《新编英语教程》教案-第五册-5.12 Custom
-
A New English Course (5): Lecture Notes
Unit 12: The Science of Custom
Unit Twelve
Text
I: The Science of Custom
I.
Learning objectives
1.
Learn to use definition in exposition
(e.g. anthropology, custom, culture etc).
2.
Know something
about anthropology, especially cultural
determinism and cultural
relativism in
anthropological studies.
II. Warm-up questions
1.
In Para. 1 the
author starts exposition by mentioning some false
ideas that people
have about
“
custom
”
. What
do people usually think about
“
< br>custom
”
?
2.
What
is
the
transitional
expression
to
introduce
the
author
’
s
own
concept
on
“
custom
”
?
3.
What
expository means that the author uses to explain
what he thinks the meaning
of
“
custom
”
?
4.
After a
definition of
“
custom
”
, the author adds,
“
Yet that is a rather
trivial aspect
of the
matter.
”
What does
“
that
”
refer
”
to?
5.
How
would
you
comment
on
the
function
of
the
last
sentence
of
the
final
paragraph? Examine the
statement and decide how many aspects that we
expect
the author would elaborate?
6.
What is the
difference between customs and language?
7.
Sum up the
main ides of this paragraph. How is this paragraph
related to the thesis
statement?
8.
The author
quotes John Dewey, a famous educator and
philosopher, to explain the
predominant
influences customs exert on a person. Find the
analogy and explain it.
Does the
general language pattern affect personal speech
habits or the other way
round?
9.
Sum up the
role of customs discussed in Para. 2.
10.
How does the
author explain the individual behavior it shaped
by customs?
11.
The author says in the topic sentence
that we have to accept certain
“preliminary
propositions
”
.
What are
“preliminary
propositions
”
in
author
’
s mind?
12.
What
criticism is implored in Para. 3?
13.
What is the
normal method when we make research in natural
science? In what
way
does
natural
science differ from
social
science? How has the
study of man
different from the study
of less controversial subjects?
14.
How would you
define
“
anthropology
< br>”
?
15.
What
criterion
must
be
the
anthropologist
accepts
before
he
can
undertake
the
study of man objectively? How to make a
study on custom?
III.
Relevant information
1.
Author: Ruth Benedict (1887-1948)
1
A
New English Course (5): Lecture Notes
Unit 12: The Science of Custom
2.
A
discussion of the notion of culture
3.
Culture relativism
IV. Organization of the
text
Section 1 (Para. 1-2):
Introducing anthropology
Para.
1:Definition
of
anthropology:
Anthropology
is
the
study
of
human
beings
as creatures of society.
Para. 2: The distinguishing mark of
anthropology among the social sciences is
that is includes for serious study
other societies than our own
Section 2 (Para. 3-5):
Importance of studying custom and the proper
approach to
its study
Para.3: Custom plays a predominant role
in our experience and our belief, and it
manifests itself in a great variety of
ways.
Para. 4: The role of custom in
shaping the behavior of the individual: No man
ever looks at the world with pristine
eyes.
Para. 5:
Preliminary propositions to be accepted before the
study of custom can
be profitable: any
scientific study requires
that there be
no preferential
weighting
of
one
or
another
of
the
items
in
the
series
it
selects
for
its
consideration.
Section 3 (para. 6): Emphasis on the
need to avoid biased approach in culture studies.
V. Language points
1.
unique:
adj.
being
the
only
one
of
its
kind;
without
an
equal
or
equivalent;
unparalleled; unusual; extraordinary;
e.g. the unique existing example of
Donne's handwriting
That
building is unique because all the others like it
were destroyed.
2.
aberrant:
adj.
deviating from the proper or expected course;
changed from what
is normal or
expected; unusual;
e.g. a rocket on an
aberrant course
aberrant
behavior under the influence of drugs;
aberration:
n.
[u]
(
lit
) a deviation from the
proper or expected course;
(
fig
) stray away
from the right path; from what is normal;
e.g. stealing chocolate in
a moment of aberration
3.
gamut:
n.
1) a complete range or extent;
2) (
music
) the
entire series of recognized notes;
e.g.
a
face
that
expressed
a
gamut
of
emotions,
from
rage
to
peaceful
contentment
the compete
gamut of the spectrum
4.
pristine:
adj.
1)
remaining in a pure state; uncorrupted by
civilization; primitive;
2