Someday, I want to be a writer!

Are you kidding?

Unit 5I never write right

Teaching PlanTeaching Plan

Warming up Warming up

Global ReadingGlobal Reading

Text AnalysisText Analysis

New WordsNew Words

Exercise &AssignmentExercise &Assignment

Proverbs & SayingsProverbs & Sayings

Unit Five I Never Write Right

• Have you ever dreamed of becoming a writer, only to be put off by fears that you lacked the ability? If so, then reading Linda Stafford’s story will have you reaching for your pen with renewed hope.

Before Reading

• A word about the Author• The Capper’s weekly• Advance on Royalties• Native Americans• Webster’s Dictionary• Warm-up Questions

Linda Stafford

• A Native American writer (born in 1943). She was brought up by her grandmother on an Indian reservation. She attended several universities in the 1960s. Many of her stories are based on her own experiences.

• Crying Wind is actually her birth name and she writes under the pseudonym Linda Stafford. All her books have a message of hope and the optimistic theme of never giving up.

The Capper’s weekly

• Capper’s is a century-old American magazine published in Kansas. It concentrates on rural American traditions, and offers a wide selection of poetry in each issue.

Advance on Royalties

• Royalties are payments made to authors or musicians when their work is sold or performed. They usually received a fixed percentage of the profits from these sales or performances. And sometimes the publisher will pay an author or musician in advance a certain amount of money for a work before it is published or performed.

Native Americans

• The first people to live in North America were the American Indians., or Native Americans.

Webster’s Dictionary

• A common title given to English language dictionaries in the United States, deriving for its name from American lexicographer Noah Webster. In America, the phrase Webster’s has become a generalized trademark for dictionaries.

Warm-up Questions

• Have you got any dreams? If so, what are they?

• What do you think are needed to fulfill one’s dreams?

• A Hindu proverb says, “Luck is one half of success.” How do you understand this proverb?

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a writer, only to be put off by fears that you lacked the ability? If so, then reading Linda Stafford’s story will have you reaching for your pen with renewed hope.

When I was 15, I announced to my English class that I was going to write and illustrate my own books. Half of the students nearly fell out of their chairs laughing.

“Don’t be silly. Only geniuses can become writers,” the English teacher said. “And you are getting a D this semester.”

I Never Write Right --Linda Stafford

I was so embarrassed that I burst into tears. That night I wrote a short, sad poem about broken dreams and mailed it to the Capper’s Weekly. To my astonishment they published it, and sent me two dollars. I was a published and paid writer! I showed my teacher and fellow students. They laughed. “Just plain dumb luck,” the teacher said.

I’d tasted success. I’d sold the first thing I’d ever written. That was more than any of them had done, and if it was “just plain dumb luck,” that was fine with me.

During the next two years I sold dozens of poems, letters, jokes and recipes. By the time I graduated from high school (with a C-minus average), I had scrapbooks filled with my published work. I never mentioned my writing to my teachers, friends or my family again. They were dream killers. And if people must choose between their friends and dreams, they must always choose the latter. But sometimes you do find a friend who supports your dreams. “It’s easy to write a book,” my new friend told me. “You can do it.”

“I don’t know if I’m smart enough,” I said, suddenly feeling 15 again and hearing echoes of laughter.

“Nonsense!” she said. “Anyone can write a book if they want to.”

I had four children at the time, and the oldest was only four. We lived on a goat farm in Oklahoma, miles from anyone. All I had to do each day was take care of four kids, milk goats, and do the cooking, laundry and gardening. While the children slept, I typed on my ancient typewriter. I wrote what I felt. It took nine months, just like a baby. I chose a publisher at random and put the manuscript in an empty diapers package, the only box I could find. The letter I enclosed read: “I wrote this book myself, and I hope you like it. I also drew the illustrations. Chapters 6 and 12 are my favorites. Thank you.”

I tied a string around the diaper box and mailed it without a self-addressed stamped envelope, and without making a copy of the manuscript. A month later I received a contract, an advance on royalties and a request to start working on another book.

Crying Wind became a bestseller, was translated into 15 languages and sold worldwide. I appeared on TV talk shows during the day and changed diapers at night. I traveled from New York to California and Canada on promotional tours. My first book also became required reading in Native American schools in Canada.

It took six months to write my next book. My Searching Heart also became a bestseller. My next novel, When I Give My Heart, was finished in only three weeks.

