写作在英语中的重要性
⑴ 英语写作的重要性及如何提升
一、英语写作的重要性
1.英语写作能帮助我们提高使用英语的准确性只要写一个句子,更不用说一段,一篇,就要力求句法,用词,拼写,标点等完全正确,而且与前后句紧密连贯。写和说不同,写好后可以检查修改,而一次修改就是一次提高。写得越多,语言就会越准确。2.练习英语写作能扩大词汇量 口语所使用的语言一般是比较简单和常用的。而在用英语写作时,所使用的语言则是多种多样的。从极简单到较复杂的语言都要使用,所使用的词汇和句型也比口语中使用的要多得多,这对英语词汇量的扩大有很大帮助。3.写作训练能帮助我们提高逻辑思考及分析问题的能力写一篇作文,不论长短,都需要妥善地组织材料,得出结论,作到重点突出,条理清楚。这样,在锻炼写作能力的同时,也锻炼了分析与处理问题的能力。4.英语写作对阅读,听力,口语,翻译等各方面都有促进作用 自己知道写作的甘苦,对别人的写作技巧就会乐于学习。分析问题的能力提高了,听别人说话就会善于抓住要点。语言质量提高了,口语也会准确一些。
二、怎样写好英语作文
1.打好扎实的英语语言基础 要写好英语作文,首先必须掌握一定数量的英语单词。此外,还得掌握好一定的英语语法知识。若有不太清楚的地方,应通过查阅语法书和词典来逐步解决,不能偷懒,随便乱写。2.广泛进行英语阅读 专业作家的秘密之一就是:阅读,阅读,再阅读。杜甫说“读书破万卷,下笔如有神”。敏感的阅读,使人产生灵感,使人对生平从未遇到的问题作出符合逻辑的或感情上的响应。阅读其他人的文章,并不是为了如法炮制,但我们可以把从其他作品中学到的东西融化到自己的文体和技巧中去。当我们发现一段文章比自己能写出的任何东西好得多的时候,坐下来,对它进行反复研究琢磨。它好在哪里?就同一题目,这位作者做了哪些我们不能做到的事情?模仿别人技术上的长处,对习作者来说极有益处。但仅靠阅读是不行的,因为它可以被用作不动笔的借口,还会成为一种麻醉剂。因此要记住:阅读是为了写作。3.掌握一定的英语写作技巧 英语写作有许多技巧,如怎样选词,造句,怎样展开段落,各种体裁的英语作文应怎样布局谋篇等。只有对这些基本的写作技巧加以掌握,才能在英语写作时得心应手。
⑵ 英文写作:学习英语的重要性
The significance of learning English
Everybody knows that English is the most widely used international language of today. It is spoken by more than half of the people of the world. Some speak English as their own language, and some speak it as a second language. By learning English we can enlarge our mental horizons and increase our knowledge because we shall have a better chance of reading a wide variety of books, newspapers, and magazines.
English is also useful in other different fields of life such as business and commerce. Indeed, many businessmen build their success upon their good knowledge of English.
Students sometimes study their subjects in English. Businessmen use English at their meetings; scientists and doctors write articles in English; tourists speak English when they go abroad, it helps them enjoy their trips and communicate with other people to develop better understanding and establish new friendships.
Moreover, English helps us follow television programs and enjoy interesting films, and read the literature of other people.
English is particularly important in the fields of science and technology. There are many scientific books that we shall not be able to enjoy without a good knowledge of English. Besides, technology of the modern world is, as a matter of fact, available in English. We would be completely ignorant of many scientific facts without knowledge of English.
From what we have said, one can say that English is learnt for both benefit and enjoyment. It is, in a word, a way to success not only in examinations but also in life, for this reason, students learn English - not only to pass their examinations but also to enjoy the pleasures of life.
We can summarize the reason for wanting to learn English in that nothing can be done, without it. Especially with regards to dealing with computers and modern technology, such as the internet. Without English, one is closed to those linguistic items which render us capable of entering the modern technological world.
Another essay
The English language has now become an international language because it is used by people of the most countries in the world.
In the open times if you want to do business with foreigners, you have to learn English, for most of them speak and write English. English is one of the working languages at international meetings. Today most of the valuable books are written in English. In order to improve your knowledge, you should be able to read English. Only those who read English can benefit from the reports of the meetings in the world and books written in English. English appears to be regarded as the standard language of man. If you know English you can understand people from other countries better and you can also do what you should do for the world peace.
