Close Reading English Course (Second Edition)

Author: Shen Li, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2009-01-07
Features: The English Intensive Reading Course (for English majors) is an intensive reading textbook designed for undergraduate English majors, primarily targeting first and second-year students. The series consists of four volumes, each intended for one semester of use, accompanied by a separate answer key for exercises. Based on the needs of Chinese students, we adopt a comprehensive approach, neither outright rejecting traditional English textbooks nor blindly promoting trendy topics. By analyzing the development of English teaching theory and practice, we strive to incorporate various effective teaching theories and methods into the textbook (see "Instructions for Use"). The entire series is organized by themes, with each volume containing five thematic units. Each unit covers a specific theme, and the content spans humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, focusing on topics that are often appealing to young students. Some important themes are repeated across volumes, such as "Science and Technology," which appears twice in the second and fourth volumes, with some science and technology articles also interspersed in other units. Additionally, the series includes four units dedicated to exploring the English language: "The English Language" in the first volume, "English Usage" in the second, "Communication" in the third, and "Reading & Writing" in the fourth. We also incorporate excerpts from modern and contemporary literary works into some units to help students enhance their cultural literacy and aesthetic appreciation. Most of the texts are selected from English publications from the 1980s and 1990s, with some drawn from first-year college composition reading materials. The authors include renowned writers and leaders in various disciplines, and the language style of the texts is generally concise and modern. To align with the difficulty level and overall structure of the textbook, the selections in the first volume have been mostly edited by the compilers, while the degree of editing gradually decreases from the second volume onwards. Each unit consists of three texts centered around the same theme. The different selections share a general perspective while also presenting diverse viewpoints, providing ample space for in-depth thinking and encouraging multi-dimensional dialogue between students and the texts/authors. The genres of texts within each unit are diverse, with both narrative and non-narrative styles often coexisting to train both imaginative and logical thinking while broadening students' horizons.
The exercise section of The English Intensive Reading Course focuses on cultivating students' innovative spirit while also reinforcing basic skill training. The exercises follow a relatively fixed format but offer flexible and engaging activities. Pre-class discussion questions generally correspond to text comprehension and are also linked to certain forum topics, creating a progressive learning experience. The annotations for the texts not only address linguistic phenomena but also cover cultural elements such as names, places, institutions, and customs. However, some contemporary authors' biographical information is difficult to verify from reference materials or the internet, and thus remains unaddressed. The vocabulary and structure sections focus on fundamental concepts and skills, requiring students to master key points from the texts. The forum section is a comprehensive exercise that integrates independent thinking, information gathering and processing, problem-solving, and oral communication skills. Translation exercises expand on the text content, primarily involving translations of authentic passages. Some outstanding sections from the texts are often selected for English-to-Chinese translation practice, while other passages are drawn from famous English works or their Chinese translations. Through these exercises, students can compare their translations with the originals to identify issues in their expression and gradually improve their skills by learning from experts. Writing exercises are organized around the text content, guiding students from paragraph-level skills to full-length compositions.