TEM-4 作文指导.doc

TEM-4作文指导第一节 作文考试题简介一、试题介绍全国英语专业四级考试(TEM-4)中的作文考试由AB两部分构成，其中A部分规定时间为35分钟，要求写一篇大约200个单词的短文；B部分要求写一份60个单词左右的便条、通知或请帖。这里只讨论A部分的写作注意事项及技巧。考试大纲要求写作各类体裁的短文，但以写作说明文或论说文为主，不排除写作记叙文和描写文的可能。作文考试的测试目标：按所给标题、话题或其它要求写作，内容充实、语言通顺、用词恰当、表达得体。二、评分要点作文考试题的总分为15分。按五个档次给分：第五档的分值为15-14分；第四档为13-12分；第三档为11-9分；第二档为8-6分；第一档为5-3分。阅卷者先确定某篇作文的档次，然后给出具体分数。在作文的审题、结构、论证、语言四大方面内容中，任何一方面出现严重问题，都可能导致不及格。写作虽属主观题，但对语言基本功的考察是全面的，好坏一览无余，方方面面都会产生有利或不利印象，如字迹、标点符号、大小写、单词拼写、遣词造句等等。目前写作考试仍是人工阅卷，长时间阅卷容易使人疲劳，所以有阅卷教师将一种“高效的工作法” 总结为“一点、一线、一段”的阅卷模式：一点，是指紧扣题目要求，始终围绕明确的中心论点写作，不离题或偏题；一线，是指文章的组织结构与前后衔接要自然，对确定的论点进行几方面论述时要有明确标记；一段，是指考察语言质量时，可能随机抽取第二段起的任何一段细读。三、注意事项1. 写作考试不是平常练笔，不能想写什么就写什么，想怎么写就怎么写，想写到哪儿就写到哪儿，必须根据题目来写，即必须审题。要舍得花时间构思、写提纲。2. 历年的写作题表明：题目一般是与大学生密切相关的话题，人人都会有话可说，但视野要宽，角度要高；不能陈词滥调，要有血有肉。3. 作文的论题一般都很正式，要用正规的书面语，不要使用太多的口头词语，要保证作文的文体恰当。4. 作文题目通常由三部分组成：第一部分提供话题与背景信息；第二部分是对文章的结构要求；第三部分是对内容、结构、语法、用词四个方面的评分说明。第二、三部分基本固定，重点要理解好第一部分。5. 作文基本上是由三部分组成，有点八股式文章的味道，但第二部分一般要分段；关键是要在这种刻板式的框架内写出有血有肉的内容来。6. 卷面的整洁很重要，会影响总体印象；字迹的公正与字体的大小适当也很要紧；200个单词，一般不会去数，20个词的出入一般不会扣分。第二节 作文题型举例一、近年考过的作文题1. 2009 TEM-4Tourism is a booming business in China. However, some people worry that too many tourists may bring harm to the environment, while others dont think so. What is your opinion? Write on ANSWER SHEET THREE a composition of about 200 words on the following topic:Will Tourism Bring Harm to the Environment?You are to write in three parts.In the first part, state specifically what your opinion is.In the second part, provide one or two reasons to support your opinion.In the last part, bring what you have written to a natural conclusion or make a summary.Marks will be awarded for content, organization, grammar and appropriateness. Failure to follow the instructions may result in a loss of marks.2. 2008TEM-4December 5th is International Volunteers Day. Since 1985, when the United Nations announced the special day, tens of millions of people around the world have volunteered to help those in need. China now has 4.5 million registered volunteers who have provided more than 4.5 billion hours of volunteer work. What can you gain from volunteering?Write on ANSWER SHEET TWO a composition of about 200 words on the following topic:The Benefits of Volunteering3. 2007TEM-4Nowadays the Internet has become part of peoples life, and millions of young people have made friends online. Write on ANSWER SHEET TWO a composition of about 200 words on the following topic: Is It Wise to Make Friends Online?4. 2006TEM-4Recently a Beijing information company did a survey of student life among more than 700 students in Beijing, Guangzhou, Xi an, Chengdu, Shanghai, Wuhan, Nanjing and Shenyang. The results have shown that 67 percent of students think that saving money is a good habit while the rest believe that using tomorrows money today is better. What do you think?Write on ANSWER SHEET TWO a compositions of about 200 words.You are to write in three parts.In the first part, state specifically what you opinion isIn the second part, support your opinion with appropriate detail.In the last part, bring what you have written to a natural conclusion or a summary.You should supply an appropriate title for you composition.5. 2005TEM-4The Students Union of your university is planning to hold an arts festival next semester, and they are inviting students to contribute their ideas and suggestions as to how it should be organized or what should be included. Write on ANSWER SHEET TWO a composition of about 200 words on the following topic:My Idea of a University Arts Festival6. 