English is taught in most of the schools of our country, but many students don't know why they should learn it. It is hoped that all the students should pay more attention to the study of English and make good use of it.
Hope this works
⑶ 英语书写的重要性
学习英语要至少要兼顾听、说、写三管齐下缺一不可,到达英语程度最后还以书写能力做为重要指标,因为要通过考试或发表文章,如果没有必要考试和发文,书写就不是很重要。
⑷ 英语写作在英语学习中的重要性。(可用中文说明)
英语学习的最后体现就是作文了,可以考察出作者的英语综合能力。在考试中,作文是半壁江山,得作文者得天下。
⑸ 英语书写漂亮的重要性
英文书写写的漂亮,在中考高考时卷面分就会很高,而且会体现这个人学习的认真态度,更容易受到他人的重视。
⑹ 英语重要性 作文
英语的重要性
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篇名
英语的重要性
作者
陈书萱.国立虎尾高中.三年一班
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壹●前言
全球化的时代已经来临,贸易往来,资讯传递,文化交流……更是任何国家赖以
生存的不二法门.因此迈向国际化才是现代人的生存之道,想要出人头地,就必
须具有国际观,并且具有口语的沟通能力,才是明智之举.然而现今最强势的国
家莫过於美国,美语更是全世界通用的语言,所以学好美语才有资格踏入国际的
世界.如果国人没有好的美语能力,真的是一件极为严重的大事,毕竟台湾只是
一个极小的海岛,却容纳二千多万的人民,必须依赖国际贸易才有办法维持国人
的生活,再说全世界使用繁体中文的国家只有台湾了,因此我们更须靠自己的力
量走出囿限,迈向国际化.没有先天国际上的优势没关系,重要的是国人能靠自
己后天上的努力开创出一片耀眼的天空,打响台湾的名号,让全世界的人都能认
识台湾就像认识美国一样,再度展现台湾的经济奇迹与科技上的先进技术,重振
昔日的雄风而更胜之.
贰●正文
一,为什麼要学英文
於地球村的世界里,交流是必然的,因此我们必须学好英语这个国际通用的语
言,才能让我们走向国际化的世界.并且有专家指出使用二种语言以上的人罹患
老年痴呆症的机率明显比一般人来得低,因此学英语是最好的选择了.既可降低
患病机率,又可具有迈向国际的基本能力,何乐而不为呢
二,英语的重要性
学英语不只是为了国际化的需求,更重要的是为了我们自己本身知识的扩充.这
又怎麼说呢 因为西方的科技领先我们,进步且有许多好文章,好的研究丛书都
是用英文写成的;为了能进一步探索研究,扩展们我的知识与专业技能,首先必
须学好英语,才有办法不假他人之手翻译,而能得到最真实的第一手资料.
01.英语口语的重要性
在全球经济体系中,英文成为重要的沟通语言,要与世界接轨,流利的口语能力
势将成为重要的关键.虽然,有多数国人的英文读写能力相当不错,但口语的表
达和理解能力,对於大多数台湾人而言却是一大碍.因此,在这个竞争愈趋激烈
的市场上,英语口语能力便成为英语教育中非常重的一环.今日,台湾的英语教
者,不要只是要著重英语的读写技巧,应该体认到提升学生听说能力的重要
性.(注一)
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02.英文重要,中文系也要用英文上课
元智大学不仅要求学生必须修满四分之一英文上课学分,甚至连中文系也开了全
英文上课的课程,希望让学生毕业后晓得怎麼用英文介绍中国文化.(注二)
三,肯下工夫就会成功
我们常说学习一件新事物很困难,但只要抱持著不懈的决心与毅力,终究能实现
学成的梦想.倘若只是嘴巴上说说,永远也不可能踏出重要的第一步.举例来说:
比那有钱的和尚考虑东考虑西,嫌这不足,嫌那困难,迟迟不肯踏出步伐,终
究没有成功的一天;反观那位穷和尚,只凭著一只钵,一双腿,靠著沿途化缘,
恳求帮助,终於凭著恒心与毅力成功从南海归来.因此只要肯按部就班,循序渐
进,就一定会成功的.
