Writing An Academic Cornerstone Writing An Academic Cornerstone

Writing: An Academic Cornerstone

Writing: An Academic Cornerstone • Text Learning • After. Reading Exercises

Writing: An Academic Cornerstone 1 To Dr. Sommers, head of the Expository Writing Program at Harvard University, and to many of the students, writing is the academic cornerstone of college. All Harvard freshmen take a semester of expository writing, a seminar emphasizing close reading, revision, and research, laying the foundation for future Harvard courses. 2 In addition to its central academic role, Sommers says that writing provides a vital means of support, helping students see that they are active participants, that they can do the work. T

Writing: An Academic Cornerstone 3 Sommers came to Harvard in 1987 as associate director of the Expository Writing Program. In 1993, she became director, pushing Americas oldest college writing program into its third century. 4 Freshmen choose from dozens of classes with titles like The Culture of Consumption, Mapping the Mind, and Love in the Western World, which are designed to give them an intellectual occasion for writing. T

Writing: An Academic Cornerstone 5 Sommers seized her own occasion in 1996, when she got a grant to study undergraduate writing. She received additional support from the Harvard presidents office, and, in the fall of 1997, invited all freshmen to participate in a Web-based survey. Sommers hoped for a 10 percent response rate, and was astonished when one quarter of the class --- 422 students --- logged on to share their writing expectations. T

Writing: An Academic Cornerstone 6 For the next four years, her team of researchers focused on 65 students, meeting with them each semester and analyzing every paper they wrote. Last June, that group graduated from college and left Sommers with over 500 pounds of essays, poetry and prose. 7 Sommers launched her study wondering what role writing plays in undergraduate education, but quickly realized that the role changes yearly, as students undertake increasingly intensive writing projects. T

Writing: An Academic Cornerstone 8 Freshman writing is often characterized by generalizations and either/or thinking, Sommers says, but by the senior year, there is a complicated, complex argument sustained throughout. Students first learn to imitate what they learn, and then they go beyond imitation, beyond the questions of the course, to ask questions of their own. 9 In Sommer’s experience, those questions can launch an astonishing process of self-discovery, as students pursue research of their own choosing and undertake assignments that help to shape their passions and show them what they’re interested in. T

academic adj. connected with education, esp. at college or university level 学术的 e. g. She loved the university because of its academic atmosphere. 她喜欢这所大学是因为该校的学术氛围。 Exercise 学术性书籍放在书架的顶端。 The academic books are put on the top of the bookshelf. n. e. g. academy 研究院；学会；专科学院 the Academy of Arts the Academy of Music 艺术学会 音乐学院 Text

cornerstone [C] 1) a stone set at one of the bottom corners of building, often put in place at a special ceremony 基石；奠基石 2) sth. that is extremely important because everything else depends on it 基础；根本 e. g. Trust and commitment are the cornerstones of any marriage. 信任和忠诚是所有婚姻的基础。 Exercise 写作是大学学习的基石。 Writing is the academic cornerstone of college. Text

seminar n. a class at a university or college for a small group of students and a teacher to study or discuss a particular subject 〔一小组学生就 专题进行研究或讨论的〕讨论课，研讨会 e. g. Publishers and writers from 13 countries attended the seminar. 来自十三个国家的出版商和作家参与了研讨。 Exercise 这是有关莎士比亚的研讨会。 This is a Shakespeare seminar. Text

emphasize vt. to say something in a strong way 强调，着重 e. g. This point was emphasized in the minister’s speech. 这点在部长的讲话里得到了强调。 Exercise 本次会议一开始就强调了安全的重要性。 The significance of safety was emphasized at the beginning of the meeting. e. g. n. emphasis 重要性，重点 Today we will put our emphasis on reading. 今天我们将把重点放在阅读上。 Text

revision n. 1)[C, U] the process of changing sth, especially a piece of writing, in order to improve it by correcting it or including new information or ideas 修改，修订，校订 2) [U]Br. E the work of studying lessons, notes etc again in order to learn them 〔英〕复习，温习 e. g. It is said that the revision of the book has been carried out. 据说该书的修订 作已经开始。 Exercise 考试前我都会好好地复习。 I always do some careful revision before the exams. Text

