Unit One TEXT I Hit the Nail on the Head ????;????) presentation

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Title: Unit One TEXT I Hit the Nail on the Head ????;????)

1
Unit OneTEXT I Hit the Nail on the
Head????????)

Time allotment ( 9 periods)(the first 3
periods)
Teaching aims
Students shall have a general idea of the text,
background knowledge.
Main and difficult teaching points
The main idea
Background knowledge
Organization of the Text
I. Pre-reading Questions
1. Suggested Answer (SA) It means exactly right
in words or action.
2. SA The author advises that the English
students should try to get the words, phrases and
sentences completely right for their purposes in
their writing.

2
I Pre-reading Brainstorming

1) What does the proverb Hit the nail on the
head mean?

3
It means exactly right in words or action
4
2) Why does the author encourage people to
Hit the nail on the head mean?

l Note Hit the (right) nail on the head be
exactly right in words or action
(?/???????,????,??)
E.g. Your analysis really hit the nail on the
head.

5
The author advises that the English students
should try to get the words, phrases and
sentences completely right for their purposes in
their writing
6

III. Library Work
1. 1) Gustave Flaubert (1821 1880), French
novelist, was associated with, though not
representative of, the movement of naturalism and
known as one of the greatest realists of
19th-century France. He devoted his life to long
hours spent in heavy toil over his work. His
writing is marked by exactness and accuracy of
observation, extreme impersonality and
objectivity of treatment, and precision and
expressiveness in style, or the principle of the
mot juste.

1. 2) Mrs. Malaprop is a famous character in
Sheridans comedy The Rivals (1775). She is noted
for her blunders in the use of words. As
headstrong(?????) as an allegory(????)
(alligator) on the banks of the Nile is one of
her grotesque(???)misapplications. She also
requests that no delusions(????)(allusions) to
the past be made. She has given us the word
malapropism(????,???????????????)as a name for
such mistakes.

2. Hindi(???)is a literary and official language
of northern India. Swahili(?????)is a Bantu(??)
language that is a trade and governmental
language over much of East Africa and in the
Congo region. Bantus are people belonging to a
group of tribes found in equatorial and southern
Africa.
IV. Organization of the Text
1. An analogy between the unskilled use of the
hammer and the improper choice of words
(Paragraph 1)

2. The significance of finding the right words
(Paragraphs 2 --- 3)
3. Semantic differences between words having the
same root (Paragraphs 4 --- 7)
(1). Example 1 (human vs. humane)
(Paragraph 4)
(2). Example 2 (anxiety vs. eagerness) (Paragraph
5)
(3). Example 3 (singularity vs. singleness)
(Paragraphs 6 7)

4. Wrong choice of words caused by failure to
recognize their connotations (Paragraph 8)
Examples imprison, contain, sum up, epitomize
and distill
5. Stylistic differences between synonyms
(Paragraph 9)
Examples in my childhood vs. when I was a child
love to watch vs. love watching die vs. expire
poor vs. in indigent circum-stances

6. The abundance of specific words in English for
general notions (Paragraph 10)
7. Conclusion (Paragraph 11) the importance of a
good control and command over known words (A good
writer is not measured by the extent of his
vocabulary, but by his skill in finding the word
that will hit the nail cleanly on the head. )

12
Functions of analogy

1.to explain
2.to bring descriptions into life.
3.to make a special kind of comparison and to
explain things in a more concrete way.
4.to show similarities between two things of
different classes.
5.to be meaningful.

V. Key Points of the Text
Paragraph 1
knock over hit to fall ??
drive something home force (the nail) into the
right place make something unmistakably clear
?(???)???????
E.g. (1). He slammed the door and drove the bolt
home. ??????,??????
(2). drive ones point home ????????
(3). a voice that drives home each word ????????

(4). To drive home his policy, the president
wrote his second letter. ????????,??????????
(5). You must drive it home to John that we dont
have enough money. ????????????????
deft effortlessly skillful ???
hit it squarely on the head hitting it directly
on the head. Also hit the (right) nail on the
head (informal) be exactly right in words or
action ?????????,???

E.g. (1). Your criticism really hit the nail on
the head. ???????????
(2). In so saying, you hit the right nail on the
head. ???????????
squarely meaning directly, may be used both
literally and figuratively.
E.g. (1). The boxer hit his opponent squarely
on the jaw.
(2). We must face the difficulty squarely.

16
Paragraph 1

clean English English that is exact (precise)
and clear
a word that is more or less right a word that is
almost right, but not completely right ????????
Question 1 Which phrase in this paragraph marks
a contrast between a clumsy man and a skillful
carpenter?
SA On the other hand.

