Unit 1 Science and Scientists
Using Language(2)
In this class, you will
1. summarize the scientific spirit from Qian
Xuesen’s and Stephen Hawking’s stories;
2. write about what makes a great scientist.
Learning objectives
What makes a great scientist?
How can you answer the question?
what why
What makes a great scientist?
Activity 1: Read Qian Xuesen’s story and find out his
personality and qualities as a scientist.
What makes a great scientist?
u Read the text and decide if these statements are
true or false.
1. Qian changed his major because of a shift in
personal interest.
2. Qian’s strong interest in art has a positive impact
on a scientist’s development.
What makes a great scientist?
1. Qian changed his major because of a shift in
personal interest.
…, Qian made the decision to
switch his major to aviation because he realised that
China needed its own powerful air force to protect and
defend the country.
the need
of his country. F
patriotic (having a great love of his country) …
What makes a great scientist?
2. Qian’s strong interest in art has a positive impact
on a scientist’s development.
… However, … His deep
appreciation for art often gave him inspiration in his
scientific research.
T
a wide range of interests
What makes a great scientist?
u Read the text again and find out why Qian was
called “the father of China’s aerospace”?
… Because much of the technology
behind the Shenzhou rockets can (also) be traced back to
Qian’s research, Qian earned the name of “the father of
China’s aerospace”.
specialized (专业的) …
What makes a great scientist?
• patriotic: switched major
• having a wide range of interests: gave him
inspiration in his scientific research
• specialized: laid the foundation of China’s
aerospace science
What makes a great scientist?
u Read the text again and find out more qualities of
Qian Xuesen.
• knowledgeable: became a pioneer; conducted
important research; co-founded JPL
• determined: returned to China; took on the
challenge in developing China’s space science
What makes a great scientist?
Activity 2: Read Stephen Hawking’s story and find out
his personality and qualities as a scientist.
What makes a great scientist?
u Read the text and decide if these statements are
true or false.
1. When Hawking was young, almost everyone
believed that the universe began with a big bang.
2. Because Hawking was determined, he was able to
succeed even though he was ill.
What makes a great scientist?
1. When Hawking was young, almost everyone
believed that the universe began with a big bang.
… In general, there were two main
theories on the origin of the universe. The first was the
steady state theory, … The other was the big bang
theory, … The biggest champion of the steady state
concept was Fred Hoyle,…
F
What makes a great scientist?
1. When Hawking was young, almost everyone
believed that the universe began with a big bang.
there two main
theories on the origin of the universe. A Cambridge
professor supported the steady state concept.
How was Hawking’s own theory proven correct?
… Hawking’s own work on the
big bang theory was soon proven by astronomers with
telescopes. … gifted …brave …
What makes a great scientist?
2. Because Hawking was determined, he was able to
succeed even though he was ill.
… Furthermore, he was quite
determined. This had helped him as a scientist, and had
helped him even more in his fight against his disease. …
T
determined …
What makes a great scientist?
u Read the text again and find out more qualities of
Stephen Hawking.
• brave: challenged the professor
• determined: succeeded in scientific research;
fought against his disease
• gifted/brilliant: found out the professor’s mistake
What makes a great scientist?
personality and qualities of a scientist
Stephen Hawking:
• brave
• determined
• brilliant
• gifted
Qian Xuesen:
• patriotic
• specialized
• knowledgeable
• determined
What makes a great scientist?
what
how
ideas: qualities + examples
structure:
language:
u Draft your essay:
What makes a great scientist?
Activity 3: Study the structure.
u Read both texts again and find out the function of
each paragraph.
Qian Xuesen
Para. 1: introduction
Para. 2-5: his personal history and accomplishments
Para. 6: his personality
Para. 7: his death and people’s appreciation of him
What makes a great scientist?
Stephen Hawking
Para. 1: introduction
Para. 2: his claim to fame
Para. 3: characteristics that made him great
Activity 3: Study the structure.
u Read both texts again and find out the function of
each paragraph.
