Unit 5 Why Nothing Works
Unit 5 Why Nothing Works
Ⅰ. Learning objectives
1.Learn to use exemplification, illustration and contrast in expository writing.
2.Learn to develop a topic through a causal analysis.
II Teaching time: six class periods
III Teaching Procedure:
Step 1 Warm-up Questions
1.What’s the issue being discussed in the present text? Do you think the issue
relevant to us or not?
2.Have you ever bought something, like a fountain pen, a cassette recorder, or a
watch, which broke down or went out of order shortly after use. Were you frustrated by this, feeling that you’d been cheated? Who did you normally blame for this? What did you think are the causes for such problem?
3.What do people usually think are the factors related to good quality in
products? What do they think are the causes for shoddy goods? How does the author of the present text think differently?
4.Regarding the problem of shoddy goods, what factors are specified by the
author? Which factor does he regard as primary, human or technology? Why?
Do you agree with him?
5.What is the message that the author intends to get across to us? Can you find
the message explicitly stated in text? What do you think is the thesis statement of the text?
6. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the author’s argument?
Step 2 Relevant information
1. The author
Marvin Harris teaches anthropology at the University of Florida. He writes about American life from the point of view of the anthropologist in Cannibals and Kings(1977)and America Now (1981), from which the text is taken.
2. Murphy’s Law
This is a humorous maxim，declaring that in general, if anything can go wrong, it will. The law originated in 1949 with Captain ED Murphy, an aircraft engineer. Referring to a technician, he said, “if there is any way to do it wrong, he will.” The project manager, George E. Nichol s, assigned the name “Murphy’s Law” to that and similar statement.
Additional forms of Murphy’s Law include:
“Nothing is as easy as it looks.”
“Everything takes longer than you think it will.”
“To know yourself is the ultimate aggression.”
(意为:战胜别人容易，而知道自己、认识自己，敢于面对现实，敢于跟自己过不去，才会克服自身的弱点，才是大勇。)
“Friends come and go, but enemies accumulate.”
（“朋友有来有去，仇人则有增无减” ，意即：交友不易，能够持久的朋友更难，但仇人容易累积，易结不易解）
“If you’re feeling good, don’t worry, you’ll soon get over it.”
（“如果你自己觉得很得意，别忙，你的感觉很快就会成为过去。”即应宠辱不惊）
“A short cut is the longest distance between two points.”
（“抄近路是两点之间最长的距离”。看人家喜欢抄近路，走小路，省不少时间，但有时在比较陌生的地方，反而会迷路，绕来绕去走许多冤枉路）
“The other line always move s faster.”
（“排队时另一条永远走得快些。” 去邮局、机场、超市付帐，你挑了最短的一条排，偏偏打头的那位慢条斯理，折腾了半天，毫不动弹。你看准隔壁那条动得快，于是一个箭步移过去，想不到等到你附上队尾，这一条又是寸步难移。）
“All warranties expire up on payment of invoice.”
（等到货品的价钱付清，所有保单的期限也过了）
“You will always find something in the last place you look.
（踏破铁鞋无觅处，得来全不费工夫）”
3. Pomo Indians and their basketry
The Pomo Indians belong to a North American Indian tribe that forms the second largest tribal group in California, U.S.A. The name “Pomo” comes from a suffix that the Pomo people add to many words in their language. The Pomo women’s fine basketry is the artistic triumph of the people. Pomo basketry include small masterpieces as well as large, colorfully decorated containers, and is considered among the world’s finest.
4. The Eskimo skin boat.
In the summer, Eskimos used two kinds of boats for hunting and travel. 1) the kayak was decked over except for a manhole that accommodated one person. Such craft had frames made of pieces of driftwood bound together. The frames were covered with sealskins sewn with waterproof stitching. 2) the umiak was a large, open boat made by covering a driftwood frame with split walrus hides or sealskins.
Step 3 Organization of the text
1 Causal analysis and the use of expository means
The author starts with a reference to Murphy’s Law and then quickly guides his reader towards “the shoddy goods problem”, which he proceeds to define as “a Murphy’s Law effect”.
After stating that al though Murphy’s Law can never be wholly defeated, its effects can usually be postponed, the author makes it clear that the cause of shoddy goods is basically human rather than technological.
Then, in the rest of the article, he looks at what made the artifacts of primitive cultures so reliable in quality, when the technological conditions at the time were so underdeveloped. It is exactly the factor of human commitment, rather than the technological advancement, that guarantees the reliability of products. Unfortunately, such “human input” is usually in short supply in the
present era of mass production in a climate of profit pursuit. And this is the fundamental cause of shoddy products in modern industrialized society.