17
Paragraph 1

Question 1 Which sentence in Paragraph 1
establishes the link between the driving of a
nail and the choice of a word?
SA So with language the good craftsman will
choose words that drive home his point firmly and
exactly.

18
SA So with language the good craftsman will
choose words that drive home his point firmly
and exactly.
19

Paragraph 2
Question What does the word this in Sentence
1 refer to?
SA Getting the word that is completely right for
the writers purpose.
scrupulous writers writers who are thorough,
exact, and who pay careful attention to details
???????

scrupulous correct even in the smallest detail
exact painstaking meticulous ?????, ???
unscrupulous ?????, ?????, the opposite of
scrupulous, seems to be more often used to
describe people who do not care about honesty and
fairness in getting what they want, or who are
completely without principles. Also by hook or
(by) crook to win by hook or crook

21
Paragraph 2

Question Do you agree with the author that
there is a great deal of truth in the seemingly
stupid question How can I know what I think till
I see what I say? Why or why not?

22
Paragraph 2

SA Yes, I do. It sounds irrational that a person
does not know what he himself thinks before he
sees what he says, but, as a matter of fact, it
is quite true that unless we have found the exact
words to verbalize our own thoughts we can never
be very sure of what our thoughts are, without
words, our thoughts cannot be defined or stated
in a clear and precise manner.

Paragraph 3
that constitutes his limitation that makes or
forms his shortcoming or inability in certain
respects
concept vs. conception
A concept is an idea of a category or kind that
has been generalized from particular instances.
Thus, the concept of cat arises form the many
cats we see. Concept also refers to a widely held
idea of what something is or should be The
concept of

government of many small nations has been
influenced by the legislative and judicial
institutions of Britain.
The meaning of conception is much like this
second sense of concept, but differs in that the
idea of what a thing is or should be is here held
by an individual or small group and is often
colored by imagination and feeling A childs
conception of the universe is formed by his
limited experience and his own fancies.

your conception of the man is clearer and
sharper your idea of the man is clearer and more
distinct
sharp a word that has a variety of meanings
E.g. a sharp (thrill) voice ?????
sharp (harsh) words
a sharp (severe) pain

26
Paragraph 3

Question 3 What is the significance of finding
the right words?

27
Words are many and various they are subtle and
delicate in their different shades of meaning.
The exact use of language gives us mastery over
the material we are dealing with.
28
Paragraph 4

human vs. humane
human relating to or characteristic of humankind
or people
E.g. human action action taken by man ????
To err is human to forgive, divine.
?????????????
human killer a person or a machine that kills
humans ????????

humane having or showing compassion or
benevolence characterized by kindness, mercy,
sympathy
E.g. humane action merciful action ?????
humane killer that which kills but causes little
pain instrument for painless slaughter of
animals ???????,???????
Paragraph 5
far afield far away from home to or at a great
distance very far away ???, ??

Paragraph 6
cowardice lack of courage ??, ??
rife widespread, common(???,???). Rife is an
adjective used with something negative.
E.g. (1). Crime and violence were rife in this
city before liberation.
(2). Typhoid fever (Poultry flu) is rife.
????(???)???
(3). Corruption (Unemployment) is still rife in
that country. ??????????(????)?

(4). The whole city is rife with rumors. ???????
(5). This article is rife with error. ?????????
(6). The country was rife with disease and
violence. ??????????????
(7). Diseases used to be rife in that country.
singularity vs. singleness
singularity strangeness, oddity, peculiarity ??,
??, ??
E.g. singularity of mind ????????

singleness complete devotion to holding
steadfastly to
E.g. singleness of mind ????, ????
Paragraph 7
malapropism an often amusing misuse of a word,
such that the word incorrectly used sounds
similar to the intended word but means something
quite different ????(???????????????)

hold to (cause to) follow exactly, keep to
(something such as a promise) adhere to??,??,??
E.g. (1). Whatever your argument, I shall hold
to my decision.
(2). The priest held to his beliefs in spite of
cruel treatment.
(3). He holds to a simple life. ???????????

(4). He held to his own counsel. ???????????
(5). I hold to my promise. ??????
draw aside (cause to) move to one side
E.g. (1). Drawing the curtain aside, he looked
down into the street.
(2). The crowd drew aside to let the prisoner
pass.
Paragraph 8
Question Explain why the word imprison in the
example given in this paragraph, though not a
malapropism, is still not the right word for the
writers purpose.

