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写作素材
写作素材
英语写作能力是一种综合英语能力,它不仅考作者所掌握的语言知识,使用外语的熟练程度,同时还考个人的思维能力和知识面,因此外语写作对于大多数人而言,都是件头痛的事情。
但这并非说外语写作高不可攀,一样有捷径可循。
1、增大阅读量
古语道:
“读书破万卷,下笔如有神”。
写作是语言产生的过程,没有足够的语言输入,是难以维系的。
平时应该多读英文报刊杂志等。
阅读可以起到一石数鸟的功效。
首先,可以提高阅读能力;第二,有助于提高语言运用能力,避免词穷的困境;第三,有助于扩大词汇量,吸取有用观点,开拓思路,活跃文思;第四,有助于培养语言感觉及英语思维习惯。
实际上,细心的读者会发现,在上述英语杂志里,有不少文章与雅思作文考题相关,甚至相同。
2、精读相关范文
市面上有不少写作指导书籍,其中大多附有范文。
对这些范文切记不可生搬硬套,而应该精读。
反问为什么要精读呢?
因为这些范文一般是作者精心挑选的,具有较大的参考价值。
对这些范文不能仅停留在理解上,而应该抱取”他人之石”的目的,把有用的表达方式,观点,框架等为我所用。
不仅要把有用的”骨头”—常用的表达方式积累下来,还需把文章里面有用的”肉”—词汇按照写作十大核心原则进行归类。
3、掌握常用框架结构
要掌握上布局谋篇的技巧,就象按照图纸建大楼一样来进行写作,这一过程也可称为填空过程。
这样一来,组织好观点,理顺想表达的意思,阐明理由,就变的容易多了,整篇文章能给人结构清楚的感觉。
注意需要设计好具有个性化的写作框架,避免被考官判为雷同或者抄袭。
4、熟记常用的套句与过渡连接词
在有限的时间;里,如果对大量常用套句以及过渡词能运用自如,就可以节省时间来构思,组织,检查,润色文章,而不会出现开头第一句就卡壳的难堪情形。
熟练运用过渡词有利于文章的”启,承,起,合”。
5、打好坚实的语法基础
没有坚实的语法基础,就等于建空中楼阁,纵使有再好的观点,再严密的论证,都是徒劳的。
在注意表达内容时,我们往往忽视了语言的正确性。
掌握各种基本句型是写好作文的一大关键要素。
6、掌握基础写作理论
掌握基本写作要领,可以少走弯路。
当然,掌握理论并不意味着一定能够写好文章。
对英语写作理论有所了解,明白中英写作之间的差异,以及中英思维方式的异同之处,对于雅思考生是大有裨益的。
7、勤动笔写
质量源于数量。
写作是运用语言的重要实践活动,正如不在水中练,是永远学不会游泳一样,掌握一定写作理论固然重要,但只有勤动笔写,掌握基本套路,才能真正学会写作。
写完后,应该尽可能请教有经验的写作老师,在老师批改的基础上再次修改,从而认识到自身的弱项。
一篇好文章的条件很多。
除了内容丰富和组织紧密之外,词汇的运用和句子的处理,也起着决定性作用。
句子可长可短,同一件事,可以用不同的句式表达。
如果句子清一色是简单句,文章必定很单调乏味。
如果全篇充满了冗长的复杂句,读起来也很费力。
最好的方法是以简单句为基础,配合适当的并列句和复杂句。
简单句可长可短,通常要加些附属成分,如分词短语、介词短语、副词短语、不定式动词短语,以及节缩成分。
总之,作者可根据情况,使句子多样化,使文章灵活多姿。
例如下列五个句子的基本概念一样,但是句式不同,内容重点也有些差别:
(1) The goats grazed peacefully in the farm and were unaware of the approaching hunter. (并列分句
(1)+2)
(2) Grazing peacefully, the goats in the farm were unaware of the approaching hunter. (现在分语短语+简单句)
(3) In the farm, the goats grazed peacefully and were unaware of the approaching hunter. (副词短语+并列分句
(1)-
(2) )
(4) There were goats grazing peacefully in the farm, unaware of the approaching hunter. (简单句+形容语短语)
(5) As the goats grazed peacefully in the farm, they were unaware of the approaching hunter. (原因副词从句+主句)
(1)和(5)的句式最常见;如果加上其他三种互相交替,句子不是更多样化吗?
