U3--教师用书--现代大英(第二版)基础写作(上)

现代大学英语（第二版）基础写作（上）教师用书

Unit 3

Task One: Summary Writing

Activity 1Summarizing a story section by section

Summarize “The Midnight Visitor,” using the above guidelines just given and those stated in the previous units. Here are some questions for you to think about while reading the text.

1.Ausable, an American secret agent. A summary should focus on him because the

story portrays the main character rather than narrates an incident he is involved in.

2.Max, the German spy. He is important and shouldn’t be left out because the

conflict is the struggle between him and Ausable.

3.Fowler, the young American writer. He has no part in the conflict. In the story his

function is to heighten a professional secret agent’s presence of mind against an inexperienced young writer’s fright in a dangerous situation.

Section 1 (Paras. 1 – 4)

Study the three summaries that describe the main character. Explain which of them is the best, and what is wrong with the other two.

Summary 1 is the best of the three. It is objective, complete, and balanced. Second, the length is just right, about one-fourth of the original.

Summary 2 focuses on a minor character although the length is all right.

Summary 3 includes an unimportant detail in the last but one sentence. The second half is a repetition of what is stated in the opening sentence. And an important detail—Fowler’s presence and his impression of Ausable—is left out.

Section 2 (Paras. 5 – 13)

Summarize this section orally, making your summary one-third to one-fourth the length of the original. Before you summarize the passage answer these questions and list the important points you think should be included in the summary.

1.He told Fowler that he would soon witness something exciting—an

important paper was to be delivered to him.

2.It was a German secret agent, Ausable’s old opponent.

3.He had come to get the report that was on its way to Ausable’s place.

4.He remained calm. He behaved as if he had seen an old friend.

5. A balcony outside the window of his room. He said he believed it was where

his enemy had got into the room.

Now list the facts you think should be included in the summary.

1.Ausable told Fowler an important paper would soon be delivered to him.

2.He found in his room a man with a pistol.

3.The man was Max, a German spy, an old opponent.

4.He wanted to get the paper Ausable mentioned.

5.Ausable remained calm.

6.He spoke as if he thought Max had entered his room through a balcony and

talked at length about it.

Work out an outline based on the list.

Thesis: Ausable worked out a plan to deal with his opponent.

Outline:

-Ausable told Fowler an important paper was to be delivered to him soon.

-In his room, Ausable found his old opponent who had come for the same paper.

-He had a plan to deal with the situation and made the man believe there was a balcony outside the window.

Section 3 (Paras. 14-16)

Summarize this passage orally.

Ausable told the young writer that a very important paper was to be delivered to him that night. When they entered his room, Ausable found an old opponent of his threatening them with a pistol. The man had come for the very same paper. Looking angry, Ausable started complaining about a balcony outside the window of his room. He spoke as if he believed that his enemy had got in through the balcony, but the man said he had used a passkey.

Section 4 (Paras. 17-28)

Now list the facts you think should be included in the summary.

-They heard a knock at the door.

-Ausable said that he had sent for the police for protection.

-Max moved to the window, intending to hide on the balcony.

-The doorknob turned and Max dropped to what he thought was the balcony.

- A waiter walked in with the drink Ausable had ordered.

-Ausable told Fowler there was no police and Max would not return.

Work out an outline based on the list.

Thesis: Ausable defeated his opponent. / Ausable’s plan worked.

Outline:

-When someone knocked at the door, Ausable made the man believe it was the police.

-The man moved to the window and was ready to hide on the balcony.

-When the doorknob turned, the man dropped to his death as there was no balcony

Summarize the passage orally.

Then they heard a knock at the door. Ausable said it was the police he had sent for to protect the paper. Max became nervous. He moved to the window, intending to hide on the balcony, and he told Ausable to send the police away. When the doorknob turned, he dropped out of the window. A waiter entered with the drink Ausable had