Exercise 1-17: Staircase Intonation Practice CD 1 Track 26

Draw one step of the staircase for each word of the paragraph. Start a new staircase for every

stressed word. There usually is more than one staircase in a sentence. New sentences don't have to

start new staircases; they can continue from the previous sentence until you come to a stressed word.

I'll read the beginning sentences. Check the first sentence against the example. Then put the words of

the second sentence on a staircase, based on the way I read it. Remember, I'm exaggerating to make

a point.

Hello, my’ name is______________. I'm taking American Accent Training. There's a lot to

learn, but I hope to make it as enjoyable as possible. I should pick up on the American intonation

pattern pretty easily, although the only way to get it is to practice all of the time. I use the up and

down, or peaks and valleys, intonation more than I used to. I've been paying attention to pitch,

too. It's like walking down a staircase. I've been talking to a lot of Americans lately, and they tell

me that I'm easier to understand. Anyway, I could go on and on, but the important thing is to

listen well and sound good. Well, what do you think? Do I?

V Write out the rest of the staircases.

× Turn the CD back on to check your staircases with the way I read the paragraph. × Pause the

CD again to check your staircases in the Answer Key, beginning on page 193. × Back up the

CD, and listen and repeat my reading of the paragraph while following the staircases in the

Answer Key.