revision v. e. g. revise 修改，修订，校订；复习，温习 She’ll have to revise her points before the exam. 她得在考试前复习有关内容。 Text

lay the foundation for to provide the conditions that will make it possible for sth. to be successful 为……打下基础 e. g. A lot of reading laid the foundation for his research. 大量的阅读为他的研究 作奠定了基础。 Exercise 战后良好的规划给这个国家的经济奇迹奠定了基础。 Good planning after the war laid the foundations for the nation’s economic miracle. Text

in addition to besides, furthermore e. g. 除此之外，还有 He has a big house in the city in addition to a villa in the countryside. 他除了在乡下有一幢别墅外，在城里还有一所大房子。 Exercise 今天的课程除英语外还有数学和语文。 Today’s classes include maths, Chinese in addition to English. v. add 增加 adj. additional 增加的，额外的 Text

…helping students “see that they are active participants, that they can do the work. ”… 帮助学生“认识到他们是积极的参与者，而且他 们有能力从事他们所做的事情。” Text

vital adj. 1) extremely important and necessary for sth. to succeed or exist 极其重要的，必不可少的 2) full of energy in a way that is exciting and attractive有生命力的；充满活力的，生机勃勃的 e. g. Such measures are vital to national security. 这些措施对国家安全至关重要。 Exercise 那位女演员在剧中扮演的角色很重要。 The actress played a vital role in the play. e. g. n. vitality 重要性； 生命力；活力 The process of restructuring has injected some much needed vitality into the company. 重组为公司注入了一些急需的活力。 Text

participant n. [C] someone who is taking part in an activity or event 参与者，参加者〔+ in〕 e. g. Would the participants in the next race come forward? 下个项目的参赛者请到前面来好吗？ Exercise e. g. 有多少人参加英语演讲比赛？ How many participants are there in the English speech contest? v. participate[+ in] 参加，参与 Do you want to participate in the English speech contest? 你想参加英语演讲比赛吗？ Text n. participation 参加，参与

associate adj. someone who has some of the same rights or responsibilities as a member etc. 准（会员），副 （主任）等 v. 〔+with〕 to make a connection in your mind between one thing or person and another 把某人或某事与…… 联系起来 e. g. I’ve never associated you with this place. 我从未把你和这个地方联系起来。 Exercise n. 我总是把新年和绚丽的烟花联系在一起。 I always associate the new year with the marvelous fireworks. association 协会，社团；联系；联想 Text

dozens of [informal] a lot of [非正式] 许多 e. g. I’ve met him dozens of times. 我已遇见过他许多次。 Exercise 那片海滩我已去过很多次。 I’ve been on the beach for dozens of times. dozens and dozens of 很多很多 Text

consumption n. 1) the amount of energy, oil, electricity, etc. that is used [油、电]的耗量 2) the act of eating or drinking 吃；喝 e. g. The consumption of the oil has been rising in recent years. 近年来燃油的消耗在一直上涨。 Exercise 在校园里禁止饮酒。 The consumption of alcohol is forbidden on the campus. e. g. v. consume 消耗，消费 ；吃，喝 He can consume a lot of food. 他能吃掉很多食物。 Text

intellectual a. • relating to the ability to understand things and think intelligently 智力的；需用脑力的 • an intellectual person is well-educated and interested in serious ideas and subjects such as science, literature, etc. 有知识的， 受过 良好教育的 e. g. This is an intellectual novel. 这是一部寓意深刻的小说。 Exercise 该片中的女主角是受过良好教育的。 The heroine in this film is intellectual. n. e. g. intellect 智力；理解力；思维能力；才智出众者 a woman of superior intellect 聪颖过人的女子 Text

