English Novels

40CQ201

Textbook:

Famous Short Short-Stories

ISBN 978-957-445-175-3

"It is no use saying, 'We are doing our best.' You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.“

W. Churchill

"A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.“"A book holds a house of gold.“

"If you do not study hard when young you'll end up bewailing your failures as you grow up."

Chinese proverbs

"To climb steep hills requires slow pace at first.“W. Shakespeare

OBJECTIVES

To bring the best of the English stories to the language learners

To help students to see reading as an interesting activity

To improve reading and comprehension skills

To learn summarizing and reviewing, the plot of the story, useful vocabulary to describe a story

Learning ActivitiesPreview a short-story Prepare a biography of the author Find the main idea of the short-storyRetell the storyDo character drawing

If possible: describe weather conditions, settings, and people’s appearance

Write a summary review

Preview a short-story at home Learn a biography of the author

Find the main idea of the short-storyRetell the story

Do character drawing

If possible: describe weather conditions, settings, and people appearance

Write a summary review

Home work

Teacher’s explanations Pair-or group-work in class

Pair- or group-work in class

Pair- or group-work in class

Pair-or group-work

Course Methods

Instructions for a group-work

1. Prepare the author’s bio in written form 2. Write a summary of the short story

Both are home- and classroom activities Hand-in both papers to the teacher

Classroom activities: Do discussions with your classmates

and the teacher

Requirements and Grading

For Midterm and Final Tests the following is adjusted:

Attendance (presence in class) – 25%Participation (classroom activity, homework) – 25%Midterm test – 20%Final test – 30%

Lesson plan in weeks

1. Preview of the course2. Washington Irving. The Wife (p.13)3. Edgar Poe. The Oval Portrait (p.33)4. Charles Dickens. The Pair of Gloves (p.39)5. Herman Melville. The Fiddler (p.47)6. Mark Twain. The Five Boons of Life (p.59)7. Mark Twain. A Fable (p.63)8. Midterm.

Lesson plan (continued)

1. Lafricadio Hearn. The Boy Who Drew Cats (p.91)2. Oscar Wilde. The Selfish Giant (p.103)3. Oscar Wilde. The Happy Prince (p.111)4. O. Henry. After Twenty Years (p.127)5. O. Henry. The Romance of a Busy Broker (p.133)6. O. Henry. October and June (p.141)7. Jack London. The Leopard Man’s Story (p.157)8. James Joyce. Eveline (p.163)9. Final Test.

Introduction of the StoryActivities:1. Introduce the authorauthor of a short-story2.2. RetellRetell the story3. Define the main idea main idea of the story4. Do character drawing character drawing of the main heroes

If possible: describe weather conditionssettings and people’s appearance

1. The Author’s Biography

1. Who is the author of the story?2. When did the writer live?3. How did he become a writer?4. Give a short characteristics of his literary creative

activity.

(see sample descriptions in Chinese, pp. 198 – 219)

1. The Author’s Biography:Useful Vocabulary

I have read the story entitled …The title of the story is …The author of the story is …He was born in …He lived in …He was a famous American humorist (playwright, etc.)

1. The Author’s Bio:Sample Description. Mark TwainSamuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known as

Mark Twain, was a famous and popular American humorist, novelist, writer and lecturer. At his peak, he was probably the most popular American celebrity of his time. William Faulkner wrote that Twain was “the first truly American writer, and all of us since are his heirs”.In his life he worked as a steamboat pilot, a secretary to the governor of Nevada, a miner, a journalist in the newspaper in Virginia City, - he reported about his journey there. In 1865, Twain had his first literary success. He published his story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," that was reprinted nationwide, and called by Atlantic Monthly editor James Russell Lowell "the finest piece of humorous literature yet produced in America." After his success he started his lectures and soon Mark Twain was traveling up and down the state, lecturing and entertaining to packed houses. His first book The Innocents Abroad put its author in a spotlight he never willingly relinquished for the rest of his life.

