I. Warming up

(1) What is the article mainly about? 

It’s an account of the 9/11 terrorists attack in New York. It is taken from a best-selling book by a senior fireman who only just survived the attack.

(2) What’ s the main job of a firefighter? What else may they have to do in an emergency?

Putting out fires.Rescue people caught up in emergencies and give emergency medical aid.

II. Background

Chief Richard “Pitch” Picciotto, the highest-ranking firefighter to survive the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the collapse of the Twin Towers. He is the author of Last Man Down.

III. Text analysis

1. Theme

What happened about the firefighters? Why did Picciotto write Last Man Down?

2. Style

a) Techniques:

Slang

very informal and sometimes offensive language usually used by a specific group of people     

Elliptical language

Omitting part of the sentence, such as the first part makes the story progress more quickly, giving the idea that people are in a hurry.

Repetition

Simile

3. Structure

4. Detailed Analysis

(1) Where was Richard Picciotto at 9:59 am on 11 September 2001? 

 He was on the 35th floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center. 

(2) Who was with him? 

About two dozen firefighters.

(3) What was everybody trying to do? 

They were resting and trying to work out what was going on.

(4) How long had they been in the building? 

Nearly an hour.

(5) What did they do when the noise started? 

They stood still.

(6) What was happening to the building? 

It was falling down.

IV. Reinforcement:

Discussion

(1) Picciotto says he and his men were “just doing their job”. Do you agree?

(2) Do you think his book is the best possible tribute to the firefighters who died?

(3) What do you think the long-term effects of doing a heroic job like this are?

(4) Do you think that extraordinary events like 9/11 can make ordinary people into heroes?