四,学英文应有的态度
在台湾的教育型态下,学生大多数的考试,阅读,写作的能力不错,但在听力与
口语沟通能力上就只能用「差」来形容了.许多高中生,大学生甚至不敢和外国
朋友说上几句英语,只因他们的口语能力不好,但愈是如此就愈不敢开口,口语
能力也就一直烂下去,不会进步.学而至此,又有何用呢 记得我在某篇报章上
看过以下的说法,「你会因为外国人的中文说得不好而嘲笑他吗 如果你的答案
是『No』,那麼你觉得外国朋友们会因你的英文说得不好而嘲笑你吗 想要进
步,最重要的一点就是要不怕丢脸.」看了之后,我突然觉得豁然,因为这是一
个很简单却需要勇气去承认,去实行的问题,只有放开自我,才能得到更多.
01.不放弃英文
要学好英文,游政琦的第一条经验守则就是不要放弃它,不论你的英文在过去有
多烂或平平的像早餐的蛋饼一样,只要你有动机想学好它,你就把过去考不及格
或其他受折的阴影给扫到一旁,就算学得再怎麼不理想,别忘了,你早已经比一
些美国的文盲人士还多背了一些单字了.要先对自己有信心,然后才能持续进行
这种令你快乐的英文才会快乐的学习过程.(注三)
02.学英语的正确方法
想学好英语并不是只看课本就够的,还需要多读课外读物,如:英语杂志,英
语小说,……等等,虽然这也是众所皆知的事,但却很难真正去实行吧!毕竟
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这其中所受的苦与挫折并非所有人都能熬得过来.但倘若我们能拿出自己的恒
心,并选对学习方法,我们就可以快乐学习,轻松获得.第一步先选一些自己
比较熟悉的英语故事书(如:白雪公主,灰姑娘,伊索寓言)做为培养阅读课外
书的习惯,一来单字较简易,二来内容又颇为引人入胜,若再加上多听朗读
CD,并且跟著开口说,如此一而再,再而三周而复始,日子一久英语能力便
会在无形中慢慢地增长,进而有了深厚的基础.尔后再加上多多阅读英语杂
志,报刊,多看,多背一些新单字,增加自己的单字量,并多和同学进行的常
生活上的口语对话或和传教士们聊天,如此一来英语能力可就会顶呱呱了.
03.勇於开口
其实,一个人的单字或文法能力有多强,外国人并不一定很清楚,因为这是的好
坏,那就大大不同了,你说得好,大定都会看得到,所以,这方面能力强的话,
的确是会吃香不少.只要你能表达出来,且勇於表达那就是好,而且你愈敢说,
你就愈得到他人的回应,而愈得到他人的回应,你就愈有自信,说穿了,要讲得
,你就必须先要敢讲,而且是大声地讲.(注四)
参●结论
如同前言中提到的,台湾只是个小小的海岛,因此需要大量依靠国际贸易来维持
人民的生计,毕竟台湾的土地有限且又多山,再加上大量的工厂和住宅占地造成
仅剩不多的农地,因此甚至还要进口粮食才足以供台湾人民食用.而且现今世界
上有许多国家使用英语当官方语言,例如:美国,英国,澳洲,新加坡,菲律宾……
等等,所以想和那些国家贸易就必须先学好英文,否则一切就免谈啦!另外学好
英文的另一个目的,就是用英文介绍中国文化,把中国文化的优点传出去,让全
世界有目共睹仿效我们的优点,而我们也能透过英文学习他国的好,改正我们自
己的缺点,进而真正达到文化交流的最终目的:使各国都能以他国为借镜,让错
事别一而再,再而三的发生,使各国都可比现今更进步.
⑺ 初中英语写作课的重要性
当然是很重要吧,因为我们说初中英语写作的话,如果写得好。到后期发展是不可生存
⑻ 写作的重要性写一篇英语作文
As is known to all, writing is an important andnecessary skill for all students. However, many students don’t reallyunderstand the true importance of writing, as they just consider writing as atask of exam. As far as I am concerned, writing has deeper importance in manyways.
众所周知,写作对所有的学生来说是一项重要和必要的技能。但是,很多学生没有真正明白写作的重要性,因为他们只把写作当做是考试的一项任务。在我看来,写作在很多方面更重要。
Firstly, improving our ability of using words is abasic function of writing. For example, in order to write a good Englishcomposition, we must use every word carefully as much as possible to ensure itscorrectness. In the process, we have improved our ability of using words andwriting skills imperceptibly. In this aspect, writing is a good way tostrengthen our ability.