What makes a great scientist?
Scientific Spirit
Para. 1: introduction
Para. 2: quality 1 + stories/examples
Para. 3: quality 2 + stories/examples
…
Closing para.: significance of the scientific spirit & the
inspiration you get from them.
What makes a great scientist?
Activity 4: Study the language (descriptive
words/phrases).
u Read both texts again and find words that describe
the scientists.
What makes a great scientist?
Qian Xuesen
• para. 1, lines 4-7: a man with “great scientific
thought and scientific spirit” who was patriotic and
served his homeland with effort, achievement, and
devotion
• para. 3, line 3: a pioneer
• para. 4, line 11: did not let that discourage him
• para. 4, line 13: determined
What makes a great scientist?
Qian Xuesen
• para. 6, lines 3-4: an outstanding and creative
scientist
• para. 6, line 6: deep appreciation for art
What makes a great scientist?
Stephen Hawking
para. 3:
• brilliant, brave
• sometimes careless in what he said or did
• willing to say what others were afraid to say
• to dream of what others were afraid to dream about
• quite determined
• willing to admit his faults
What makes a great scientist?
A c t i v i t y 5 : S t u d y t h e l a n g u a g e ( l i n k i n g
words/phrases).
u Read both texts again and underline the linking
words and phrases.
What makes a great scientist?
Qian Xuesen
• para. 4: At that time, China was poor and …;
Nevertheless, Qian did not let that
discourage him…;
• para. 5: Because much of the technology behind the
Shenzhou rockets can…;
• para. 6: However, what might have made him such
an outstanding and creative scientist…;
What makes a great scientist?
Stephen Hawking
• para. 2: In general, there were two main theories…;
• para. 3: Besides being brilliant, he was brave…;
Furthermore, he was quite determined…;
Above all, Hawking was willing to admit his
faults.
They serve to link elements in the passages and bring
greater cohesion (连贯) and logical flow (流畅) to them.
What makes a great scientist?
para. 1: introduction
para. 2: quality 1 story
para. 3: quality 2 story
… story
closing para.: significance
& inspiration
scientific
spirit
Sample Writing
Para. 1: introduction
When we consider the great minds of many
centuries and ask the question of what makes
someone a great scientist, there are many aspects we
should evaluate.
Sample Writing
Para. 1: introduction
Looking at the lives of Qian Xuesen and Stephen
Hawking, some common characteristics surface: they
are knowledgeable, gifted, self-sacrificing for greater
good of the country or humanity, brave and
determined. In short, they have the perseverance to
chase down solutions to big problems and not let
discouragement set in during their discovery process.
Sample Writing
Para. 2: quality 1 + story
We can see this in Qian Xuesen’s life, pioneering to
another country to work with and inspire like-minded
people in his field and to cooperate on their work.
We can see it in his enthusiasm to return to China and
lead the aerospace programme through its birthing
stages.
Sample Writing
Para. 3: quality 2 + story
We saw the determination and devotion to truth on
the part of Stephen Hawking from his youngest days
through the decade he fought for his body while his
mind progressed to a genius.
Sample Writing
Para. 4: significance & inspiration
The scientific spirit is to, above all else, be willing
and able to grasp a problem or a question and not let
go of it until knowledge, creative power, and team
efforts have brought a clear answer.
Sample Writing
Para. 4: significance & inspiration
Then this same mind must believe in its findings
enough to bravely present them, prove and perfect
them for the betterment of the quality and progress of
life all over the world.
Summary
In this class, we have
1. summarized the scientific spirit by reading
about Qian Xuesen’s and Stephen Hawking’s
stories;
2. learned the structure of the essay on what makes
a great scientist;
3. analysed the use of linking words in an essay.
Homework
• Finish up your essay;
• Revise your draft using the checklist on the
textbook (p. 9, activity 5).
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