SA Malapropism means the unintentional misuse
of a word by confusing it with one that resembles
it, such as human for humane, singularity for
singleness. But the misuse of imprison is a
different case. It is wrongly chosen because the
user has failed to recognize its connotation(??).
imprison put into prison or keep in a place or
state which one is not free to leave ??, ?? ??,
??

coercion pressure, compulsion government by
force ??,??????
E.g. the coercion of public opinion?????
coerce v.t. ??????
E.g. coerce somebody into doing something
???????
coerce uniformity ????
coercive adj. coercionary adj. serving or
intended to coerce
E.g. coercive methods (measures) ?????(??)

coercible adj.
epitomize be typical of serve as the typical
example of ??,??,??,? ???,? ???
E.g. (1). He was the man who epitomized black
resistance to the colonial government.
????????????????
(2). His political creed was epitomized in this
report. ????????????????

epitome n. ? a thing or person that shows, to a
very great degree, a quality or set of qualities
(especially in the phrase the epitome of)
??,????
? a short account of a book or speech ????,??
E.g. (1). She is the epitome of arrogance.
????????
(2). My cat is the epitome of laziness ( My cat
is very lazy.).

hit on strike on find by lucky chance or have a
good idea about(?????)???? ????
E.g. (1). I hit on this interesting book in a
small bookstore. ????????????????????
(2). The plan we hit upon was not logical,
perhaps, but it worked. ????????????????,???????
(3). How did you hit on the right answer so
quickly?

(4). At last someone hit upon taking the other
road through the mountains.
distill take and separate the most important
parts of (a book, a subject, etc.) ??
E.g. distill the essence of ?????
alive sensitive alert
Paragraph 9
disprove vs. disapprove

disprove prove to be contrary refute ??,????
E.g. (1). find a charge hard to disprove
???????????
(2). He could not disprove the major contention
of his opponents. ????????????
Compare disapprove have a bad opinion for moral
reasons (of) ?????????????????(of)

E.g. (1). She disapproved the arrangements for
the wedding.
(2). The court disapproved the verdict.
????????????
(3). Jims father disapproved of his marriage to
Mary. Jim????????Mary????
(4). He disapproved of her. ?????

expire die pass away come to an end ????
indigent poor lacking money and goods
poverty-stricken penniless ???,???
Paragraph 10
march walk with firm regular steps like a
soldier ????, ??

pace walk with slow, steady steps, especially
backwards and forwards ???
patrol go at regular times round (an area,
building, etc.) to see that there is no trouble,
that no one is trying to get in or out illegally,
etc. ??,??
stride walk with long steps or cross with one
long step ?????,?

stalk walk stiffly, proudly, or with long steps
??????
strut walk proudly or stiffly, especially with
the chest pushed forward and trying to look
important ??????,??????
tread step on ?, ??
tramp walk (through or over) with firm heavy
steps ????????

46
Paragraph 10

step out (AmE) go outside or go somewhere (??)
????
prance move quickly, happily or proudly with a
springing or dancing step ????

prowl (of an animal looking for food, or of a
thief) move about (an area) quietly, trying not
to be seen or heard ??,????
E.g. beasts prowling after their prey ???????

48
Paragraph 10

sidle (up) walk as if ready to turn and go the
other way, especially secretively or
nervously(???????????)????
E.g. He sidled up to the stranger in the street
and tried to sell him the stolen ring.
???,?????????????????????????

49
Paragraph 10

creep move slowly and quietly with the body
close to the ground ????,?? ??????
E.g. The cat crept silently towards the mouse.
???????????
The policeman crept up on the criminal and
seized him from behind. ????????,??????????

50
Paragraph 10

plod (especially along, on) walk slowly,
especially with difficulty and great effort
trudge ??????,????
E.g. The old man plods along, hardly able to
lift each foot. ??????????,??????????

51
Paragraph 10

trudge walk with heavy steps, slowly and with
effort (plod) ??????, ??
E.g. He had to trudge (for) 20 miles to get
home. ????20???????
shuffle walk by dragging ones feet slowly
along ????,?????

stagger walk or move unsteadily and with great
difficulty, almost falling ??,??,??
E.g. He was staggering along as if drunk.
?????????,?????????
toddle walk with short unsteady steps, as a
small child does ????,??????

53
Paragraph 10

stroll walk a short distance slowly or lazily,
especially for pleasure ??????
ramble (about, through, among) go on a long
walk with no particular plan ????