2004TEM-4Nowadays young people tend to phone more often than write to each other. So, some say that phones will kill letter writing. What is your opinion?Write on ANSWER SHEET ONE a composition of about 150 words on the following topic:Will Phones Kill Letter Writing? 7. 2003TEM-4People in modern society live under a lot of pressure, from education, career, or family. So it is important for them to keep a good mood under whatever circumstances.Write on ANSWER SHEET ONE a composition of about 150 words on the following topic:The Importance of Keeping a Good Mood8. 2002TEM-4Nowadays people are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of health. And they have different ways to stay healthy. For example, some exercise every day; others try to keep a balanced diet. What do you think is the best way to stay healthy?Write on ANSWER SHEET ONE a composition of about 150 words on the following topic:The Best Way to Stay Healthy9. 2001TEM-4Travel has become part of our life. And more and more of us have come to know the significance of travel through our own experience.Write on ANSWER SHEET ONE a composition of about 150 words on the following topic:Travel Broadens the Mind10. 2000TEM-4College life should be varied and colorful. And extracurricular activities are an important aspect of it. However, at present, there is much room for improvement in this regard.Write on ANSWER SHEET ONE a composition of about 150 words on the following topic:The Importance of Extracurricular Activities二、可作参考的分类作文题1. Campus and Courses1) Should University Students Be Required to Live in Dormitories?2) Morning Exercise to University Students3) Multimedia and Internet Technology in University Classroom Teaching4) Honesty Contract before Examinations(Plagiarism in Graduation Thesis)5) Learning English at Home or Abroad (Chinese in English Classes)6) Should Athletic Talent Be Credit to University Enrollment?7) Does Everybody Need English in China?8) Optional Courses at University(Theoretical; Academic etc)9) Academic Pressure on Student Health10) Further Studies or Finding a Job2. Social Issues1) Advantages and Disadvantages of Raising Pets2) Traffic congestions and Private Cars3) The Impact of TV (Computer, Mobile Phone etc) on Peoples Life4) Professional Housewife 5）Foreign Festivals in China6) Fireworks (Smoking, Drunken Driving, Anti-corruption Reward for Officials)7) Work in a Big City or in a Small Village 8) Plastic Surgery9）The Pros and Cons of Week-Long Holidays 10) Psychiatric Counselling (Self-reliance, Punctuality, Adversity, Honesty, Responsibility, Fashion etc)第三节 写作技巧指导一、审题与构思1. 审题英语topic 与title 是有区别的，前者所指范围比后者宽。因此，需要对前者进行定位和定点后才能得到后者，这就是审题。对议论文的审题，只需在给定的对立观点中选择其中一方立论即可；说明文的审题则要多费精力，细心思考。如2001年的题，若这样确定题目就不行：The Impact of the Internet on Society (太大，没有选择一个具体方面)The Impact of the Internet on Culture and Economy (两个方面，不合要求)The Impact of the Internet on Science and Education (同上) 其实可选的标题很多，如：The Impact of the Internet on Daily Communication/ Banking Service/ Medical Service/ Education 等等。又如2002年的题，关键在personal quality 的理解上，一是要符合这个范畴，honesty, diligence, responsibility, confidence, creativity等等都可以，但loveliness, charm, slenderness 等等则不可以；二是只能单一，不要成双或多个，如selflessness and friendliness, honesty and diligence 等等也不可以。