Unit 3

Alienation and the Internet

Objectives of Teaching

To grasp the main idea and understand the structure of the text

To appreciate the style and structure of the passage

To have a better understanding of the addiction to the Internet

Teaching Procedures Pre-reading QuestionsText I. Alienation and the Internet● Passage● Main idea of the passage● Structural analysis● Comprehension questions● Text explanation ● sentence studies ● vocabulary studiesReview of the structureText II. American Online: Losing the Battles, but Winning

the WarExercises

Pre-reading questions

1. Do you go on line every day? What attracts you to the Internet?

go on linenewscommunicatestudydo shopping entertainment…

2. For how many hours a day do you think a person has to stay on line before he is reckoned to a net worm? Is it good to be one? Why or why not?

Not good.Can’t do his work/study wellSeparate from his friends and familyCan’t face the real world

3. Can you tell any social problems caused by Internet?

violation of one’s privacy playing truant moral problems

Main idea of the text

In this text the author talks about some negative consequences caused by the Internet which are aimed to make the readers realize the disadvantages of the Internet. At the end of it, the author calls for a moderate use of the Internet.

Structural analysis

This text can be divided into 3 parts:

Part I (Paragraphs 1-2)The first two paragraphs serve as an

introduction, where the author states his theme: Internet may be responsible for furthering the fragmentation of society by alienating its individual users.

Part 2 (paragraphs 3-6)This part is the main body of the

essay, where the author engages in the argumentation for his thesis.

Part 3 (paragraphs 8-9)This is the concluding paragraph,

where the author reiterates his point that only when we make a moderate use of the Internet can we fully realize its potential without having our sense of reality skewed.

Comprehension question

Decide which of the following best states the author’s purpose of writing.

A. to tell the reader that he is bewildered by the benefit and the negative consequences brought about by the Internet

B. To convince the reader of human ability to reap the benefit of the Internet without being penalized by it

C. To argue that the demerits of the Internet overweight its merits.

Comprehension question

Decide which of the following best states the author’s purpose of writing.

A. to tell the reader that he is bewildered by the benefit and the negative consequences brought about by the Internet

B. To convince the reader of human ability to reap the benefit of the Internet without being penalized by it

C. To argue that the demerits of the Internet overweight its merits.

TEXT I Alienation and the Internet

The Internet provides an amazing forum for the free exchange of ideas. Given the relatively few restrictions governing access and usage, it is the communications modal equivalent of international waters. It is my personal belief that the human potential can only be realized by the globalization of ideas. I developed this position years before the Internet came into wide spread use. And I am excited at the potential for the Internet to dramatically alter our global society for the better. However I am also troubled by the possible unintended negative consequences.

Question

There has been much talk about the "new information age." But much less widely reported has been the notion that the Internet may be responsible for furthering the fragmentation of society by alienating its individual users. At first this might sound like an apparent contradiction: how can something, that is on the one hand responsible for global unification by enabling the free exchange of ideas, alienate the participants?

How did the author start his argumentation?

Does the author see any negative side of the Internet? What is it?

I had a recent discussion with a friend of mine who has what he described as a “problem” with the Internet. When I questioned further he said that he was "addicted," and has" forced" himself to go off-line. He said that he felt like an alcoholic, in that moderate use of the Internet was just not possible for him. I have not known this fellow to be given to exaggeration, therefore when he described his Internet binges, when he would spend over twenty-four hours on line non-stop, it gave m pause to think. He said, “the Internet isn't real, but I was spending all my time 0 line, so I just had to stop.” He went on to say that all of the time that he spent on line might have skewed his sense of reality, and that it made him feel lonely and depressed.

Question

The fragmentation of society has been lamented for some time now. It seems to me that it probably began in earnest after World War II when a generation returned from doing great deeds overseas. They won the war, and by God they were going to win the peace. Automobile ownership became commonplace and suburbs were created. “Progress” was their mantra. So even prior to the Internet's widespread popularity, folks were already becoming distanced from their extended families and neighbors. And when we fast-forward to today we see an almost cruel irony in that people can and often do develop on-line relationships with folks on the other side of the globe, without leaving their homes. But at the expense of the time that would have otherwise been available for involvement in other activities which might foster a sense of community in their villages, towns and cities.

