Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Who's going to watch it in July? 'Cause I am, for sure. :D

Précis 13

The miners' darkest year  by Christine Jeavans


 The article

The year 1984 saw a year long battle between Margaret Thatcher's conservative government and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) over closing the unprofitable, subsided coal mines in the UK. It started on March, 5^th with the Yorkshire Cortonwood pit miners walking out. They were soon joined by 187 000 British miners.

Both sides had been getting ready for the battle – the government by gathering stockpiles of coal for power stations; the union by making sure by the 1981 ballot that the strike had sufficient support from the miners in case pits were to be closed for reasons other than exhaustion.


Gradually, though, some rifts in the mining communities began to show and NUM, led by Arthur Scargill, kept organizing flying pickets to persuade the strikers to stay away from work. In some areas the situation became serious enough for the police to intervene. In June 1984, the strikers in Orgreave tried unsuccessfully to prevent coke being supplied to steel works, which resulted in a bloody incident, later referred to as the Battle of Orgreave.


Throughout months of the strike, the miners and their families' financial situation was becoming increasingly difficult, to the point where they had to rely on food parcels and soup kitchens. There was an attempt at a compromise between the Coal Board and NUM in September; however, Scargill refused to accept it.


After Christmas, more and more miners started going back to work and the strike was finally called off in March 1985. Thatcher's government won the battle and managed to finalize their pit closure programme.


Vocabulary:

1. pit (n, countable) - a large, deep hole in the ground from which stones or minerals are dug out: a gravel/chalk/tar pit; chiefly Brit : a coal mine
   
2. kindling (n, uncountable) - dry twigs, pieces of paper, etc., that burn easily and are used to start a fire: a pile of kindling
   
3. stride (n, countable) - a long step, the distance covered by a long step: She crossed the room in only a few strides.; The company has matched its competitors stride for stride.; He was standing only a few strides away from me.
   
4. hatchet (n, countable) - a small ax that has a short handle - bury the hatchet - to agree to stop arguing or fighting : to end a disagreement and become friendly: After all these years, they've finally buried the hatchet.
   
5. stockpile (n, countable) - a large supply of something that is kept for future use: a stockpile of ammunition/weapons; a stockpile of medical supplies
   
6. ransom (n, countable or uncountable) - money that is paid in order to free someone who has been captured or kidnapped [count]: The kidnappers demanded a ransom of one million dollars. [uncount] ▪ The family is willing to pay ransom for his release. — sometimes used figuratively (Brit): The boy used his bad temper to hold his mother to ransom, forcing her to buy him sweets .
   
7. ballot (n, countable or uncountable) - a process that allows people to vote in secret so that other people cannot see their votes [count]: They cast their votes in a secret ballot. [uncount]: She was elected by secret ballot.
   
8. colliery (n, countable, chiefly Brit) - a coal mine and the buildings that are near it: One of the large number of collieries in the district was called the diamond colliery.
   
9. coke (n, uncountable) - a black material made from coal that is used as fuel for heating: Heating coke is an excellent fuel for the economical production of heat and the heating of utility water for households.
   
10. trickle (n) – a slow, thin flow of water, a slow movement of people or things in small numbers or amounts: We heard the trickle of water from the roof.; A slow/steady trickle of customers came into the store throughout the day.
    

Précis 12

Scotland: A Winning Bet? by William Underhill

 The article

Alex Salmond, 56, current First Minister of Scotland and the leader of the Scottish National Party, has always been a risk taker, the biggest of his wagers being that of joining the Nationalist in the 1970s.

This wager has paid off very well, as Scotland's chances for independence have never been greater. Salmond's party won the election to the Scottish Parliament in May, gaining a majority, and he himself is one of the most popular party leaders in the UK, admired by peace-loving separatists all over the world.

Salmond's quick wit, friendly demeanour and everyman's hobbies have played a considerable role in this success, but behind his good-natured persona there is a hard-working, wise politician who is on friendly terms with royalty and has built his plans on a solid, rational basis, such as Scotland's natural resources – oil and gas. Even if Scottish people are still not ready to vote for independence, who knows what can happen with such a politician as Salmond holding the country's reigns.