不当的标题有：The Most Important Personal Quality of a University StudentThe Most Important Personal Quality Is HonestyThe Most Important Personal Qualities Are Honesty and Diligence再如2003年的题，关键是要有比较，只肯定或否定还不够：Young People Are Self-centered and Unsympathetic TodayYoung People Are Not Selfish or Unsympathetic at All2004年的考试给的是topic 不是title。因此，审题时必须把题目确定好，应将问句变成陈述句：University Students Could Go in for Business 或University Students Should Not Go in for Business2. 构思构思就是要想好文章要表达的具体内容和如何表达这些内容。例如2001年的题目，如果只是简单罗列一些英特网给人们带来的便利，泛泛而谈，不联系本人实际和个人经历，好像叙述一些与自己不相干的事情，这种远离写作对象的做法，就很难引起读者的共鸣。相反，如果联系本人的生活和工作实际，来谈英特网的影响，内容就会具体生动，就会引起读者的共鸣。如果在文章的结尾简要提及英特网带来的负面影响，那就更全面了。总之，在写作熟悉的话题时，文章构思的新颖和独到，内容方面的创见，对文章的成败十分关键。二、固定写作视角固定写作视角就是选择用第几人称来作文，明确写给谁看。由于八级作文基本上都是写有关大学生的事情，因此，一般选择第一人称来写，因为只有这样写才能写得亲切自然。如果用第三人称写，就会不利于直接描写和表情达意。最重要的是，写作中人称或写作角度不能随意转变。三、文章结构的合理安排作文由三部分组成：开头、正文与结尾。每个部分各施其职，这已成为固定套路，不可改变，也不可增删。但在段落的安排上，却并不固定，如果把文章的三个部分对应于三个段落，则不可取，因为这样一来，正文部分用一个段落就会显得不成比例，过于庞大。所以正文部分由两到三个段落组成最为常见，整篇文章一般为四到五个段落。每个段落以50到100个单词为宜。文章结构图示如下：Introductory Paragraph(Thesis Statement)Part One Body Paragraph One(Supporting Idea One) Part TwoBody Paragraph Two(Supporting Idea Two) Concluding Paragraph( Conclusion) Part Three四、开头段的写作要点1. 开头段的功能与结构作文的开头段一般由两到三个句子组成，其功能有三：一是引出话题；二是激发读者的阅读欲望；三是陈述中心论点。因此，开头段必须在提出论点的同时写出引人入胜的精彩之处。大部分同学写开头段总是直接引用题目的说明，然后通过一两个问句引入论点。这样做比较生硬，缺乏生气，得不到高分。让我们来比较一下2004年作文题的两个开头段：1） It was reported that a few 2nd - and 3rd year students in a university decided to try their hand at business. Should university students go in for business? Or should they spend most of their time learning knowledge? I think univeersity students should go to business to have a try when they have the chance. 2）Traditionally, we tend to believe that the major task of a student is to study at school and strive hard to achieve academic records. Now, however, there is a growing awareness of the importance of preparing university students for their future careers. So, there has been a general debate these days on whether to encourage university students to go in for business. In my view, the advantages outweigh the negative effects. 2. 引出话题和激发阅读兴趣激发阅读兴趣的办法很多：通过举例引起读者的阅读兴趣；运用统计数据激发阅读兴趣；引用名人名言、格言警句或谚语等激发阅读兴趣；运用比较和对比来激发阅读兴趣；通过摆出对方的论点和论据树立驳斥靶子的方式来激发阅读兴趣等等。激发阅读兴趣的句子叫激发句(motivator)，最常用的三种激发句是：陈述相反的观点；叙述生动的事件；抒发深刻的感想。1）通过陈述相反的观点来激发阅读兴趣，例如：Some people think smoking can bring them personal charm like maturity, elegance and smartness. This idea is, however, quite wrong. Smoking is in fact a disgusting habit, irritating to others, and possibly harmful to nonsmokers.2）通过叙述生动的事件来激发阅读兴趣，例如：Last night I walked into my living room, turned on the TV set, and dropped down comfortably into my armchair. When the picture came onto the screen, I was confronted by a sensuous blonde slinking towards me, her eyes looking straight into mine. She whispered provocatively, “I like a Marlboro man.” I was just about to light a cigarette when I realized that I should not because smoking is a disgusting habit, irritating to others, and possibly harmful to nonsmokers.3）通过抒发深刻的感想来激发阅读兴趣，例如：It is high time we forbade smoking in public places in China. The Chinese public needs to know smoking is a disgusting habit, irritating to others, and possibly harmful to nonsmokers. 3. 立论句的写法立论句(thesis statement)就是用简短、概括性的陈述说明整个文章的中心思想。立论句是个结构完整的句子。可能的话，立论句要体现出文章的结构来。也就是说，立论句不仅要反应文章的观点和内容，还要体现文章的组织形式。好的立论句应符合如下4个要求：1）在200单词的短文中，立论句必须限制主题的范围，不可太宽泛。如： If we want to live better, we have to solve the related problems of overpopulation, pollution and war. 这句话不可作为八级作文的立论句，必须缩小范围。