Last weekend my wife and I invited our extended family to our home to celebrate our daughter's birthday. During the celebration my young nephew spent the entire time on my computer playing a simulated war game. My brother-in-law and I were chatting nearby and it struck us that in generations past, his son, my nephew, would have been outside playing with his friends. But now the little fellow goes on line to play his games against his friends in cyberspace.

Why does the author narrate his own story in this paragraph?

It seems to me that the Internet is a powerful tool that presents an opportunity for the advancement of the acquisition and application of knowledge. However, based on my personal experience I can understand how, as they surf the web some folks might be confronted with cognitive overload. And I can also understand how one might have his or her sense of reality distorted in the process. Is the Internet a real place? Depending upon how a "real place" is defined it might very well be. At the very least, I believe that when we use the Internet, we are forced to ask fundamental questions about how we perceive the world about us—perhaps another unintended consequence. Some would argue that the virtual existences created by some users who debate, shop, travel and have romance on line are in fact not real, while others would argue that, since in practical terms, folks are debating, shopping, traveling and having romance, the converse is true.

Question

All of this being said, I believe that the key to realizing the potential of the Internet is in achieving balance in our lives. This would allow us to maximize its potential without losing our sense of place. However, like most things, that is easier said than done. It seems to me that we are a society that values immediate gratification above all else, and what better place to achieve it than in cyberspace, where cyber-world is your cyber-oyster. The widespread use of the automobile forever changed our society and culture, and perhaps a similar sort of thing is occurring '. I am not at all certain where the "information superhighway" will lead us: some say to Utopia, while others feel it's the road to hell. But I do know that we - -e the ability to maintain our sense of place in the world. Whether we choose e advantage of this ability is another matter.

Questions

Language studiesGiven the relatively few restrictions

governing access and usage, it is the communications modal equivalent of international waters.

As there are relatively few restrictions for reaching and using the Internet, communications via the Internet are comparable to traveling through the international waterways.

forum A public meeting place for open discussion. A medium of open discussion or voicing of ideas,

such as a newspaper or a radio or television program.

A public meeting or presentation involving a discussion usually among experts and often including audience participation

education forum教育论坛habitat forum生活环境讨论会readers' forum读者讲座 , 读者论坛

Access A means of approaching, entering, exiting, or making use of The act of approaching. The right to approach, enter, exit, or make use of:has access to the restricted area; has access to classified material. a man of easy access 易于接近的人 , 平易近人的人 到镇上唯一的通路是经过一座桥。 The only access to the town is across the bridge. 市民可以自由使用图书馆。 Citizens may have free access to the library.equivalent something equal in value, measure, force, effect or significance The dress cost the equivalent of a week's salary.What is the equivalent of fifty pounds in dollars?

What is the author's long cherished position about the strong points of the Internet?

As a marvelous forum for the free exchange of ideas, the Internet can help realize the human potential by globalizing ideas and ultimately promote the social progress.

further adj/ adv/ v. More distant in degree, time, or space: 更远的：在程度上更深的、时间上更往前的或空间上更远的：This is a result that was further from our expectations than last time; 比上一次更出乎我们意料的结

果；the further lamppost 更远处的灯杆 Additional: 另外的：a further example; a further delay.另一个例子；另外的推迟 To a greater extent; more: 更大程度上地；更多地：We must consider further the consequences of her actions.更多地考虑她的行为所造成的后果 . In addition; furthermore: 此外；进一步：他进一步指出他不愿与委员会合作He stated further that he would not cooperate with the committee. At or to a more distant or advanced point: 更远地或再往前地： help forward 促进 , 增进 , 助长Additional training is probably the best way to further your career these days.The interests of an organization will never be furthered through acts of terrorism.