首先,提高我们用词能力是写作的一个基本功能。例如,为了写好一篇英语作文,我们必须极可能谨慎使用每一个词以确保文章的正确性。在这个过程中,我们不知不觉地提高了我们用词能力和写作技巧。从这一方面来看,写作是加强能力的一个好方法。
Moreover, writing is an effective way to enlarge ourvocabulary. Different compositions we write need different vocabularies.Therefore, the more compositions we write, the more vocabularies we get. At thesame time, it is helpful to enlarge our reading.
其次,写作是扩展我们的词汇量的有效方法。我们所写的不同作文需要不同的词汇。所以,我们写得越多,我们就掌握越多的词汇。同时,这也有助于我们扩大阅读量。
And last but not the least, writing makes greatcontribution to our logical thinking and analysis ability. For one thing, towrite a good composition, we must collect and arrange writing materialssystematically so that we can show off what is essential and what is not soimportant. In the process of dealing with materials, we are also learning toanalyze and deal with the different problems. For another, it is also a processto practice our own thinking ability and form different thoughts. By dealing withall kinds of compositions, we can get in touch with more thoughts and becomewiser.
最后但不是最不重要的一点,写作对我们的逻辑思维和分析能力很有帮助。一方面,为了写好一篇作文,我们必须系统地收集和整理写作材料以便能够掌握什么事必要的,什么又不是那么重要的。在处理材料的过程中,我们也学会分析和处理不同问题。另一方面,这也是一个锻炼我们思考能力和形成不同思维的过程。通过处理各种各样的作文,我们可以接触到更多的想法从而变得更理智。
In a word, writing is an important skill, especiallyfor language learners. Thus, we should improve our writing ability as much aspossible to improve our overall levels.
总之,写作是一项重要的技能,特别是对语言学习者。因此,我们应该尽可能提高我们的学做能力以提高我们各方面水平。
⑼ 英语写作在英语学习中的重要性
别急 会把英语写作能力提高的
谈谈如何提高英语写作能力
关键词:英语写作能力 原则 方法
引言:英语写作能力是英语听、说、读、写四种基本能力之一,英语写作能有效地促进语言知识的内化。Swain(1985)提出“可理解输出”假设,认为包括写在内的语言产生性运用有助于学习者检验目的语句法结构和词语的使用,促进语言运用的自动化,有效地达到了语言习得的目的。通过写作,英语知识不断得到巩固并内在化,有利于英语技能的全面发展。但是,英语写作又是广大英语学习者最感头痛的问题之一,且容易被教师忽视,笔者以为如何提高英语写作能力值得我们认真研究。本文就此谈谈初浅的看法。
一、提高英语写作能力的原则
(一)渐进性原则。要坚持“句—段—篇”的训练程序,由易到难,循序渐进。在英语写作的初始阶段,要始终注意培养学生良好的写作习惯,狠抓基本功训练。在学生掌握了基本句型并能写出简单句子后,再要求学生根据一些体例写出小段的文章。在段落写作中要引导学生分析段落的结构、段落的中心句、句与句之间的逻辑关系、写作手法等,这样有利于下一步一篇文章的写作。在文章写作中要教会学生如何构思文章、如何运用正确的写作技巧等。
(二)多样性原则。要坚持训练形式的多样化及写作文体的多样性。从形式上而言,可以用回答提问的口头作文,也可以用续写故事;可以改写课文,也可以仿写课文;可以写提纲训练谋篇布局,也可以写拓展段训练发散思维……。从文体上而言,可以写说明文、议论文、记叙文,也可以写书信、便条、通知等实用文体。
(三)结合性原则。要坚持听说读训练和写训练相结合。根据语言习得理论,学习者在学习时常先通过听和读吸取语言知识,从而了解别人的思想,再通过说和写来表达自己的思想,让别人了解自己。大量的听说训练能促进读写能力的提高。因此,写与听说读紧密结合,进行多元化的能力训练,可使学生的各项能力互相影响、互相渗透、互相促进。
(四)控制性原则。要坚持写作前的指导,控制学生的汉语语言思维,发展英语语言思维。语言学习在很大程度上主要是模仿,而非随心所欲地自由表达。教师要加强写作前的指导,可给出范文让学生模仿,以熟悉其语篇结构。同时要控制其汉语语言思维,尽可能让学生习惯英语语言思维,以便于学生学习和掌握地道、正确的英语。