…which are designed to give them “an intellectual occasion” for writing. （这些课程）为学生提供了一个需要动脑筋的 写作机会。 Text

under[前缀]未；在下面；往下面；低于，少于 e. g. undergraduate 未取得学位的大学生 underage未成年的 underdeveloped 欠发达的 underground 在地下（的） underestimate 低估，看轻 Text

participate v. [+ in] take part in e. g. 参与，参加 Would you like to participate in the competition? 你想参加比赛吗？ Exercise 我已经参加了由学生会组织的许多次活动。 I have participated dozens of activities organized by the student union. n. participation 参加，参与 participant 参加人，参与人 Text

survey n. 1) a set of questions that you ask a large number of people in order to find out about their opinions or behavior 调查 2) an examination of an area of land in order to make a map of it 测量，勘测 v. 1)to ask a large number of people questions in order to find out their attitudes or opinions 调查 2)to look at or consider someone or something carefully, esp. in order to form an opinion about them 审视；仔细考虑 3)to examine and measure an area of land record the details on a map 测量，勘测 Text

survey e. g. The latest survey shows that violence on television can have a negative effect on children. 最新调查显示电视暴力会对孩子产生负面影响。 Exercise 在被调查的人中有几乎60％的人支持总统的行动。 Almost 60% of those surveyed said they supported the President’s action. Text

astonish v. to surprise someone very much 震惊，大吃一惊 e. g. Her reply astonished me. 她的回答令我大吃一惊。 Exercise 最令我吃惊的是他的毫不畏惧。 What astonished me most is his complete lack of fear. n. astonishment 令人吃惊；震惊 adj. astonishing 令人吃惊的 astonished 受到震惊的，大吃一惊 的 Text

log on/in phrasal v. to do the necessary actions on a computer system that will allow you to begin using it 进入计算机系统 log off/out to do the actions that are necessary when you finish using a computer system 退出计算机系统 Text

expectation n. [C, U] 1)the belief that something will happen because it is likely or planned 预期，预料 2)[usu. plural] a belief that something good will happen in the future 期待，期望 e. g. He arrived at the station in time as expected. 不出所料他及时赶到了车站。 Exercise e. g. 这部电影没有我们想象得好。 The film just didn’t come up to our expectations. v. expect 期望；预期 The farmers are expecting a good harvest this year. 农民们指望今年有个好收成。 Text

Sommers… was astonished when one quarter of the class— 422 students—logged on to share their writing expectations. 这一届学生的四分之一，即 422名学生，上线注册 以分享他们的写作愿望，这使萨默斯感到惊讶。 这里的class指一届学生而不是一个班级。 Text

focus on phrasal v. to pay special attention to a particular person or thing instead of others （使）特别注意，集中注意力于…… e. g. Modern medicine has tended to focus too much on developing highly complicated surgical techniques. 现代医学常趋向于过分注意发展高度复杂的外科 技术。 Exercise 目前公众关注的焦点是最近一连串的爆炸案。 The public has focused its attention on a series of recent bombings at present. Text

analyze v. to examine or think about something carefully, in order to understand it 分析 e. g. The cell samples are analyzed by a lab. 在实验室里对细胞取样进行分析。 Exercise n. e. g. 计算机对卫星发回的照片进行分析。 A computer analyzes the photographs sent by the satellite. analysis 分析 a detailed analysis of the week’s news 一周新闻的详细分析 adj. analytic 分析的 e. g. an analytic approach 分析法 Text

launch v. 1) to start something, usually something big or important 开办，发动 2) to send a weapon or spacecraft into the sky or into space 发射 3) to make a new product , book, etc. 推出（新产品等） 4) to put a boat or ship into the water 使（船或舰） 下水 n. when a new product, book , etc. is made available or made known Text

launch e. g. The Canadian police plan to launch an investigation into the deal. 加拿大警察打算调查这个交易。 Exercise 公司希望十月前出产新药品。 The company hopes to launch the new drug by next October. Text

undertake v. 1)to accept that you are responsible for a piece of work, and start to do it 2)to promise or agree to do something e. g. Dr. Johnson undertook the task of writing a new English dictionary. 约翰逊博士承担新词典的编纂 作。 Exercise 他许诺六个月内会还钱。 He undertook to pay the money back in six months. undertook undertaken Text

intensive adj. 1) involving a lot of activity, effort, or careful attention in a short period of time 集中的，加强 的 2) involving or needing a lot of energy, knowledge 密集的 e. g. There is a one-week intensive course in English. 有一周的英语强化课。 Exercise What the nation needs is a knowledgeintensive industry. 该国需要的是知识密集型的产业。 〔反〕 extensive Text

