1、Unit 3 Festivals and customs Extended reading Writing a summary What is a summary? A summary is a brief statement or account of the main points of the original article. Summary writing is a technical skill that demonstrates reading comprehension and writing ability. A well-written summary is not an
2、analysis of the text; rather, its a condensed (浓缩的) overview of the original piece. 1. Skim the text to understand the genre and the structure. 2. Read the text carefully to make a note of the main points. a feature article a narration Reading 1 Step when where who what how Reading Paragraph 1 It is
3、 just past five oclock on the Chinese New Years Eve, and the dinner table is already covered with white china plates and bowls, full of all sorts of dishes: chicken, duck, pork, fish and vegetables. Luo Yan, 29, lifts the cover of a large bowl to breathe in the rich smell of the soup his wife and mo
4、ther have prepared. Luo Yans son, Bofeng, happily takes a bite of the chicken his grandfather has selected for him. when where who what how on the Chinese New Years Eve in the house the whole family prepare the dinner happy Reading Main points of the summary Point 1: On the Chinese New Years Eve, th
5、e dinner table is already covered with all sorts of dishes and Luo Yan and his son Bofeng cant wait to take a bite of them. Reading Paragraph 2 Six-year-old Bofeng has not seen his grandparents for almost a year, and he is full of joy and excitement. Indeed, the whole family could not be happier to
6、be together. Despite the cold outside, their happy faces fill the air with warmth while merry laughter rings throughout the house. Luo Yan and his wife and son have settled in the big city, far away from their hometown. Every year, they travel back for the Spring Festival, for their dream of three g
7、enerations under the same roof. when where who what how during the dinner in the house the whole family have dinner happy Reading Main points of the summary Point 1: On the Chinese New Years Eve, the dinner table is already covered with all sorts of dishes and Luo Yan and his son Bofeng cant wait to
8、 take a bite of them. Point 2: Despite the cold outside, the whole family are having dinner happily in the house. Reading Please figure out the main points of para. 36. Paragraph 3 The Luo familys journey back to their hometown was a long and tiring one just a few years ago. However, the high-speed
9、train has made it much more convenient for them to go back home. During the five-hour trip, they chatted excitedly with each other, their minds full of thoughts about their sweet home. when where who what how on the way back home on the train Luo Yan, his wife and son chat with each other excited Re
10、ading Point 3: During the five-hour journey back to their hometown for the Spring Festival, Luo Yan, his wife and his son chatted excitedly with each other on the high-speed train. Paragraph 4 On their arrival, they find Luos parents eagerly waiting for them. Their home has been specially decorated
11、for the joyous occasion. From the neat designs of the paper-cuttings on the windows, to the Spring Festival couplets on the door, and to the New Year paintings on the wall, everything represents joy, luck and happiness. Even the fish on the plate expresses a hope for nian nian you yuyu means both fi
12、sh and plenty in ChineseMay you get more than you wish for every year. when where who what how on their arrival in the house Luo Yans parents wait for them, decorated their home eager, happy Reading Point 4: On their arrival, they find Luos parents are eagerly waiting for them and their home has bee
13、n specially decorated with the paper-cuttings, couplets and the New Year paintings which represent joy, luck and happiness. Paragraph 5 After dinner, the hours until midnight go slowly by. The whole family are going to stay up late on the Chinese New Years Eve. They gather around the television to w
14、atch the Spring Festival Gala, while eating snacks, chatting with each other and making dumplings that they will eat at the very start of the new year. In the warmth and comfort of the room, Luo Yan talks about his plan for the future. I hope we wont have to be separated again, he says, looking at h
15、is ageing parents. My parents are getting old, and we should spend more time with them. Well come back more frequently and were also considering taking them to the city to live with us. After all, home is where all family members are together. when where who what how after dinner in the house the wh
16、ole family watch the Spring Festival Gala, talk about the future plan warm, comfortable, worried Reading Point 5: After dinner, they gather around the television to watch the Spring Festival Gala. In the warmth and comfort of the room, Luo Yan is worried about his ageing parents and plans to take th
17、em to the city to live with him. Paragraph 6 As midnight approaches, Luo Yan takes his parents, wife and son outside to set off firecrackers. The whole village is lit up with colourful fireworks. All over the country, people are celebrating their good fortune, celebrating their familys togetherness,
18、 and celebrating their nations strength. when where who what how close to the midnight outside the house the whole family set off firecrackers hopeful Reading Point 6: As midnight approaches, the whole family go outside to set off firecrackers, celebrating their good fortune, their familys togethern
19、ess and their nations strength. Main points of the summary Point 1: On the Chinese New Years Eve, the dinner table is already covered with all sorts of dishes and Luo Yan and his son Bofeng cant wait to take a bite of them. Point 2: Despite the cold outside, the whole family are having dinner happil
20、y in the house. Point 3: During the five-hour journey back to their hometown for the Spring Festival, Luo Yan, his wife and his son chatted excitedly with each other on the high-speed train. Point 4: On their arrival, they find Luos parents are eagerly waiting for them and their home has been specia
21、lly decorated with the paper-cuttings, couplets and the New Year paintings which represent joy, luck and happiness. Point 5: After dinner, they gather around the television to watch the Spring Festival Gala. In the warmth and comfort of the room, Luo Yan is worried about his ageing parents and plans