Vocabulary:

1. touchy (adj) - easily hurt or upset by the things that people think or say about you (sensitive); likely to cause people to become upset : Don't be so touchy. I was just kidding.; often + about: He's a little touchy about his weight; a touchy subject
2. wager (n, countable) - an agreement in which people try to guess what will happen and the person who guesses wrong has to give something (such as money) to the person who guesses right, the money or other valuable thing that you could win or lose in a bet: I don't think the horse will win. What's your wager?; I placed/made a wager on the horse.; a friendly wager
3. repartee (n, uncountable) - conversation in which clever statements and replies are made quickly: The two comedians engaged in witty repartee.
4. stuffy (adj, informal, disapproving) - very formal, serious, or old-fashioned: the stuffiest members of that exclusive club ; a stuffy old judge
5. roly-poly (adj, informal) - short and fat: a roly-poly man
6. affable (adj) - friendly and easy to talk to: a lively, affable young fellow; an affable host
7. hefty (adj) - large and heavy; very large; very forceful: He was a tall, hefty man.; Her boss gave her a hefty raise.; He gave the door a hefty kick/shove.
8. rash (adj) - done or made quickly and without thought about what will happen as a result: He later regretted having made such a rash promise.; Please don't do anything rash.
9. punter (n, countable, Brit, informal) - someone who makes a bet: Thousands of punters were at the race track last weekend.

Précis 11

Pottermore gives away JK Rowling's marketing genius by Sam Jordison

The article


The launch of JK Rowling's newest website shows an outstanding marketing strategy in every detail. Started with a 'coming soon' teaser webpage, Twitter and extensive media coverage, the feeling of excitement and anticipation is growing uncontrollably, skillfully threaded with information about new products and the last Potter film which is about to hit the screens.

Rowling's genius, which may earn her a place in record books, lies in a rare ability to combine her financial goals with the needs of her avid readers. The new e-book selling platform will surely provide her fans with a new, extremely enjoyable interactive experience in the Harry Potter world, while enabling the author to sidestep middlemen like Amazon and gain full control over the profits and royalties. A neat new watermarking system will be linking the identity of the customers to the copies they buy, thus solving the problem of piracy and potential lawsuits.

The most admirable part, though, is Rowling's ability to present it all as a selfless act of 'giving back' to her fans. There is probably some (a lot of?) fan love on her part, but it is also, above all, a unique, spectacular marketing phenonenon which will surely bring the writer gazillions of pounds in the near future. Tip your hats, ladies and gentleman.



Vocabulary:

1. to garner (v) - to collect or gather (something); to get or receive (something wanted or valued): She garnered more evidence to support her theory.; The novel has garnered much praise and several awards.
2. gazillion (n, countable, informal, US) - a very large number: He made gazillions (of dollars) in real estate.
3. to blaze (v) - to burn very brightly and intensely; to move very quickly: A fire blazed in the stove.; He blazed past the other runners.
4. trail (n, countable) - the marks, signs, smells, etc., that are left behind by someone or something and that can often be followed: The car left a trail of smoke as it sped off.; As he gained more political power, he left a trail of bitterness behind him.- to blaze a trail: to be the first one to do something and to show others how to do it: The company blazed a trail with the first small computers.; She blazed a trail for other women in politics.

5. to sidestep (v) - to avoid walking into or being hit by (someone or something) by stepping to the right or left; to avoid answering or dealing with (something) directly: She sidestepped the puddle.; They're sidestepping the real issue.
6. to scoop up (phrasal v, informal) - to take or buy (something) in a quick and eager way: Customers scooped up the free samples.
7. royalty (n, countable) - an amount of money that is paid to the original creator of a product, book, or piece of music based on how many copies have been sold — usually plural: After he died, his family continued to collect royalties on/from his books.; The book has earned $40,000 in royalties.
8. glitch (n, countable, informal) - an unexpected and usually minor problem; a minor problem with a machine or device (such as a computer): Glitches in the speaker's schedule caused some delays.; A technical glitch caused a temporary shutdown.; computer/software glitches
9. lawsuit (n, countable) - a process by which a court of law makes a decision to end a disagreement between people or organizations: win/lose a lawsuit ; When the newspaper refused to admit that the story was false, the actor filed/initiated a lawsuit against the publisher.
10. lucrative (adj) - producing money or wealth; profitable: a lucrative job/investment; a lucrative career/contract; The business has proved to be highly lucrative.