Author’s Bio:Advanced

Later he wrote as an avid critic of American society. He wrote about politics with his Life on the Mississippi. Twain's greatest contribution to American literature is generally considered to be the novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. As Ernest Hemingway himself said: "All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn. ...all American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since." Also popular are The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Prince and the Pauper, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and the non-fictional Life on the Mississippi. Twain began as a writer of light humorous verse; he ended as a grim, almost profane chronicler of the vanities, hypocrisies and acts of killing committed by mankind. At mid-career, with Huckleberry Finn, he combined rich humor, sturdy narrative and social criticism in a way almost unrivaled in world literature. Twain was a master at rendering colloquial speech, and helped to create and popularize a distinctive American literature, built on American themes and language.

2. Retelling of the StoryWhat is this story about?How is the story introduced?What happened in the story? What is the moment of highest interest? What is Conclusion of the story?

2. IntroductionUseful Vocabulary

The story begins with…It rises up a question…The author intends to discuss the questions (problems)…The author wonders…The author is curious about…The story has a very unexpected ending.The story ends unexpectedly.

2. Conclusion

Does the author give any recommendations?What does the author propose?What are the main arguments?What comes in the conclusion?

2. Conclusion:Useful VocabularyIn conclusion it can be said that…It is an outstanding piece of writing…Valuable as it is, it is of even greater value to…The most valuable aspect of the story is…It is highly recommended…It’s an outstanding achievement…It is difficult to overestimate this text…It is to be warmly welcomed…In spite of minor faults, it should be recommended for readingAn invaluable aspect of the story is…Incidental mistakes in no way prevent…

3. The Main Idea of the Story

Here you have to answer questions like that:

1. Why has the author written his story? 2. What does he want to say? 3. What message does he want to deliver?4. What are his intensions?5. What does the author think about the reason of…?6. Does the author see any way of solving the problem?7. What does the author recommend to do?

3. The Main Idea of the Story: Useful Vocabulary The story deals with …The story reveals…The story rises up a question …The story is devoted to the problem …The author a) …surveys, covers, discusses, presents, views, revises,

emphasize, clarifies, suggests, comprises, wonders, handles, mentions, argues, summarizes, etc.

b) …is interested in, undertakes some steps, undertakes attempts, does not underestimate, pays attention to, gives ideas, illustrates with examples

According to the author of the story…

4. Character drawing

Who are the main characters of the story? Describe them:1)Appearance 2)Age3)Positive Characteristic features4)Negative Characteristic features

For the useful vocabulary see handouts

Written papers:Group workSummarize your point of view on each short story following

the scheme of analyses:1. The story under review is entitled2. The author of the story is 3. The main idea of the story is4. The main characters are5. The action takes place in6. The summary of the story is as follows:

Don’t forget to write your English namesstudents numbers and the date

Washington Irving. The Wife pp.13 - 24

1. Introduce the author of a short-story (p.199)2. Define the main idea of the story3. Retell the story4. Do character drawing of the main heroes If possible: describe weather conditions and settings

Home Work: Read the following short story:Edgar Poe. The Oval Portrait (pp. 33 – 38)

Edgar Poe. The Oval Portrait pp. 33 - 38

1. Introduce the author of a short-story (p.201)2. Retell the story.3. What is the main idea of the story?4. Do character drawing of the main heroes. If possible: describe weather conditions and settings.

Home Work: Read the following short story:Charles Dickens. The Pair of Gloves (pp. 39 – 46)

Charles Dickens. The Pair of Gloves pp. 39 - 46

1. Introduce the author of a short-story (p. 202)2. Retell the story.3. What is the main idea of the story?4. Do character drawing of the main heroes. If possible: describe weather conditions and settings.

Home Work: Read the following short story:Herman Melville. The Fiddler (pp. 47 – 58)

Herman Melville. The Fiddler pp. 47 - 58

1. Introduce the author of a short-story (p.203)2. Retell the story.3. What is the main idea of the story?4. Do character drawing of the main heroes. If possible: describe weather conditions and settings.