最后,看看这两个句子要如何多样化呢?
(6) The young pilot was on his first overseas training.
(7) He felt very uneasy.
(a) The young pilot on his first overseas training felt very uneasy.
(b) The young pilot felt very uneasy during his first overseas training.
(c) The young pilot’s first overseas training made him feel very uneasy.
(d) Extreme uneasiness seized the young pilot on his first overseas training.
(e) The young pilot was on his first overseas training, feeling very uneasy.
(f) It being his first overseas training, the young pilot felt very uneasy.
(g) Being on his first overseas training, the young pilot felt very uneasy.
(h) The young pilot was on his first overseas training and felt very uneasy.
(i) The young pilot, who was on his first overseas training, felt very uneasy.
(j) When the young pilot was on his/first overseas trainging, he felt very uneasy.
(k) As the young pilot was on his first overseas training, he felt very uneasy.
(l) The young pilot was on his first overseas training, so that he felt very uneasy.
在上述12个句子中,(a)-(g)是简单句;(h)是并列句;(i)-(l)是复杂句。
简单句除(b)和(g)之外,其他五样,用的人并不多。
人们最喜欢采用复杂句,尤其是(j)和(k)这两款;接着便是并列句(h)。
如果大多数人的句子只限于(b),(g), (h), (j)和(k)这五种,而其他的则弃如敝屣,不是很可惜吗?
增强英语语句表现力的有效方法
一、避免使用语意弱的“be”动词。
1、把句中的表语转换为不同的修饰语。
例如:
Weak:
The trees are bare. The grass is brown. The landscape seems drab. Revision:
The brown grass and bare trees form a drab landscape. (转换为前置定语)
Or:
The landscape, bare and brown, begged for spring green. (转换为并列结构作后置定语)
2、将作表语用的形容词或名词变为行为动词。
例如:
1) Weak:
The team members are good players.
Revision:
The team members play well.
2) Weak:
One worker’s plan is the elimination of tardiness.
Revision:
One worker’s plan eliminates tardiness.
3、在以“here”或“there”开头的句子中,把“be”动词后的名词代词变成改写句的主语。
例如:
1) Weak:
There is no opportunity for promotion.
Revision:
No opportunity for promotion exists.
2) Weak:
Here are the books you ordered.
Revision:
The books you ordered have arrived.
二、多用语意具体的动词,保持句意简洁明了。
例如:
1、Poor:
My supervisor went past my desk.
Better:
My supervisor sauntered (=walked slowly) past my desk.
2、Poor:
She is a careful shopper.
Better:
She compares prices and quality.
三、尽量运用主动语态。
例如:
1、Weak:
The organization has been supported by charity.
Better:
Charity has supported the organization.
2、Weak:
The biscuits were stacked on a plate.
Better:
Mother stacked the biscuits on a plate.
四、防止使用语意冗长累赘的词语。
例如:
1、Wordy:
My little sister has a preference for chocolate milk.
Improved:
My little sister prefers chocolate milk.
2、Wordy:
We are in receipt of your letter and intend to follow your recommendations.
Improved:
We have received your letter and intended to follow your recommendation.
3、Redundant:
We had a serious crisis at school yesterday when our chemistry laboratory caught fire.
Improved:
We had a crisis at school yesterday when our chemistry laboratory caught fire.
4、Redundant:
My sister and I bought the same, identical dress in different stores.
Improved:
My sister and I bought the same dress in different stores.
五、杜绝滥用陈旧词语或难懂的专业术语。
例如:
1、Weak:
They will not agree to his proposals in any shape or form.
Improved:
They will not agree to any of his proposals.
、Weak:
I need her financial input before I can guesstimate our expenditures next fall.
Improved:
I need her financial figures before I can estimate our expenditures next fall.
