correct judgment be safely trusted not hesitate a moment conflicting ideas source of strength unquestioning agreement 10

保持活力 批评的对象 反驳 付诸行动 表达观点 站在一面 坚决地 对某人的行动不满 被束缚于 无用的习俗 keep alive the object of criticism answer the critics act on express one’s philosophy take one side with decision resent one’s actions be chained to customs which have lost their usefulness 活着的一代 基于 同时代的人 擅长 农作物轮作 土壤保持 普遍作法 优于 现有的 日常生活中的工作

the living generation be based on men of one’s age be an expert in… crop rotation soil conservation standard practice superior to in existence the tasks of ordinary life II. While-reading Activities Step1 Part Division of the Text Parts Lines 1 2 3

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Main Ideas A brief introduction to Thomas Jefferson. Some ideas and principles given by Thomas Jefferson. 1-3 4-43 44-62 His talents in many fields and his contribution to USA.

Step2 T explains the text in details. Preface

译文：杰斐逊已谢世很久，但他的许多思想仍使我们很感兴趣。

杰斐逊的遗训

布鲁斯·布利文

Paragraph1

译文：美国第三任总统托马斯·杰斐逊也许不像乔治·华盛顿和亚伯拉罕·林肯那样著名，但大多数人至少记得有关他的一件事实：是他写的《独立宣言》。 Paragraph2

1、 Many of his ideas are especially interesting to modern youth. What does this sentence imply?

He is a person of foresight. Many of his ideas are not out of date.

译文：虽然杰斐逊生活在二百多年以前，但我们今天仍可以从他身上学到很多东西。他的许多思想对当代青年来说特别有意义。下面就是他讲过和写过的一些观点： Paragraph 3

1、obtain: vt. get through effort

Information about visas and passports can be obtained from your local library.

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你可以从当地图书馆得到有关签证和护照的信息。

►get, obtain, achieve & acquire 这些动词均有―得到，获得，取得‖的意思。 get 是最常用、最口语化的词。可以指以任何方式得到某物（积极主动或消极被动），并不强调通过预先的或主观的努力，与具体名词和抽象名词均可搭配。 obtain 为正式用语，指经过长时间的努力或有计划的行动而得到所希望得到的东西或达到预定的目标。

achieve 表示克服困难之后取得成功或实现预期目标。

acquire 指经过一定努力或一定过程，使原有的东西获得更多，并成为永久所有；也指一点点地慢慢地通过长期不懈的努力而获得诸如知识、才干、良好习惯等。常与抽象名词搭配。

2、source: n. place from which sth. comes; place where a river starts、 Where does the Rhine have its source?莱茵河的源头在哪里？ ►source & origin 这两个名词均有―根源，起因‖之意。 source原指―水源‖，转义指事物的―根源，起因或出处‖。

origin 指事物起始于某时或某处，或由其产生另一事，即―起源，起因，由来‖，有时也指―出身，血统‖。

3、personal: adj. done in person; belonging to a person personal affairs私事 a personal letter私人信件 a personal problem个人隐私问题 personal call亲自拜访

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4、appoint: vt. choose (someone) for a position, job, etc. ►Pattern：

appoint sb. as appoint sb. (to do) sth. appoint sb. to (a job, post, position, etc.)

►appoint & name 这两个动词均有“任命，委任”之意。 appoint 通常指不经过选择的官方委任。

name 普通用词，着重任命的结果，而不是过程。 5、on the spot: at the place of action

The police were called and they were on the spot within three minutes.

6、Jefferson believed that a free man obtains knowledge from many sources besides books and that personal investigation is important. a. Explain the grammatical structure of the sentence.

1) 主句Jefferson believed 为一般过去时，而后面从句却用了一般现在时，说明叙述的内容为人们普遍接受的客观道理。

The boys learned yesterday that the planets are circling about the sun.

2) 谓语动词的believed引导两个由that引导的宾语从句, 在非正式文体中，引导第一个宾语从句的that一般可省略，第二个则不能省略，以免引起歧义。 I understand (that) you have studied Chinese, and that you have written Chinese poetry.

