Unit 1 Ocean ExplorationI. Objectives:Students are required to be able to1. Have a thorough understanding of the next contextually and linguistically ;2. Expand their vocabulary to talk about deep sea and know how to usethe key words and expressions in context properly;3. Talk about the importance of the oceans and ocean study, the currentstatus of ocean study and why it is far from satisfactory;4. Get familiar with argumentative writing.II. Importance and difficulties:1. Usage: sort of/kind of2. Analysis of some complex sentences;3. To learn to appreciate the reading skills demonstrated in the text.III. Teaching methods:1. Blackboard (with detailed explanations and analysis of the text);2. Multi-media (to display the lead-in and background information of the text);(to divide students to several groups to discuss the possible benefits and drawbacks of ocean exploration.)IV. Teaching-Steps:1. Opener (for one class)a. Ask Ss to Look at the picture on page 13 while listening to therecording and then work with their partner to answer the questions that follow.(1)According to the speaker, what does the SeaOrbiter look likeIt looks like a giant ship sinking in the sea.(2)What purpose will it serveIt will be a permanent mobile exploration station for scientists to observe what is going on under the surface of the sea.(3)How many such vessels will be built and launched according to thearchitectAccording to him, half a dozen such vessels will be built and launched.b. Briefly explain to Ss what Shark Week is .Shark Week is an annual, week-long TV programming block at the Discovery channel, which, usually beginning in July or early August, features shark-themed programs. It was originally devoted to conservation efforts and correcting misconceptions about sharks.《鲨鱼周》是美国有线电视探索频道一年一度、为期一周的以鲨鱼为主题的电视节目，通常于每年7月或8月初播放。

其初衷是保护海洋、纠正对鲨鱼的错误观念。

c. Introduce the Times to the ssThe Times is a British daily (Monday to Saturday) national newspaper based in London, England. It began in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register, adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. The Times is the first newspaper to have borne that name, and it is also the originator of the widely used Times New Roman typeface. The Times had an average daily circulation of 446,164 in December 2016; An American edition of The Times has been published since 6 June 2006. It has been heavily used by scholars and researchers because of its widespread availability in libraries and its detailed index.d. Direct Ss’ atte ntion to the new words and expressions in opener.Sea Orbiter 海洋探测者号(建造中的一艘用作海洋探索平台的垂直船舶)vessel n. 船currently ad. 现在set sail 扬帆起航permanent a. 永久的Houseboat n. 船屋e. play the audio in Opener twice and ask Ss to answer the questions.(1) What is the video clip about(2) What is the name of this kind of fish(3)Why do people in this documentary decide to find and observe coelacanth(4) Why does the documentary mention dinosaurs(5) What was the coelacanth called according to 1938’s newspaper titles(6) What do you feel after watching the video What do you think wecan find through tracing and observing coelacanthf. choose some Ss to report their answers to class and then give feedback.2. Reading & Interacting (for two classes)a. New words and phrases of Reading & Interacting;b. Give a brief introduction of the general idea of the story told in the text;This article sets out to win us over to the idea that more resources should be given to deep sea research. The writer could have simply given us a dry lecture on the benefits. Instead he engages our interestby wrapping up his argument in a series of contrasts. Difficulty and success are held in skilful tension throughout. Having started by quoting an authority on how little we know about the deep sea in general, he moves on to regret how little we know about the giant squid in particular. It comes as a pleasant surprise when the negative tone set by these details of our ignorance is suddenly shattered in Paragraph Three with the account of the filming of the giant squid. Having shown what can be done with modern resources the author then returns to his theme of how much more needs to be done. The success was, after all, “but a drop…in the ocean.” But he then switches back once again to a more positive note, illustrating what can be achieved with the story of his sinking of the whale. Even in his simile of the watch, a similar pattern is present. As he points out, while understanding the ocean depths is much like understanding the mechanism of a watch, unlike a watch the ocean depths are far more difficult to open up.c. Ask the students to read through the text and text and then divide the passage into several parts;Part One Paras. 1–3 Man is far from having control of the ocean. We know very little about it, and the discoveries we have made, though monumental, are but a drop in an ocean-sized bucket.Part Two Paras. 4–5 The human-ocean connection is vital to us. Healthy oceans can help ease the burden of our rapidly increasing population on Earth.Part Three Paras. 