2019大學(xué)英語六級考試作文寫作常識
一、 基本的寫作步驟
許多考生在拿到作文題后,就雷厲風(fēng)行地動手寫了起來,結(jié)果不是寫的一塌糊涂就是改得亂七八糟。在英語六級考試(包括其它水平考試)的寫作中,通常進(jìn)行以下五個步驟:審題、選材、腹稿(包括提綱和正文)、書寫、修改。
1. 審題
審題是寫作的第一步,也是最關(guān)鍵的一步。因?yàn)槿绻茴}了的話,就幾乎不得分了。所以在拿到題后,一定要冷靜地弄清題目要求;然后確定文章的文體以及主題思想。
通常在四、六級的作文中,有兩種形式。一種是給出題目和提綱(中文或英文),另一種是給出題目和每一段的段首句(段首句大多是該段的主題句,其實(shí)相當(dāng)于提綱)。我們應(yīng)該充分利用這些信息,才不至于跑題。 以2001年1月份的試題為例,它的題目是“How to Succeed in a Job Interview?”,給出了兩個要點(diǎn)(提綱):
(1)面試在求職過程中的作用
(2)取得面試因素:儀表,舉止談吐,能力,專業(yè)知識,自信,實(shí)事求是......
從這些信息來看,這篇文章應(yīng)該是一篇議論加說明的文章,要求寫的是如何在找工作時順利(成功)通過面試。兩個提綱告訴我們,文章至少要分兩個部分,第一個部分是議論,說明面試是重要的;第二個部分要從第二點(diǎn)中給出的幾個方面挑幾點(diǎn)說明怎樣去做。
但是這兩個部分在文章中的比重應(yīng)該如何?是否要平均?
此時應(yīng)該看到,標(biāo)題中的關(guān)鍵詞是HOW,因此文章的重點(diǎn)應(yīng)該在第二點(diǎn),而第一點(diǎn)只是作為引言。
那么文章要分為幾段呢?
在英語文章中,每一段只討論一個問題。所以第(1)點(diǎn)顯然要獨(dú)立成段,第(2)點(diǎn)因?yàn)槭俏恼碌闹攸c(diǎn)所在,可以是一個長一點(diǎn)的段或分為幾段。但要注意的是,既然第一段是一個引言,那么文章就應(yīng)該還有一個總結(jié)的段落,這是原提綱中沒給出來的。
2.選材
確定了文章的主題和輪廓之后,我們就開始考慮要選擇哪些要點(diǎn)來闡明主題。選材一定要圍繞主題句進(jìn)行,同時要考慮到全面性。
比如在考慮上面第一點(diǎn)時,我們要想到面試對雙方都是重要的。對于interviewer來說,通過面試他能對applicant有更好的了解,能通過面試挑到合適的人選等;而對于interviewee來說,他能通過面試更好地了解所申請的工作、薪水、待遇等信息,還能更好地展示自己,還能增強(qiáng)自己的社會知識,能練習(xí)與人打交道等。
但這些是否都要寫進(jìn)文章中去呢?或者比重是否都應(yīng)該一樣呢?