Home Work: Read the following short story:Mark Twain. The Five Boons of Life (pp. 59 – 62)

Mark Twain. The Five Boons of Life pp. 59 - 62

1. Introduce the author of a short-story (p.204)2. Retell the story.3. What is the main idea of the story?4. Do character drawing of the main heroes. If possible: describe weather conditions and settings.

Home Work: Read the following short story:Mark Twain. A Fable (pp. 63 – 66)

Mark Twain. A Fable pp. 63 - 66

1. Introduce the author of a short-story (p.204)2. Retell the story.3. What is the main idea of the story?4. Do character drawing of the main heroes. If possible: describe weather conditions and settings.

Home Work: Get ready for Midterm exam 2 semester begins with the story

Lafricadio Hearn. The Boy Who Drew Cats (pp. 91 – 96)

MidtermMake a presentation of one of the short stories from the

book “Famous Short Short Stories”(except the ones from the lists on slides 6 – 7)

In your presentation pay attention to the following:1. Introduce the author of a short-story2. Read bits of the story3. Define the main idea of the story4. How does the author use the language?5. Retell the story6. Do character drawingIf possible: describe weather conditions and settings

Lafricadio Hearn. The Boy Who Drew Cats pp. 91 - 96

1. Introduce the author of a short-story (p.208)2. Retell the story.3. What is the main idea of the story?4. Do character drawing of the main heroes. If possible: describe weather conditions and settings.

Home Work: Read the following short story:Oscar Wilde. The Selfish Giant (pp. 103 – 110)

Oscar Wilde. The Selfish Giant pp. 103 - 110

1. Introduce the author of a short-story (p.210)2. Retell the story.3. What is the main idea of the story?4. Do character drawing of the main heroes. If possible: describe weather conditions and settings.

Home Work: Read the following short story:Oscar Wilde. The Happy Prince (pp. 111 – 126)

Oscar Wilde. The Happy Prince pp. 111 – 126

1. Introduce the author of a short-story (p.210)2. Retell the story.3. What is the main idea of the story?4. Do character drawing of the main heroes. If possible: describe weather conditions and settings.

Home Work: Read the following short story: O. Henry. After Twenty Years (pp. 127 – 132)

O. Henry. After Twenty Years pp. 127 – 132

1. Introduce the author of a short-story (p.211)2. Retell the story.3. What is the main idea of the story?4. Do character drawing of the main heroes. If possible: describe weather conditions and settings.

Home Work: Read the following short story: O. Henry. The Romance of a Busy Broker (pp. 133 – 140)

O. Henry. The Romance of a Busy Broker pp. 133 – 140

1. Introduce the author of a short-story (p.211)2. Retell the story.3. What is the main idea of the story?4. Do character drawing of the main heroes. If possible: describe weather conditions and settings. gs

Home Work: Read the following short story:O. Henry. October and June (pp. 141 – 144)

O. Henry. October and June pp. 141 – 144

1. Introduce the author of a short-story (p.211)2. Retell the story.3. What is the main idea of the story?4. Do character drawing of the main heroes. If possible: describe weather conditions and settings.

Home Work: Read the following short story: Jack London. The Leopard Man’s Story (pp. 157 – 162)

Jack London. The Leopard Man’s Story pp. 157 – 162

1. Introduce the author of a short-story (p.214)2. Retell the story.3. What is the main idea of the story?4. Do character drawing of the main heroes. If possible: describe weather conditions and settings.

Home Work: Read the following short story: James Joyce. Eveline (pp. 163 – 170)

James Joyce. Eveline pp. 163 – 170

1. Introduce the author of a short-story (p.215)2. Retell the story.3. What is the main idea of the story?4. Do character drawing of the main heroes. If possible: describe weather conditions and settings.

Home Work: Get ready for the Final test

Final Exam

Make a presentation of one of the stories of English or American writers.

In your presentation pay attention to the following:1. Introduce the author of a short-story2. Read bits of the story3. Define the main idea of the story4. How does the author use the language?5. Retell the story6. Do character drawingIf possible: describe weather conditions and settings