Teaching objectives:
To examine the essay’s structure, language, theme
To appreciate Bacon’s writing style
Key teaching points Theme, Structure, Writing techniques of the essay
Teaching procedures
I. A brief summary:
Of Studies is the most popular of Bacon's 58 essays. It analyzes what studies chiefly serve for, the different ways adopted by different people to pursue studies, and how studies exert influence over human character. Forceful and persuasive, compact and precise, Of Studies reveals to us
Bacon's mature attitude towards learning.
Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment, and disposition of business.
II Theme:
To discuss rather analytically the use and abuse of studies, the proper and improper ways to pursue one’s studies, and also the effect of the different kinds of studies upon character.
III. Structure
1.Functions of reading (study). From the beginning to line 16 on page 139 “…won by observation)
2.Ways of reading (study) From “read not to contradict…” to “ …flashy things.” (line 3 from bottom)
3.The effect of reading upon human character: From “Reading maketh a full man,…” to the end.
Ⅳ .Writing techniques
I. Structure/organization is compact; expressions are brief and concise; diction is simple but powerful; arguments are clear and persuasive and the tone is sincere and serious.
2. Parallelism and symmetric( 对称结构 ) sentences frequently used. “..for.., for…, for…,”
“for ornament is…., for ability is….”
Notes:
(1) privateness and retiring: private life and retirement or when one is alone and away from company. (2) expert: experienced (rather than learned) or men with much experience. (3)general counsels– the giving of advice on general topics. (4) the plots and marshalling of affairs– the planning and the directing of affairs. (5) those are that learned– learned men, scholars. (6) sloth– lazy (coming from a lazy animal 树懒 )
(7) humor: mannerism, implying absurd error. (8) they … by experience– They (studies) improve a person’s nature abilities and are themselves made more complete by experience. (9) pruning: originally proyning– old spelling –meaning: trimming, or cutting off the superfluous and burdensome parts. (10) too much large– too general or impractical. (11) bounded in by experience– restricted by experience. (12) crafty men—men who have some special skill
( crafty”= skillful, ingenious, having some special skill).
13) curiously: with thoroughness and care. (14) read by deputy—read with the assistance of others./ extract– passages taken from books(15) would: should. But to read by deputy and to have

extracts made of books by other persons should be done only in the case of books with less important subject-matter and of little value (“argument”= the content or subject matter of books).(16) distilled books– books from which the better parts have been extracted; distilled waters: infusions of herbs,etc., used as home remedies. (17) flat and tasteless things.18) that: that which. (19) witty: imaginative,inventive. (20) Abeunt studia in mores (Latin) “ Studirs culminate in manners” (Ovid, Horides), or studies go into forming one’s character. (21)“stond”: hindrance, block, drawback or difficulty. (22) reins– gall bladder and (23 ) the schoolmen: medieval theologians. 24) beat over matters: make thorough examinations of things. 25) receipt: cure, prescription.
Assignment ： Write a article on the topic “study”