(五)持久性原则。要坚持长期、正确的写作训练。英语写作能力的提高并非一朝一夕之事,而是一个长期的、艰巨的、渐进的过程。这就要求教师、学生都要有充分的思想准备,要有坚韧不拔的意志和必胜的信心。
二、提高英语写作能力的方法。
(一)通过积累词汇量,提高英语写作能力。犹如土木砖石是建筑的材料一样,词汇是说话写作的必需材料,也是制约写作能力提高的瓶颈。可以想象,如果要写一个句子,10个单词有8个单词拼写错误或拼写不出,有2
个单词用法不当,又怎么能清楚地表达自己的思想呢?因此,在平时的教学中要强调学生记忆单词,记住单词的拼读、用法、意思等。记忆单词的方法有很多,各人有各人的记忆方法和习惯,可因人而异。教师可通过要求学生朗读单词、听写单词、默写单词、遣词造句、词汇竞赛等多种方法促进学生记单词。记忆单词是一个长期的反复的过程,要长期地坚持下去,才能不断积累大量的词汇,为英语写作打下坚实的基础。
(二)通过扩大阅读量,提高英语写作能力。古人云“熟读唐诗三百首,不会作诗也会吟”,这是汉语的一种学习方法,同样可借鉴于英语写作。多阅读是学生增加接触英语语言材料、接受信息、活跃思维、增长智力的一种途径,同时也是培养学生英语思维能力、提高理解力、增强语感、巩固和扩大词汇量的一种好方法,有利于促进英语写作能力的提高。在阅读训练中,教师要注意以下问题:一是指导阅读方法,分析文章结构、中心思想、段落中心句、写作方法等,帮助学生掌握各类文章的结构及写作方法。二要精读与泛读相结合,通过推敲优秀的文章来学会写作方法和选词用词;通过大量的泛读来吸取信息量,扩大词汇量。三要扩大阅读量。提供阅读的材料涉及面要广,才能不断扩大学生的知识面,使学生适应各种题材的写作。
(三)通过提高听说能力,提高英语写作能力。英语听说读写四种能力是相互影响、相互促进的,提高听说能力必定会促进写作能力的提高。要提高听说能力关键在于创设一个良好的英语环境。教师要尽可能地用英语授课,多开展专门的听说训练,同时开展丰富多彩的课外英语活动,让学生沉浸在英语海洋中去领略、去体会、去使用英语,久而久之,学生自然能使用正确的、地道的英语进行交谈与写作。
(四)通过重视写作过程,提高英语写作能力。长期以来,英语写作成果教学法(THE PRODUCT
APPROACH)在我国居于主导地位,教师根据写作的终成品来判断写作的成败,重视写作的技术性细节(如格式、拼写、语法等),忽视写作过程的指导。根据D.Rumechart和J.McClelland提出的连通论(Connectionism)理论,写作包括写前阶段、具体写作、文章修改三个基本过程,这三个过程并非是线性排列,而是循环往复,穿插进行的。教师只有重视加强对写作三个过程的指导,才能更好地提高英语写作能力。在写作前阶段,教师重在指导学生如何挖掘题材,训练发散性思维,以及如何选择材料、谋篇布局等。在具体写作中,教师重在指导学生如何紧扣主题、运用正确的写作方法等。在文章修改中,教师重在指导学生如何修改语法及用词的错误。
(五)通过多写英语摘要,提高英语写作能力。英语摘要是把一篇文章的要点摘录出来,用自己的语言使之独立成一篇短文,这不是简单的摘录,而是忠于原文意思的再创作。写英语摘要有利于学生了解原文的文化背景、理解原文的中心意思、弄清原文的篇章结构,从而提高学生的逻辑思维能力和谋篇布局能力。
(六)通过发展英语语言思维能力,提高英语写作能力。英语写作是运用已掌握的内在化语言知识和表达方法,通过思维进行外在化输出的创作,因此英语语言思维能力在英语写作中作用非凡。对于我国学生而言,在英语写作中易受汉语语言思维的影响,难以直接用英语语言进行思维,不利于英语写作能力的提高,因此发展其英语语言思维能力尤为重要。教师要注意对学生的英语语言思维进行多方位、多角度的训练:要采取各种方法训练学生英语语言思维的广阔性、深刻性、发散性和创造性;要教会学生用英语思考问题、回答问题;要从训练形象思维开始,逐步过渡到抽象思维训练;在课文讲解中要尽可能不用汉语翻译而用英语解释,消除汉语思维的影响;要努力创设良好的英语环境,在英语交际中发展英语思维能力。
写好英语段落的三个标准
首先,一个段落必须有一个中心即主题思想,该中心由主题句特别是其中的题旨来表达。整个段落必须紧扣这个主题(stick or hold to the topic),这就是段落的统一性(unity)。其次,一个段落必须有若干推展句,使主题思想得到充分展开,从而给读者一个完整的感觉,这就是完整性(completeness or adequateness)。再者,一个段落不是杂乱无章的,而是有机的组合,句子的排列顺序必须合乎逻辑,从一个句子到另一个句子的过渡必须流畅(smooth),这就是连贯性(coherence)。下面我们就对这三个标准分别加以说明。
1、统一性
一个段落内的各个句子必须从属于一个中心,任何游离于中心思想之外的句子都是不可取的。请看下例:
Joe and I decided to take the long trip we'd always wanted across the country. We were like young kids buying our camper and stocking it with all the necessities of life. Bella bakes the best rhubarb pie. We started out in early spring from Minneapolis and headed west across the northern part of the country. We both enjoyed those people we met at the trailer park. Joe received a watch at his retirement dinner. To our surprise, we found that we liked the warm southern regions very much, and so we decided to stay here in New Mexico.