6–9 It is very important to make observations of how the ocean works. However, owing to lack of funds, compared to space exploration, ocean exploration is lagging far behind, with theresult that we know as yet little about the deep sea.Part Four Paras. 10–12 True there are countless discoveries to be made and lots of work to be done, but it is worth our while to do so as we might find the key to our survival on Earth.d. Learn the text and give specific analysis and explanations;e. Do the exercises related to the text.3. Reading1, Reading 2 & Integrated Skills Practicing (for two classes)a. Ask the students to do the Reading 1 and Reading 2 before the class, and then check the answers in class, offering necessary guides;b. Ask the students to work in a group of five to six people then role-play the interview.students in the same group do online research together to learn more about the incident.students playing reporters brainstorm questions to ask the BP executives4. Integrated Skills Practicing (writing) (for one class)a. Guide Students to write an essay in support of ocean exploration under the title My Ocean Exploration Is So Important.Tips:A piece of argumentation (论说文) is one in which you make a claim or argument for or against something and back it up with facts or reasons in an effort to persuade or influence others. The argument may be stated at the beginning of the piece, and/or at its end as a conclusion. And the reasons supporting it should be set forth one by one. Here are some sentence patterns you can use to list your reasons:There are some good reasons / two possible reasons for …The reason lies in that …On the one hand … On the other hand …In the first place / First of al l / For starters / To begin with … Secondly / Furthermore / In the second place / In addition / Besides / Also …Finally / Last / Last but not the least …b. Have students work in pairs, exchange their writing and make comments according to the Evaluation criteria in Writing.Writing:Why Ocean Exploration Is So ImportantCountries, and the superpowers in particular, are spending huge amounts of money on manned space exploration, which to me seems to be an incredible waste. I believe more money should be devoted to ocean exploration instead.The oceans cover more than two-thirds of our planet’s surface. They cool us off, and protect our environment from overheating. The oceans are also a rich source of food for us. Abundant in fish, plants and minerals, they can help ease the burden our rapidly expanding population is placing on Earth. Ocean research also holds the promise of cures for an array of diseases and may help us combat cancer. In short, the oceans hold the key to our future.Unfortunately, we know little about the oceans of our own planet, let alone have control of them. Why is it so The reason lies in the great disparity between the amounts of funding for ocean exploration and space exploration. Less than one tenth of one percent of the money for the latter is spent on the former. It is imperative that we increase the amount of funding for ocean exploration, and start to observe and learn about the oceans in their entirety.V. Language Points:a. New words and Expressions1. explore v. to search or travel for the purpose of discovery 探测，考察. Management need to explore ways of improving office security.2. survival n. the state of continuing to live or exist 生存. “Survival of the fittest” is the law of the jungle.3. on the heels of following closely; keeping in step with 紧跟…之后. Journalists arrived on the heels of the police for news about the accident.4. specimen n. a portion or quantity of material for use in testing, examination, or study 标本. We have to test a specimen of your blood before you can become a donor.5. species n. (pl. species)（生物学）物种. The giant panda used to be an endangered species, but now it is reclassified as a vulnerable species.6. assume v. to take for granted; suppose 想当然，以为. We can safely assume that everyone in this small town has a mobile phone.7. from the beginning从一开始. Let me tell you what happened on this trip right from the beginning.8. influence n. 影响. As the biggest employer of this town, DuPont has a huge amount of influence on local politics.9. as yet到目前（或那时）为止. There is no cure for this disease as yet.10. giant n. a living being of great size 巨人，巨大的怪物a. having extremely large size or power 巨大的. He was one of the intellectual giants of our country.11. observe v. to watch attentively 观察observation n. 观察. The role of scientists is to observe and describe the world, not to try to control it.12. elusive a. difficult to find, describe, understand or achieve 难以捉摸的；难以找到的. Late night taxis are elusive and far from cheap.13. for the first time第一次. When were modern intelligence techniques taken to the battlefield for the first time14. landmark n. an object (such as a stone or tree) that marks the boundary of land; an event or development that marks a turning point 地标；里程碑. The Golden Gate Bridge is a famous landmark of San Francisco.15. a drop in the bucket/in the ocean沧海一粟. I can show you around a bit. But what I know about the city is but a drop in the ocean.16. vital a. of the utmost importance; full of life and vigor 重要的；充满活力的. Regular exercise is vital to our health.17. provide for supply what is needed for供养，供给. Elaine would not let her boyfriend provide for her.18. impact n. 