1. 了解冷战、美国选举制度、圣经体裁等背景知识；

2. 掌握重要词语和句型用法、parallelism, antithesis等修辞方法；

3. 理解课文内容，熟悉文章主题思想和语篇结构；

4. 掌握政治演说的特点，并能使用文体分析方法等对演讲稿进行赏析。

1. 课前收集有关美国选举制度、肯尼迪家族教育信仰功绩等方面的资料，通过查阅工具书和参考书，理解课文中的语词和并熟悉课文主旨内容；通过教师课上讲解和操练，理解课文中的长难句，掌握文章写作技巧和修辞方法，熟悉课文语篇结构；完成教师指定的课后练习和知识拓展练习。

2. 单元重点

掌握parallelism, antithesis, repetition等修辞方法

掌握political speech写作特点

3. 单元难点

通过分析肯尼迪讲演中匠心独具的词汇选用理解其政治意图

1. Background Information

By the end of World War II, the United States had become the strongest country in the world. As the sole possessor of atomic bombs, with over 70 % of the gold reserve of the world in its coffers and over 50 % of industrial production of the world in its hand, the planners of the United States were visualizing a Pax Americana. They wanted a world order dominated by the United States, a world market which was free and open to American goods and services and more and more countries modeling on American institutions and values. In pursuing this goal, the United States encountered stiff and determined resistance from the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union suffered great losses in the war. Over 27 million people were killed in the war and over 31 thousand factories were destroyed.

At such cost, it wanted to keep what it had got in the war, a sphere of influence agreed on by the United States and Britain at Yalta. The Soviet Union would not allow any country to project its influence into the area under its control. Gradually, the United States and the Soviet Union, the two wartime allies, fell apart and the Cold War began to unfold in Europe.

2. Text Analysis

This piece is taken from the book Encyclopedia Americana. Inaugural Address is John F. Kennedy's most famous and eloquent political speech. This address expounds that the United States is prepared to pay any price to defend human rights and the liberty and independence of free nations, to “oppose any foe”, set out to redeem his campaign pledge to get America moving again. His speech is well organized and highly rhetorical, hence it successfully appeals to the emotions of the audience.

3. Structure of the Text

The text is divided into three parts:

The address is well organized, and the order is clear and appropriate.

Part I. (Para 1-5): General introduction or evaluation of the international situation and general statement of basic policy goals

Part II. (Para 6-20): He addresses to different countries and declares his different policies: to old allies, to the new states, and finally to his enemy.

Para III. (Para 21-27): He concluded the address by calling on the Americans and the whole world.

4. Key words and expressions

observe, solemn, mortal, prescribe, at issue, friend and foe, torch, tempered by war, discipline, committed, at odds, split asunder, ranks of free, iron tyranny, bonds, pledge, cast off, instruments of war, renew, invective, engulf, twilight struggle, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, a more fruitful life, ask of subject to, invoke, embattle

5. Analysis of Rhetorical Devices

metaphor; repetition; antithesis; alliteration; synecdoche; parallelism

6. Writing Techniques

1) Language features:

(1) Biblical language to make the speech more formal and rigid:

Let the word go forth from this time and place, … (Para. 3)

…to enlarge the area in which its writ may run. (Para. 10)

…“undo the heavy burdens...let the oppressed go free”. (Para. 18)

…, “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation,” … (Para. 22)

(2) Appropriate use of key abstract words:

…that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of… (Para. 13)

…summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. (Para. 21)

The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring… (Para. 24)

…, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. (Para. 26)

(3) The use of heroic-sounding verbs, which are inspiring and emotional:

Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, … (Para. 17)

Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, …that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? (Para. 23)

2) Structure features:

(1) Rhythmical sentence/para. structure:

Para. 15-18 repeatedly begin with the imperative sentence—“Let both sides …”.

Para. 6-10 repeatedly begin with the prep. “To” phrase—“To those old allies/those new states/those peoples in the huts and villages/our sister republics/that world assembly of sovereign states…”.

(2) Clear and well-organized text structure:

Para.1: Opening remarks

Para 5 & 20: Transitional paragraphs

Para 27: Conclusion

Paraphrase:

1. And yet the same revolutionary belief for which our forebears fought is still at issue around the globe (para 2)

2. This much we pledge--and more. (para 5)

3. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. (para 5)

4. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. (para 9)

5. ... the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace (para 10)

Key:

1. Our ancestors fought a revolutionary war to maintain that all men were created equal and God had given them certain unalienable rights which no state or ruler could take away from them. But today this issue has not yet been decided in many countries around the world.

2. This much we promise to do and we promise to do more.

3. United and working together we can accomplish a lot of things in a great number of joint undertakings.

4. We will not allow any enemy country to subvert this peaceful revolution which brings hope of progress to all our countries.

5. The United Nations is our last and best hope of survival in an age where the instruments of war have far surpassed the instruments of peace.

教学模拟：竞选学生会主席的演讲

要求：使用PPT辅助陈述，时间不少于5分钟；就陈述内容设定2~3个问题，陈述结束后随机回答学生当场提出的问题。

Written work:

1. Write a convincing and logical argumentation and persuasion paper to defend Death Penalty should be cancelled in China

2. Write a short article with the logical method of induction and deduction.

Key:

1. Most other industrialized countries do not have a death penalty. Countries with a death penalty include many totalitarian nations and less industrially developed nations. Should China model itself after countries that have a death penalty?