Fragment n./ v. A small part broken off or detached.碎片 An incomplete or isolated portion; a bit:片断：一点：他零星地听到了他们的谈话 .He overheard fragments of their conversation. 古老的原稿的现存部分These are only extant fragments of an old manuscript. To break or separate (something) into fragments.打碎或分割（某物）成碎块

选举之后，联盟瓦解了After the election, the coalition fragmented. To become broken into fragments:碎裂成各部分：The government is planning to fragment the industry before privatizing it.花瓶在运送途中被打碎了。The vase was fragmented in shipment.fragmentationfragmentary

alienate cause (someone) to feel very distant from or not

welcome to someone else She was alienated from her brother by her foolish

behavior.All these changes to the newspaper have alienated

its traditional readers.alienate him from his friend离间他和他的朋友alienation

There has been much talk about the "new information age." But much less widely reported has been the notion that the Internet may be responsible for furthering the fragmentation of society by alienating its individual users.

A lot of people talk about the “new information age”, but not so many people are acquainted with the idea that the Internet separates people from each other and fragments society further as a result.

unifyform (sth) into a single unit or make

uniform 使（某物）成为一体 ; 使统一 ; 使一致 :

Germany was unified in 1871. the unifying effect of the nurses‘ strike 护士罢工产生的团结效应 England and Scotland do not have a

unified legal system.

Yes. As well as the merits of the Internet, the author also understands the negative consequences it may bring about. This is what he argues about in this essay: the Internet may be responsible for furthering the fragmentation of society by alienating its individual users.

He started his argumentation by presenting an apparent contradiction; on the one hand, the Internet facilitates global unification by enabling the free exchange of ideas; on the other, it alienates the participants.

Addict To devote or give (oneself) habitually or

compulsively:She was addicted to rock music. To cause to become compulsively and physiologically

dependent on a habit-forming substance:He was addicted to cocaine.Collocation: addict oneself to 沉溺于 , 醉心于 be addicted to 嗜好 , 热中Addicted adj. being dependent on something and wanting to

spend as much time doing it as possibleSome youngsters are hopelessly addicted to video games.She's become addicted to love stories.

binge n (infml) A drunken spree or revel. excessive indulgence in

anything; spree 放纵 ; 纵情 : a shopping binge 大买特买 . 狂饮作乐 A period of unrestrained, immoderate self-

indulgence. 狂欢：一段不加限制的，过分自我放纵的时间a gambling binge; 嗜赌狂； A period of excessive or uncontrolled indulgence in food

or drink: 无节制期：一段过度或放纵暴饮暴食的时间：an eating binge. 暴食他大吃大喝了三天 . He went on/had a three-day binge. Collocation: Be/go on the binge[ 俚 ] 饮酒作乐 , 闹酒

skew cause to be not straight or exact; twist The company's results for this year are skewed

because not all our customers have paid their bills. Today's election will skew the results in favor of the

northern end of the country. 她坐在椅子上歪扭过身来。 She skewed around in her chair.

What is the author's purpose of citing the example of his friend in Paragraph 3? How is the example related to his argument?

With the example of his friend, the author intends to convince the reader of the negative consequence of the Internet. His friend was addicted to the Internet and stayed on line too long. The side effect of the Internet upon his friend. i. e. distorting his sense of reality and making him feel lonely and depressed, is a good piece of evidence that the Internet contributes to the fragmentation of society by alienating its individual users.

lament to express sadness and regret about

something He lamented the death of his friend.She lamented that she had never

been to Paris.

Automobile ownership became commonplace ...

Men in the street began to have their own cars ...

“Progress” was their mantra. “Progress” was their most discussed

topic.

Mantra: a word or phrase which is often repeated to express a belief.

What is the "cruel Irony" concerning the use of the Internet mentioned in Paragraph 4?

The" cruel irony" means that the Internet provides the user with a convenient means of communicating and making friends with people far apart on the one hand, but on the other, it helps the user to be estranged from people around him by canceling his availability for the face-to-face communications even with his families and close friends and for involvement in the community activities.

at the expense of at the sacrifice of According to this study, women have

made notable gains at the expense of men.

