I. Warming up

(1)What signs of globalization do you find around you?

(2)How do you evaluate the impact of globalization on your life?

II. Background

Author: Robert J. Samuelson (1945-)

His Life

•A 1967 graduate of Harvard University with a B. A. in government.

•A biweekly columns writer for The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe…

•One of the most recognized writers for his biweekly columns analyzing and reporting

His Achievements

•The 1981 National Magazine Award.

•The National Headliner Award in 1987 for Best Special Interest Column.

•The National Headliner Awards for Feature Column on a Single Subject in both 1992 and 1993.

•The 1983, 1986 and 1993 Gerald Loeb Awards for Best Commentary.

•The 1993 John Hancock Award for Best Business and Financial Columnist.

His works

Genre: Argumentative Writing

1.Clear-cut structure

a) topic sentence, transition signals…

2.Convincing arguments

a) statistics, quotations, examples, definitions…

3.Long and balanced sentences

a) parallelism, sentence patterns…

4.Economic terms and jargons

a) bond, merger, balance of payments…

III. Text analysis

1.Theme

Questions for thinking:

•Globalization is a double-edged sword; it poses a daunting question for mankind in the 21st century.

•A THESIS is an argumentative opinion about the narrowly defined subject matter, it is the single most important sentence or series of sentences in the entire argument.

Structure

Detailed Analysis

Part I introduction: Discussion

(1)What is globalization?

a) the integration and democratization of the world’s culture, economy, and infrastructure through transnational investment, rapid proliferation of communication and information technologies, and the impacts of free-market forces on local, regional and national economies

b) the increasing interconnectedness of nations and peoples around the world through trade, investment, travel, popular culture, and other forms of interaction (Encarta 2006)

(2)Why does the author claim globalization as a “double-edged sword”?

(3)Is this a new idea to you? What else do you know about its “double edges”?

This is quite a new idea when the text was written: in 1999, at the threshold of a new century. The other edges include, for example, facilitate exchanges between people across the world (goods move, ideas move, and cultures change), the political aspects in World Government, ecological and environmental impacts…

(4)What is the daunting question of the 21st century? Why is it daunting? Have you felt daunted about it before?

It is daunting because it is possible that the great changes brought by globalization would threaten everything in the world.

Part II Argumentation

 Advantages

(1)In what ways is globalization a trendy word for an old process?

Disadvantages

(2) What is the critical respect that differs globalization from its old process?

Disadvantages

1.What is the FIRST problem of globalization?

(1)How does the author argue this?

(2)What is the author’s opinion towards the outbreak of financial crisis in South-East Asia? Do you agree, disagree or partly agree? Why?

Investment fund not well used, trade flows become too lopsided (para. 19); crony capitalism, inept government investment policies and excess optimism, misuse of investment. (para. 21)

(3)Do you agree with the author that it is the “astonishing US economy” that prevented Asia crisis from becoming a global economic depression? Why?

(4)How would you judge his opinion?

Pro-west point of view.

(5)What are the reasons for economic instability?

a)The banking problem and the lack of proper bank supervision.

b)Pre-modern corporate sector: non-transparency, family dominance, non-separation of ownership and management, archaic accounting, etc.

c)Unhealthy relationship between government and big business.

d)Too much dependence on exports (especially on US markets and IT devices).

e)Political backwardness and lack of true democracy.

The real cause was the structural weaknesses of the developing economies in East Asia.

2.What is the SECOND problem of globalization?

(1)How does the author argue this problem?

(2)How would globalization implode?

Part III Conclusion: Discussion

Economic interdependence cuts both ways. (para. 34)

What can we learn as to how to write the conclusion of an argumentation from the last paragraph?

IV. Reinforcement:

Discussion

(1)Is globalization already a reality or a choice? why?

(2)Does globalization have anything to do with culture? Do you think globalization is another word for Americanization (culturally, economically, etc.)? Why or why not?

(3)Taking into consideration both the pros and cons of globalization, what kind of attitude should we adopt towards globalization?

Argumentative Writing (AW)

(1)What are the four major types of writing?

Narration, description, exposition and argumentation

(2)What is the essential difference between argumentative writing and the others?

The main difference between argumentative essays and the others is the purpose of writing.

The purpose of other types of writing is to inform, entertain, or express the writer’s feelings and experience. However, the primary purpose of the argumentative essay is to persuade, to “win,” to convince readers of the thesis.

(3)Can you give some examples of argumentative writings?

Editorials in newspapers, policies speeches, essays on theories or politics

(4)Key Features of AW

a)A well-defined, controversial but arguable issue

b)A clear position

c)Convincing arguments

d)A reasonable, professional and trustworthy tone

(5)General Structure of AW

a)General introduction

State your problem in the thesis statement

b)Extent of the problem

Who is affected, how bad is it, history of the problem, etc.

c)Sound argumentation

Use deductive or inductive approaches

d)Conclusion

Restatement of the thesis and summary of main ideas