當(dāng)然不。就面試的作用來說,因?yàn)闃?biāo)題是站在求職者的角度來說的,因此面試對于求職者的作用就顯得比它對招聘者的作用更為重要。而在后者中增強(qiáng)自己的社會知識、練習(xí)與人打交道等方面,并不是面試最重要的方面,就可以舍去。 就第二點(diǎn)來說,提綱中給出了許多方面,但這些方面也不能一一都寫進(jìn)作文中去,否則就不是一篇考試作文,而要寫一本求職大全了。應(yīng)該挑最重要的和最好寫的去說,別的可以一帶而過甚至不提。
3. 打腹稿
打腹稿是不可省略的一步,但卻為許多人所忽視。其實(shí)打腹稿就相當(dāng)于我們平時寫作時打草稿,只是考試時沒有時間,也沒有紙用來打草稿。 建議平時寫作時,要養(yǎng)成良好的習(xí)慣,即使在打草稿時也要仔細(xì)想一想要怎么寫,在腦子中先將文章“讀”一篇。
打腹稿時,首先要考慮文章的開頭和結(jié)尾,然后是各個段落間的銜接和過渡,然后是各個句子怎樣寫,要注意用自己熟悉的、有把握的句子,同時也要注意句子之間的銜接與連貫。 4. 抄寫
嚴(yán)格地說,第四步僅僅是將前面三步的結(jié)果用筆寫到試卷上。這部分不應(yīng)占用太多的時間,真正需要時間的是前面的三步。
5. 修改
修改的主要任務(wù)是檢查一下有無拼寫和語法方面的錯誤,同時注意是否用詞有過多的重復(fù)。
總之,在寫作時切忌一邊想一邊寫。
二、文章的銜接與連貫
在評分標(biāo)準(zhǔn)中,同是否扣題同樣重要的是文章的連貫性。往往有的文章扣題倒也扣題了,但還是得不了幾分,這其中的原因恐怕與連貫性有很大的關(guān)系。 這里所說的連貫有兩兩層含義。一是指文章在內(nèi)容上是連貫、統(tǒng)一的,文章中所有的句子都是為全文的中心服務(wù)的。就各段而言,其中的每一句話都要緊緊圍繞著該段的主題句進(jìn)行,不能說與主題句無關(guān)的東西。有人也將其稱為統(tǒng)一性。請看一例:
The weather has been changeable. On Sunday we had a high wind that blew down some trees. Monday was so cold that we had to turn on the heat and wear out winter coats. On Tuesday we formed a group to go roller skating. By Wednesday the weather cleared and the sun came out. Thursday was as hot and humid as an August day. Friday morning it began to rain, and it looks as if we’ll have a cold, steady wind for a few days.
這一段寫“最近天氣多變”,首句為主題句。擴(kuò)展句敘述了星期日、星期一、星期三、星期四和星期五的天氣情況,用以展開關(guān)鍵詞changeable。但星期二沒有提天氣,而是說當(dāng)天的活動安排,偏離了主題,打斷了段落敘述的連貫性,破壞了段落邏輯意義的統(tǒng)一性,應(yīng)刪去或改為與天氣有關(guān)的話。
再如:
Sports benefit us in many respects. When taking part in sports, we get the chance to train almost all parts of our body. There is no doubt that properly balanced physical activities keep us physically fit. Furthermore, sports can enrich our life and maintain our psychological health. Through participation, everyone can learn that on the playing field he not only competes for himself but also for his team. Sports teach us about consideration, cooperation and optimism, and how to cope with difficulties.
第一句是本段的主題句,接下來作者從體育運(yùn)動對身體的好處說了兩句,第四句講述體育運(yùn)動對心理方面的益處,第五句從團(tuán)隊(duì)的方面加以論述,最后一句既是論據(jù),同時也是對前面三點(diǎn)的概括。全段沒有一句話脫離主題句。
連貫的第二層含義指的是表達(dá)上的連貫。文章的段落之間、段落中各句子之間要有一定的銜接。
段落結(jié)構(gòu)和句與句之間的銜接應(yīng)遵照一定的順序。段落之間的連接也應(yīng)符合邏輯。這樣使文章連貫緊湊,自然流暢,層次分明,脈絡(luò)清晰。段落只有在具有含義一致性的同時又具有表達(dá)的連貫性才能充分有效地傳達(dá)信息,真正實(shí)現(xiàn)寫作目的。
這兩層意義的連貫性是相輔相成的。內(nèi)容的連貫性是表達(dá)連貫性的前提,一組互不相干的句子放在一起,無法取得表達(dá)的連貫性;一致性有賴于連貫性,只有把一組意義緊密相關(guān)的句子有機(jī)地組合起來,才能真正充分有效地闡述其主題思想。 就上面的例一來說,雖然它是以時間為線索將這幾天串在一起,但仍讓人感覺太亂。每個句子都是以星期某一天的名子開頭,太單調(diào)了。各個句子之間似乎沒有什么關(guān)系,應(yīng)該說是一篇連貫性較差的文章。下面讓我們對它稍加修改一下:
The weather has been changeable. On Sunday we had a high wind that blew down some trees. Monday was so cold that we had to turn on the heat and wear out winter coats. And it remained gloomy the next day. To our pleasure, by Wednesday the weather cleared and the sun came out. But Thursday tuned out to be as hot and humid as an August day. Worse still, it began to rain this morning, and it looks as if we’ll have a cold, steady wind for a few days.
那么,如何使文章連貫?zāi)?
