研究生英语写作技巧总结(全)

研究生英语写作技巧总结（全）
1. Learning to Write the Topic and the Thesis
First, we’ll decide a topic. And then we’ll write the thesis about the topic
How do we choose a suitable topic and write a good thesis?
1) Choosing a suitable and limited topic
Let’s make a compa rison of the following topics
Marriage Honeymoon
Family My older sister
Children Discipline of children
Sports Players’ salaries
Work Working as a dishwasher
2) Writing a good thesis
What is a good thesis? (P190)
Thesis statements:
A honeymoon is perhaps the worst way to begin a marriage.
My older sister helped me overcome my shyness.
My husband and I have several effective ways of disciplining my children. Players’ high salaries are bad for the game, for the fans, and for the valu es our children are developing.
Working as a dishwasher in a restaurant was my worst job.
3) Some tips on writing a good thesis:
(1) Do not write announcements:
× The subject of this paper will be my parents.
× I want to talk about the crime wave in our country.
× The “baby boom” generation is the concern of this essay.
√ The parents each struggled with personal demons.
√ The recent crime wave in our city has several apparent causes.
√ The “baby boom” generation has changed American society in key ways.
(2) Avoid the statements that are too broad
× Disease has shaped human history.
× Insects are fascinating creatures.
× Men and women are very different.
√ In the mid-1980s, AIDS changed people’s attitudes about dating.
√ Strength, organization, and communication make ants one of nature’s most successful insects.
√ Men and women are often treated very differently in the workplace.
(3) Make sure thesis statements develop only one idea
× One of the most serious problem affecting young people today is bullying（恃强欺
弱）and it is time more kids learned the value of helping others.
×Studying with others has several benefits, but it also has drawbacks and can be difficult to schedule.
2. Making an outline
The steps of making an outline
1) Make a thesis statement
2) Find the major supporting points for the thesis.
3) Provide supporting details for each major supporting point.
Example:
Thesis: Working as a dishwasher in a restaurant was my worst job because of the bad working conditions, long and changeable working hours, and low pay .
a. Working conditions
(1) Heat in kitchen
(2) Noisy work area
b. Working hours
(1)Ten-hour shifts
(2) Hours changed every week
c. Pay
(1) No bonus for overtime
(2) Minimum wage
3. Learning to write a plan of development
A plan of development is the one that gives the major points that will be developed in supporting paragraphs.
Example 1:
While I love movies as much as ever, the inconvenience of going out, the temptations of the theater, and the behavior of some patrons are reasons for me to wait and rent the video.
Example 2:
The United States, ho wever, isn’t such a healthy place for older people. Since I retired from my jo b, I’ve had to cope with the physical, mental, and emotional stresses of being old.
4. Writing an opening paragraph
An opening paragraph usually consists of two parts: opening part and thesis statements.
1) Functions of an opening paragraph:
Attract readers’ interest.
Present your thesis.
2) Five useful ways to write an opening paragraph
(1) Begin with a broad, general statement of your topic and narrow it down to your thesis statement. (from a broad topic to your thesis)
(2) Use an incident or a brief story. (from a brief story to your thesis)
(3) Start with an idea or a situation that is the opposite of the one you will develop. (from an opposite idea or situation to your thesis)
(4) Ask one or more questions (from a question(s) to your thesis)
(5) Use a quotation (from a quotation to your thesis)
5. Writing supporting paragraphs
1) Three bases for writing a supporting paragraph:
(1) Support (adequate and specific)（论据充分性）
(2) Coherence（连贯性）
(a)Transitional words:
Type 1: Addition signals are used to show accumulation.
Type 2: Time Signals are used to show sequence.
Type 3: Space signals are used to show location.
Type 4: Change of direction signals are used to show contrast.
Type 5: Illustration signals are used to show examples.
Type 6: Conclusion signals are used to show consequence.