22、 to take them to the city to live with him. Point 6: As midnight approaches, the whole family go outside to set off firecrackers, celebrating their good fortune, their familys togetherness and their nations strength. Reading Time Place Feeling On the way back home On the train Excited During the din
23、ner After dinner Close to midnight In the house Outside the house Happy Worried and hopeful Use the chart to help you. Reading On the way back home During the dinner Main points of the summary Point 1: On the Chinese New Years Eve, the dinner table is already covered with all sorts of dishes and Luo
24、 Yan and his son Bofeng cant wait to take a bite of them. Point 2: Despite the cold outside, the whole family are having dinner happily in the house. Point 3: During the five-hour journey back to their hometown for the Spring Festival, Luo Yan, his wife and his son chatted excitedly with each other
25、on the high-speed train. Point 4: On their arrival, they find Luos parents are eagerly waiting for them and their home has been specially decorated with the paper-cuttings, couplets and the New Year paintings which represent joy, luck and happiness. Point 5: After dinner, they gather around the tele
26、vision to watch the Spring Festival Gala. In the warmth and comfort of the room, Luo Yan is worried about his ageing parents and plans to take them to the city to live with him. Point 6: As midnight approaches, the whole family go outside to set off firecrackers, celebrating their good fortune, thei
27、r familys togetherness and their nations strength. Point 2 Point 3 Point 4 Point 1 Point 5 Point 6 Reading Tip 1: Change words and phrases (替换词汇) Tip 2: Change the part of speech (改变词性) Tip 3: Change sentence patterns (改变句式) Writing 2 Step Paraphrase: “Point 1” as an example Point 1: During the five
28、-hour journey back to their hometown for the Spring Festival, Luo Yan, his wife and his son chatted excitedly with each other on the high-speed train. 1. Over the five-hour trip back home for the Spring Festival, Luo Yan, his wife and his son talked with each other with excitement on the high-speed
29、train. 2. Luo Yan, his wife and his son came back for the Spring Festival by train, and during the five-hour trip they chatted with each other, full of excitement. 3. When they are on the high-speed train back to their hometown for the Spring Festival, Luo Yan, his wife and his son talked with each
30、other with excitement. 4. Luo Yan, his wife and his son came back to their hometown for the Spring Festival. On the train, they chatted with each other, full of excitement. 简单句简单句 并列并列句句 复合句复合句 两个简两个简单句单句 Reading Writing Point 3: On the Chinese New Years Eve, the dinner table is already covered with
31、 all sorts of dishes and Luo Yan and his son Bofeng cant wait to take a bite of them. Point 4: Despite the cold outside, the whole family are having dinner happily in the house. Point 2: On their arrival, they find Luos parents are eagerly waiting for them and their home has been specially decorated
32、 with the paper-cuttings, couplets and the New Year paintings which represent joy, luck and happiness. Point 5: After dinner, they gather around the television to watch the Spring Festival Gala. In the warmth and comfort of the room, Luo Yan is worried about his ageing parents and plans to take them
33、 to the city to live with him. Point 6: As midnight approaches, the whole family go outside to set off firecrackers, celebrating their good fortune, their familys togetherness and their nations strength. Reading Writing Point 1: During the five-hour journey back to their hometown for the Spring Fest
34、ival, Luo Yan, his wife and his son chat excitedly with each other on the high- speed train. Revising 3 Step No details Cover all the main points using your own words No grammatical mistakes No personal opinion Use linking words if possible Learn to use the checklist: 4C+1O Reading Writing Revising
35、Lets revise the version written by one of my students. Luo Yan, his wife and his son Bofeng came back from their home in the city to see Luo Yans parents. On the train, they chatted with each other, full of excitement. When they finally arrived, Luo Yans parents was glad to see them. They had decora
36、ted the house with paper-cuttings on the windows, couplets on the door and New Year paintings on the wall for the festival. On the Chinese New Years Eve they had a big dinner together happy and then everyone stayed inside and watched the Spring Festival Gala. They felt comfortable in the warmth. Luo
37、 Yan was also a little worried and hoped he could take his parents to live with him in the city in the future. Close to midnight, the whole family went to outside to set off firecrackers. It was a time to celebrate their togetherness and look forward to the future with hope. In my opinion, they had
38、a happy new year! unnecessary details personal opinion grammatical mistakes Reading Writing Revising Luo Yan, his wife and his son Bofeng came back from their home in the city to see Luo Yans parents. On the train, they chatted with each other, full of excitement. When they finally arrived, Luo Yans
39、 parents were glad to see them. They had put up beautiful decorations around the house for the festival. On the Chinese New Years Eve they had a big dinner together happily and then everyone stayed inside and watched the Spring Festival Gala. They felt comfortable in the warmth, but Luo Yan was also
40、 a little worried and hoped he could take his parents to live with him in the city in the future. Close to midnight, the whole family went outside to set off firecrackers. It was a time to celebrate their togetherness and look forward to the future with hope. Transitional words Reading Writing Revis
41、ing Steps of writing a summary Tips Figure out the genre and the structure Paraphrase Reading Analyse each paragraph using the “4W1H” table Writing when where who what how Change words and phrases (替换词汇替换词汇) Change the part of speech (改变词性改变词性) Change sentence patterns (改变句式改变句式) Use the checklist: 4C + 1O Revising Factors Checking points Complete Cover all the main points using your own words Concise No details Coherent Using linking words if possible Correct No grammatical mistakes Objective No personal opinion a feature article (a narration)