In order to explain his idea clearly, the author has resorted to some expository means, such as exemplification and contrast.
Exemplification: Using examples such as
1)“the artifacts used by simple pre-industrial societies”to illustrate that
technology is NOT the primary factor in product quality.
2)“the Pomo Indian basket and the Eskimo skin boat”: to illustrate that it is
the intimate, permanent and caring relationship between the producer and the consumer that actually counts in connection with quali ty…
To illustrate his point, the author follows a step-by-step order. (Pomo Indian basket→Eskimo skin boat → spears, bows, arrows, carrying nets, etc.→ pottery-making, canoe-building, etc.)which makes it easier for the reader to follow the author’s flow of thoughts.
Contrast:
Contrasting the material culture with the alienation of modern industrial society.
2 An outline of the structure
Section I （Para 1）: Raising the topic and making thesis statement The author raises the topic of shoddy goods problem by referring to Murphy’s law and the inference from it, thus leading to the argument of whether technology or human imput plays a decisive role in quality control. The author’s assertion is explicitly stated in the last sentence of this paragraph, serving as the thesis statement of the article.
Section II（Para 2—5）
Supporting the thesis statement by exemplification and contrasts 1）Exemplifying with the artifacts made by prehistoric and preindustrial people to refute the notion that “quality is determined by technology.” (para 2)
2）Exemplifying with the Pomo Indian basket and the Eskimo skin boat to assert that it is the intimate, permanent and caring relationship between the
producer and the consumer that guarantees the reliability of a product..
(para 3-4)
3）Contrasting the intimate relationship between the producer and the consumer in the primitive cultures with the alienation that characterized the
producer-consumer relationship at all strata in administration in modern
society, to further support his assertion that “human imput” is most decisive
in quality control mechanisms.
Step 4 Language points
Words and expressions
1.attribute to : being the result of / coming from(cf. attribute as a noun)
E.g. This song is usually attributed to Bach.
Susan attributes her success to hard work.
2.fall apart:
1) break in pieces,;
E.g. The cup just falls apart in my hand
2) to end in failure
E.g. With all these increasing costs, the business could fall apart.
3) to separate a relationship
E.g. Their marriage seems to be falling apart.
We used to be friends, but fell apart about a year ago.
3.savant: a man of learning, especially a person with detailed knowledge in
some specialized field.
4.corollary(formal): an immediate inference from a proved proposition; natural
consequence or result
E.g. the co rollary to sb.’s argument
Neither of them knew about it, and the corollary of that is that someone else revealed the secret.
5.forestall
defeat, prevent by prior measures e.g.
E.g. forestall a competitor/a rival
I had my objections all prepared, but Stephens forestalled me.
He forestalled the anticipated criticism by confusing his faults of his own
accord.
She forestalled my question by bring up the subject herself.
I meant to meet my friend at the station, but he forestalled me by arriving
on an earlier train.
In 1938, Australia decided to stop sending pig-iron to Japan to forestall
the increased unrest at home.
https://www.wendangku.net/doc/1f16528896.html,mitment (to)
a pledge to follow certain beliefs or a certain course of action ; devotion (to
duty etc.)
E.g. I’m overworked at the moment -- I’ve taken on too many commitments.
commit (to) v. :to promise to a certain cause, position, or course of action
E.g. I’m committed to taking part in the meeting.
7.so much the better/worse: that is even better/worse
E.g. The result is not very important to us, but if we do win, so much the
better.
8.gadget: small device
E.g.- The kitchen is fitted with various labor-saving gadgets.
do the trick（colloquial）: accomplish one’s purpose
E.g.I took four sleeping pills but even that wouldn’t do the trick.
I need a piece of paper. This old envelope will do the trick.
9.subject to: be governed by, obliged to obey sth. under the authority of sth.
E.g. We are subject to the law of the land.
10.artifact: a usually small object showing human workmanship that has special
historical interest.
Compare:
artifice [U] skill; 技术[C] skillful way of doing something 策略，手段
11.dispel: drive away
E.g. to dispel doubts/fears/misgiving
to dispel doubts / fears/ misgivings
His calm words dispels our fears.
The wind soon dispels the fog.
12.breed: kind or variety (of animals etc.)with hereditary qualities
E.g. new breed of grain/rice
the new breed of little girls
13.seaworthy：(of a ship) in a fit state for a sea voyage
E.g. make a damaged ship seaworthy again
14.evoke: bring to mind (a feeling, memory, etc.)
E.g. to evoke admiration /surprise/memories
This place evokes memories of my happy childhood.
15.kin: (collectively), family relation.
