Unit 3 Alienation and the Internet

Warm-up Questions

1.Do you go on line every day? What do you usually do online?

2.Are you a net worm?

Internet addiction survey Y/N

3. Make a list of advantages and disadvantages of the Internet. (outweigh)

Background information1. About the author: Will Baker is an essayist in Ver

mont of the United States.2. mantra (Paragraph 4): Originally it is a word or so

und in Hinduism and Buddhism repeated to aid concentration in meditation. Here it means a statement or slogan repeated frequently.

3. Utopia ((Paragraph 7): Originally it refers to an imaginary island described in Sir Thomas More’s Utopia (1516) as enjoying perfection in law, politics, etc. Here it is used for an ideal state.

Text structure

Argumentation Part 1(1-2) opening, the writer presents his

thesis Part 2 (3-6) body of argumentation, the

author supports his point with evidences and reasons

Part 3 (7) conclusion, reiterates main idea.

Part one

It serves as an introduction, where the author states his thesis: The internet may be responsible for furthering the fragmentation of society by alienating its individual users.

What is the author’s long cherished position about the strong points of the internet?

Does the author see any negative side of the internet? What is it?

How did the author stat his argumentation?

Part II paragraph 3-6

1. What’s the “cruel irony” concerning the use of the internet mentioned in para4?

2. In para 5, why does the author narate his own story?

3. why does the author discuss the question whether the internet is a real place?

Part III paragraph 7

1. According to the author, what underlies the trend of overusing the Internet in our society?

2. Does the author believe it is within human capacity to reap the benefit of the Internet without being penalized?

Words and expressions

Alienate: vt. to do something that makes someone unfriendly or unwilling to support you

alienate him from his friend 离间他和他的朋友She was alienated from her friend by her fooli

sh behavior. 她的愚蠢行为使她的朋友同她疏远了。He felt that his experiences had alienated him

from society.

Alienation: the feeling of not being part of society or a group

Unemployment may provoke a sense of alienation from society.

the permanent alienation of father from son. Forum: an organization, meeting, TV progra

mme etc where people have a chance to publicly discuss an important subject ~ for/on; the new national forum on the environment

a group of computer users who are interested in a particular subject and discuss it using email or the Internet

forum

education forum 教育论坛 habitat forum 生活环境讨论会 readers‘ forum 读者讲座 , 读者论坛 the forum of conscience 良心的制裁 the forum of public opinion 舆论的评判 the Forum 古罗马会议广场 ( 遗址 ) Lectern: an object with a sloping surface that you

put an open book or notes on while you are speaking to people in public 讲台

Access n.v.a man of easy access 易于接近的人 , 平易近人的人The only access to the town is across the brid

ge. 到镇上唯一的通路是经过一座桥。Citizens may have free access to the library.

市民可以自由使用图书馆。have /gain/get/ obtain access toAccumulator and index register can be access

ed by the programmer.程序员可以对累加器和变址寄存器进行存取。

Modal( 形式上的，方式上的） a modal verb/auxiliary 情态动词 modal logic 模态逻辑 modal speed 最常见的 [ 出现频率最高的 ]

速率 modal system 模态系统 modal value 最常见 [ 出现频率最高的 ] 值 Cf: model :shape, design

equivalent

Something equal in value, measure, force, effect or significance

What is the ~ of fifty pounds in dollar? The word has no equivalent in English. equivalent of He had drunk the equivalent of 15 whiskies. The dress cost the ~ of a week’s salary.

Fragment: break into parts or small pieces

a fragmentation bomb 杀伤炸弹fragmentation effect 破片杀伤效果fragmentation grenade 碎裂手榴弹fragmentation shell 杀伤炮弹fragments of broken pottery/glass fragments

His day was fragmented by interruptions and phone calls.

potential: conceivable hidden likely possible promising

adj. likely to develop into a particular type of person or thing in the future

Every seed is a potential plant.

每粒种子都可能长成植物。n. the possibility that something will develop

in a particular way, or have a particular effect The company certainly has the potential for growth.

Moderate:calm conservative fair gentle lenient medium mild restrained temperate

be moderate in drinking饮酒适量moderate politicians稳健的政治家a moderate income稳定的收入at moderate speed中等的速度

moderate prices公道的价格moderate cracking中度裂化moderate gale疾风moderate sea中浪 , 中常波

vi. The storm has moderated. 风暴平静下来了。 Vt. moderate one's voice 降低讲话声音

Skew:

vt.

vi. (at),

She skewed around in her chair.

她坐在椅子上歪扭过身来。

skew-eyed adj.

斜视的

simulate

simulate death 装死 adj.(=simulated) 假装的 , 模仿的 ; 拟态的 simulate rain 人工降雨

perceivedetect distinguish experience feel make out observe recognize sense

perceive by the nose用鼻嗅出 I perceived that I conld not make her cha

nge her mind.我发觉我不能使她改变她的主意。

surf

Surfboarder n. 作冲浪运动者

surfer n. 冲浪运动员

Converse1:communicate with discuss talk

Vi He‘s willing to converse with anyone about t

he quotations on the stock market. 他愿和任何人谈论股市行情。

converse 2

adj.

I hold the converse opinion. 我持反对意见

n.正相反近义词：

gratification

n. It is a gratification to know that ... 得知 ... 实在是让人欣喜的事 Your approval gives me much gratification.

承蒙认可 , 我非常高兴。 The guide received a gratification. 这个向导收到了一笔酬金。

oyster

The world is sb.'s oyster. 人生最得意 [ 最有前途 ] 的时刻。

as close as an oyster 嘴很紧 (as) dumb as an oyster 沉默不语 ; 守口如瓶 (as) fresh as an oyster强壮的 ; 精力充沛的 ; 充满青春活力的

Structural Analysis This text falls into the genre of argumentation, whi

ch is typically composed of three parts, i.e. the opening part or the thesis part, the argument part, and the summary part or conclusion part.

The first two paragraphs serve as an opening part, in which the writer presents his thesis.

The following four paragraphs constitute the body of argumentation, where the author supports his point with evidences and reasons.

The final paragraph is the conclusion of the text, where the writer reiterates his main idea.

Topic sentence: However I am also troubled by the possible unintended negative consequences.

Concluding statement: All this being said, I believe that the key to realizing the potential of the Internet is in achieving balance in our lives.

Rhetorical Features The author of this text seems to believe that

the Internet has both advantages and disadvantages. This self-contradiction is partly illustrated by the use of antonyms such as globalization and alienation. Some other pairs of antonyms (including words and expressions) are used for the same purpose.