Malmberg - Literature and Study Box

Unit 3: Literature and Grammar Overview

Literature - "New York Café"

• Concept of Blurb: Promotional text on the back cover of a book.
• Story Timeline:
  • August 16, 2030: Fuller family notices $5,000 more in their bank account.
  • August 17, 2030: S. Fuller emails New York Café, offering help and seeking to make people happy using his computer skills.
  • August 21, 2030: Authorities in New York are attempting to trace computer signals.
  • August 24, 2030: Computerhead sends a helpful box to S. Fuller, capable of hacking into any computer.
  • August 25, 2030: Communication between S. Fuller and Computerhead continues, discussing the use of computer skills to aid people.
  • August 27, 2030: S. Fuller threatens the President with computer control over missiles, seeking aid for the poor.
• Character Analysis:
  • S. Fuller: Possesses advanced computer skills, aims to redistribute wealth, seeking happiness for all.
  • Emails and Intentions: Fuller’s emails indicate a desire to use technology for social change.

Study Box: Vocabulary and Grammar

Vocabulary

• Feelings and Emotions:
  • Aardig (Kind), Bang (Scared), Grappig (Funny), Verdrietig (Sad)
  • Expressions: Discussing feelings, asking for repetition, describing people.

Grammar: Comparisons

• Basic Rules:
  • Short adjectives: Add -er/-est (e.g., "faster than", "the fastest").
  • Adjectives ending in -e: Add -r/-st (e.g., "nicer").
  • Adjectives ending in -y: Change -y to -ier/-iest (e.g., "busier").
• Irregular Comparisons:
  • Good - Better - Best
  • Bad - Worse - Worst
• Long Adjectives:
  • Use "more" and "most" (e.g., "more comfortable", "the most powerful").

Travelling Vocabulary

• Common Words:
  • Adventurous (Avontuurlijk), Aeroplane (Vliegtuig), Downtown (Binnenstad)
  • Expressions related to travelling: to commute, delay, destination, fare, etc.

Lesson Activities

• Writing Prompts:
  • Diary Entry Exercise: Encourage personal reflection and creative writing.
  • Design a book jacket and write a blurb for "New York Café".

Questions and Tasks

• Chronology Exercise: Students can practice chronological storytelling.
• Understanding Context: Reflect on how future readers might interpret contemporary diary entries.

This summary serves as a guide for the literature and grammar topics covered in unit 3 of the Malmberg textbook, focusing on vocabulary expansion, grammatical rules, and literary analysis through the story of "New York Café".