People ask what college I attended, what degree I have, and what qualifications I have to be a writer. The answer is none. I just write. I’m not a genius, I’m not gifted and don’t write right. I’m not disciplined, either, and spend more time with my children and friends than I do writing.

I didn’t own a thesaurus until four years ago and I use a small Webster’s dictionary that I bought for 89 cents. I use an electric typewriter that I paid $129 for six years ago. I’ve never used a word processor. I do all the cooking, cleaning and laundry for a family of six and fit my writing in a few minutes here and there. I write everything in longhand while sitting on the sofa with my four kids, eating pizza and watching TV. When the book is finished, I type it and mail it to the publisher.

I’ve written eight books. Four have been published, and three are still out with the publishers. One stinks.

To all those who dream of writing, I’m shouting at you, “Yes, you can! Yes, you can!” I don’t write right, but I’ve beaten the odds. Writing isn’t difficult, it’s fun, and anyone can write a book if they set their mind on it. Of course, a little dumb luck doesn’t hurt.

Questions to the Text

• What did the author do in her English class one day when she was 15?

• How did the class react when the author made her announcement?

• What was the short poem she wrote that night about?

• Why did she think that “dumb luck” was fine?

Questions to the Text

• What daily household chores did the author have to do when she was working on her first book?

• How was her life changed when her first book became a bestseller?

• What happened to the eight books the author wrote?

• To the author, what’s the secret of her successful writing career?

New words and expressions

• genius• a person who has very great natural ability

and talent• 爱因斯坦是一个天才。• Einstein was a genius. • He's a genius at mathematics.• 他是个数学天才。• (a person of) great and special ability• a genius for mathematics • 数学的天分

• luc,lus,lust =light,shine

• luxury n. 奢华，奢侈品• lucent adj. 发亮的• lucid adj. 透明的，清楚的• translucent adj. 半透明的• noctilucent adj. 夜间能发光的• luster n. 光泽，光彩• lusty adj. 精力充沛的 • illustrate v. 说明，阐明• illusion n. 幻觉，错觉

• translucent:• Transmitting light but causing sufficient diffusi

on to prevent perception of distinct images.• 半透明的：能透过光但却引起大量的散射，从而不

能看到清楚的影像

• transparent:• Capable of transmitting light so that objects or i

mages can be seen as if there were no intervening material.See Synonyms at clear

• 透明的：能够传送光线因此可以清楚地看到物体或图像的，仿佛没间隔材料一样

illustrate

1) add pictures to (something written)

• This book is a beautifully illustrated history of science.

• The magazine is well illustrated.

2) show the meaning of (something) by giving related examples

• The following examples illustrate how this operates in practice.

• 这个教授给了两个例子来证明他的观点。• The professor gave a couple of examples to i

llustrate his point.

• drawing 指钢笔或铅笔线条画• illustration 指书籍里的插图。• portrait 肖像，只能用于人。• sketch 指速写，草图。• cartoon 指讽刺性的，夸张性的漫画。

As is vividly depicted in the cartoon above, in front of blackboard stands a teacher, teaching mathematics, however, one of her students holds the opinion that the knowledge he is learning might be outdated by the time he's in the job market. (42 words)

genius 天才，天赋

• was an artistic genius of his time, wasn’t he?

• The young man showed signs of genius for making money at a very early age.

embarrass: vt. (cause to) feel ashamed, uncomfortable, or anxious

• The article describes the author’s most embarrassing moment as a reporter.

• Many parents and students seem embarrassed to admit they rely on tutors.

• She showed a flush of embarrassment.

standastound vt. 使惊骇，使大吃一惊引申化astonish vt. 使惊讶stun vt. 使…失去知觉，使吃惊

• All these changes will lead to a stronger, more confident China, a China that can astonish and enrich the world. —— George. W. Bush

astound

• in astonishment 惊讶地，吃惊地• to one's astonishment 使某人惊讶的是

burst 使爆裂，冲

• 河水冲决了堤岸 , 淹没了城镇。• The river burst its banks and flooded the town.• She burst through the door into the room.• 他从起跑线冲出。• He burst away from the starting line.

song/ laughter/ tearsPS: burst into doing sth.

publish

• The New York Times is an internationally influential daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed worldwide.