Sommers launched her study wondering what role writing plays in undergraduate education, … 萨默斯在研究开始时想要了解写作在本科教育 中所起的作用。 Text

characterize v. 1) to describe the qualities of someone or something in a particular way 描写，述说 2) to be typical of a person, place, or thing 以……为特征 e. g. The group was characterized as being well-educated and liberal. 该小组的特色是受过良好教育和崇尚自由。 Exercise 他的画以颜色鲜艳为特征。 Bright colors characterize his paintings. n. character 品质；气质，个性，性格；特征 Text

generalization 1) [C] a general statement or opinion that is only partly true because it is based on only a few cases or incomplete knowledge 〔依据 不足〕概括，归纳，泛论 2) [U] the act of making generalizations 归纳， 概括；普遍化 e. g. You have to make a generalization about this issue. 你得就这个问题作一个概括。 Exercise 给这类事情作归纳不容易。 Making a generalization about this problem is not easy. v. generalize Text

argument n. 1)a situation in which two or more people disagree, often angrily 争论，争辩，争吵 2)a set of reasons that show that something is true or untrue, right or wrong, etc. 论据 e. g. I broke the vase during an argument with my husband. 在和我丈夫争吵时，我把花瓶打碎了。 Exercise 关于为什么该体制应该变化的问题我们需 要提供可信的论据。 We need to provide a convincing argument as to why the system should be changed. Text

argument v. e. g. argue 争辩，争论，辩论 argue (with, about/ over) 就……争论 She is always ready to argue over the smallest issues. 她总是为极小的问题进行争论。 He often argues philosophy with James. 他经常和詹姆斯讨论哲学。 argue for 赞成 argue against 反对 He argued for immediate action. 他主张立即行动。 They argued against such a policy. 他们反对这种政策。 Text

argument argue into(out of)doing sth. 说服某人做（不做）某事 e. g. I argue him out of going on such a dangerous journey. 我说服他不做这样危险的旅行。 He argued that man was descended from apes. 他论证人类的祖先是猿。 Text

sustain 1)to make something continue to exist or happen for a period of time 保持，维持；使……持 续 2)to make it possible for someone to stay strong or hopeful 使……保持强壮（信心） e. g. She found it difficult to sustain the children’s interest. 她发现很难保持孩子们的兴趣。 Exercise 丰富的早餐会使你整个上午都精力充沛。 A good breakfast will sustain you all morning. Text

pursue v. • to continue doing an activity or trying to achieve something over a long period of time 追求，继续进行 • to chase or follow someone or something, in order to catch them, attack them, etc 紧随 ……之后；追捕，追击 e. g. Kristin pursued her acting career with great determination. 克莉丝汀意志坚定地追求她的演艺事业。 Exercise 布里格斯跑过田野，一名警官在后面紧追。 Briggs ran across the field with one officer pursuing him. Text

After-reading Exercises Translation 给……打基础 lay the foundation for 摆饭桌 lay the table 除……以外 in addition to 另外 in addition 积极的参与者 active participants 常规参与者 regular participants

After-reading Exercises Translation 一种重要的方式 a vital means 一个重要的器官 a vital organ 几十门课程 dozens of classes/courses 几十个鸡蛋 dozens of eggs 西方世界 the Western world 东方世界 the Eastern world

After-reading Exercises Translation 抓住一个机会 seize an occasion/opportunity 抓住要点 seize the key point 得到额外的帮助 receive additional support 交附加税 pay an additional tax 参加一个调查 participate in a survey 参加讨论 participate in a discussion

After-reading Exercises Translation 十分之一的回答率 a ten percent response rate 十分之一的正确率 a ten percent correct rate 登录 log on 退出登录 log off 交流他们对写作的期望 share their writing expectations 交流他们的驾驶经验 share their driving experience

After-reading Exercises Translation 开始她的研究 launch her study 开始他们的项目 launch their project 在…方面起作用 play a role in 扮演哈姆雷特 play Hamlet 到了四年级 by the senior year 到了第四年 by the fourth year

After-reading Exercises Translation 复杂的论述 a complex argument 复杂的过程 a complex process 模仿所学到的东西 imitate what they learn 记录下所听到的东西 write down what they hear 一个自我发现的过程 a process of self-discovery 生长过程 a process of growth