Putting people to death for capital crimes is not the way civilized people should deal with wrongdoers.

If an innocent person is sent to prison, you can get that person out if you later find evidence of that person’s innocence. What happens if, after someone is executed for murder, you find evidence of that people's innocence?

2. Tommy came home on time on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Therefore, Tommy always comes on time unless he's had an accident. Tommy is late today. Something terrible has happened to Tommy.

Analysis of the writing skills in the speech on Bush’s Speech of 911 Attacks

Good evening.

Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices. Secretaries, business men and women, military and federal workers. Moms and dads. Friends and neighbors.

Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.

The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet, unyielding anger.

These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong. A great people has been moved to defend a great nation.

Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.

America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.

Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature, and we responded with the best of America, with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.

Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it's prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington, D.C., to help with local rescue efforts.

Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks.

The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington, which had to be evacuated today, are reopening for essential personnel tonight and will be open for business tomorrow.

Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business as well.

The search is under way for those who are behind these evil acts. I've directed the full resources for our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.

I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance.

America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world and we stand together to win the war against terrorism.

Tonight I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me.'

This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time.

None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.

Thank you. Good night and God bless America.'

key:

1.Metaphor

Metaphor belongs to the figure of words’ meaning and makes the political speech more vivid and infective. Bush only used 2 metaphors in his speech which expressed exactly.

Here is one of the metaphors:

America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world．And no one will keep that light from shining．

Bush compared America to the “beacon” which refers to declare the leading place of America in the world. Furthermore, the beacon” and the “light” are the consequence of human beings. “No one will keep that light from shining” shows American confidence, which is the foundation of politics.

Another metaphor is:

Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings，but they cannot touch the foundation of America．These acts shatter steel，but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.

Bush compared the “American resolve” to the steel which hints that American cannot be defeated by the terrorism, cannot submit to humiliation and can face the disaster with higher spirit.

2.Allusion

Allusion also belongs to the figure of words’ meaning and it can show the emotion such as love and hate, appreciation and depreciation more sufficiently and deeply, and make the whole speech persuasive.

Here is an example in Bush’s speech:

And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: " Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death，I fear no evil for you are with me. "

The president Bush quoted the chapter 23 in the Bible and divided it politically. Goodness and evil are equal to the god and the devil. “I” am the god and the terrorism is the devil. Bush hoped the audiences to rebuild their ation to reorganize the order of the world and he decreased the distance between him and the audiences.

3. Parallelism

Parallelism is full of expressive force. And it use three or more than three phrases or sentences which have the similar meaning and structure. In Bush’s speech, he used a large mount of parallelism to increase the momentum and incitation.

Here is an example of parallelism in his speech:

Today，our nation saw evil，the very worst of human nature，and we responded with the best of America，with the daring of our rescue workers，with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could．

Bush used “with” for five times, which indicates that America cannot be defeated by the terrorism. Furthermore, the Americans, the rescuers and all the people who love peace will help America to get through the disaster. And, Bush calls on all the people to revolt the terrorism.

4. Contract

Contract is one kind of the figure of syntax which arranges the contrary words, phrases or sentences together to form a sharp contrast.

Here is an example of contract in the speech:

Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings，but they cannot touch the foundation of America．

These acts shatter steel，but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve．

In these two sentences, Bush contrasted “our biggest buildings” with the firm faith of the Americans and compared the “steel” with “the steel of American resolve”. He also used “but” to draw the audiences’ attention, which shows that although the terrorism can “shatter steel”, it cannot ruin the iron will of Americans. This contract can stimulate the emotion of the audiences and impresses them profoundly.

5. Climax

Climax is another kind of the figure of syntax which can deepen the content and strengthen the emotion gradually. It realizes the spiritual and semantic promotion by the structural changes.

Here is an example of climax in the speech:

Our military is powerful…． Our emergency teams are working in New York City …． Our first priority is to get help to those…． The functions of our government continue without interruption …． Our financial institutions remain strong…．

Bush used “our” for five times, which emphasizes the optimistic attitude to his country and his people and the firm faith to the further. After this disaster, America remains its hope and energy which lead the speech to the climax.

6. Alliteration

Alliteration is one kind of figure of phonology which has the forceful sense of rhythm to draw the attention of the audiences.

Here is an example of alliteration in the speech:

Today，our fellow citizens，our way of life，our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts．

Bush used “deliberate” and ”deadly” to express that the Americans hate the terrorism’s guts. Alliteration appeals to the audiences, stirs up their imagination and arouses their judgment of goodness and evil. At the same time, it impresses the audiences deeply.

Conclusion:

Bush used the figure such as metaphor, contract, and climax properly to highlight his points of view. This speech impels and impresses the audiences deeply with the vivid expression and sonorous words. The figure not only decorates the President Bush’s speech, but also has the semantic function to contain and deliver the connotation. Moreover, analyzing the figure can deepen our cognition of the figure’s semantic function, promote our understanding and appreciation of figure and improve our capacity of use figure to deliver semantics.

1. What is the object of a political speech?

2. What are the two hostile camps?

Key:

1. The object of a political speech is to explain, convince and persuade the people that what he is saying．

2. The socialist camp and the capitalist camp.