Mrs Dalloway

I'm reading Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. Not an easy read, I can tell you. It's probably because of this 'stream of consciousness" technique she used. I'm currently on page 54 out of 197; hope it'll get better - or I'll get used to this kind of narration. We'll see.

Précis 10

Mommy, Am I Really Bipolar?

by Stuart L. Kaplan, M.D. 

 

The article


A new diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children became very fashionable in mid-1990s. Since then, mental disorder formerly known as manic-depressive illness has been diagnosed and medicated in a rapidly increasing population of children, starting even at the age of 2.


As a psychiatrist of almost 50 years, dr Kaplan has witnessed many fad diagnoses, but never before has any of them been embraced so enthusiastically. The problem is very serious, as there is not only no scientific evidence to support it, but the strong evidence to the contrary. Yet thousands of children are prescribed medication suitable for adults, which can have side effects devastating to their health, as it was in case of 2-year old Rebecca Riley whose mother misused one of the prescribed drugs with fatal consequences.

In fact, bipolar disorder seems to be often diagnosed instead of ADHD, ODD (or the combination of the two) or even simple anger control issues – which, if treated properly, enable the children to lead a fairly normal life.

The whole concept seems to have started with a self-help book - The Bipolar Child, by D. and J. Papolos, which was a huge marketing and financial success – and from then, pharmaceutical companies have taken over, financing and encouraging the use of adult medication for children.

Luckily, The American Psychiatric Association is working intensely towards new criteria and considering the introduction of a new diagnosis in child psychiatry - temper dysregulation disorder. If successful, it may spare thousands of children irreparable damage to their health in the future.

Vocabulary:

1. afoot (adj, not used before a noun) - developing or happening now; in progress: Plans were afoot to begin construction on the bridge.; There's trouble afoot.
2. endorsement (n, countable or uncountable) - the act or result of endorsing someone or something: such as a a public or official statement of support or approval: The newspaper has announced its political endorsements.; We're pleased that the project has received your endorsement; Without official endorsement, the project cannot proceed.
   - the act of publicly saying that you like or use a product or service in exchange for money: Many retired athletes are able to make a lot of money by doing product endorsements.
   
3. inherent (adj, formal) - belonging to the basic nature of someone or something: He has an inherent sense of fair play.; She believes strongly in the inherent goodness of all people. — often + in: She believes that goodness is inherent in all people.; There are a number of problems inherent in the design/plan.
   
4. malpractice (n, uncountable, law) - careless, wrong, or illegal actions by someone (such as a doctor) who is performing a professional duty: a surgeon accused of malpractice; Doctors need to have malpractice insurance to protect themselves against lawsuits.
   
5. to elate (v + obj) - to make (someone) very happy and excited: The discovery has elated researchers. - elation (n, uncountable): her feelings of elation at being chosen for the job
   
6. to buttress (v + obj) - to support, strengthen, or defend (something): The treaty will buttress the cause of peace.; The theory has been buttressed by the results of the experiment.
   
7. to buy into sth (phrasal v)- to accept or believe (something) as true: The book teaches kids not to buy into the notion that money brings happiness.; Do you buy into the notion of the world coming to an end in 2012?
   
8. frenetic (adj) - filled with excitement, activity, or confusion; wild or frantic: The celebration was noisy and frenetic. ; frenetic activity
   
9. stakeholder (n, countable) - a person or business that has invested money in something (such as a company): corporate stakeholders
   
10. fad (n) - a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal: the fad for cosmetic surgery; Most children have food fads at some time.
    