本段的主题句是段首句,controlling idea(中心思想)是take the long trip across the country.文中出现两个irrelevant sentences,一个是Bella bakes the best rhubarb pie,这一段是讲的是Joe and I ,中间出现一个Bella是不合适的。还有,Joe received a watch at his retirement dinner这一句更是与主题句不相关。考生在四级统考的作文卷上常常因为造出irrelevant sentences(不相关语句)而丢分,值得引起注意。再看一个例子:
My name is Roseanna, and I like to keep physically fit. I used to weigh two hundred pounds, but I joined the YMCA for an exercise class and diet program. In one year I lost eighty pounds. I feel much better and never want to have that much weight on my five-feet frame again. I bought two new suitcases last week. Everyday I practice jogging three miles, swimming fifteen laps, lifting twenty-pound weights and playing tennis for one hour. My mother was a premature baby.
本段的controlling idea 是like to deep physically fit,但段中有两个irrelevant sentences,一个是I bought two new suitcases last week,另一个是My mother was a premature baby.
从上面两个例子可以看出,native speakers同样会造出来irrelevant sentences.卷面上如果这种句子多了,造成偏题或离题,那问题就更严重了。
2、完整性
正象我们前面说得那样,一个段落的主题思想靠推展句来实现,如果只有主题句而没有推展句来进一步交待和充实,就不能构成一个完整的段落。同样,虽然有推展句,但主题思想没有得到相对圆满的交待,给读者一种意犹未尽的感觉。这样的段落也不能完成其交际功能。例如:
Physical work can be a useful form of therapy for a mind in turmoil. Work concentrates your thoughts on a concrete task. Besides, it is more useful to work —— you proce something rather than more anxiety or depression.
本段的主题句是段首句。本段的两个推展句均不能回答主题句中提出的问题。什么是“a mind in turmoil”(心境不平静)Physical work又如何能改变这种情况?为什么它能起therapy的作用?读者得不到明确的答案。由于四级统考的作文部分只要求写一篇100~120个词的三段式短文,每一段只有大约40个词左右,因此,要达到完整就必须尽可能地简明。例如:
It is not always true that a good picture is worth a thousand words. Often writing is much clearer than a picture. It is sometimes difficult to figure out what a picture means, but a careful writer can almost always explain it.
段首句所表达的主题思想是一种看法,必须有具体事例加以验证。上述两个推展句只是在文字上对主题作些解释,整个段落内容空洞,简而不明。如果用一两个具体的例子的话,就可以把主题解释清楚了。比如下段:
It is not always true that a picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes, pictures are pretty useless things. If you can't swim and fall in the river and start gulping water, will you be better off to hold up a picture of yourself drowning, or start screaming “Help”?