• 当她的第一部小说出版时，她只有十九岁。• She was only 19 when her first novel was publish

ed.

publication n. 出版物

• There are many publications on the subject.• A few mistakes n the printing weren't notice

d before publication.• The school has delayed the publication of ex

am results.

dumb

• She was struck dumb by what she had seen.• Are they brave or just dumb?

minus

• I got A minus for my English homework.• 今晚气温会降到零下 8 度。• Temperatures could fall to minus eight tonight.• That will be $500, minus the deposit of $50 that y

ou have already paid.• 七减三等于四。• Seven minus three equals four.

latter

• There are cotton and linen shirts but the latter are more expensive.

• The really huge wave of immigrants reached the U.S. in the latter part of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th.

• The writer spent the latter part of her life in a remote village.

laundry

• Every weekend, he put his dirty laundry in a bag and took it back home.

• “This is nothing”, she said, doing laundry in the bathtub( 浴缸 ) after a 12-hour workday. “In my hometown, life is much harder.”

• The husband was folding laundry in the family room while watching a football game on television.

• old 为普通用语，主要指人或物已存在或使用了相当长的一段时间，即指人或动物的年龄大、年老，也指事物的古老和陈旧。可使用于任何场合，可作定语，也可作表语。例如： Cambridge and Oxford are old universities.

• ancient 意为“古代的”、“古老的”，特别用于历史范畴，表示在遥远过去时代所存在或发生的人或物。例如： In ancient times people did not think the brain was the center of mental activity.

• antique 意为“古代的”、“自古即存在的”、“古风的”，通常指自过去的时代一直保存下来的、具有价值的东西。其时间范围既可指遥远的古代，又可指近代或现代以前的一段时间。例如：

• I have a fine collection of antique furniture.

1. Whenever I go into streets, ( 总要去逛逛那个古文物展 ).

2. ( 古希腊人 ) made great contributions to the development of philosophy and science of the world.

3. I threw away ( 所有的旧衣服 ).4. Some linguists are very interested in (欧洲的古

代语言 ).

I would visit the antique show.The ancient Greeks

all my old dresses

ancient languages of Europe

at random: aimlessly; without any plan

• 恐怖分子向人群胡乱射击 .• The terrorists fired into the crowd at random.• The magician picked several persons at random

from the audience and asked them to help him with the performance.

crab 螃蟹creep v.爬行cripple 跛子 rept- reptile adj.爬行的 n.爬行动物，卑鄙的人creep s + creep= scribe-词根：写describe v.描述，形容manuscript n.手稿manual 手的prescribe v. 指示，规定，开处方subscribe v. 签署，订购

give + t = giftscribe + t = script 手稿

enclosure n. 围墙，围场

附件

enclosure movement 圈地运动

• enclose vt. 围绕；装入 ；附上• a valley enclosed by mountains• Please remember to enclose a resume in yo

ur letter of application.• enclose sth. in/with

clu- 关闭• closet n. 壁橱，厕所• disclose v. 泄露，揭示• enclose v. 圈住• exclude v. 拒绝，把 ... 排除在外• exclusive adj. 排外的，唯一的• include v. 包括，包含• conclude v. 结论• preclude v. 排除，预防，阻止

em-,en- 词根应用如下：

• ① 表示 "进入…之中，包围 "• embrace 拥抱（ em+brace→ 进入怀抱）• enroll 注册，记入名册（ en+roll 名单）• encage 关入笼中（ en+cage 笼子）• enchain 束缚（ en+chain 锁链 ）• ② 表示 "使…进入状态 "• empower 授权• endanger• encourage• enlighten 启发

echo

• Thick carpet would reduce the echo in this hallway.

• The room echoed with the sound of music.• 我说什么她都附和。• She echoes everything I say.

• produce an echo 产生回响• hear an echo 听到回响

bestseller: n. something (esp. a book) that sells in very large number

• J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels are all bestsellers.

• His latest book has gone to number two in the bestseller list.

Promote: vt. 促进，提升，推销

• He was promoted/ demoted captain.• In order to sell a new product you need to pr

omote it in a right way.

qualification

• He's got all the right qualifications but is temperamentally unsuitable.