Our blogs

Are you going to keep your blogs once we're done with our PNJA class? I am. I think it's fun, and I'm sure it'll get even better when we don't have to write précis any longer. :/

Right now, I'm struggling with my next one and boy, isn't it painful. ;) I'm trying very hard to convince myself it's a super beneficial exercise, but without much success so far. :P

Writing précis usually puts me in a mood best described by this pic:

That's about all I have to say on the subject. ;)

Our next year reading lists

I've already emailed the lists to you, but I suppose it's a good idea to post them here as well. Our literatura powszechna list is in Polish, because that's the way it's been given to us - and frankly, I see no reason why we should be reading Dante or Cervantes in English. ;) So, without further ado:

Literatura powszechna 2011/2012

1. Epos o Gilgameszu
2. Mity greckie
3. Biblia (Księga Rodzaju, Księga Wyjścia, Apokalipsa św. Jana)
4. Koran (wybrana księga)
5. Arystoteles – Poetyka
6. Dante – Boska komedia
7. Szekspir – Hamlet
8. Cervantes – Don Kichot
9. Eco – Imię róży
10. Bajki braci Grimm
    
    

English literature 2011/2012

1. Mary Shelley – Frankenstein
2. Oscar Wilde – The Picture of Dorian Gray
3. Emily Brontë – Wuthering Heights
4. Charlotte Brontë – Jane Eyre
5. Charles Dickens – Great Expectations
6. Thomas Hardy – Tess of the d'Urbervilles or Jude the Obscure
7. D. H. Lawrence – Sons and Lovers
8. James Joyce – A Potrait of the Artist as a Young Man or 2 short stories from Dubliners
9. Joseph Conrad – Heart of Darkness
10. Virginia Woolf – Mrs Dalloway
11. Graham Greene – Brighton Rock
12. William Golding – Lord of the Flies
13. J. R. Tolkien – The Lord of the Rings
14. Anthony Burgess – A Clockwork Orange
15. Iris Murdoch – The Black Prince or The Unicorn
16. Choose one:

• Ian McEwan – Atonement
• Martin Amis – Money or Night Train
• Angela Carter – Nights at the Circus
• John Fowles – The French Lieutenant's Woman

No Austen on the list, though. I'm very disappointed, to put it mildly. :/

Pedagogy exam

Well, guys? How did it go??

Précis 9

Turning the Page

The future of reading is backlit and bright by Anna Quindlen

The article

For every writer, their career stages - their first byline, column, hardcover - are marked by the appearance of their name in ink. Printed, not downloaded.

Still, it seems that the death of books brought about by technological progress has been announced too soon. Like film has not killed live theatre or recorder music live concerts, technology will not be the end of reading.

Onscreen reading will surely be increasing in the future, which will only bring complaints from both camps. Literary purists will bemoan the evanescence of onscreen print, while the techies will look down upon antideluvian paper.

So, maybe it is better to concentrate on the effects instead – in the last 50 years, reading has vastly intensified. The recent survey says that avid, book-buying readers are older and mostly female, while e-readers are used predominantly by middle-aged men. Where is the younger generation, though?
One of the most interesting text about the influence of technology on literacy rejects the notion that e-reading can be as satisfactory as a traditional one. Is that correct? Actually, some people seem to be reading more thanks to technology. After all, not so long ago people could not understand how a computer might be preferred to a typewriter.

Lamenting the expansion of e-reading seems as snobbish and silly as a condescending attitude towards people who prefer traditional means. Reading is both an intellectual and emotiona/spiritual experience. It is the soul of the book that counts, not its body – be it paper, a screen or an audio CD.



Vocabulary:

1. byline (n, countable) - a line at the beginning of a newspaper or magazine article that gives the writer's name: Writing for a magazine is a great way to get your first byline.
   
2. doom (n, uncountable) - very bad events or situations that cannot be avoided: The sailors had a sense/feeling of (impending) doom as the storm approached. ; The papers are filled with stories of gloom and doom.
   
