After Reading >> Discussion and Debate

One of the most popular topics many people talk about is whether city life is better than suburban life. Some people think city life is better than suburban life while others just have the opposite opinion. Now let us discuss this topic in small groups.

Each group will be given some of the advantages of city life and suburban life.

Advantages of City Life

Some of the advantages of city life are given below for your reference:

Advantages

- convenience for people to do the shopping

- better education

- easy access to entertainment facilities and other amenities

- more job openings

Advantages of Suburban Life

Some of the advantages of suburban life are given below for your reference:

Advantages

- less pollution

- safe, clean, attractive environment

- peaceful life

- smaller living expenses

After Reading >> Writing Practice

I. A Brief Introduction

1) Definitions of comparison and contrast
Comparison: You are asked to explain how two or more things are alike.
Contrast: You are asked to explain how two or more things are different.

2) Two methods to organize a comparison and contrast essay
Point-by-point method (or alternating arrangement): You alternate points about A (one thing) with comparable points about B (another thing).
Item-by-item method (or block arrangement): You discuss all of A, then all of B.

3) Usually, comparison and contrast essay writing consists of three parts: Introduction, Body and Conclusion.
Introduction often begins with a sentence that will catch the reader’s interest. Then name the two subjects and state that they are very similar or quite different, having many important (or interesting) similarities or differences.
Body discusses how both subjects are different or similar with the two methods (alternating or block arrangement).
Conclusion gives a brief, general summary of the most important similarities and differences. End with a personal statement, or a prediction.

4) In order to write a better composition, the writer should be familiar with some useful expressions.  (Refer to Some Useful Expressions for detail.)

Some Useful Expressions

Similarity: 

like, similar to, also, similarly, in the same way, likewise, again, in like manner

Difference:

unlike, compared to, in contrast, contrasted with, on the contrary, conversely

Other:

yet, still, but, nevertheless, at the same time, regardless, despite, while, on the one hand … on the other hand

II. A Sample

The Senate and the House of Representatives

[Introduction]

As we all know, in the USA, Congress is responsible for making laws. Congress is made up of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. In this essay, you will learn the differences between the two houses of Congress.

[Body]

There are many differences between the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Vice President of the United States is the head of the Senate. He must vote in the Senate if there is a tie (平局). On the other hand, the head of the House of Representatives is called the Speaker of the House, who is elected by representatives. Another difference is that the Senate is made up of 100 senators, two from each state. The House of Representatives, however, is made up of 435 representatives. The number of representatives from each state is determined by that state’s population. A third difference is that senators are elected to serve six-year terms, while representatives are elected to serve two-year terms.

[Conclusion]

Although Congress is made up of two types of lawmakers, they must work together for the benefit of all Americans.

III. Homework

You are required to write a composition with the method of comparison and contrast. You can choose one of the following topics.

1. Beijing and Shanghai

2. Living On-Campus vs. Off-Campus

3. My College Life and Middle School Life

Beijing and Shanghai

As we all know, Beijing and Shanghai are two major cities in China. But they have some similarities and differences.

Beijing is the national capital, the political and cultural center of the nation while Shanghai is the most populous city in China and a very modern economic powerhouse. Beijing is the emperor’s seat in the north; conversely, Shanghai is the giant of the south. In winter, it’s much colder in Beijing than in Shanghai.

Besides differences, they also share some similarities. For example, there are traffic jams in both cities. Like Shanghai, Beijing also has a large population. And the people and government in both cities are very capable. Beijing held Olympic Games in 2008 while Shanghai holds the 2010 World Expo.

All in all, Beijing and Shanghai are two great cities in China. We are proud of both.

After Reading >> Talk about the Pictures 

After Reading >> Proverbs and Quotations

1. Life consists in wanting something. When a man is satisfied he is as good as dead.

(=人生在于有所追求。一个人满足时，无异于死亡。)

2. Work has a bitter root, but sweet fruit.

(=工作原艰苦，果实却香甜。)

3. Life is long if it is full.

(=生活充实，生命久长。)

4. I do not like work — no man does — but I like what is in the work — the chance to find yourself.

 — Joseph Conrad, British novelist

(=我不喜欢工作——没有人会喜欢工作。 但是我喜欢工作的本质——发现自我的机会。

——英国小说家 约瑟夫•康拉德)

5. It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do.

— Jerome Klapka Jerome, British humorist

(=除非有大量的工作，否则一个人不可能充分领略悠闲的乐趣。

——英国幽默家  J. K. 杰罗姆)

6. When work is a pleasure, life is joy! When work is duty, life is slavery.

— Maxim Gorky, Russian writer

(=当工作是一种乐趣时，生活是一种享受！当工作是一种义务时，生活则是一种苦役。

——俄国作家  M. 高尔基)