3、连贯性(coherence)
连贯性包括意连和形连两个方面,前者指的是内在的逻辑性,后者指的是使用转换词语。当然这两者常常是不可分割的。只有形连而没有意连,句子之间就没有内在的有机的联系;反之,只有意连而没有形连,有时行文就不够流畅。
1)、意连
段落中句子的排列应遵循一定的次序,不能想到什么就写什么。如果在下笔之前没有构思,边写边想,写写停停,那就写不出一气呵成的好文章来。下面介绍几种常见的排列方式。
A.按时间先后排列(chronological arrangement)
We had a number of close calls that day. When we rose, it was obviously late and we had to hurry so as not to miss breakfast; we knew the dining room staff was strict about closing at nine o'clock. Then, when we had been driving in the desert for nearly two hours —— it must have been close to noon —— the heat nearly hid us in; the radiator boiled over and we had to use most of our drinking water to cool it down. By the time we reached the mountain, it was our o'clock and we were exhausted. Here, judgement ran out of us and we started the tough climb to the summit, not realizing that darkness came suddenly in the desert. Sure enough, by six we were struggling and Andrew very nearly went down a steep cliff, dragging Mohammed and me along with him. By nine, when the wind howled across the flat ledge of the summit, we knew as we shivered together for warmth that it had not been our lucky day.
本段从“rose”(起床)写起,然后是吃早餐(“not to miss breakfast”, “closing at nine o'clock”),然后是“close to noon”,一直写到这一天结束(“By nine——”)。
B. 按位置远近排列(spatial arrangement)。例如:
From a distance, it looked like a skinny tube, but as we got closer, we could see it flesh out before our eyes. It was tubular, all right, but fatter than we could see from far away. Furthermore, we were also astonished to notice that the building was really in two parts: a pagoda sitting on top of a tubular one-story structure. Standing ten feet away, we could marvel at how much of the pagoda was made up of glass windows. Almost everything under the wonderful Chinese roof was made of glass, unlike the tube that it was sitting on, which only had four. Inside, the tube was gloomy, because of the lack of light. Then a steep, narrow staircase took us up inside the pagoda and the light changed dramatically. All those windows let in a flood of sunshine and we could see out for miles across the flat land.
本段的写法是由远及近,从远处(“from a distance”)写起,然后“get closer”,再到(“ten feet away”),最后是“inside the pagoda”……当然,按位置远近来写不等于都是由远及近。根据需要,也可以由近及远,由表及里等等。
C. 按逻辑关系排列(logical arrangement)
a. 按重要性顺序排列(arrangement in order of importance)
If you work as a soda jerker, you will, of course, not need much skill in expressing yourself to be effective. If you work on a machine, your ability to express yourself will be of little importance. But as soon as you move one step up from the bottom, your effectiveness depends on your ability to reach others through the spoken or the written word. And the further away your job is from manual work, the larger the organization of which you are an employee, the more important it will be that you know how to convey your thoughts in writing or speaking. In the very large business organization, whether it is the government, the large corporation, or the Army, this ability to express oneself is perhaps the most important of all the skills a man can possess.
这一段谈的是表达能力,它的重要性与职业,身份有关,从“not need much skill”或“of little importance”到“more important”,最后是“most important”。
b.由一般到特殊排列(general-to-specific arrangement)
If a reader is lost, it is generally because the writer has not been careful enough to keep him on the path. This carelessness can take any number of forms. Perhaps a sentence is so excessively cluttered that the reader, hacking his way through the verbiage, simply doesn't know what it means. Perhaps a sentence has been so shoddily constructed that the reader could read it in any of several ways. Perhaps the writer has switched tenses, or has switched pronouns in mid-sentence, so the reader loses track of when the action took place or who is talking. Perhaps sentence B is not logical sequel to sentence A —— the writer, in whose head the connection is clear, has not bothered to provide the missing link. Perhaps the writer has used an important word incorrectly by not taking the trouble to look it up. He may think that “sanguine” and “sanguinary” mean the same thing, but the difference is a bloody big one. The reader can only infer what the writer is trying to imply.