缩小范围的办法有二。一是把大话题分解成几个小话题，挑选其中一个作为立论句。如： There are serious objections to the college grading system. 这个句子可分解为：(1) The college grading system is an inefficient way of evaluating a students ability.(2) The college grading system emphasizes marks rather than learning.(3) The college grading system causes the unhealthful practice of cramming.(4) The college grading system leads to cheating in eaxms.二是在立论句中增加限制性成分：定语从句、介词短语、副词、同位语等等。如：Johns personal qualities can be mainly summarized in two aspects: a warm heart and a strong will. 2）立论句的内容必须一致，即立论句只能表达一个观点。超过一个观点就是审题出了问题。如Compared with other languages, English has a relatively simple grammar but its spelling is confusing. 可改为：Learners of English have a hard time with its spelling. 或 Learners of English as a foreign language have less trouble with grammar than with spelling.3）立论句必须准确清楚，不能含糊。如My hometown is one of the most interesting places in China. 中interesting 一词为关键词，但含糊不清，可有多种解释。本句可改为：My hometown is a place of the greatest historical interest in China.4）立论句不仅要确定文章的中心思想，还要点明中心思想所涉及的具体方面。如Pollution causes the most serious problem to humanity. 可改为：Air and water pollution causes the most serious problem to humanity.五、结尾段的写作要点1. 结尾段的特点结尾段必须重述中心思想，为全文划上一个圆满的句号。具体说来，要注意如下三点：1）结尾应该来得自然顺畅，给人以水到渠成的完整感(feeling of completeness)。只有对论点进行充分说明和论证，文章才会有说服力，也只有在此基础上，结尾段重述中心思想的做法才有意义；2）结尾段应该简洁明了、发人深省、突出主旨，不得出现妥协性、模棱两可的言辞；3）结尾段中不得出现新的、未加说明或论证的主题，以免节外生枝，破坏文章的一致性和整体性。2. 结尾段的写作方法常见的结尾方法有：通过重述主题或论点结尾；通过展望未来，提出号召或倡议结尾；通过引用名人名言结尾；以因果分析结尾；或以高潮结尾等等。不管用什么方法结尾，结尾段必须与开头段相呼应，因此结尾段中总有两种不可缺少的句子：一是立论重述句(reworded thesis statement)；二是完整句(clincher)。立论重述句就是用不同的词语或不同的句型重新表述论点，使文章首尾相连。重述时一定要注意表达的多样化，避免机械呆板重复。完整句就是与开头段中的激发句相照应，让读者留下深刻印象。现以上节关于抽烟为话题的开头段为对照，举两例说明结尾段的写法：(1) I am glad I never began such a disgusting habit, and I wish others had not started, either. The sexy blonde is no longer on TV. Even though I may miss her from time to time, I have never missed cigarettes.(2) I am glad I never began such a disgusting habit. If other people had not started smoking either, neither their houses nor mine would be littered with cigarette ends or clouded in smoke, and we would all be healthier. 很明显，以上两个结尾段的第一句是立论重述句，第二或第二、三句是完整句。当然，结尾段不一定就只有两句或三句话，例如还可以对所论述的内容进行简要概括，但上述两种句子一定要有。六、正文段落的写作要点正文段落就是论证过程，是文章的核心部分。正文部分应该由两个或两个以上自然段组成。每个自然段最好都用一个主题句(topic sentence)开始。主题句与立论句的写法基本一样，但主题句论述的范围较小，论述的内容局限在本自然段内；而立论句论述的范围较大，覆盖和涉及全文内容。每个主题句所论述的内容必须是立论句的一个方面。相关正文段落常用写作策略或拓展方法举例：1.列举与举例列举例子与举例说明是说明文和议论文中最常见的论证方法或段落拓展方法，因为通过举例说明和论证可以化抽象复杂为具体形象，提高文章的说服力。使用举例论证的方法来写作正文段落，必须注意两点：一是选择恰当的例子；二是合理安排例子顺序与讲究例子叙述的简洁性。恰当的例子是指具体、生动与相关的例子，因为只有具体的例子才有说服力、只有生动的例子才有吸引力、只有相关的例子才有论证的作用。例子有直接和间接之分。直接例子一般是作者本人的亲身经历；间接例子包括专家或权威的言语以及官方的数据等等。下面是三个举例论证的段落：(1) Thesis statement: Ambition provides us with the required driving force to accomplish any undertakings in our life.First, ambition endows us with a sense of mission. (Topic Sentence) No matter what decision we make, we have to be responsible for our choice. Our choice presents us with a sense of orientation, or more specifically a sense of mission. And only a strong mission can enable us to accomplish greatness. Caesar of the ancient Roman Empire was urged by his ambition “I came, I saw, I conquered.” And he became an unrivaled empire builder in his times. John Milton, stimulated by his ambition of writing some “mighty lines” which England would unwillingly forget, had in due time secured his position as the second Shakespeare in the history of English literature.Second, ambition can bring our potentials to the full. (Topic Sentence) Ambition may well serve as a catalyst activating dormant potentials. Without ambition ones potentials will remain slumbering like a dormant volcano. A case in point is Ms Zhang Haidi, a Chinese Helen Keller. It was her ambition to be a useful person that has turned the almost paralyzed woman into a well-accomplished figure. Her achievements would dwarf those normal people who aim at the sun but land on the moon.