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She denied (that) she had seen the man and that she had been in touch with him. b.Translate the sentence into Chinese

杰斐逊认为，一个自由的人除了从书本中获取知识外，还可以从许多别的来源获得知识；他认为，亲自作调查是很重要的。

译文：自己去看。杰斐逊认为，一个自由的人除了从书本中获取知识外，还可以从许多别的来源获得知识；他认为，亲自做调查是很重要的。在他还很年轻的时候，他就被任命为一个委员会的成员，去调查詹姆斯河南部支流的水深是否足以通行大型船只。委员会的其他成员都坐在州议会大厦内研究有关这一问题的文件，而杰斐逊却跳进一只独木舟去做现场观测。 Paragraph 4

1、by birth: so far as family origin or nationality is concerned He is British by birth, although he was born in France.

►birth除了与 by 搭配构成短语by birth以外，常见的短语还有： give birth ―生孩子；产仔‖ give birth to―生（孩子）；产生；引起‖ 2、humble: adj. 1) low in position

The school had provided a good education for children of humble backgrounds. 学校为出身贫贱的孩子提供了很好的教育。 2) having a modest opinion of oneself

In my humble opinion，we should never have bought the car in the first place. 3、threaten: v. hang over dangerously; utter a threat against

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threaten sb. with sth. be threatened to do sth.

4、By birth and by education Jefferson belonged to the highest social class.

. Paraphrase the sentence.：Judging by his family and educational background, Jefferson was a member of the group with top social status.

5、Yet, in a day when few noble persons ever spoke to those of humble origins except to give an order, Jefferson went out of his way to talk with gardeners, servants, and waiters.

What’s the implied meaning of the sentence?

The noble persons thought they were superior and looked down upon the people of humble origins and regarded talking with those people as degrading. But sometimes they had to because they had to order those people to do things for them.

6、If you will only do this, you may find out why people are dissatisfied and understand the revolution that is threatening France.

What’s the grammatical function of ―if you will only do this‖?

一般说来，if引导的条件状语从句中表示将来用一般现在时，而不用将来时，但这里的will不是将来时，而表示一种现在的意图、意愿、决心等。 If you will give up smoking, your health will improve.

译文：你可以向任何人学习。按出身及其所受的教育，杰斐逊均属于最高的社会阶层。然而，在那个贵人们除了发号施令以外很少跟出身卑贱的人说话的年代，杰斐逊却常破例跟园丁、仆人和侍者交谈。有一次杰斐逊曾这样对法国贵族拉斐特说过：“你必须像我那样到平民百姓的家里去，看看他们的锅里煮些什么，

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吃吃他们的面包。只要你肯这样做，你就会发现老百姓为什么会不满意，你就会理解正在威胁着法国的革命。” Paragraph 5

1、reject: vt. refuse to take, believe, use or consider

She rejected his offer of marriage. 他向她求婚, 她拒绝了。 ►reject, refuse & decline这三个动词均含―拒绝‖之意。

reject 多指由于某物某事某行为不能让人满意而被当面直截了当地拒绝。 refuse 语气较重，指态度坚决，肯定无疑的拒绝。 decline 指婉言谢绝他人的帮助或邀请等。

译文：自己作判断。未经过认真的思考，杰斐逊绝不接受别人的意见。他在给侄子的信中写道：“不要因为别的人相信或拒绝了什么东西，你也就去相信它或拒绝它。上帝赐予你一个用来判断真理和谬误的头脑。那你就运用它吧。” Paragraph 6

1、false: adj. not true or correct a false charge / accusation诬告 bear / give false witness作假证

2、prefer: vt. choose sth. rather than sth. else; like sth. Better prefer to sth.

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prefer to do sth.

prefer sb. to do sth.

prefer to+ v. rather than + do sth. prefer + that-clause (should be/be) 3、latter: adj. nearer to the end

常与the latter搭配使用的是the former “前者的（两者中先提到的）” 例如：

Many support the former alternative, but personally I favour the latter (one). 很多人都赞成前一种办法, 但我个人喜欢后一种。 the latter part of his life他的晚年

the latter half of the month后半月，下半月 the latter days of summer夏末

4、Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”

1）. Analyze the structure of the sentence.

Were it left to me to decide等于 If it were left to me to decide.

在虚拟条件状语从句中，如果从句中有should, were或助动词had时，可省略if，将这些词提到句首，主谓语用部分倒装结构。

Should we want to accelerate the motion, we should have to exert some force. Had you told me the matter earlier, I would not have done the foolish thing. 2）. What does the sentence imply?

