Unit 6 Matriculation Fixation

1. Unit 6 Matriculation Fixation  ? Warm-up Questions: 1. Why do some people in modern time have an obsessive interest in attending elite colleges? 2. How do universities influence our life? ? Contents: ? Text Explanations In the essay the author offers his sincere advice to those parents who have college- bound children. He first criticizes some parents who try to select universities for their children. He points out that a good university does not necessarily guarantee a successful career. This is supported by the example of his high school friends. Then he tells those disillusioned parents whose children are unlikely to enter prestigious universities that many people achieve huge success in this society without a degree from a prestigious university. This is supported by his own experience. Finally he reminds those parents that "life doesn't have just one act. There is often Act Two. And Act Five."

2. ? Detailed Study of Paras. 1---8 of Text I: ANALYSIS These two paragraphs make up the introductory part in which the author uses an anecdote as a starting point of the essay. 1) "bright but not brilliant"(Paragraph 2) - smart but not outstanding. 2) "with other college-bound children in the family queue" (Paragraph 2) --- with a number of children in a family who are going to go to college one after another in a few years. QUESTION What does the sentence. "fewer contacts would be made" mean? The sentence means that since it was a local university, there would be fewer chances to establish a network of interpersonal relationships that could be potentially helpful in the future.

3. LANGUAGE WORK Paragraphs 3 --- 4 ANALYSIS As a response to the man's story, the author tries to give some advice by relating his own experiences, i.e. his high school friends, his university days, and his present career. 1) "a man of the world" (Paragraph 3) --- a man who has lots of experience in coping with certain situations or people. 2) "the most intimate details" (Paragraph 3) --- most personal or confidential details. 3) "in question" (Paragraph 3) - being talked about, under discussion. 4) "to carve out a nice little niche for myself" (Paragraph 4) --- secure myself a good and comfortable position by hard work and great effort. 5) "Pressed for biographical data" (Paragraph 4) --- urged to give personal information. QUESTION What does the author mean by "... the sun never set without my thanking God for ... "? The author means that every day he felt grateful to God for what he learnt from his talented and dedicated professors.

4. 3. I told the man that many of my high school friends had graduated from the second-tier university in question and had gone on to live rich, full lives. ----I told the man that many of my high school friends had graduated from the second-class university his daughter would be attending, and now they are all living full and fruitful lives. I was out of town on the night in question. I have no idea of the man in question. 4. I told him that I myself had graduated from a second-echelon Philadelphia university not unlike the one his daughter was entering, and had managed to carve out a little niche for myself. ---- I told him that I myself had graduated from a second-class university in Philadelphia, just like the one his daughter was entering, and had managed to establish quite a successful career for myself. She carved out a reputation for herself as an aggressive businesswoman. He hopes to carve out a niche for himself as a successful writer. Lloyd has carved out a niche for himself as a professional tennis player.

5. Paragraph5--6 ANALYSIS It should be noted that the man is not very responsive and interested in the author's account, which evokes the author's comment "I never did find out why he was visiting the hospital. " "he was devastated" (Paragraph 5) --- he was extremely upset and worried. Note the shift of viewpoint in Paragraph 5: "pathetic curriculum vitae" and "his daughter ... was going to end up as big a failure as I" are both from the man's point of view. LANGUAGE WORK 5. Though he tried to feign interest in my pathetic curriculum vitae, I could see that he was devastated. --- Though he acted as if he was interested in my pitiable CV, I could see that he was upset. She responded to his remarks with feigned amusement. I don't want to go tonight --- I think I shall feign an excuse. Are you telling me you're frightened to speak to her? Don't be so pathetic ! After the accident he became a pathetic figure, a shadow of his former self.

6. Paragraphs 7---8 ANALYSIS These tow paragraphs play an important role in the essay. On the one hand, they are the author�s comments elicited by the incident; on the other hand, they function as a transition to further discussion on the matter. 1) �the neurotic gabbiness� (Paragraph 7) --- tendency to talk excessively because of oversensitivity to or over-indulgence in certain topics. 2) I know whereof speak --- I know what I speak of 3) "On this subject, I am completely lapped out." (Paragraph 7) --- I have no interest in this subject at all. "be lapped out": be eliminated in a race

7. QUESTIONS 1) Why does the author say that he will never participate in a mind-numbing discussion about college selection process, once his kids have left home? The author believes that such discussions are meaningless or even harmful. Here, he seems to suggest that for those parents who happen to make the right selections for their children or whose children go to prestigious universities such a topic would be self- aggrandizing, but for those who fail to make the right selections or whose children go to less prestigious universities such a topic would be self-flagellatory. 2) What does cribbage stand for? Cribbage is a card game. Here it is used in contrast to "mind-numbing discussion." Thus it stands for something entertaining, rather than boring or afflicting.

