Unit-2-The-Company-Man-Teaching-plan综合教程三.docx

Unit 2 The Company ManTeaching PointsBy the end of this unit, students are supposed to1) grasp the author's purpose of writing and make clear the structure of the whole passage through an intensive reading of Text I The Company Man.2) comprehend the topic sentences in Text I thoroughly and be able to paraphrase them.3) get a list of new words and structures and use them freely in conversation and writing.Topics for discussion1) What do you think is the life of a typical workaholic like?2) How important do you think work is to a person?Cultural Background1. A recent global survey by the Centre for Work-Life Policy, a New York-based nonprofit group, found that 45% of executives were “extreme" workers, putting in more than 60 hours a week. Some 65% of men said their work stopped them from having a strong relationship with their children. The same was true for 33% ofwomen.2. Workaholism has not been extensively researched and does not have a clear, clinical definition, but it can be a serious problem.3. A person who is addicted to work may experience depression, anxiety, anger, high blood pressure, and a weakened immune system as a result of the high stress.4. Spouses and children can also be affected, with workaholics having a higher divorce rate than others.Text IThe Company ManEllen GoodmanGlobal ReadingI. Text AnalysisMain Idea In a colloquial style, the author paints an ironic picture of the life of a company man and his family. The man was a workaholic who died of a heart attack, which surprised no one. He devoted all his thoughts and energy to work and everything else was secondary to that and the end might be considered tragically heroic: he worked himself to death.II. Structural AnalysisParagraph 1 The introductory part.Paragraphs 2-6 This part reports how devoted the man was to his work.Paragraphs 7-13 This part describes PhiFs role in his family.Paragraphs 14-16 This is the end of the essay. After the cause of PhiFs death being restated, the author goes on to report the company president's inquiry for his successor.Detailed ReadingQuestions1) What is the general tone of this article? What is the author's attitude toward Phil?The general tone of this article is sarcastic. In describing in a mockingly serious manner different people's responses to PhiFs death, the author wants to make the readers see the absurdity of a society that produces such a tragic figure as Phil. He is, in the deep sense, sympathetic with Phil, whose ignorance of the cause of his own tragedy renders him more tragic.2) Why does the author frequently mention the time "3.00 a.m. Sunday morning"?The time is revealing, from which readers can be easily attracted to give a deep thinking about the cause of Phil's tragedy for 3.00 a.m. is within the small hours which might indicate that Phil had frequently worked well into the night when alive.3) Why does the author mention the company president's inquiries about PhiFs replacement at the end of the article?From this detail we can get the idea that the company, as well as other parts of the society, operates like a lifeless and ruthless machine and all people working in it have been dehumanized and transformed into parts of this machine. Therefore, we can draw the lesson that PhiFs tragedy is not merely a tragedy of himself, but rather of all the people who are not aware of their miserable existence or do not have the insight and power to change matters.Text IITime to Take It EasyWorkers of the world, relax.1A Lead-in Question for Text IIHow important do you think work is to a person?Main ideaThe Unhappy American Way attempts to tell the readers the major causes that prevent people from being happy is that most American people act on some principles rather than in impulse. They believe in a general theory on how to make one happy, but the theory is basically false. A competitive struggle dominates life in which happiness lies in getting ahead of those who are your neighbors, colleges or friends. They forget joys devoid of competitive elements. If people desire to live a healthy and happy life, they should allow impulse to have sufficient scope to remain alive and they should preserve a range of interest. Some people succeed in attaining their particular goal at the cost of freedom, which is an indispensable element in happiness.Notes1. Workers of the worlds relax. (Subtitle)：This slogan is the title of a book and movie Workers of the World, Relax: The Simple Economics of Less Industrial Work by Conrad Schmidt, an internationally known social activist. He is the founder of Artists Against War in Canada and the founder of the Work Less Party.2. work ethic (Paragraph 3)：A work ethic is a set of values based on hard work and diligence. A work ethic may include being reliable, having initiative or maintaining social skills. Workers exhibiting a good work ethic in theory (and ideally in practice) should be selected for better positions, more responsibility and ultimately promotion.3. continentals (Paragraph 4): Continentals, in this context, refer to the people of the European Continent, as in contrast with the British (islanders).4. Al Gini (Paragraph 5): Dr. Gini is an associate professor of philosophy in the Institute of Industrial Relations at Loyola University of Chicago. His most recent book is entitled My Job My Self: Work and the Creation of the Modern Person. He has also written and produced a play entitled, Working Ourselves to Death.5. Anglo-American culture (Paragraph 8): English and American culture.6. Oliver James (Paragraph 9): Oliver James (born 1953) is a clinical psychologist, writer and television documentary producer. He also frequently broadcasts on radio and acts as a pundit on television.7. uanti-work95 movement (Paragraph 11): The anti-work movement argues that labor tends to cause unhappiness, therefore, the quantity of labor ought to be lessened. The ethic appears to have originated in anarchist circles and to have come to prominence with essays such as In praise of idleness by Betrand Russell, The Right to Useful Unemployment by Ivan Illich, and The Abolition of Work by Bob Black, published in 1985. Paul LafargueJs The Right to Be Lazy is one of the most classical works on the subject (Lafargue was Karl Marx's son-in-law).Questions for Discussion1. How is much of Europe different from everywhere else when summer comes?2. How do Americans justify the fact that they work hardest of all the Westerners?3. Why do we say that the idea that time should be devoted to doing something is deep-seated in Anglo-American culture?4. What is the hard nut for the anti-work rebels to crack?5. Why do we need some leisurely time in life?Key to Questions for Discussion1. When summer arrives, much of Europe is ready to lead a life of idleness. For example, people are ready to shut down for business, enjoy the beach, paid holiday, siesta time, comfortable sleep through the heat of the afternoon, returning to work in the pleasant cool of the evening.2. They hold that America is the richest and most powerful country in the world. One cannot make that happen by lying in bed. As Benjamin Franklin says, diligence is the mother of good luck and God gives all things to industry.3. Those who believe in work ethnic tend to maintain that work is good for both material profits and spiritual health.4. Those who are accustomed to hard work are most liable to forget how to relax. They will have to redouble their efforts to learn to be lazy.5. We need some leisurely time in life because we need sometime to relax ourselves, to contemplate the worlds inside ourselves and outside ourselves, and satisfy our peculiar interests.Memorable QuotesThe wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: and he that hath little business shall become wise.一BibleWhat is this life if, full of care,We have no time to stand and stare.W. H. DavieThe Bible is a collection of sacred scripture of both Judaism and Christianity.William Henry Davies or W. H. Davies (3 July, 1871 - 26 September, 1940) was a Welsh poet and writer.Question for DiscussionWhy it is important to balance work and life?Tip Work-life imbalance is a public-health crisis and a major drain on our economy. Stress is having a direct impact on our health, causing everything from heart disease and memory loss to infertility and obesity. It's a vital issue for businesses, facing escalating absenteeism and growing challenges with retention and recruitment. It's affecting our home lives as well, wearing on marriages and affecting the kids. Butstill, there is resistance to reeling ourselves in. Technology keeps us constantly tethered to the office, every evening brings countless commitments and an aging population means more people are caring for their parents as well as their kids. Work has begun to dominate life completely, as personal lives are tailored to suit professional lives. Relationships, lifestyles, leisure activities all fall under this domain. Work and life are not separate entities anymore.