这一段谈的是a writer's carelessness,先给出一个general statement作为主题句,然后通过5个 ”perhaps”加以例证。
c. 由特殊到一般排列(specific-to-general arrangement)
I do not understand why people confuse my Siamese cat, Prissy, with the one I had several years ago, Henry. The two cats are only alike in breed. Prissy, a quiet, feminine feline, loves me dearly but not possessively. She likes to keep her distance from people, exert her independence and is never so rude as to beg, lick, or sniff unceremoniously. Her usual posture is sitting upright, eyes closed, perfectly still. Prissy is a very proper cat. Henry, on the other hand, loved me dearly but possessively. He was my shadow from morning till night. He expected me to constantly entertain him. Henry never cared who saw him do anything, whether it was decorous or not, and he usually offended my friends in some way. The cat made himself quite comfortable, on the top of the television, across stranger's feet or laps, in beds, drawers, sacks, closets, or nooks. The difference between them is imperceptible to strangers.
本段的主题句是段首句,它仅提出一个问题:为什么两只猫会被搞混。然后对两者进行比较,末句才下结论。
2)、形连
行文的逻辑性常常要靠适当的转换词语及其他手段来实现。请读下面这一段文字并找出文中用以承上启下的词语:
Walter's goal in life was to become a successful surgeon. First, though, he had to get through high school, so he concentrated all his efforts on his studies —— in particular, biology, chemistry, and math. Because he worked constantly on these subjects, Walter became proficient in them; however, Walter forgot that he needed to master other subjects besides those he had chosen. As a result, ring his junior year of high school, Walter failed both English and Latin. Consequently, he had to repeat these subjects and he was almost unable to graate on schele. Finally, on June 6, Walter achieved the first step toward realizing his goal.
本文中起承上启下的词语有两种,一种是转换词语(transitional words or phrases),另一种是起转换作用的其他连接手段(linking devices)。前者依次有:first, though, so, in particular, and, because, however, besides, as a result, both…and, consequently, and, finally.后者依次是:he, he, his, his, he, these, them, he, those, his, he, these, his. 本段中共有词汇105个,所使用的转换词语及其他连接用语共26个词,约占该段总词汇量的四分之一。由此可见,掌握好transitions不仅对行文的流(smoothness)有益,而且对于学生在半个小时内写足四级短文所要求的120个词也是不无好处的。
一个段落里如果没有transitions也就很难有coherence了。我们看下面一个例子:Speaking and writing are different in many ways. Speech depends on sounds. Writing uses written symbols. Speech developed about 500 000 years ago. Written language is a recent development. It was invented only about six thousand years ago. Speech is usually informal. The word choice of writing is often relatively formal. Pronunciation and accent often tell where the speaker is from. Pronunciation and accent are ignored in writing. A standard diction and spelling system prevails in the written language of most countries. Speech relies on gesture, loudness, and rise and fall of the voice. Writing lacks gesture, loudness and the rise and fall of the voice. Careful speakers and writers are aware of the differences.
本段中除了第6句开头出现一个起过渡作用的”it”之外,没有使用其他的过渡词语。这样,文中出现许多重复的词语,全段读起来也显得生硬而不自然。如果加上必要的过渡词语来修饰的话,这一段就成了下面一个流畅连贯的段落:
Speaking and writing are different in many ways. Speech depends on sounds; writing, on the other hand, uses written symbols. Speech was developed about 500 000 years ago, but written language is a recent development, invented only about six thousand years ago. Speech is usually informal, while the word choice of writing, by contrast, is often relatively formal. Although pronunciation and accent often tell where the speaker is from, they are ignored in wiring because a standard diction and spelling system prevails in most countries. Speech relies on gesture, loudness, and the rise and fall of the voice, but writing lacks these features. Careful speakers and writers are aware of the differences.
4、有损连贯性的几种情况:
考生在写作中经常出现下面几种错误:
1、不必要的改变时态,比如:
In the movie, Robert Redford was a spy. He goes to his office where he found everybody dead. Other spies wanted to kill him, so he takes refuge with Julie Christie. At her house, he had waited for the heat to die down, but they come after him anyway.
2、不必要的改变单复数,比如:
Everybody looks for satisfaction in his life. They want to be happy. But if he seeks only pleasure in the short run, the person will soon run out of pleasure and life will catch up to him. They need to pursue the deeper pleasure of satisfaction in work and in relationships.
3、不必要的改变人称,比如:
Now more than ever, parents need to be in touch with their children's activities because modern life has the tendency to cause cleavages in the family. You need to arrange family like it so that family members will do things together and know one another. You need to give up isolated pleasures of your own and realize that parents have a set of obligations to sponsor togetherness and therefore sponsor knowledge.
因此写作中,一定要注意时态,人称以及数的变化是否正确,要注意保持一致。