54
Paragraph 10

E.g. They rambled through the woods. ?????????
We rambled about for hours in the old city.
?????????????
roam (through, around, about) wander without a
very clear purpose ??????
E.g. At this height hyenas roamed about.
????,????????

saunter walk in an unhurried way, and especially
in a confident manner (lounge) ????
E.g. I sauntered along the street with nothing
to do. ??????,?????
meander (of people) wander in a slow easy way
??, ?? (of rivers and streams) flow slowly,
turning here and there(???)???????????

lounge (especially about, around) move in a
lazy, relaxed way, move in leisurely, indolent
manner (saunter) ??
E.g. He lounged about the house, doing nothing
but getting in our way while we were working.
?????,??????,??????,??????
loiter move on or move about, stopping often
????????
E.g. The policemen saw someone loitering near
the shop. ?????????????.

Paragraph 11
Question 1 What conclusion is drawn by the
author in this paragraph?
SA A good writer is not measured by the extent
of his vocabulary, but by his skill in finding
the mot juste, the word that will hit the nail
cleanly on the head.

Question The writer begins his article with an
analogy between the unskilled use of the hammer
and the improper choice of words. Identify the
places where the analogy is referred to in the
rest of the article.
SA We dont have to look far afield to find
evidence of bad carpentry in language.
(Paragraph 5)

It is perhaps easier to be a good craftsman with
wood and nails than a good craftsman with words.
(Paragraph 9)
A good carpenter is not distinguished by the
number of his tools, but by the craftsmanship
with which he uses them. So a good writer is not
measured by the extent of his vocabulary, but by
his skill in finding the mot juste, the word
that will hit the nail cleanly on the head.
(Paragraph 11)

take courage feel hopeful and confident about
something
E.g. It is a challenging job but take courage
and work hard at it, and youll be rewarded.

61
VI. SA to Ex. I, P. 1, Workbook

1. So with language the good craftsman will
choose words that drive home his point firmly and
exactly.
2. Getting the word that is completely right for
the writers purpose.

62
VI. SA to Ex. I, P. 1, Workbook

3. Yes, I do. It sounds irrational that a person
does not know what he himself thinks before he
sees what he says, but, as a matter of fact, it
is quite true that unless we have found the exact
words to verbalize our own thoughts we can never
be very sure of what our thoughts are, without
words, our thoughts cannot be defined or stated
in a clear and precise manner.

63
VI. SA to Ex. I, P. 1, Workbook

4. Malapropism means the unintentional misuse
of a word by confusing it with one that resembles
it, such as human for humane, singularity for
singleness. But the misuse of imprison is a
different case. It is wrongly chosen because the
user has failed to recognize its connotation.

64
VI. SA to Ex. I, P. 1, Workbook

5. human characterizing of, or relating to man
humane characterized by kindness, mercy,
sympathy thus
human action action taken by man
humane action merciful action
human killer person that kills humans
humane killer that which kills but causes
little pain

65
VI. SA to Ex. I, P. 1, Workbook

6. Sensitive alert
7. We dont have to look far afield to find
evidence of bad carpentry in language.
(Paragraph 5)
It is perhaps easier to be a good craftsman with
wood and nails than a good craftsman with words.
(Paragraph 9)

66
VI. SA to Ex. I, P. 1, Workbook

A good carpenter is not distinguished by the
number of his tools, but by the craftsmanship
with which he uses them. So a good writer is not
measured by the extent of his vocabulary, but by
his skill in finding the mot juste, the word
that will hit the nail cleanly on the head.
(Paragraph 11)

67
VII. SA to Ex. II, P. 2, Workbook

1. A writer who is particular about the exactness
of an expression in English will never feel happy
with a word which fails to express an idea
accurately.

68
VII. SA to Ex. II, P. 2, Workbook

2. To a certain extent, the process of finding
the right words to use is a process of perfection
where you try to search for words that may most
accurately express your thoughts and feelings,
and words that may most effectively make your
listeners and readers understand your thoughts
and feelings.

69
VII. SA to Ex. II, P. 2, Workbook

3. Finding the most suitable word to use is in no
sense easy. But there is nothing like the delight
we shall experience when such a word is located.
4. Once we are able to use language accurately,
we are in a position to fully understand our
subject matter.

70
VIII. SA to Ex. III, P. 3, Workbook

1. After citing many facts and giving a number of
statistical figures, he finally drove home his
point..
2. It took us half a year more or less to carry
through the research project.
3. What he said was so subtle that we could
hardly make out his true intention.
4. His new book looks squarely at the
contemporary social problems.

71
VIII. SA to Ex. III, P. 3, Workbook

5. The younger generation today are very much
alive to the latest information found on the
Internet.
6. It is a matter of opinion whether a foreign
language is more easily learned in ones
childhood or otherwise.
7. Never loose heart in the face of a setback
take courage and deal with it squarely.
8. Rice, meat, vegetables, and fruit constitute a
balanced diet.

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