• 在这里工作你需要的资格之一是要有幽默感。• One of the qualifications you need to work here is

a sense of humor.• have the qualification for sth.• 做这项工作需要什么资格 ?• What sort of qualifications do you need for

the job?

receive 收到 ceive-词根：拿perceive v.察觉，感知，理解，领悟每一个，一直，穿透deceive v.欺骗，蒙蔽conceive v.怀胎，构思ceive+t = ceivt = cept cept-词根：拿 (加强版 ) accept 接受 cip-词根：拿（瘦版）except prep.除…之外 （ exception/ exceptional）reception n.接待，招待会，接受recipient adj.接受的，感受性强的recipe n.烹饪法，食谱

掌握

reciprocal adj. 相互的，往复的，互利的 ricesusceptible adj.易受影响的，易受感染的 participate v.参与，参加anticipate v.预料，期望前，先disciple n.信徒，弟子，门徒分开拿discipline n.纪律，学科

• There was not much discipline in the school.• Some teahcers maintain discipline more stri

ctly than others.• You are no good at mathematics, so you had

better choose one of the other disciplines.

odd

adj.1 ） different from what is normal 奇怪的是我为许多人所知，而同时我却如此孤独。 It is odd that to be known by so many yet to be so lonely. --- Albert Einstein

oddly behaved woman

in odd clothes

2 ） extra, surplus

odd jobs 零活，临时工作odds and ends ：零碎东西I put my odds and ends into that drawer.

3)

odd numbers 奇数 even numbers 偶数

odds n. 不平等，差异，可能性

• Mary has overcome enormous odds to get where she is today.

• at odds with 与 ...不和• They are constantly at odds with each other.

“Anyone can write a book if they want to.”

“Anyone”, “everyone”, and “someone” are often followed by a plural pronoun except in very formal speech and writing. For example: Has everyone finished their drinks? Has everyone finished his/her drinks? (formal)

Analyze the structure of the sentence.

Text Analysis

“I don’t know if I’m smart enough,” I said, suddenly feeling 15 again and hearing echoes of laughter.

“Nonsense!” she said. “Anyone can write a book if they want to.”

I had four children at the time, and the oldest was only four. We lived on a goat farm in Oklahoma, miles from anyone. All I had to do each day was take care of four kids, milk goats, and do the cooking, laundry and gardening. 1. What information can you get from this sentence?

1. Something important happened when she was 15.2. She was laughed by people around.3. Things happened in her childhood impressed her most.4. Opened.

2. Translate the sentence into Chinese.

突然之间又感觉自己回到了 15 岁的时候，听到了那些笑声在回响。

• … suddenly feeling 15 again and hearing echoes of laughter.

• … all of a sudden it reminding me of what had happened when I was 15 and the laughter I got from the class.

• laughter• the act of or sound of laughing• loud laughter 响亮的笑声• 房间里回荡着孩子们的笑声。• The laughter of the kids filled the house.

1. Paraphrase the sentence.

It took nine months to write my first book, just as it takes nine months to have a baby.

2. What does the sentence imply?

It wasn’t easy for me to write a book.

While the children slept, I typed on my ancient typewriter. I wrote what I felt. It took nine months, just like a baby.

I chose a publisher at random and put the manuscript in an empty diapers package, the only box I could find. The letter I enclosed read: “I wrote this book myself, and I hope you like it. I also drew the illustrations. Chapters 6 and 12 are my favorites. Thank you.”

我随便选了一个出版商，把手稿放进一只放尿布的空盒子里——我唯一能找到的盒子。

I tied a string around the diaper box and mailed it without a self-addressed stamped envelope, and without making a copy of the manuscript. A month later I received a contract, an advance on royalties and a request to start working on another book.

1. Why did the author do like this?The author didn’t focus on publication. She just wrote for pleasure — She liked writing and write with her heart at that time. When she mailed something, she didn’t care whether it might be published or not.

2. Translate the sentence into Chinese.

我用绳子扎好尿布盒就把它寄了出去，既没有附上一个写好回信地址贴好邮票的信封，也没有把手稿复印一份。

Group Discussion

• Write down one of your life dreams as well as any obstacles to fulfill it.

• Talk about your dreams and the obstacles with your neighbors.