3. antideluvian (adj, formal) - very old or old-fashioned: an antediluvian automobile; He has antediluvian notions/ideas about the role of women in the workplace.
   
4. knell (n, countable, literary) - a sound of a bell when it is rung slowly because someone has died: The mistake was the death knell for his campaign.; Many people thought that the Internet would sound/ring/toll the death knell for newspapers.
   
5. to smother (verb) - to kill (someone) by covering the face so that breathing is not possible: He tried to smother her with a pillow.
   - to cover (something) in order to keep it from growing or spreading: She smothered the fire with a blanket.

   - to try to keep (something) from happening, to try to stop doing (something): I tried to smother a yawn.

6. evanescent (adj, formal, literary) - lasting a very short time: evanescent fame; They had too little capital, some of which turned out to be evanescent when it was actually needed.
   
7. aficionado (n, countable) - a person who likes and knows a lot about something: an aficionado of poetry; sports aficionados
   
8. to hunker down (phrasal v) - to stay in a place for a period of time: The leaders hunkered down at a country estate for difficult peace negotiations.
   
9. to underlie (v) - to form the basis or foundation of (an idea, a process, etc.): We discussed the principles that underlay their methods. ; A theme of revenge underlies much of her writing.
   
10. impassioned (adj) - showing or feeling very strong emotions: Her lawyer made an impassioned argument in her defense. an impassioned speech/plea
    

But before I get started...

... I'll rec you one more book and then I swear I'll stop... for a while. This time, it's a dictionary - Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English. There's a CD-ROM included, so you can install it on your computer.

Very useful - for writing, for broadening your vocabulary, etc.

Posts

Okay, I'm almost done with the obligatory dose of posting. ;) What's left now is fun, sheer fun - that is, précis fun.:/

I'd better get started.

Listening practice

Have you been doing listening tests? I haven't; I hate tests. Instead, I've been watching films and CNN and recently, listening to National Public Radio - lots of different accents, people calling in, etc. Hope it's enough; I so don't fancy doing those tests. :/ Anyway, we have the listening class tomorrow, so guess we might learn something about the final exam.

Atonement

This is what I've been recently obsessing about.

I read Ian McEwan's novel and then saw the film, directed by Joe Wright. Both the book and the film are simply sublime. McEwan's writing is beautiful, rich, complex and the novel will make you think, and ponder, and ask questions to which there are no easy answers. I recommend reading the book before watching the adaptation (again, the novel has been translated into Polish and the translation is really good), but whatever you choose, it's very important that you avoid spoilers.

I haven't been so impressed with either a film or a book for a very long time.

A follow-up to one of our PNJA discussions

Not sure you remember, but there was one class a few weeks ago where we talked briefly about eugenics and genetic engineering and I decided to recommend two novels to you back then. It's taken me a while, but here I am, to talk about books. Again. ;)

Okay, the first one is Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, published in 1932. It was meant to be a satire, a "negative utopia", to use Huxley's own words. Anyway, it's set in a new world where people are divided into five different castes, from Alphas and Betas (who are unique), through Gammas, Deltas and Epsilons who are sort of 'mass-produced' to perform inferior tasks necessary for the society to function. Happiness and harmony are an obligatory state and to ensure it, people's consciousness and subconscious are constantly being manipulated. There are no families - mothers, fathers, children, save for the reserves where so-called "savages" live.

I read this book probably 20 years ago and while I can't remember all the details, the message has stayed with me all these years. It's an extremely thought-provoking read, as is the second novel I want to recommend here, a science-fiction one: Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, published in 2005.

Ishiguro is also an author of a wonderful and successfully adapted novel "The Remains of the Day", but this one is entirely different, and certainly very unsettling. I don't want to give away too much of a plot, so I'll only say it takes place in a boarding school in England - but it's not a typical boarding school at all, for its students are unusual, in an unexpected way.

I highly recommend both of them; they're also available in Polish.

*sigh*

Geez, I haven't been around for a while. Time to play another catch-up. How exciting. ;)

How was the class today? Which unit did you read? Any homework for tomorrow?