(2) Recent statistics show convincingly that jogging is saving the lives of many Americans. (Topic Sentence) According to the Congressional Subcommittee on Physical Fitness, 78% of the 2.5 million people who jog at least 10 miles per week have a pulse rate and blood pressure lower than non-joggers at the same age. This committee estimates that these joggers can expect to live to an average age of 75, more than three years longer than the average age of their contemporaries. Dr. Hans Corpuscle, chief advisor to the committee, says that “Joggers are the healthiest single group of people in America today.” This evidence seems to be overwhelmingly convincing. 以上三个段落的例子都很具体、生动与相关，因而具有很强的说服力，起到了论证的作用。例子的排列顺序与行文思路和对主题的论证力度密切相关，例子顺序得当既可使思路清晰又可增强论证力度。例子的排列一般有两种方法：一是将相同分量的例子按相关性排列；二是将有主次、轻重之分的例子按先次后主、先轻后重的顺序排列。以下各举一例说明：(3) Nowadays, with the rapid economic and industrial development, old cities are growing fast in size and new cities are steadily increasing in number. Despite the various profits urbanization has brought to our country, many problems turn up as a result in the process: environmental deterioration, warming climate, and housing insufficiency, to name just a few. Among them is a serious social problem I would like to draw your attention to - unemployment.Admittedly, some agricultural surplus population was absorbed in the flourishing rural industries and moved to industrial centers nearby in the process of Chinas economic reforms. However, these are not sufficient solutions to this unemployment problem. First, the labor surplus which further agricultural modernization increases far outnumbers the job opportunities provided in cities. Second, the job competition in cities is getting fiercer with millions of lay-offs and graduates rushing into the labor market. Third, with a rather strict household registration system, which restricts people from rural areas many economic rights in cities, much of the labor force floating to urban areas would possibly flow back sooner or later. Thus , it is not hard to imagine how serious the unemployment problem would be in China if urbanization quickened its pace and kept biting off our farmland.(4)The hero made in America is a man who has power and yet does not abuse it, a practical demonstration of romantic democracy. Washington is most sublime because, after winning freedom for the country, he refused a crown, military dictatorship, and every personal reward. Lee is grandest because he did what he thought was his duty, failed under heartbreaking odds, and then with gentleness did his best to repair all hate and malice. And the most obvious example is Lincoln. He is most appealing because, in the conduct of that same desperate war which gave him the power of a czar, he never forgets his love for the common people of North and South.以上三个段落中的例子不仅排列顺序恰当而且注意了例子的充足性和简洁性。在英语考试作文中，一般不宜列举复杂而冗长的例子，举例应尽量简短，最好用一两句话表述。此外，例子不可单用，因为独例难以为证，缺乏说服力。2. 比较与对照比较与对照也是英语作文中的