许多中国人爱用俗语、成语、俚语。
由于中美两国文化、风俗、思想、习惯的差异,如果照字直译,或把单字「堆在一起」,老外听了,也许就会「满头雾水」、「迷迷糊糊」,成了他们所说的「只有你们中国人听得懂」的「中国英文」(Chinese English)。
在此,把一些常见的中文俗语与一般老外的说法相对比较,或许可供有兴趣的读者参考。
1. 人山人海:
有人直译为:
People mountain people sea.
这就是「中国英文」,老外很难理解。
他们指「人多」时,通常只说:
「There is a large crowd of people.」如果看到电影院门前大排长龙,也只说:
「There is (was) a long movie line.」
不过在诗词用语 (poetic expression) 里,老外也有使用:
「a (the) sea of faces」,颇有咱们「人山人海」的味道。
例如:
Looking out upon the sea of faces, Mr. A delivered a touching speech.(望着一片人山人海的听众, A先生发表一篇动人的演说。
)
Standing at his podium, President Clinton saw a sea of faces waving at him.(柯林顿总统站在讲台上看到人山人海的人群挥手向他致意。
)
可见,说话者通常要在台上或高处,才有「人海」的感觉。
因此,可以说:
I saw a sea of faces from the top of the building. 但在平地的人群中,就不说:
「I saw the sea of faces.」也不说:
「There is a sea of faces.」只说:
「I saw a large crowd of people.」
2. 家家有本难念的经:
有人译成:
Every family cooking - pot has a black spot. (意思是:
每个家庭的锅子都有黑色的污点)
这样说法,老外恐怕不能充分了解。
不过老外最常的说法是:
Many families have skeletons in the closet. (许多家庭的衣柜里都有骨骸) (骨骸就是指家丑)
或者说:
Every family has its own source of shame. (每个家庭都有自己的丑事)
说白些,就是:
Every family has its own problem.
3. 天下无不散的宴席:
有人直译为:
There are no feasts in the world which do not break up at last.
老外听后,也许很难体会其中意义。
如果按照美语说法,也许更易理解:
All good things come to an end. (意思是:
所有好的事情,总有结束的一天。
)
假如是指好友最后也有分别的一天,那么可以说:
Eventually, all bosom friends will drift apart. (bosom friend 是指知心的好友)
4. 平时不烧香,临时抱佛脚:
有人照字直译为:
When times are easy, we do not burn the incense,but when the trouble comes, we embrace the feet of the Buddha.
这种说法,老外也会「一知半解」。
美语里一般说法是:
Worship God every day; not just in times of adversity. (要每天敬拜神,不是只在困难时。
)
对学生也可以说:
If you study hard every day, exams will not seem overwhelming. (如果你每天用功,考试就不会形成压力。
)
5. 挂羊头,卖狗肉:
有人照字直译为:
He advertises mutton, but sells dog’s flesh. 或 He hangs up a sheep’s head at the shopfront and sells dog meat.
这两种译法,恐怕老外都难理解,尤其谈到「狗肉」,他们更会「反感」,因为狗是他们最爱的宠物,不过老外倒有相近的说法:
He applied bait-and-switch tactics in business. (他经商的策略是先引诱顾客来,再改变货物的品质。
)
(Bait-and- switch 当名词用) (也可不用连字号)
This store uses bait and switch policy.
或者简单的说:
Let the buyer be aware!
(让消费者提高警觉) ; 或
Say one thing and do another.
6. 一言既出,驷马难追:
有人译成:
One word lets slip and four horses will fail to catch it. 或 A statement that once let loose cannot be caught by four galloping horses.
这两种说法,中文味道嫌重,老外未必理解。
不过他们倒有类似的说法:
A word once let go cannot be recalled.
或者说:
You can not take back what you have said. (你说出的话,就不能再收回来。
)
7. 祸从口出,言多必失:
有人译为:
The mouth is the gate of misfortune and evil.
老外听了,恐怕不能完全理解。
最好说成:
Careless talk leads to trouble. (不小心说话,会带来麻烦); 或
The less said the better. (说的愈少愈好)
甚至也可以说:
Shut the mouth and open the eyes. (闭嘴少说,张眼多看。
)
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