(b) Transitional sentences
(c) Other collecting (linking) words:
Repeated words
Pronouns
Synonyms(同义词)
Parallelism
(3) Unity（一致性）
支撑段小结：
(a) Make all of the topic sentences in the supporting paragraphs related to the thesis.（充分性）
(b) Make all of the major supporting points related to the topic sentences in each supporting paragraph.（连贯性）
(c) Make all of the minor supporting points related to the major supporting points in each supporting paragraph.（一致性）
2) Patterns of Organization:
(1) Time order (chronological order) (按时间顺序排列)
(2) Climactic order (order of importance) (按重要性顺序排列)
(3) Space order(按空间顺序排列)
6. Writing an concluding paragraph
Four effective ways will be introduced
(1) End with a summary and a final thought.
Restate your major points raised in your thesis, but do not repeat them.
(2) End with a recommendation
(3) End with a prediction
(4) End with a thought-provoking question or questions.
7. Sentence Skills
1) Three types of fragments:
Type A:
1a. *Although he had been prevented by illness from studying. He passed the examination.
2a. *The moment she saw him. She knew he was her father.
3a. *Contact sports are becoming increasingly violent. Something of which the public seems to approve.
Type B:
5a. *Not knowing the language. He didn’t know how to ask the way.
6a. *Being low in skill and education. The black people, on the whole, suffer from much higher unemployment rate.
7a. *In order to obtain the material needed for his master’s thesis. He read many profound books.
Type C:
8a. *She looks best in bright colors. Like red and pink.
9a. *All my friends are interested in it. Particularly John and Jack.
10a. *You could never have failed in your exams. Except by your own carelessness.
Correct sentences:
1b. Although he had been prevented by illness from studying, he passed the examination.
2b. The moment she saw him, she knew he was her father.
3b. Contact sports are becoming increasingly violent, something of which the public seems to approve.
5b. Not knowing the language, he didn’t know how to ask the way.
6b. Because they are low in skill and education, the black people, on the whole, suffer from much higher unemployment rate.
7b. In order to obtain the material needed for his master’s thesis, he read many profound books.
8b. She looks best in bright colors, like red and pink.
9b. All my friends, particularly John and Jack, are interested in it.
10b. You could never have failed in your exams except by your own carelessness.
2)Run-on sentences (乱加从句的冗长句子)
A run-on sentence is a string of words with two subordinate clauses that are run together without proper punctuation.
11a. *I want to have a word with your manager there is something that matters very much to future business.
12a. *The danger of another earthquake still exists we must get prepared.
14a. *I’ve thought sometimes that an incompetent teacher is worse than an incompetent surgeon, a surgeon can cut up only one person at a time.
Correct sentences:
11b. I want to have a word with your manager. There is something that matters very much to future business.
12b. The danger of another earthquake still exists, and we must get prepared.
14b. I’ve thought sometimes that an incompetent teacher is worse than an incompetent surgeon, since a surgeon can cut up only one person at a time.
3)Dangling modifiers (垂悬结构)
40a. *Carrying a heavy pile of books, her foot caught on the step.
41a. *To get up early, the clock was set at six.
42a. *At the age of five, my dad taught me about cars.
43a. *To improve his result, the experiment was done again.
41b. To get up early, I set the clock at six.
42b. When I was five, my dad taught me about cars.
43b. He improved his result by doing the experiment again.
But some set phrases and absolute constructions are not dangling modifiers.
44. To be frank, I do not think he is the right man for the job.
45. Generally speaking, at this age, girls are more mature than boys.
46. The majority approving of the project, he had to give in.
4) Unbalanced Parallelism (不平衡的并行关系)
50a. *I took a bath, sleeping, and waking up refreshed.
51a. *The keys to improving grades are to take effective notes in class, to plan study time, and preparing carefully for exams.
52a. *In many ways, starting college at forty is harder than to start at eighteen.
Correct sentences:
50b. I took a bath, went to sleep, and woke up refreshed.
51b. The keys to improving grades are to take effective notes in class, to plan study time, and to prepare carefully for exams.
