《大学基础英语》课程PPT教学课件（四）Lesson three Why Historians Disagree

A Spring MorningThis morn of spring in bed I'm lyingNot woke up till I hear birds cryingAfter one night of wind and showers,How many are the fallen flowers!

A Spring Morning This morn of spring in bed I’m lying, Not woke up till I hear birds crying. After one night of wind and showers, How many are the fallen flowers!

Lesson ThreeWhy Historians Disagree

Lesson Three Why Historians Disagree

What Ishistory?1.History is thediscovering of the constant anduniversal principles of humannature.2.Historyisthe scienceof man.3.History is a nightmare from which we are tryingtoawaken4.The history of all hitherto existing societies isthe history of class struggle5.Historyis anaccount,mostlyfalse,ofeventsmostly unimportant,which are brought aboutbyrulers,mostlyknaves,andsoldiers,mostlyfools

What Is history? 1.History is the discovering of the constant and universal principles of human nature. 2.History is the science of man. 3.History is a nightmare from which we are trying to awaken. 4.The history of all hitherto existing societies is the history of class struggle. 5.History is an account, mostly false, of events, mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers, mostly knaves, and soldiers, mostly fools

Questionsfordiscussion:1. Do you like history? Why or why not?2. Does history tell us the whole human past?3. What do you think the purpose of studyinghistoryis?

Questions for discussion: 1. Do you like history? Why or why not? 2. Does history tell us the whole human past? 3. What do you think the purpose of studying history is?

IntroductiontothetextThis is amuchcondensedandadapted version ofthepreface to the book called Conflict andConsensus compiled bytwo American historyprofessors.In this essay,thetwo authors discussthe definition ofhistory,therole of thehistorianand the reasons why historians disagree. Theypoint outthe commonmisunderstanding thathistory is just names,dates and statistics of thepast, and the historian's job is to find andremember as many ofthem as possible.Theytellus that historians do not iust collect facts

❖ Introduction to the text This is a much condensed and adapted version of the preface to the book called Conflict and Consensus compiled by two American history professors. In this essay, the two authors discuss the definition of history, the role of the historian and the reasons why historians disagree. They point out the common misunderstanding that history is just names, dates and statistics of the past, and the historian’s job is to find and remember as many of them as possible. They tell us that historians do not just collect facts

They give meaning to the facts. And becausethey have different interests and differentunderstanding of human motivation andhumanbehavior which inturn isdue totheir differentbackground in age, sex, race, class, education,religion, politics,etc,they tend not only to beinterested in differentfactsbut alsointerpretthe same facts differently. The two historianstherefore emphasizethe importanceofunderstanding thehistoriansapproachperspective and philosophy ratherthanthefactstheyhaveusedorleftout

❖ They give meaning to the facts. And because they have different interests and different understanding of human motivation and human behavior which in turn is due to their different background in age, sex, race, class, education, religion, politics, etc, they tend not only to be interested in different facts but also interpret the same facts differently. The two historians therefore emphasize the importance of understanding the historians’ approach, perspective and philosophy rather than the facts they have used or left out

Detailed discussion1....to the study of history by way of a fat textbookand becomequicklyimmersedin...bywayof:throughfat: here means“"thick",It is not polite to saysomebody is fat.A more polite way is to say thathe/she isoverweiaht orheavy.Stout means strongand slightly fat. For children and women who areslightly and pleasantly fat, we can use the wordplump.Anotherpleasant wordforbabiesandchildrenis chubby.Thestrongest word is obeseanditis alsothe wordusedoftenbydoctors

Detailed discussion ❖ 1.to the study of history by way of a fat textbook and become quickly immersed in. by way of: through fat: here means “thick”. It is not polite to say somebody is fat. A more polite way is to say that he/she is overweight or heavy. Stout means strong and slightly fat. For children and women who are slightly and pleasantly fat, we can use the word plump. Another pleasant word for babies and children is chubby. The strongest word is obese and it is also the word used often by doctors

to be immersed in:to be completely covered orsubmerged in a liquid; to be deeply involved orabsorbed1)Theideaistohavethe students immersedinan ideal learning environment2)Toan outsider,those who are immersed inapowerstruggle look very silly2.data:theplural form ofdatummedium (media);curriculum (curricula);stratum(strata); bacterium (bacteria); criterion (criteria)phenomenon(phenomena)

to be immersed in: to be completely covered or submerged in a liquid; to be deeply involved or absorbed 1) The idea is to have the students immersed in an ideal learning environment. 2) To an outsider, those who are immersed in a power struggle look very silly. 2.data: the plural form of datum medium (media); curriculum (curricula); stratum (strata); bacterium (bacteria); criterion (criteria); phenomenon (phenomena)

3.More orless:almost:to an undetermineddegree,e.g.1)Thisproblemismoreorlesssettled2)Theymoreorlessagreetoreopentheirdiscussionsaboutthe borderdisputeThis phrase also means "approximately", e.gOur average annual incomeby that time willbe4.000UsD,moreorless

3.More or less: almost; to an undetermined degree, e.g. 1) This problem is more or less settled. 2) They more or less agree to reopen their discussions about the border dispute. This phrase also means “approximately”, e.g. Our average annual income by that time will be 4,000 USD, more or less

4.This position ishardly satisfyingIt means: this is not a happy situation whichmakes moststudents very uncomfortableposition: situation or state; status, e.g1)Theyarenowinaveryprecariousposition.2)We cannot negotiatefroma weakposition.3)Right nowhe isnot inapositionto imposehiswill onothersThe word can also mean point of view, e.g1)You musttake apositiononthisissue2)Whatis herpositionon this problem?

4. This position is hardly satisfying. It means: this is not a happy situation which makes most students very uncomfortable. position: situation or state; status, e.g. 1)They are now in a very precarious position. 2) We cannot negotiate from a weak position. 3) Right now he is not in a position to impose his will on others. The word can also mean point of view, e.g. 1)You must take a position on this issue. 2)What is her position on this problem?