Teamwork is just as important in science as it is on the playing field or in the gym. Scientific investigations (调查) are almost always carried out by teams of people working together. Ideas are shared, experiments are designed, data are analyzed, and results are evaluated and shared with other investigators. Group work is necessary, and is usually more productive than working alone.
Several times throughout the year you may be asked to work with one or more of your classmates. Whatever the task your group is assigned, a few rules need to be followed to ensure a productive and successful experience.
What comes first is to keep an open mind, because everyone’s ideas deserve consideration and each group member can make his or her own contribution. Secondly, it makes a job easier to divide the group task among all group members. Choose a role on the team that is best suited to your particular strengths. Thirdly, always work together, take turns, and encourage each other by listening, clarifying, and trusting one another. Mutual （相互的）support and trust often makes a great difference.
Activities like investigations are most effective when done by small groups. Here are some more suggestions for effective team performance during these activities: Make sure each group member understands and agrees to the task given to him or her, and everyone knows exactly when , why and what to do; take turns doing various tasks during similar and repeated activities; be aware of where other group members are and what they are doing so as to ensure safety; be responsible for your own learning, though it is by no means unwise to compare your observations with those of other group members.
When there is research to be done, divide the topic into several areas, and this can explore the issue in a very detailed way. You are encouraged to keep records of the sources used by each person, which helps you trace back to the origin of the problems that may happen unexpectedly. A format for exchanging information (e.g., photocopies of notes , oral discussion, etc.) is also important, for a well-chosen method not only strengthens what you present but also makes yourself easily understood. When the time comes to make a decision and take a position on an issue, allow for the contributions of each member of the group. Most important of all, it is always wise to make decisions by compromise and agreement.
After you’ve completed a task with your team, make an evaluation of the team’s effectiveness — the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and challenges.
| Title | Working Together |
| Theme | Effective performance needs highly cooperated 【小题1】__________. |
| General rules | Keep an open mind to everyone’s【小题2】_________. Divide the group task among group members. 【小题3】__________ and trust each other. |
| 【小题4】______ | ● Understand and agree to the 【小题5】_________ task of one’s own. ● Take turns doing various tasks. ● Show concern for others to ensure safety. ● Take【小题6】__________ for one’s own learning. ● Compare your own observations with those of others. |
| Explore an issue | ● Break the【小题7】_______ into several areas. ● 【小题8】_________the sources just in case. ● 【小题9】__________ your information with others via proper format. ● Make all decisions by compromise and agreement. |
| 【小题10】______ effectiveness | ● Analyze the strengths and weaknesses. ● Find out the opportunities and challenges |
In the winter of 1964, the Beatles, a British musical, packed up their electric guitars, drum kits, and rebellious ways and set off for America.
Two days later, more than seventy million people watched the group perform four of their hit songs on the Ed Sullivan Show. This was sixty percent of the American television audience. Here the Beatles sing one of those songs, "I Want to Hold Your Hand."
The Beatles soon had the top five hit songs on the Billboard singles chart. Millions of fans became infected with Beatlemania. They rushed to stores to buy Beatles albums, wigs, clothes, dolls and lunch boxes.
The Beatles recorded more than twenty number one hits in America. A Beatles song was almost always at the top of the charts until the group's next hit replaced it. They played to more than fifty thousand fans at large sports stadiums. And they filmed several movies that made millions of dollars.
The Beatles were influenced by American singers including Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Little Richard. Yet the group's music sounded completely new and different. The Beatles wrote more than two hundred songs that revolutionized American popular music.
In addition, young people saw the Beatles as spokesmen for their generation. They copied the band members' long hair and free-spirited ways. The band became so popular that in 1966 John Lennon said they were more popular than Jesus Christ.
Soon other musicians began writing their own music the way John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the Beatles songs.
Many other British groups followed the Beatles to America. This was known as the "British Invasion." They included the Dave Clark Five, the Kinks and the Rolling Stones.
The Rolling Stones called themselves the "World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band." The Stones first performed across America in 1964. This song was the group's first Top 40 hit in the United States.