52b. In many ways, starting college at forty is harder than starting at eighteen.
5) Mixed construction
53a. *The most valued trait in an employee is a person who is loyal.
54a. *Indigestion is when you cannot digest food.
55a. *By taking a No.70 bus is one way to get to our university.
56a. *The reason I enjoy horseback riding is because it provides outdoor exercise.
57a. *There are many people move to USA.
Correct sentences:
53b. The most valued trait in an employee is loyalty.
54b. Indigestion is the inability to digest food.
55b. You can get to our university by taking a No.70 bus.
56b. I enjoy horseback riding because it provides outdoor exercise.
57b. There are many people who move to USA.
8. Patterns of essay development
1) Comparison and contrast
2) Cause and effect（因果说明）——We may support our thesis statements by explaining a series of causes or a series of effects.
(1) Causes:
These tell readers why something happened. We try to examine the cause of something. Many actions do not occur without causes. For example,
Smoking causes lung cancer. (Smoking is one of the causes of lung cancer.)
(2) Effects:
These tell readers the results of something. We try to examine the effects of something. An action can have a series of effects — good or bad. For example,
Twelve thousand smokers die from lung cancer every year. (Lung cancer is one of
the results of smoking.)
Examples:
Cause:
Thesis: Never drink Coke
I never drink Coke because it is really bad for my health. I discovered this when I worked with some biologists last summer. We did two simple experiments. In the first experiment, we measured the PH (that is, the grade of acidity酸性) of the Coke. We found that Coke has a PH of 3.2. That is extremely acidic, and so it is bad for our body. In the second experiment, we decided to examine the effects of high acidity in Coke. We put a shark’s tooth in a glass of Coke. In just seven days, the tooth had completely disappeared; the Coke had dissolved it. If the Coke can do that to a shark’s tooth, what can it do to human teeth or to a human stomach or intestine(肠)? For these reasons, I never drink Coke; and I advise my friends not to drink it either.
Effect: Never drink Coke
Causes: High acidity of Coke:
Cause 1: Experiment 1 — measured the PH
Cause 2: Experiment 2—a shark’s tooth
Effect:
Thesis: Music brings good things
Music is my chief hobby; when I listen to music good things happen to me. If I am lonely or homesick, I listen to pop music. The quick rhythm and the strong beat of drums lift my spirits. If I am familiar with a song, I will sing along with it and my depression disappears. When I am bored or tired, I listen to Mozart. His music makes feel alive. Music also reminds me of home. Before I came to college, my sisters and I would listen to music and sing song together every Sunday; and everyone in my family would sit together and cheer us. Now I enjoy listening to music and singing with my roommates because their smiles make me remember the happy times with family. For me music is an excellent escape; and without it, I wouldn’t be so happy. Cause: Music
Effect: Good things happen to me:
Effect 1: Depression disappears
Effect 2: Makes me feel alive
Effect 3: Reminds me of home
4) Argumentation:
In an argumentation essay, you defend your position (point of view) with a series of solid reasons. You try to argue with someone, that is, to persuade others to accept or agree with your point of view.
(1) Strategies for argumentation
(a) Acknowledge differing viewpoints
You can cite the opposing viewpoint in your thesis statement or in your supporting paragraphs.
(b) Grant the merits of differing viewpoints.
(c) Use tactful, courteous language.
(d) Rebut differing viewpoints
(2) How to write argumentative essays
Stage 1:decide on a controversial topic (debatable and interesting) and write an argumentative thesis statement. The thesis statement should define the scope of the argument and make an assertion that is open to debate.
Ineffective Examples of Argumentative Thesis Statements
Example 1:
Thesis: Something should be done on media bias.
This is not an effective argumentative thesis statement because it does not clearly state the writer’s idea. The answers of questions like “what is that ‘something’ that should be done?” or “who should do it?” are not clear.
Example 2:
Thesis: CNN is the best TV channel.
This is not an effective thesis statement. This sentence is not debatable as it involves personal choice or preference
Example 3:
Thesis: There are 3 ways of media censorship.
