2014年6月六級考試的作文沿用了2013年6月六級考試中出現(xiàn)的闡釋道理型的寫作命題思路,即要求考生根據(jù)一句名言、諺語或俗語寫一篇議論文。本文擬以此次六級考試的三道寫作真題為例,從開頭方法、論證方法和結(jié)尾方法三個方面與考生談?wù)勅绾螒?yīng)對闡釋道理型六級作文。
真題回顧
與以往兩次考試中出現(xiàn)的抽象、晦澀的名言不同,此次六級考試中出現(xiàn)的三道作文題目涉及的都是一些為人處世的道理,這些道理更加貼近日常生活,寓意明白曉暢,因此考生在理解題目方面應(yīng)該沒有問題。下面我們分別來看本次考試出現(xiàn)的三道寫作真題。
題目一
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay explaining why it is unwise to put all your eggs in one basket. You can give examples to illustrate your point. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.
審題:這道題目中包含的俗語(不要把所有雞蛋都放在同一個籃子里)揭示的是一種人生智慧。其蘊含的道理非常淺顯,那就是凡事要留有余地,不可孤注一擲。
題目二
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay explaining why it is unwise to jump to conclusions upon seeing or hearing something. You can give examples to illustrate your point. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.
審題:這道題目中包含的俗語是一個生活經(jīng)驗,即不要一看到或聽到什么就倉促下結(jié)論。
題目三
Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay explaining why it is unwise to judge a person by their appearance. You can give examples to illustrate your point. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.
審題:這道題目中包含的俗語也是一個生活經(jīng)驗,即不要以貌取人。
開頭段寫作策略
闡釋道理型六級作文宜寫成三個段落。其中開頭段有兩重作用:一是引起讀者的閱讀興趣,二是引出文章所討論的話題。只要能起到上述作用,開頭段在寫法上可以不拘一格。常見的開頭方法有三種,下面分別舉例說明。
1開門見山
考生可以在開篇第一句話就點出題目中所包含的俗語,然后簡要解釋其寓意,從而引出文章要討論的話題。比如題目一就可以這樣開頭:
An old saying goes “never put all your eggs in one basket.” It warns us not to risk losing everything by pinning all our hopes on one action. I believe there is a lot of truth in this saying.
2引用俗語
考生可以在開篇第一句話先引用一個與話題密切相關(guān)的俗語,然后通過解釋這個俗語來引出文章要討論的話題。比如題目二就可以這樣開頭:
As an old saying goes, “Act in haste, repent at leisure.” The saying warns us against jumping to conclusions upon seeing or hearing something. Let me tell you a story to illustrate this point.
3故事開篇
考生可以在文章開篇先講一個逸聞軼事,以此來引出所要討論的話題。這種寫法生動有趣,被廣泛應(yīng)用于英語新聞特寫和專欄文章中。比如題目三就可以這樣開頭:
Rebecca Zhang, a top student in my department, has had the blues. She was turned down again at the job interview last week because of her plain looks. Zhangs case is hardly unique in todays society, where a person is often judged by his or her appearance.
需要提醒考生的是,用故事法開頭時須注意以下三點:第一,故事要動人,能吸引讀者的注意力,因此最好選擇那些可喜、可愕、可悲、可嘆的事件;第二,故事要簡短,畢竟它只是一個引子;第三,故事講完后要迅速地過渡到文章所討論的話題,此時可以使用一些起過渡作用的句型,如the story is not rare/alone/isolated或sb.s case is far from unique等。
論證段寫作策略
闡釋道理型作文的第二段要闡明題目中名言、諺語或俗語所蘊含的道理,這是文章的重心所在。雖然此次六級考試三道作文題目中的道理淺顯易懂,但是寫起來并不輕松,因為很多考生不知道該如何將這些似乎不言自明的道理解釋明白。因此要寫好闡釋道理型作文,考生還需掌握一項重要的論證技巧,那就是舉例論證。有些考生以為只能以偉人事跡為例,其實不然,除此之外,考生也可以使用下面三種常用的舉例素材。
1凡人小事
與漢語議論文不同的是,英語議論文中的例子不拘一格,既可以是名人軼事,也可以是凡人小事,還可以是作者的親身經(jīng)歷。只要能證明道理,都可以娓娓道來。以題目一為例,考生要論證“不要把所有雞蛋都放在同一個籃子里”這個道理,可以舉出自己表弟的例子:他一心想上哈佛大學(xué),但在留學(xué)申請時同時申請了好幾所美國的大學(xué);最后雖然沒能上哈佛,但也不至于一無所獲,去了芝加哥大學(xué)。這樣的例子既簡單又貼切,請看下面的參考范文。
It is obvious that if we put all our eggs in one basket and then drop it, we will break all the eggs. Similarly, if we pin all our hopes on one course of action and it fails, then we will be in a tight corner. So the surest way is to put our eggs in several different baskets for safekeeping. A cousin of mine makes a good example. Although he was set on going to Harvard University, he applied to several American universities to avoid having all his eggs in one basket. This strategy worked well for him, for he was eventually admitted to the University of Chicago.