就議論文而言,獲取連貫主要有三種方法:一是內(nèi)容上的連貫,二是使用代詞或有意地重復(fù)一些詞,三是使用關(guān)聯(lián)詞語。
內(nèi)容上的連貫如前所述。
代詞和有意的重復(fù)可起到銜接的作用。例如在上面的例子中,在提到星期二時,沒有用Tuesday,而是用了the next day,避免重復(fù),并把這兩天連在一起,讓人感覺到了前后的承接。再如最后一句中原文用的是Friday morning,改為this morning后,意義并沒有改變,但一下子把距離拉近了,既承接起前面的五天,又能與后一分句中的將來時有效的結(jié)合。
關(guān)聯(lián)詞和插入語的使用是大學(xué)英語六級考試作文中最明顯的連接手段,如上例中的and,to our pleasure,but,worse still。
需要注意的是,關(guān)聯(lián)詞的使用是與段落(文章)的展開方法密切相關(guān)的,不要為了使用關(guān)聯(lián)詞而使用關(guān)聯(lián)詞。下面結(jié)合段落的展開方法具體加以說明。
1. 列舉法
列舉的模式通常是
主題句----example 1 ----example 2 ----example 3
列舉時常用for example, for instance, such as, like, as proof, thus, take…as an example, to illustrate 等詞語.
Nonverbal communication, or "body language." is communication by facial expressions, head or eye movements, hand signals, and body postures. It can be just as important to understanding as words are. Misunderstandings often amusing but sometimes serious-can arise between people from different culture if they misinterpret nonverbal signals. Take for example, the differences in meaning of gesture very common in the United States: a circle made with the thumb and index finger. To an American, it means that everything is ok. To a Japanese, it means that you are talking about money. In France," it means that something is worthless, and in Greece, it is an obscene gesture. Therefore, an American could unknowingly offend a Greek by using that particular hand signal.
2. 分類法
一般是在主題句之后,依次羅列段落指示詞所表達(dá)的幾個部分或幾個方面。然后,選用豐富的事例對所羅列的各個部分或各個方面進(jìn)行具體地說明或解釋。
There are three basic kinds of materials that can" be found in any good library. First, there are books on all subjects, both in English and in many other languages. These books are organized according to subject, title, and author in a central file caned the card catalog. Books can generally be checked out of the library and taken home for a period of two to four weeks. Second, there are reference works. which include encyclopedias, dictionaries, bibliography, atlases, etc., and which generally must be used in the library itself. Third, there are periodicals- magazines, newspapers, pamphlets-which are flied alphabetically in racks, or which have been filmed to conserve space. Like reference works, periodicals cannot usually be removed from the library.
分類時常用:most of all, next,moreover, in addition,besides,furthermore,to begin with,to start with,first of all,first,second,third…
3. 因果關(guān)系
在段落一開頭,就用主題句點(diǎn)明其因果關(guān)系,然后選用有關(guān)材料,客觀的羅列某些原因或結(jié)果,以證闡述的中心思想。
Growing numbers of well-to-do Americans are making the decision to move abroad. They find it impossible in America to walk the streets at night without fear of being raped, mugged, or murdered, nor do they see a way to escape the poisonous air of the cities. They maintain that even American food has become increasingly dangerous to eat. Last but not least, they insist that they are sick of the pace of American life, a pace that leaves no time for relaxation or pleasure.
因果關(guān)系常用語匯: because of, so, owing to, thanks to, thus, as a result of, hence, for this reason, consequently, is caused by, lead to, result in
4.比較法
主題句必須明確表明所要比較的對象和所要比較的范圍,實(shí)際上就是羅列兩個或兩個以上比較對象的相同點(diǎn)。
Learning English is like building a house. Laying a solid foundation is the first and most important step. In other words, you should reads, you should read and speak English every day. Memorizing new words and phrases is also helpful. Like building a house, learning English takes some time. So don’t be impatient. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
常用語匯:at the same time, similar to, accordingly, both, show a degree of similarity, similarly, lie and so , the same as, and… too, in the same way, in a like manner
5.舉例法
列舉事實(shí)或舉出實(shí)例來說明中心思想, 是簡單易行、具有說服力的寫作方法。
Communicating with other people by telephone is very convenient, especially when you have something urgent. For example, if one of your family members is seriously ill at right, and you don’t know how to deal with it and where to find a doctor, what can you do? A telephone is the answer. Dial 120 and you will get services from the hospital very soon.