• Present the suggestions from your neighbors

1. 梦想…2. 被推迟 , 拖延3. 重新燃起的希望4. 给书作插图5. 从…摔出6. 突然出现7. 破碎的梦想8. 令人惊讶的是

dream ofbe put off by renewed hopeillustrate one’s bookfall out ofburst intobroken dreamsto one’s astonishment

Useful Expressions

9. 拿到过稿费的作家10. 体验成功11. …对 满意12. 许多的13. 从…毕业14. 充满15. 扼杀梦想的人16. 每次 , 在某时

a paid writertaste successbe fine with sb.dozens ofgraduate frombe filled withdream killerat the time

17. 以…为主食 , 靠…生活18. 胡乱地 , 随便地

19. 写好回信地址贴好邮票的信封

20. 电视访谈节目21. 巡回促销旅行22. 各处 , 到处23. 战胜种种困难24. 专心致志

live onat randoma self-dressed stamped envelope

TV talk showon promotion tourhere and therebeat the oddsset one’s mind

Assignment

• At Christmas I get many presents, but one present I especially like to get is a book. I don’t mind what kind of book it is. It can be a novel, a book of poems, or a book of plays; I enjoy them all. I sometimes borrow books from the Public Library. We have a very good one in our town, and the librarian gives me advice about literature and helps me to find books. I also buy books, particularly those that I have read before and have enjoyed. I put them on my shelves so that I can read them time and again. I feel that these books are my friends.

Usage

• -ing: 修饰的名词是动作的执行者• an astonishing fact: a fact that astonishes you• -ed: 修饰的名词是动作的接受者• published work: work that has been published• -ing: 还可作修饰语表示目的或用途• a waiting room: a room for people to wait in• steering device: device for steering

1. Half of the students nearly fell out of their chairs laughing.

2. I was a published and paid writer.3. Suddenly feeling 15 again and hearing echoes o

f laughter.4. Stamped envelope5. Freed from TV, forced to find their own activitie

s, they might take a ride together to watch the sunset.

6. The generation growing up with TV can barely write an English sentence.

Vocabulary Activities

1.• 1)g• 2)c• 3)i• 4)a• 5)j• 6)d• 7)b• 8)e• 9)h• 10)f

2.1)illustration2)is illustrated3) the latter4) enclosed5) qualifications6) echoes7) worldwide

8) laundry9) ancient10) favorites11) package12) minus13) string14) odds

Enriching your word power

3.• 1) set her mind on/ set her mind to• 2) working full-time on• 3) fit in a• 4) to my astonishment• 5) at random• 6) burst into• 7) here and there• 8) graduated from

1.1) self-supporting2) self-employed3) self-respecting4) self-made5) self-reliant6) self-educated

2.

• 1) He travelled worldwide.• 2) The bank has three branches in

Liverpool, and over three hundred countrywide.

• 3) The police made a citywide search for the criminals.

• 4) The figures show unemployment falling nationwide last month.

• 5) The rising number of car crimes is a nationwide problem.

• 1) frightened horse• 2) satisfying Chinese meal• 3) embarrassing moment• 4) writing table/ writing desk• 5) worried look/ worried expression• 6) excited children• 7) walking stick• 8) a very tiring day

Usage

• 1) I do hope your dream to become a writer will come true.

• 2) It does require a great effort of will to give up smoking.

• 3) Do be more careful next time.• 4) Now, then! Do stop that noise!• 5) The young writer did get her novel finished

in three weeks.

Structure

• 1) To her disappointment, her sister had lost the race.

• 2) To his delight, he saw his aunt in good health.

• 3) To his great surprise, he found that someone had broken into his house.

• 4) To our deep regret, we won't be able to attend the dinner party.

1. Jane picked up a magazine from the bookshelf and started reading here and there at random.

2. With this letter I enclose some illustrations for the story.

3. The ancient building was enclosed by a high wall.

4. Dr. Green is busy working on a cure for AIDS, but from next month on he’ll be able to fit in twenty patients or so on Monday morning.

Translation

5. He told a story to illustrate why you should never sign any contract before you have examined its provisions in detail.

6. She was embarrassed when they kept telling her she had a genius for mathematics.

7. God knows when that dumb din of ours is going to graduate from high school.

8. Henry’s latest novel and his daughter’s first book were both published three months ago, and to their astonishment, the latter has already sold over a million copies.

Proverbs & Quotations

• Great hopes make great man.• 伟大的理想造就伟大的人。• God helps those who help themselves.• 天助自助者。• Constant dropping wears the stone.• 滴水穿石。• The secret of success is constancy of

purpose.• 成功的秘绝在于目标坚定有恒