冲击，影响. The impact of high housing price on spending is obvious.19. planet n. 行星. The Earth is one of the planets orbiting (around) the sun.20. learn about了解，学习. Forgive those who betray you or break your heart, for they have helped you learn about trust.21. entirety n. the whole or total amount of sth. 全部. We stayed at home throughout the entirety of the weekend.22.in one’s entirety整体地，全面地. The peace plan has not been accepted by the parties in its entirety.23. alien a. 陌生的，不常见的. Sushi is an alien food to many residents here.24. die from/of因…而死. The doctor told the patient that two alternatives were available to him — have the surgery, or die of the infection.25. array n. 大批，大量. There was a vast array of colours to choose from.26. overlook v. to fail to notice or consider 忽视. We tend to overlook all sorts of warning signals about our own health until it finally fails.27. feed on以…为食. The seals feed mainly on fish and squid.28. crack open打开，砸开. The door is locked. We need to crack it open.29. gear n. 齿轮；排挡. John usually oils the gears before he starts the machine.30. hostile a. very unfriendly 不友好的；敌对的. As a politician, he ought to know how to handle hostile media.31. expertise n. special skills or knowledge in a particular subject 专长. None of our competitors comes close to our level of expertise.32. amount n. 数量，总额. Our project is as yet far from completion. A considerable amount of work remains to be done.33. funding n. 资金. We need to find new sources of funding for the project to continue.34. countless a. 数不清的. Tom’s family, and countless others in their communit y, are against Brexit.35. under/below/beneath the surface of在…的表面之下. We could see fish swimming just under the surface of the water.36. fit together合适，相配；组合在一起. I don’t see how the ideas and facts fit together in your theory. 37. completion n. 完成，实现. Upon successful completion of the four-year program, the students will be awarded a bachelor’s degree.38. reveal v. to make known (sth. concealed or secret) 揭露，透露. Under the terms of their agreement with the drug manufacturer, victims are 39. fit into（使）适合，适应；符合. She fits into the team very well.39. for sb.’s benefit/for the benefit of sb. 为…的利益. Instead of viewing animals as made for our benefit, we should think that we must be of benefit to them.40. imperative a. extremely important and needing to be done or dealt with immediately 必要的，急需做的. It is imperative that we intensify our efforts to predict climate change accurately.Sentences1. Man’s influence is as yet but a passing shadow. (Para. 1):So far man has had no lasting influence on the ocean.2.Unlike the coelacanth, which was thought to have gone extinct, we have known for centuries that giant squid have existed in our oceans’ depths. (Para. 2): In this sentence, the nonrestrictive attributive clause explains in what sense the giant squid is unlike the coelacanth: The giant squid has been known to exist for centuries, while the coelacanth is thought to have gone extinct.3.That is, until 2012, when Drs. Edith Widder, Steve O’Shea and Tsunemi Kobodera filmed the elusive and mysterious giant in its natural deep-sea habitat for the first time … (Para. 3):We knew very little about the elusive and mysterious giant until 2012, when Drs. Edith Widder, Steve O’Shea and Tsunemi Kobodera filmed it in its natural deep-sea habitat for the first time …4.Healthy oceans can help ease the increasing burden our population is placing on this planet …(Para. 5):Healthy oceans can provide for us and make our fast growing population less dependent on other resources of the planet.5.… and then descended in submersible s to observe the ensuing feeding frenzy by an array of creatures (Para. 6):… and then went down to the ocean floor in submersibles to watch a host of creatures eating away the dead whale.6.We sank a whale which had died from apparently natural causes and washed up on shore, 2,000 feet below the Sea of Japan… (Para. 6):Please take note that the adverbial phrase “2,000 feet below the Sea of Japan” modifies the verb “sank.” So the sentence means that “we” found a whale which had died from apparently natural causes and washedup on shore, and “we” sank it to the ocean floor which was 2,000 feet below the Sea of Japan.7.It is imperative that we keep pushing the limits of our ocean. (Para.12):It is essential we keep striving to find fresh ways to overcome the challenges faced by ocean exploration.VI. Reference Books:Unit 1 of New Progressive College English Integrated Course 4 (Teacher’s Book)VII. Homework:Write a short essay about the ocean.。