Unit 1 CULTURAL HERITAGE

Reading for Writing

【教学目的与核心素养】

1. Get students to have a good understanding of some features about a news report by reading the text.

2. Instruct students to write a summary about a news report properly using some newly acquired writing skills in this period.

3. Develop students’ writing and cooperating abilities.

4. Strengthen students’ great interest in writing discourses.

【教学重难点】

1. Stimulate students to have a good understanding of how to a summary about a news report

2. Cultivate students to write a news report properly and concisely.

【教学过程】

Step 1 Lead in

Do you think it is necessary for us to circulate our cultural heritage to the world? Why or why not?

Do we need to learn more about other countries’ cultural heritage? Why or why not?

Step 2 Read to discover details concerning the main body of the news report

Read the news report and then solve the questions below.

1. What are the researchers and scientists trying to do?

(The researchers and scientists are trying to increase knowledge and appreciation of China’s ancient cultural heritage.)

2. What modern technology are they using?

(They are using digital photography to record a collection of images.)

3. Why are so many people interested in the Mogao Caves?

(People are interested in the Mogao Caves because they have long been a meeting point for different cultures and are part of the history of many countries.)

4. What do you think of the researcher’s opinion in the last paragraph?

(I agree with the researcher’s opinion. Understanding our own and other cultures is a great way to understand ourselves and others.)

Have the Ss discuss the questions in groups and then share their answers to the class.

Step 3: Study the organization and language features

1. Read the news report again and find these parts.

A. Lead sentence

Lanzhou, 9 August 2017. A group of researchers and scientists from China and other countries are working together ... China’s ancient cultural heritage.

B. Direct quote

“Appreciating one’s own cultural heritage is very important for understanding ourselves. Appreciating the cultural heritage of other countries is very important for international communication and understanding.”

C. Paraphrase

They are recording and collecting digital images of cultural relics from the Mogao Caves, which were a key stop along the Silk Road throughout China’s ancient history. Nearly 500,000 high-quality digital photographs have been produced since the international project started in 1994.

D. Background information

The Mogao Caves have long been a meeting point for different cultures and are part of the history of many countries.

E. Reporting verbs

F. Words to show comparison and/or contrast

Today, the caves are just as interactional as they were at the time when people travelled the Silk Road.

2. Underline the relative clauses that the writer uses to identify the following.

A. things

They are recording and collecting digital images of cultural relics from the Mogao Caves, which were a key stop along the Silk Road throughout China’s ancient history.

B. people

As one researcher who is working on the project explains, “Appreciating one’s own cultural heritage is very important for understanding ourselves. Appreciating the cultural heritage of other countries is very important for international communication and understanding. ”

C. time

Today, the caves are just as interactional as they were at the time when people travelled the Silk Road.

Step 4 Post reading for further summary and understanding

1. Why does the writer use the quote in the report?

The writer uses quotes in order to make the news report more concise, authentic and persuasive.

2. Explain your understanding of the sentences: “Appreciating one’s own cultural heritage is very important for understanding ourselves. Appreciating the cultural heritage of other countries is very important for international communication and understanding.”

We should learn and understand our own cultures, which is vital for us to know ourselves and be proud of our profound and extensive cultural heritage. Meanwhile, we should understand and appreciate other cultures, trying to be open-minded. This way, we can deepen each other’s understanding and respect.

Step 5 Homework

Write a news report about Li Hua who works to protect our cultural heritage using the following notes and you can add details to make the news report more concise and detailed.

▪Name: Li Hua

Place: Xi’an

Profession: a senior high school teacher

▪wants to preserve cultural heritage:

▪protect old houses

▪takes photos of old buildings

▪helps repair buildings

▪looks for cultural relics

▪ interviews old people

▪ shows cultural relics to the public

▪ writes about the buildings …