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Jefferson was by no means an anarchist (无政府主义者) who wished to abolish all established governments. He was noted for his belief, though, that governments should play the smallest possible role in national life.

译文：杰斐逊觉得，人民“是完全可以信赖的，应该让他们听到一切真实和虚伪的东西，然后作出正确的判断。倘使让我来决定，我们是应该有一个政府而不要报纸呢还是应该有报纸而不要政府，我会毫不犹豫地选择后者。” Paragraph 7 1、conflict:

vi. be opposed; clash n. disagreement; clash; fight conflict of interest 利益冲突 an inner conflict内心冲突 an armed conflict武装冲突 in conflict with和…冲突 2.、act on: act according to

He always acts on a guess.他总是凭猜想行事。 3、resent: vt. feel angry or bitter at resent doing sth. resent sb./sth. doing

4、action: n. the process of doing things; sth. Done

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An actor’s words and actions should agree.一个演员的台词和动作应当一致。

译文：你认为是正确的事。在一个自由的国家里总会有各种相互冲突的思想，而这正是力量的源泉。使自由保持活力的是冲突而不是绝对的一致。虽然有好多年杰斐逊一直受到激烈的批评，但他从不回应那些批评他的人。他在写给一位朋友的信中表达了自己的观点：“每个问题都有两面。如果你坚决站在一面并根据它有效地采取行动，那么，站在另一面的那些人当然会对你的行动怨恨不满。” Paragraph 8

1、Trust the future; trust the young.

What’s the implied meaning of the sentence?

The author is an optimist. He believes the young and can always keep up with the times.

2、Jefferson felt that the present should never be chained to customs which have lost their usefulness.

1）. Paraphrase this sentence.

Jefferson thought that people nowadays should never be limited to out-of-date customs.

2）. What’s the grammatical function of “chain”? Here chain is used figuratively, meaning “bind or restrain.” 3）. Translate the sentence into Chinese.

杰斐逊认为，绝不可以用那些已经无用的习俗来束缚住“现在”的手脚。

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3、How muchpain,” he remarked, “has been caused by evils which have never happened! I expect the best, not the worst. I steer my ship with hope, leaving fear behind.”

1）. Paraphrase the sentence.

A great deal of pain and suffering has been caused by worrying about bad things which never came to pass, forgetting the fear completely. 2）. What kind of rhetorical device is used here?

steer my ship 是隐喻 (metaphor), “驾驶着自己的航船” 未来像航海一样，充满未知性，杰斐逊不但不惧怕，而且对未来充满希望， 表现了其乐观和一往无前的精神。

4、custom: n. established socially accepted practice

►custom, convention & tradition这三个名词均含有―习惯，风俗，传统‖之意 custom指一个国家、一个民族、一个地区或一个社会的习惯、行为方式或风俗习惯，也可指个人的习惯。

convention多指约定俗成的行为方式, 规则或公认的标准，或指艺术上公认的技巧。

tradition广义指世代相传的伦理、行为规范和生活方式，特指因长久奉行而几乎具有法律效力的习惯、习俗，侧重历史意义。 5、leave behind: abandon; fail to take or bring along leave…for ; leave out of ; leave…to… ; leave with

译文：相信未来，相信青年。杰斐逊认为，绝不可以用那些已经无用的习俗来束缚住“现在”的手脚。他说：“没有哪个社会可以制订一部永远适用的宪法，

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甚至连一条永远适用的法律也制订不出来。地球是属于活着的一代的。”他不害怕新思想，也不惧怕未来。他评论说：“有多少痛苦是由一些从未发生过的灾难引起的啊！我期待的是最好的东西，而不是最坏的东西。我满怀希望地驾驶着自己的航船，而把恐惧抛在后面。” Paragraph 9

1、He influenced architecture throughout America,and he was constantly producing devices for making the tasks of ordinary life easier to perform. 1）. What can we infer from the sentence?

Many of the devices Jefferson invented are still remembered — a machine for copying important papers, an instrument that indicates the weather both indoors and outdoors, a rotating desk, to name only a few. 2）. Translate the sentence into Chinese.