8. LANGUAGE WORK 6. This lack of interest does not stem from pure selfishness or unalloyed contempt for other people's offspring. ---The reason why I am not interested in it is not because I am selfish or look down upon other people's children. Her problems stem from her difficult childhood. He said that children's bad behavior often stems from boredom. unalloyed blessings unalloyed relief We had the perfect holiday - two weeks of unalloyed bliss.

9. Periods 3-4 ( 80 min ) ? Gist Questions: What is the main problem that troubles the father in his daughter�s college selection? ? Contents: Detailed study of Paras 9-15 of Text I Paragraph 9 ANALYSIS In this paragraph the author criticizes parents who try to make the selection of colleges for their children. 1) The most infuriating conversation is the one where the parent clearly seeks a decisive career-validating moment of emotional closure. --- The most annoying conversation is the one where the parent tries to be emotionally settled once for all by selecting for the child a good college that guarantees his or her future career. 2) "closure"---when an event or a period of time is brought to an end, or the feeling that something has been completely dealt with. Funerals help give people a sense of closure. 3) "economic mirth"---happiness and contentment with economic success 4) " ... issuing a sotto voce taunt to parents of the less gifted" ---� sneering or laughing quietly at those parents of less gifted children 5) "their children's destinations"---their children's entry into top universities

10. LANGUAGE WORK 7. Such individuals believe that securing admission to a top-flight university provides child with an irrevocable passport to success--- Such people believe that if a child succeeds in getting admission to a first-rate university, then he or she will be guaranteed successful future. He's one of our top-flight engineers. The decision will not be irrevocable until everyone concerned has been consulted. Closing the factory would irrevocably alter the character of the local community for the worse.

11. Paragraph 10 ANALYSIS In this paragraph the author airs his view, which is different from that of the parent mentioned in the preceding paragraph. He argues that a good university does not necessarily guarantee a successful career, and asserts that parents' responsibility does not end when their children leave home for university. 1) " ... age seventeen. Or twenty-one"---a child is supposed to enter college at seventeen and graduate at twenty-one. 2) "first-class screwups"---absolute and hopeless failures 3) "end up on welfare or skid row"---eventually live on social welfare for their survival LANGUAGE WORK 8. In real life, some children get the finest educations but still become first-class screwups. ---In real life, some very promising children with very good schooling turn out to be complete failures. I recon I�ve passed the physics, but I�m sure I screwed chemistry up. Having the car stolen completely screwed up our holiday plans. We really screwed up when we invited Jane and two of her ex-boyfriends to the party.

12. Paragraph 11 ANALYSIS In this paragraph the author gives an illustration of the second category/group of people who are obsessed with college selection. They are disillusioned parents whose children are unlikely to enter prestigious universities. 1) "... their Brand X children aren't going to make the cut"---... their children fall into the generic or common variety that are not likely to achieve much and cannot possibly be admitted to prestigious universities. "To make the cut" is an informal American expression that means "to attain a particular goal. " To "make the cut" literally means to be accepted into a sports team. 2) "the glamourless institutions their progeny are skulking off to" ? the obscure universities their children are going to, which they feel too ashamed to let others know about. 3) "whose capitals only repeat winners on Jeopardy! can name." - whose state capitals are so obscure that only people who often win on game shows like Jeopardy! can name

13. QUESTION What does the author mean by "those grandiose delivery-room dreams of Amherst, Bard, and Duke are suddenly going up in smoke"? The author means that beautiful dreams which those parents have cherished since children were born are now totally smashed and have disappeared. "Amherst, Bar and Duke" are three prestigious private universities in the United States. LANGUAGE WORK 9. Bashfully, shamefacedly, miserably, these parents now mumble the names of the glamourless institutions their progeny are skulking off to. ---,Embarrassedly, guiltily, sorrowfully, these parents now dare not utter loudly the names of those low-grade institutions where their children are quietly entering because they are ashamed of themselves. His numerous progeny are scattered all over the country. I thought I saw someone skulking in the bushes---perhaps we should call the police. He was skulking over there behind the shed. As I skulked up to the window, I heard the sound of voices. 

14. Paragraph 12 ANALYSIS This paragraph gives the author's view on a second class of obsessives. The author argues that entering a prestigious university is not a criterion to judge a person's success, because "some kids are late bloomers. Some kids are better off in a less competitive environment. Lots of people achieve huge success in this society without a degree from a prestigious university. " In addition he offers the reassuring advice that "life doesn't have just one Act. There is often Act Two. And Act Five." "your child has failed to clear the first ... hurdle"--- your child has failed to overcome the first difficulty ... Here the verb" clear" means to "get over" the hurdle without touching it. 2) "Matisse didn't get rolling... "-- -Matisse didn't become successful. "get (something) rolling" means to make progress or to prosper. 3) " �" life doesn't have one act ... --- This is a metaphor with which the author compares life to a performance or a play. By this metaphor the author is saying that people may have different talents that could be shown in various phases of their lives. 4) "high-profile institutions" --- It refers to famous universities.