This is not an argumentative thesis statement as the writer aims at listing the types of media censorship. Therefore, the writer’s purpose of writing this essay is not to persuade the reader but to give information. Also, the ways of media censorship are not open to debate. Thus, they are not suitable for argumentation.
Effective Examples of Argumentative Thesis Statements
Example 1:
Thesis: Newspapers should not identify people by color, race, or religious faith in any way.
This is an effective argumentative thesis statement. Firstly, the topic is open to discussion. There may be people who would oppose this argument claiming that this kind of restriction would damage the objectivity of the news. Therefore, the writer holds a clear stance. Above all, it is obvious that the writer’s aim is not simply to inform the readers but to convince them to take his / her side in the debate.
The expository (p58) thesis statement vs. the argumentative thesis statement: Similarity:
Both expository(说明的，解释的) and argumentative thesis statements express a certain opinion about a topic.
Difference:
An expository thesis statement does not include a sharp opinion; rather, it discusses
advantages, disadvantages, types, reasons, results, problems, solutions, processes, or categories of an issue often in the form of listing, enumeration, classification, or sequencing.
An argumentative thesis statement has a clear stance on a debatable topic, fiercely argues that the writer’s opinion is correct and reflects this subjectivity both in its style and tone.
Choosing an argumentative topic is not an easy task. The topic should be such that •it should be narrowed down
×Marijuana( [ˌmærəˈwɑːnə]大麻) should be considered illegal. (Not a good topic because it is too general. In some medical cases, marijuana is prescribed by the doctors and the patients are encouraged to use it in case of suffering from too much pain)
√Selling and using marijuana in public places should be considered illegal.
•it should contain an argument
×We should decide whether we want a bicycle or a car. (our stand is not clear: do we support having bicycles or cars?)
√If we are under the age of 30 and want a healthy life, we should definitely get a bicycle instead of a car.
×Are you one of those who thinks cheating is not good for students? (a question cannot be an argument)
√Cheating helps students learn.
×Considering its geological position, Turkey has an important geopolitical role in the EU. (facts cannot be arguments)
√Considering its geopolitical role, we can clearly say that the EU cannot be without Turkey.
•it should be a topic that can be adequately supported (with statistics, outside source citations, etc.)
×I feel that writing an argumentative essay is definitely a challenging task.
(feelings cannot be supported; we cannot persuade other people)
Which of the following are argumentative thesis statements?
Thesis 1:
There are three main reasons why the media manipulate the news.
Thesis 2:
The media should not manipulate the news in any way.
Thesis 3:
It is essential to be media literate for three reasons.
Thesis 4:
It is essential that media literacy be taught in schools.
Thesis 1 is not argumentative. Although the writer has the assumption that the media
manipulate the news, the aim of this essay is not to convince the reader on this issue, but to simply list the three reasons for media manipulation. The reader, too, expects to learn the three reasons.
Thesis 2 is acceptable as an argumentative thesis statement because the writer clearly takes a stand in the debate about whether the media should manipulate the news or not. Here, the writer intends to influence the mind of readers rather than to merely inform them.
Thesis 3 is an expository thesis statement although the sentence includes a strong word, “essential”.The use of this word does not make the thesis statement an argumentative one because the aim here is to inform the reader about the three reasons. The reader, here, expects to read a list of the reasons without being forced to take a side. The writer does not hold a stance in an ongoing discussion.
Thesis 4is clearly an argumentative thesis statement. Firstly, the topic is debatable. Secondly, the writer is clear about where in the discussion he stands. Finally, the purpose of the writer is to affect the readers’ ideas on this issue.
On the whole, while writing argumentative thesis statements, be sure to have a debatable topic, state your claim and stance as strongly as possible and make the reader understand that your aim is to persuade rather than only to inform.