In the spring of 1970, the Beatles released "Let it Be." But their fans were not celebrating. This was the last studio album the Beatles recorded as a group. It tells the story of the band's break up.
| British【小题1】______ “Beatles” | |
| Time and Place | Events |
| 1964 | Get everything【小题2】_____ and leave for America. |
| After arriving in USA | Over half of American TV audience watched their【小题3】_____ of the most popular songs. And soon, the group had millions of 【小题4】______ in USA. |
| In America | 1. They【小题5】______ more than 20 number one hits in America; 2. They played a lot to many fans; 3. They filmed movies. |
| 1966 | Although American singers had【小题6】______ on them, their music was 【小题7】_____ new. 【小题8】_____, the Beatles was【小题9】_____ as models for the young people. |
| 1970 | The last group album “Let it be” was【小题10】______. |
Are we too quick to blame and slow to praise? It seems that while most of us are only too ready to apply to others the cold wind of criticism, we are somehow unwilling to give others the warm sunshine of praise.
It’s strange how mean we are about praising. Perhaps it’s because few of us know how to accept praise gracefully . Instead , we are embarrassed and ignore the words we are really so glad to hear. Because of this defensive reaction, direct praise is surprisingly difficult to give.
Do you ever go into a house and say, “ What a tidy room!” Hardly anybody does. That’s why housework is considered such a boring job. Shakespeare said, “ Our praises are our wages.” Since so often praise is the only wage a housewife receives, surely she is worthy of praise.
Mothers know naturally that for children an ounce of praise is worth a pound of scolding. Still, we are unaware of children’s small achievements and we seldom apply the rule. One day I was criticizing my children for quarrelling. “Can you never play peacefully?” I shouted. Susanna looked at me confused. “ Of course I can,” she said. “But you don’t notice us when we do.”
Teachers agree about the value of praise. “ I believe that a student knows when he has handed in something above his usual standard,” writes a teacher, “ and that he is hungry for a belief comment in the margin to show him that the teacher is aware of it, too.”
Behavioral scientists have done countless experiments to prove that people have a tendency to repeat an act which has been immediately followed by a pleasant result. In one such experiment, a number of schoolchildren were divided into three groups and given arithmetic tests daily for five days. One group was constantly praised for its previous performance; another group was criticized; the third was ignored. Not surprisingly, those who were praised improved dramatically. Those who were criticized improved ,too, but not so much. And the scores of the children who were ignored hardly improved at all. Interestingly, the brightest children were helped just as much by criticism as by praise, but the less able children, who reacted badly to criticism, needed praise the most.
To give praise costs the giver nothing but a moment’s thought and a moment’s effort—perhaps a quick phone call to pass on good comments , or write an appreciative letter. It is such a small investment—and yet consider the results it may produce. We will not only bring joy into other people’s lives, but also, very often, added happiness into our room.” I can live for two months on a good compliment.” said Mark Twain.
Title : Profits of Praise
| Theme | Compared with_____【小题1】_____ , praise should be valued and appreciated more. |
| Reasons for unwillingness to give praise | We feel embarrassed and ignore the words pleasant to our ears____【小题2】___ than accept them gracefully. We have ____【小题3】____ giving direct praise because of our so-called defensive reaction. |
| Importance of praise in some cases | A housewife ___【小题4】____ to be praised for her sacrifices and devotion . A mother is supposed to be aware of their children’s small achievements and ___【小题5】___ the rule of giving praise. A student waits ____【小题6】____ for a good comment from his teacher when he hands in his homework above his usual standard. |
| Findings of experiments on profits of praise | Everybody___【小题7】____ to repeat an act if praised more often. Those who receive constant praise have made dramatic improvement. Unlike brilliant children, less able children ___【小题8】___ badly to criticism desperately need praise. |
| ________【小题9】_______ | It pays to make a moment’s ___【小题10】_____ to pass on praise, for it brings added joy and happiness to our lives as well as others’. |