15. 5) "whose renown has in some way preceded them." --- whose fame has more weight than these institutions themselves. The author suggests that some parents think more of the fame of a university than the university itself, hence" it is never entirely clear what parents are looking for. " 6) "nerds" _ here the word refers to MIT students who are stereotypically awkward and socially uncomfortable.

16. QUESTION What does the admissions office video hope to convey? And what does the author find? The admissions office video tries to dismiss the saying that MIT is a factory that produces boring and unfashionable people who are not good at communicating with other people in social situations. However, the author saw a lot of such people on the campus. 10. Some kids are late bloomers. ---Some kids become successful later than average kids. At school she was a late bloomer, and it wasn't until she went to university that her talents became apparent. 11. Some kids are better off in a less competitive environment. --- Some kids perform better in a less competitive situation. Obviously we're better off now we're both working. He'd be better off working for a bigger company. 12. During a recent visit to MIT, I watched the first thirty seconds of an admissions office video poking fun at the university's reputation as a nerd factory. --- Recently I made a visit to MIT, and I watched the first thirty seconds of an admissions office making jokes about the university's reputation. The university is ridiculed to be a factory which turns out very smart but boring people. I was poking a bout in the drawer, looking for the key, when I found this! I wish he'd stop poking his nose into my personal life! He was a real nerd in high school - I can't believe he's so handsome now.

17. Paragraphs 13---14 ANALYSIS The talk about dinner prices in these two short paragraphs seemingly has something to do with affordability, it is actually an anecdote the author uses to poke fun at those all parents. 1) "one high-strung mother" (Paragraph 13) - one very nervous mother. When it is used as a verb, the word "string" means to make somebody tense. 2) "buck" (Paragraph 13) (informal) - dollar "grand" (Paragraph 14) (informal) --- one thousand dollars QUESTION What is the meaning of the author's remark "Don't start worrying about dinner prices"? The author means that dinner prices would be trivial compared with the total cost of MIT.

18. LANGUAGE WORK

19. Paragraph 15 ANALYSIS In this concluding paragraph the author humorously expresses his attitude towards college selection by saying "people ... can't decide whether I am insensitive or ornery or flatout dumb. " "sedulous monitoring"---careful and meticulous inspection "winnowing procedure"---selection and screening procedure "flat-out dumb" - completely and extremely stupid QUESTION Why does the author say "I was never M1T material"? This is a humorous way of saying that he was not a "nerd": I never prepared myself for a prestigious university such as M1T, yet, I am a successful man.

20. LANGUAGE WORK 15. Since that visit this fall, this incident has become an invaluable part of my repertory. --- Ever since my visit to M1T this autumn, that eight-dollar-dinner thing has become one of my favorite subjects when I have conversations with other parents about the college selection process. a repertory company/group/theatre She's working in repertory. Macbeth is in repertory at eh Royal Shakespeare Company. 16. People who hear me say things like this can�t decide whether I am insensitive or ornery or flat-out numb.--- People who hear me say things like this can�t decide whether I am uncaring, bad-tempered or absolutely stupid. He had been in a ornery mood all day, rowing with his wife and his boss. His request for time off work was met with flat-out refusal. The minister has issued a flat-out denial of the accusations against her.

21. Periods 5-6 ( 80 min ): ? Comprehension Questions: 1. What�s author�s attitude about children going to college? 2. What�s author�s opinion about the issue of failing to enter prestigious universities? ? Oral Activities Winning admission to an elite school is imagined to be a golden passport to success, for bright students, failing to do so is seen as a major life setback. ? Language work ? Text II: Who Needs Harvard? Questions for discussion 1. Why has the fixation on getting into a super-selective college or university never been greater than today? The main reasons offered by the author can be characterized as follows: (1) the wide- spread assumption that finding out which colleges have accepted them is the critical moment in young people's lives; (2) the association of elite schools with great success; (3) the association of failing to win admission to an elite school with a big life setback. 2. What does the Krueger-Dale research reveal? The major point of the Krueger-Dale research is that elite-college attendance is not essential to success later in life. Krueger and Dale found that for students bright enough to win admission to a top school, later income "varied little, no matter which type of college they attended." In other words, the student, not the school, was responsible for the success.

22. 3)What is the author�s view on the result of the Krueger-Dale research? He finds their research convincing. To support their research, he further supplied abundant anecdotal evidence that any of a wide range of colleges can equip its graduates for success. For example: fully half of all U. S. senators are graduates of public universities, and many went to state universities; only four of the CEOs of the top ten Fortune 500 corporations went to elite schools; and this year only sixteen of the thirty- American Rhodes scholars graduated from elite colleges. 4) What does the research of Caroline Hoxby reveal? The major point of her research is that there are indeed significant advantages to : most selective schools. These advantages can be mainly characterized as: (1) more; sources and better conference networking scene; (2) a super-competitive environment which may cause many students to work harder. 5) What is the significance of this essay? The significance of this essay lies in the following: (1) The idea that getting into elite college makes a big difference in life may be wrong; (2) To a large extent, w contributes to a person's success later in life are his personal efforts and abilities rat: than his elite university attendance.