Stage 2: Generating ideas: After formulating your argumentative thesis statement, you need to brainstorm a variety of supporting ideas, counter arguments and ways to refute these opposing views. In supporting your argument, the evidence that you include can be facts, examples, support from authority (testimony), and statistics. (3) Organization: All argumentative essays have PROs and CONs (赞成反对). Before starting writing, it is imperative to make a list of these ideas and choose the most suitable ones among them for supporting and refuting.
There are three possible organization patterns:
Pattern 1:
Thesis statement
PRO idea 1
PRO idea 2
CON(s) + Refutation(s)
Conclusion
Pattern 2:
Thesis statement:
CON(s) + Refutation(s) (Rebuttals)
PRO idea 1
PRO idea 2
Conclusion
Pattern 3:
Thesis statement:
CON idea 1 -----> Refutation
CON idea 2 -----> Refutation
CON idea 3 -----> Refutation
Conclusion
5) Description（描写文）
More than many other types of essays, descriptive essays strive to create a vivid experience for the reader. Great descriptive essays achieve this effect not through facts and statistics but by using detailed observations and descriptions.
As you get started on your descriptive essay, it’s important for you to identify exactly what you want to describe. Often, a descriptive essay will focus on portraying one of the following:
• a person
• a place
• a memory
•an experience
•an object
How should you write your description?
As you write your descriptive essay, remember: showing, not telling. Showing and not telling means that you paint a picture for your reader.
The difference between showing and telling:
Example 1:
(1) I grew tired after dinner.
(2) As I leaned back and rested my head against the top of the chair, my eyelids began to feel heavy, and the edges of the empty plate in front of me blurred with the white tablecloth.
The first sentence tells readers that you grew tired after dinner. The second sentence shows readers that you grew tired. The most effective descriptive essays are loaded with such showing because they enable readers to imagine or experience something for themselves.
Example 2:
(1) The lake stared through the trees, a wide grey eye trapped in a perpetual state of weeping.
(2) There were trees near the lake.
As you write your descriptive essay, the best way to create a vivid experience for your readers is to focus on the five senses.
•sight
•sound
•smell
•touch
•taste
When you focus your descriptions on the senses, you provide vivid and specific details that show your readers rather than tell your readers what you are describing. Essay example 1:
Morning Jog In The Park
One of my favorite things to do before starting my day is to take a jog in the local park. My mind will clear, and I will be able to face whatever may happen that day. It makes me appreciate the simple things in life a lot more. Jogging in the park during early hours opens up opportunities to see different scenes and portraits and open my mind to a new perspective.
Entering the park, a slight breeze rustles(发出沙沙声) the leaves making them fall to the solid ground one by one. The sun begins to rise, waking the tired sleepers. Flowers are vast, and they conceal(遮住) the freshly cut green grass. There are sun-colored daisies(雏菊), vivid purple lilies(百合), carrot tinted hydrangeas, and cotton candy pink hyacinths. The pathway is nothing more than dirt littered with(遍布) random rocks. The ground, moist from the night before, causes my footing to slip, keeping me on my toes. There is a white picket fence that runs along the trail(小径), reminding me of the one running along Marilla and Matthew's property in the movie, Anne of Green Gables(绿山墙的安妮). The park is barren(贫瘠的) except for an elderly couple feeding the ducks and a couple of fellow joggers breathing in the fresh morning air.
Walking by the minute(极小的)green and brown tinted(带色彩的) pond, the milky white, soft feathered ducks can be heard a block away as they quack and battle for the food being thrown for them. The elderly couple, dressed in their black silk slacks(宽松长裤) and crème colored matching sweaters, watch in amusement as they are the ones causing all the excitement. Behind the oddly shaped rocks and algae(水藻) in the pond, orange, red, and yellow fish dart back and forth. They only come out of hiding when miniscule(极小的) hints of bread begin to fall. If you look closely enough, you can see a turtle, colored forest green, blending in with the algae.