E.g. near kin 近亲（closely related）
next of kin 最近的亲戚
16.projectile point: the tip of a weapon that is thrust forward ;spear or arrow
head
E.g. a projectile missile /torpedo 飞弹/ 鱼雷
17.fashion: design or make esp. by hand
E.g. to fashion a whistle out of a piece of wood
to fashion some leaves into a hat
to fashion a lump of clay into a bowl
Robinson fashioned a canoe out of a tree trunk .
18.barter: trade by exchanging one commodity for another.
E.g. to barter with sb. for sth. ;
to barter wheat for machinery
to barter away one’s rights/freedom, honor…
19.f all off : to come off by falling.
E.g. My top button has fallen off. (adv.)
A button has fallen off my coat. (prepP
When you are learning to ride a bicycle, you often fall off.
The child has fallen off the bicycle again.
20.the state of the art: the level of development reached at any particular time,
usually as a result of modern methods
E.g. the state of the art of forecasting weather
be beyond the state of the art
23 care about: be interested in sth. ; be worried by; like
E.g. I don’t care bout what you think
Don’t you care about losing your job?
I really care about the students in my class
24. bond: something that joins or unites
E.g. Children often become the bond of affection between husbands and wives.
Common tastes form a bond between the two men.
25. wither away: to cease gradually to exist or be worthwhile
E.g. Older people are complaining that the traditional values are withering away
in this free society.
26. alienation: a withdrawing or separation of a person from an object or position
of former attachment; a feeling of not belonging to or being part of one’s surroundings.
. E.g. His criminal activities led to complete alienation from his family.
alienate v. cause sb. to become unfriendly or indifferent; estrange
E.g. The Prime Minister’s policy alienated many of her followers.
Phrases:
I a discussion on the obligations of the media
L1 a public symposium on the role of…
L2 a distinguished TV anchorman
L3 a news man to the core (note 1)
L6 meet those obligations
L16 operate on the philosophy that…
L17 downside news
L20 this is where the problem begins
L23 holds 250 people hostage
L24 a 25 percent increase in petroleum…
L24 devalues by another 10 percent
L25 cement mixer
L30 it comes in bits and pieces
L33 are underinformed about…
L34 in themselves/essence
L37 meet serious challenges
L38 antidote to the disasters
L41 searc h out…
L42 the world is a splendid combination of heaven and hell
L43 call for attention and scrutiny
L45 the time has come to consider
L49 pursuit this prospect in the hope of…
L56 the only picture we have of ourselves and of the world
L61 once and for all
L66 dwarfs seated on the shoulders of giants
Difficult sentences (paraphrase)
1. “much of human existence consists of efforts aimed at making sure that things don’t go wrong, …manufacture”
People spend much of their lifetime trying hard to keep things in good shape. They think a product, after leaving its factory, should last at least for a reasonably long period before ceasing to work.
2.“but gadgets and sampling alone will never do the trick since these items are also subject to Murphy’s Law. ”
Q uality control instruments and testing devices are also governed by Murphy’s Law, so they may break down and are therefore not altogether reliable.
3.“ a single visit to a museum which displays artifacts…….. dispel the notion that quality is dependent o n technology”
Look at the artifacts of the pre-industrial era exhibited in a museum and you will see that technology is not the factor that decides the quality of these items.
4.“in unskilled or uncaring hands a handmade basket or boat can fall apart as quickly baskets or boats made by machines.”
If a handmade basket or boat is made by an inexperienced or irresponsible worker, it may break down as easily as machine-made ones.
5.“ I rather think the reason we honor…between producer and consumer”
My opinion is that it is the social relationship between producer and consumer rather than the technological relationship between producer and product that makes “handmade “ items so highly regarded.
Step 5 Practice
Translate the following sentences into English
1 无法回避的严酷现实浇灭了他们对美好未来的浪漫憧憬。
2 由于不可预料的天气，我们的运动会将延期到下周举行。
3 凡是来参加展览会的人，不论是谁都必须出示身份证。
4 旧城中心的改造计划要得到政府的批准。
5 一次又一次的挫折和失败没有使他的希望破灭。
6 电子邮件传递信息又快又便利，已经在相当大的程度上代替了传统的邮递。
7 看到长城使他产生一种惊讶的感觉。
8 质量控制工具的保养会很昂贵的。
Step 6 Homework
Class discussion
1.Do you think M urphy’s Law has a role to play in present-day China? Give
examples to support your point.
2.Do you think that the market everywhere in China is rife with fake or shoddy
goods? How would you account for this sad reality? What suggestions can you make to address this problem?
Write an essay on one of the following topics, using causal analysis and examples to develop your thesis.
1.Cheating in exams
2.Discipline in study habits.