UNDERSTANDING WESTERN

IDEALS

TABLE OF CONTENTS(click arrow to open)

Unit SummaryLESSON 1 – Distinguishing DifferencesLESSON 2 – Accepting DiversityLESSON 3 – Living For OthersLESSON 4 – Respecting others’ Standpoints

The discovery of Western culture has allowed the Filipino to make necessary adjustments as her or she forges acquaintance and establishes friendships with the Westerner. This experience enables him or her to understand that in respecting others’ beliefs and principles comes the opportunity to live for others.

LESSON 1: Distinguishing Differences(click arrow to open)

The Cask of Amontillado About the Author(Edgar

Allan Poe) Evaluating Advertisement

How to Improve your Bodily Action

Writing Concise Sentence

LESSON 2: Accepting Diversity(Click arrow to open)

Nobody If I can stop One Heart From

Breaking About the Author (Emily

Dickinson) The Rhymes of Poetry Using Parallelism

LESSON 3: LIVING FOR OTHERS(Click arrow to open)

The Gift of Magi About The Author(O. Henry) Tips For Reading Literary Works How to Talk About a Book, a

Play, or a Story

LESSON 4: RESPECTING OTHERS’ STANDPOINT(click arrow to open)

The lady or the Tiger About The Author(Frank R.

Stockton) Dealing With Conflicts Avoiding Unnecessary Shifts

Well-known as the father of horror tales and detective stories, Edgar Allan Poe wrote a body of short stories and poems that have haunted a lot of people ever since.

His real parents died when she was two years old, and he was taken care of by a wealthy tobacco exporter from Richmond, Virginia. This benefactor sent him to the University of Virginia. However, he was forced to leave before the year was over because of his gambling debts. The wealth of the literary text Poe left behind has made him one of the best-known American authors outside the United States. He has been admired for his ability to captured weird and terrifying vision in words.

EDGAR ALLAN POE

Evaluating AdvertisementsHere some persuasive approaches that advertisers usually use.

1. Emotional AppealAlmost all advertisements target the

emotions and the passion of consumers; therefore, they use lines that appeal to the senses.

2. Survey Appeal2. Survey Results

Advertisements like “Nine out of ten housewives use this laundry soap” is very common both in print and broadcast media. However, as consumers we have to bear in mind that the company itself in order to back up the claim about its product, sometimes sponsors the survey.

3. Bandwagon AppealIt encourages the crowd to be one of

those who patronize the product. Advertisers use lines like “Don’t be left out in the dark! Everybody is using Whitening Cream.” it gives consumers the impression that they also have to use it; if not, they will be left out.

4. TestimonialsThis is done by asking famous people to

attest or prove that a certain product is really of good quality or indeed reliable. Yet consumers, let us not discount the fact that these endorsers received payments for these ads; therefore, we are not sure of the worth of the product.

How to Improve Your Bodily Actions

1. Study other peoples’ physical behavior.Observe the part bodily action plays in

the speech that goes on around you – in lectures, movies, TV programs, and your classmates’ talk. Immerse yourself into the role of bodily action in communication. Note how bodily action works for or against people you observe.

2. Get an image of your own physical behavior in speech.

This may not be easy. You can get some visual glimpses from candid camera shots, or, better yet, from the movies. However, it is also important to note that the image we are talking to also include a feeling for what you are doing it. Try to see yourself objectively through their eyes. If possible, talk to yourself before a full-length mirror.

3. Form a clear idea of how to correct your problems.

Once you have pinpointed your problems, let your teacher and classmates help you find ways in improving them. Experiment on the spot with the suggestions that are made and get your classmates reactions to the results. If you do not grasp the suggestion, invite someone else to demonstrate it for you.

4. Work up a specific plan and practice privately.Follow through on helpful suggestion made in class. A posture problem has to be worked at every day, not just when you speak before a group. If you are quite stiff and awkward, use pantomime exercises in which you imagine yourself as a basketball player or a swimmer in pool. You may also read aloud excerpts from dramatic literature that stir up muscular responses in you.

5. Choose subjects of your class speeches that call for physical actions.

Demonstration talks are especially helpful talks in which you show how to build a piece of furniture, assemble an apparatus, or execute dance steps. You may even recall some exciting events you have witnessed; then recreate he event with actions as well as with words. Speeches that you have strong convictions for are very good in order to create actions.

Writing concise sentences1. Redundancy

Redundancy refers to unnecessary repetition.

Examples:red color dirty filthround shape loudly shoutedpoor beggar watery fluid

2. Empty expressions Empty expressions are phrases that add

meaning to as a sentence.Examples:

I believe/think/ feel that

On account of

Due to the fact that

Because of the fact that

It seems as if In my opinion

It is/ was What I want is

The thing is that

What I’m trying to say is that

There is/ are/ was/ were

The reason that

3.Wordiness Wordiness refers to construction or

sentences that use more words than necessary.