Beyond the pond lies the lonely playground. The brick red(砖红色) jungle gym(攀玩架,爬杆) sits there in its solitude, longing for some eager company. In between parts of the jungle gym is the bridge to partake in(参与) children's fantasies from battling trolls(巨人，巨怪), or patrolling the fort. An ugly putrid(腐烂的) brown covers it, and it is obvious that the screws are becoming unhinged, and it is only so long before it comes crashing down. The swings(秋千) rock gently, and the sound of the metal rubbing together can be heard. Orange and bright in color, the swirl shaped slide(旋转滑梯) echoes the belly laughs and shrilly screams of children who have dared to go down the slide. The
merry-go-round(旋转木马), an orange red color with splashes of blue across the edges, is still like a parked car. No one is there to move it or spin it; There are no bursts of laughter or tears for when someone falls off and scrapes their knee.
The park offers a variety of scenery, which make the jog more worthwhile. As the end of the jog nears, my mind is refreshed and my body is energized for the day. Unforeseen thoughts pop into my head just as new answers for old problems unfold. One beautiful morning run can change your day and make all the difference.
Essay example 2:
My Hometown Is Still In My Heart
The most inimitable(无与伦比的) place to be, besides in my husband’s arms, is Harrogate, Tennessee. The rolling hills, clean crisp air, and spaciousness all surpass the city life. The memories and joy I experience when I am there will always have a special place in my heart.
My house resided in the country. A cow field(牛场) was my backyard, and I would play hide and seek with my friends behind the hay bales. From the moment we got home and put our Bratz Doll backpacks(背包) down until the moment the pinkish, yellow sun was setting, my friends and I were always in a new adventure. At times, the golden rays would shine and radiate without a cloud in the sky. The gentle breeze was just enough to make it comfortable. The grass had already dried from the early morning dew, making it look freshly cut and greener than ever. As we would run around making up games to play, my black and white English Springer Spaniel, otherwise known as Bubba, would follow us eagerly with his wet teeming tongue hanging out of his
parched mouth and his tail wagging like a hammer in an ongoing alarm clock. In Knoxville, the population and space is far too crowded to enjoy pleasures like those in Harrogate. In a way, it is suffocating here, and I miss the feeling of peace and contentment when at home.
During winter season, it would snow fervently(热烈地). My yard also consisted of a rather giant slope. Due to many hills and back roads that would get black ice(黑冰，透明薄冰) very easily, school was called off frequently. My friends and I would get so excited and call each other to make plans to go sledding(雪橇)! I would jump in my thick, white leggings(绷腿) and blue nylon pants along with three pairs of socks and waterproof shoes. On top I would have two under shirts, two regular shirts, a small jacket, a large heavy jacket and a toboggan on. Layered and ready for the cold, I would run outside and find my aqua green plastic sled from underneath the back porch(门廊). It was crisp and cold outside, and the snow was a clean white ready to be destroyed by the power of my sled. Hours later our paths would be perfectly carved in the snow, and we would be ready to go in and change to dry clothes, watch a movie, and drink a cup of hot chocolate. Snow doesn’t fall in the city, and even if it did, there is no room to go sledding. These memories will not be forgotten.
When summertime came around again, the park was a popular place to be. I always made new friends, and there was always so much to do with these new acquaintances. Activities consisted of playing basketball at the court, playing in the sand, riding bikes, and rollerblading on the trail, playing on the jungle gym and tire swing, swinging, and so much more! Once my mom and I had our picture taken on the swings and put in the Knoxville News Sentinel. Sometimes the church congregation(集会) would have a picnic for everyone there, and we would grill and enjoy each other’s company. Even family reunions have been held there. The people in Harrogate are country people, down to earth, and content with the simple life. They are not concerned with the greatest and latest of things. This made the events at the park so much more enjoyable.
If I could, I would go back and relive some of these memories. No matter where I go, Harrogate will be home in my heart. No matter my age, Harrogate holds some of the most memorable and cherishing parts of my life.
样题一；
写作部分
Part I Read the following passage carefully, and then choose the best answer A, B,
C or
D to each of the questions that follow. Please write your answer on the。