他影响了整个美国的建筑业，他还不断地制造出各种机械装置，使日常生活中需要做的许多工作变得更加容易。

2、superior: adj. good or better in quality or value be superior in 在…方面占优势 be superior to优于…的；高于…的

►superior 的反义词是inferior， ―下等的、劣等的‖， 常用的搭配是 ―be inferior to‖

3、existence: n. the state of existing lead / have a certain existence过某种生活 earn one’s own existence自谋生计

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bring / call into existence使产生；使成立 come into existence开始存在；产生；成立 in existence存在的；现存的；现有的 4、influence:

1）. vt. have an effect on 影响

2）. n. power to affect sth. or sb. 影响, 影响力

have a great / good / bad influence upon / on…对…有很大 / 好 / 坏的影响 have influence over 对…有影响力 under the influence of在…的影响下

►influence, affect & impress这三个动词均含―影响‖之意。

influence 侧重在思想、性格、行为等方面所产生的潜移默化的影响， 也可指自然力的影响。

affect 主语通常是物而不是人，指一物对另一物产生的消极影响。 impress 强调影响既深刻又持久。

译文：杰斐逊的勇气和理想主义是以知识为基础的。他懂得的东西也许比同时代的任何人都要多。在农业、考古学和医学方面他都是专家。在人们普遍采用农作物轮作和土壤保持的做法之前一个世纪，他就这样做了。他还发明了一种比当时任何一种都好的耕犁。他影响了整个美国的建筑业，他还不断地制造出各种机械装置，使日常生活中需要做的许多工作变得更加容易。 Paragraph 10

1、above all: most important of all

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与 ―above all‖ 有相似意义的表达方式有：

first first of all firstly for one thing in the first instance in the first place

译文：在杰斐逊的众多才能中，有一种是最主要的：他首先是一位优秀的、不知疲倦的作家。目前正在第一次出版的他的全集将超过五十卷。他作为一个作家的才能很快便被发现了，所以，当1776年在费城要撰写《独立宣言》的时刻来到时，这一任务便落在了他肩上。数以百万计的人们读到他写的下列词句都激动不已：“我们认为这些真理是不言而喻的：一切人生来就是平等的„„” Paragraph 11 1、owe sth. to:

1) believe (something) to be the result of (something) He owed his success to luck more than to capacity. 他把他的成功更多地归于运气而不是能力。

2) feel gratitude (to sb.) in return for a service, favour, etc. I owe my teachers and parents a great deal. 我深深感激师长与父母。

译文：1826年7月4日，正值美国独立五十周年纪念日之际，杰斐逊与世长辞了。他给他的同胞留下了一份丰富的思想遗产和众多的榜样。托马斯·杰斐逊对美国的教育事业作出了巨大的贡献，他认为，只有受过教育的人民组成的国家才能保持自由。

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III. Post-reading Activities 1. Let the students do the exercises in the textbook which are related to the new

words.

2. Ss hand in the summary of the text.

3. Ss discuss the questions on the topic related to the text.

4. Let Ss do the exercises in the text book which are mainly related to the new

words and topic. Word Building 10

Reading Activity Exercise A & B

IV. Writing Practice Writing Practice–Developing a Paragraph from the Topic Sentence A brief introduction.

More often than not, one sentence in a paragraph tells the reader exactly what the subject of the paragraph is and thus gives the main idea. This main idea sentence is called a topic sentence or topic statement. The topic sentence states briefly an idea whose full meaning and significance are developed by the supporting details. The ways to develop a paragraph can be found in the following chart.

Definition-Classification-Example-Narration-Comparison and Contrast-Cause and Effect-Process

V.Homework Directions: Write a paragraph about 80 words by using the following topic sentence and supporting details.

Topic Sentence： Owing a private car has many advantages. Supporting details:

1. be convenient 2. save a lot of time

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3. enjoy the leisure time

4. not rely on public transportation

Sample:

Owing a private car has many advantages. The greatest advantage of all is that the car gives its owners more convenience and saves them a lot of time, enables them to go where they please. People can cover long distances by car rapidly and comfortably. Thus, it is possible for them to enjoy the leisure time by making trips to the country or seaside during the two-day weekends and on holidays. In addition they are no longer forced to rely on public transportation and waste their time in waiting for buses or trains.

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