Example:

wordy conciseWho is a teacher A teacher

Routine basis routinely

That is beautiful beautiful

Emily DickinsonNOBODY

I'm nobody! Who are you?Are you nobody, too?

Then there's a pair of us -don't tell!They'd banish us, you know.

How dreary to be somebody!How public, like a frog

To tell your name the livelong dayTo an admiring bog!

If I can Stop One Heart From Breaking If I can stop one heart from

breaking,I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robinUnto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain.

Born in Massachusetts, Emily Dickinson published only seven poems during her lifetime. After her death, over 1,700 poems found in her room, along with instruction to burn them.

The Rhymes of Poetry Poetry, like any other forms of

literature, has its elements. One of these elements is rhyme.

Rhyme- refers to the repetition of sounds within different words, end sound, middle or beginning. It is important to note, however, that rhymes do not always occur between two successive lines of verse.

1. CoupletIt is made up of two lines, the end lines of each usually rhyme or have the same sound.

Example: But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,All losses are restored, and sorrows end.

-from “When to the Sessions of Sweet Silent Thought” by William Shakespeare

2. QuatrainIt is made up of four lines. It may use one of these rhymes schemes- abab, cdcd, or efef.

Example:Sunset and evening star, a

And one clear call for me! bAnd may there be no moaning of the bar, a

When I put out to the sea, b

-from “Crossing the Bar”By Lord Tennyson Alfred

3. OctaveIt is made up of eight lines using various rhyme schemes. The most commonly used is ababcdcd.

Example:Oh, to be in England aNow that April’s there, bAnd whoever wakes in England aSees, some morning, unaware, bThat the lowest boughs and the c brushwood sheafRound the elm tree bole are in tiny leaf,dWhile the chaffinch signs on the orchard bough cIn England – now ! d

Using Parallelism

Parallelism is used to express matching ideas. Many parallel structures are linked by correlatives or coordinating conjunctions. However, there are instances when someone constructions do not use either of the two. The symbol // indicates parallel structures.

1. Parallel clauses with coordinating conjunctions or correlatives.

Take it,or // leave it.

I forgive,but // I don’t forget.

2. Parallel clauses without coordinating conjunctions.

I came, I saw, I conquered.

I can live, I can love.

Take note that a comma, separates the two clauses.

3. Parallel words or phrases

To seeis // to believe.

Jane // is intelligentand // patient.

In real life is William Sydney Porter. A school dropout at fifteen, he worked first in a drugstore, then as a teller in a bank. He was imprisoned on charges of embezzlement, but was later on freed because it was proven that he was not a thief but a victim of poor bookkeeping system. While he was in prison, he began writing stories, and when he was finally released, he went to New York City for the New York Times.

Tips for reading literary worksFor Short Stories1.Enumerate the important characters in the

story. What are the problems that these characters encountered ?

2.What important incidents complicate more the conflict of the story?

3.When and Where do the story happen? Do they help in comprehending the story ?

4. What lesson in life does the story convey ?

For Poetry 1. What image does the poem illustrate ?2. Does the poem contain elements like rhyme,

rhythm, meter, and foot ?3. How many lines does each stanza have ?

How many stanzas does the poem have ?4. What lesson in life does the poem convey ?

For Drama1. Identify the characters with dialogues. How

are their personalities revealed?2. When does the story in the play take place ?

What stage direction is applied to enhance them?

3. Identify the important events and details of the scenes of the play? How do they contribute to the play as a whole?

4. What lesson in life does the story convey ?

1.Avoid unnecessary details.In talking about book, a play, or a story, avoid trying to tell so many details. The details interest you because you know the main points to which the details are related. Your friends do not know the main points so they have almost interest in the details. If you try to tell everything, you will succeed in telling nothing.

2. Talk with much brevity.Talking at great length is likely to

bore the person whom you speak. “Brevity is the soul of wit.” the conclusion of many details fails to make any one point stand out clearly, and thus fails to attract and to hold attention. It is good strategy to try to say all that you have to say in a single sentence, or at least in two or three sentences.

3.Emphasize one main point or event.

Instead of trying to emphasize so many points, center attention on one point that is highly important. In speaking about a book, a story, or a play, give strong emphasis to the principal point or event. When you have made that clear, you can, if you wish, add a few supporting details.

Born in Philadelphia, Frank Stockton learned the trade of woodcarving, a skill he later used in his own engravings as illustration for some of his writings. As a writer, he worked for his brother’s newspaper and for several magazines.

Dealing with Conflicts1. Assume a kind of scientific attitude.2. Remain perfectly calm under every

condition.3. Say as little as possible.4. Try to see the angry person’s point of

view.5. Avoid irritating look or action.

Avoiding unnecessary shiftsIn tense:1. The PRESENT TENSE is used to show a

process that is performed regularly.2. The PAST TENSE is used to show a

process that was performed in the past.3. Shift from PRESENT to PAST TENSE ONLY

when you need to indicate a change in time.

In persons:1. The FIRST PERSON or THIRD PERSON

is used for process explanation.2. The SECOND PERSON is used for

instruction.