The orchestra has more discipline now, but at the expense of spirit.

foster v 1) help the growth or development of (sth); encourage or

promote 培养 , 培育 ; 鼓励 ; 促进 : foster an interest, attitude, impression, etc 培养兴趣、 滋

长某种情绪、 加深印象 foster the growth of local industries 扶植地方工业 . 2) take care of and bring up (a child that is not legally

one's own) 照顾 , 抚养（法律上不属於自己的孩子） ; 收养 : People who cannot have a baby of their own sometimes

foster (a child).

simulate v 1) pretend to have or feel (esp an emotion) her carefully simulated disappointment simulate interest/ death2) reproduce (certain conditions) by means of a model,

etc, eg for study or training purposes （用模型等）模拟（某环境）

The computer simulates conditions on the sea bed. 3) take on the appearance of (sth/sb) 模仿 , 伪装（某物

[ 某人 ] ） : insects that simulate dead leaves 伪装成枯叶的昆虫 simulated adj [usu attrib] 模仿的 ; 假的 : simulated fur, jewels, etc 人造毛皮、 珠宝等 .

it struck us that ... it occurred to us that ... / ... we suddenly

realized that ...It strikes us that you are wrong.我立刻想到这个解决办法。The solution struck me immediately.第二天早上我突然想起这套公寓没有淋浴设备。The next morning it struck me that there

was no shower in the flat.

In his own story, his nephew was used as an example to illustrate that while the Internet helps people develop on-line relationship with folks, it alienates them from each other at the same time.

confront To come face to face with, especially with defiance or hostility: 面对：

与…面对面的，尤指带有挑衅性或敌对性的：我希望和控告我的人当庭对质 .I wish to confront my accuser in a court of law. To bring face to face with: 使面对面：被告被传来面对他确凿的罪证The defendant was confronted with incontrovertible evidence of guilt. To come up against; encounter:碰到；遇到：confronted danger at every turn.抵抗时时会发生的危险 Vi. To engage in confrontation: 进行反抗：“ She got no child support and she didn't argue or confront”“她没有得到孩子的抚养费。 既未争辩也没有反抗”

Depending upon how a "real place" is defined it might very well be.

According to the definition of a "real place" , the internet could most reasonably be considered to be a "real place".

May/ might well: 有充分的理由，（完全）能，（满）可以His appearance has changed so much that you may

well not recognize him.你完全可以这么说。You might well say so.

perceiveTo become aware of directly through any

of the senses, especially sight or hearing.perceive by the nose用鼻嗅出To achieve understanding of; apprehend我发觉我不能使她改变她的主意。I perceived that I could not make her

change her mind.

converse n. the opposite; spoken interchange of thoughts and feelings;

conversation.In the US, cars are driven on the right side of the road, but in

Britain the converse applies.It is possible, of course, that the converse of this theory may

also be true.与老师谈话He held a converse with the teacher.v. ~ (with sb) (about sth); ~ (together) (fml) talk : 她坐著与总统交谈 . She sat conversing with the President. 我与她讨论某一问题。I conversed with her on a certain problem.

Why does the author discuss the question whether the Internet is a real place?

To prove that the overuse of the Internet may distort the user's sense of reality, the author has to define the key concept "the sense of reality". Whether or not the Internet is a real place is directly connected with the concept.

This would allow us to maximize its potential...

Achieving balance in our lives would allow us to make the fullest use of the Internet...

…like most things, that is easier said than done.

...like most things, it is easier to say "achieving balance in our lives" than to do it.

value regard highly; esteem We value your cooperation and would like to expand business with

you.I valued your comments on the report.Gratification n. The act of gratifying. 使人满意的行动 The condition of being gratified.满足的状态 A reward.回报，酬劳It is a gratification to know that ...得知 ...实在是让人欣喜的事承蒙认可 , 我非常高兴。 Your approval gives me much gratification.这个向导收到了一笔酬金。The guide received a gratification.

…where the cyber-world is your cyber-oyster.:

... where the cyber-space is the very thing that gives you immediate gratification.

Paraphrase of the whole sentence:I think that in our society the top priority is

given to the satisfaction of one’s immediate needs. The internet is the best tool for this purpose, for on the internet one can do whatever he likes to do.

1) According to the author, what underlies the trend of overusing the Internet in our society?

People tend to overuse the Internet because it is the best way of getting immediate gratification, which is most valued by society.

2) Does the author believe it is within human capacity to reap the benefit of the Internet without being penalized?

Yes. He thinks that people are able to maintain their sense of place while exploiting the resources of the Internet.

Review of the structure

thesis

IntroductionBody

(argumentation for the thesis) Conclusion