2傳說故事
神話傳說、民間故事也可以成為很好的例子。相對于中國文化來說,西方文化是一種更為強勢的文化,因此考生可以盡量舉西方人所熟悉的傳說故事。以題目二為例,考生在論證“不要一看到或聽到什么就倉促下結(jié)論”這個道理時,就可以舉出英國一個有名的傳說:北威爾士王子Llywelyn一時沖動,誤殺了他的一條忠實的狗,結(jié)果釀成大錯。請看下面的參考范文。
Legend has it that Llywelyn, a Prince in north Wales, had a faithful dog called Gelert. One day the prince went hunting with his men and told the dog to stay at home and look after his baby son. On his return, he was greeted by Gelert, jaws dripping with blood. He was alarmed and searched for his son but there was no sign of him. Llywelyn concluded that Gelert had savaged his baby. Mad with grief, he killed the dog. Then he heard a childs cry coming from outside. He ran out of the house and found the baby lying on the ground unhurt. Near him was a dead wolf. Thus his hasty conclusion led to an egregious mistake.
3媒體紅人
備受新聞媒體關(guān)注的人物也可以成為考生寫作時的例子。以題目三為例,考生要論證“不能以貌取人”這個觀點時,就可以舉出英國蘇珊大媽(Susan Boyle)的例子。在2009年的《英國達(dá)人》選秀比賽中,相貌平平的蘇珊大媽以美妙的天籟之音震驚全場,最后取得決賽第二名的成績。這件事曾被全球媒體廣泛報道,成為人們熱議的話題,因此以蘇珊大媽為例來證明“人不可貌相”再合適不過了。請看下面的參考范文。
But it is unwise to judge a book by its cover. Consider Susan Boyle. When she walked onto the stage of Britains Got Talent on April 11, 2009, everyones first impression of her was unfavorable. In fact, many in the audience, even the shows judges, laughed at or made fun of her plain appearance. But once she began to sing, they changed their minds. She finished second in the final and became one of the top-selling artists with her album I Dreamed a Dream. Susans story is a compelling reason why looks shouldnt be overrated.
俗話說,一例勝千言。一個恰當(dāng)?shù)睦涌梢园岩粋€抽象的道理說得既生動又明白。舉例論證還能化難為易,因為講述一個具體的事例總比抽象地說理更容易下筆。而要在寫作時舉出適當(dāng)?shù)睦?,考生平時就要做有心人,在閱讀中多思考、多積累。但凡名人軼事、凡人小事、親身經(jīng)歷、歷史事件、神話傳說,只要能夠闡明一個道理,都要留心。但是考生須知,講述事例只是手段,是為了證明一個道理,因此敘事要與所證明的道理緊密聯(lián)系,在寫作時最好夾敘夾議。
結(jié)尾段寫作策略
闡釋道理型六級作文的結(jié)尾段一般要指出這個道理的現(xiàn)實意義,并號召大家踐行這個道理。結(jié)尾段并無實質(zhì)內(nèi)容,其主要作用是照應(yīng)開頭、重述主題,加深讀者的印象,并給讀者一種圓滿的感覺。結(jié)尾段的寫作講究簡潔明快,一般兩三句話即可,切勿畫蛇添足。
就題目一來說,考生可以先指出把所有雞蛋放在同一個籃子里的害處,然后建議大家不可把所有的時間、金錢或者精力都投入到一件事當(dāng)中。請看下面的參考范文。
Putting all eggs in one basket is a sure recipe for disappointment or even tragedy. Thus, it is advisable that we not invest all our time, money, or energy in only one option in any endeavor.
就題目二來說,考生可以先承接上文,指出生活中的確有很多情況讓我們?nèi)菀讉}促下結(jié)論,然后號召大家時刻保持頭腦冷靜,三思而后行。請看下面的參考范文。
Though such an extreme example is rare, there are circumstances in our daily life where it is tempting to rush to conclusions. So lets always keep a cool head and think twice before arriving at any conclusions.
就題目三來說,考生可以先指出外貌往往是靠不住的,然后建議大家不可以貌取人。需要注意的是,結(jié)尾段在內(nèi)容上往往與開頭段很相似,所以要注意變換說法,避免措辭重復(fù)。請看下面的參考范文。
Looks can be deceptive. Therefore, we should always resist the temptation to judge others based on their physical appearance. Anyway, who says an ugly duckling cannot turn into a beautiful swan?
總之,經(jīng)過幾次考試之后,闡釋道理型作文的命題方式逐漸走向成熟。考生只要掌握這種題目的審題立意、結(jié)構(gòu)布局和展開論證的一些策略,多加練習(xí),并在平時的閱讀中勤于積累,寫出高分的六級作文并非難事。