英语写作技巧

开篇的常用方法
Here are some common methods of introduction:

(1) Begin with a broad, general statement of your topc and narrow it down to your thesis statement;

(2) Start with an idea or a situation that is the opposite of the one you will develop;

(3) Explain the importance of your topic to the reader;

(4) Use an incident or a brief story;

(5) Ask one or more questions;

(6) Use a quotation.

创意思维中的反推法
The reversal method in creative thinking is about generating ideas in the opposite direction, and no one says it better than de Bono (1970): “In the reversal method one takes things as they are and then turns them round, inside out, upside down, back to front. Then one sees what happens. It is a provocative rearrangement of information. You make water run uphill instead of downhill. Instead of driving a car the car leads you.”

——摘自《英语写作教程—从创新思维到批判思维》


如何确定一个好论点？
Tips for writing good thesis statements:
(1) Write statements, not announcements: a thesis statement must make a point about a limited subject;
(2) Avoid statements that are too broad: the thesis statement should be focused enough that it can be effectively supported in a five-paragraph essay;
(3) Avoid statements that are too narrow: a thesis statement must be broad enough to require support in an essay;
(4) Make sure statements develop only one idea: the point of an essay is to communicate a single main idea to readers.

——摘自《美国大学英语写作》

确定论点时的常见错误
When writing thesis statements, people often make mistakes that undermine their chances of producing and effective essay. One mistake is to simply announce the subject rather than state a true thesis. A second mistake is to write a thesis that is too broad, and a third is to write a thesis that is too narrow. A forth error is to write a thesis containing more than one idea.

——摘自《美国大学英语写作》


如何修改文章
Here are some quick hints that can help make revision easier. First, set your first draft aside for a while. You can then come back to the draft with a fresh, more objective point of view. Second, work from typed or printed text. You’ll be able to see the paper more impartially in this way than if you were just looking at your own familiar handwriting. Next, read your draft aloud. Hearing how your writing sounds will help you pick up problems with meaning as well as with style. Finally, as you do all these things, add your thoughts and changes above the lines or in the margins of your paper. Your written comments can serve as a guide when you work on the next draft.

——摘自《美国大学英语写作》

（好）构思的技巧
Techniques for prewriting:
(1) Freewriting: to write whatever comes into your mind;
(2) Questioning: to generate ideas and details by asking question

s about your subject, such as why? When? Where? Who? and How?
(3) Making a list: to brainstorm and collect ideas and details that relate to your subject;
(4) Clustering: diagramming or mapping, to use lines, boxes, arrows, and circles to show relationships among the idea and details that occur to you;
(5) Preparing a scratch outline: to think carefully about the point you are making, the supporting items for that point, and the order in which you will arrange those items.

——摘自《美国大学英语写作》

保持段落连贯性的方法
保持段落连贯性的两种方法：第一，用转承词语或称转承信号词 (transition sig-nals) 表明一个意思是怎样与另一个意思相连的；第二，按照一定的逻辑顺序排列句子，采用何种逻辑顺序应取决于文章的主题和写作目的。最常用的逻辑顺序是时间顺序、空间顺序和主次顺序。在同一个段落写作中，可以把不同的逻辑顺序有机地结合起来。
——摘自《新世纪实用英语写作》（第三版）

从修辞角度看句子
从修辞的角度看，句子有松散句、圆周句和对偶句之分。松散句把主要意思放在次要意思之前，先说最重要的事情，因而读者在看到最初几个词后就知道这句话的主要内容了。圆周句的安排则相反：把最重要的意思放到最后面或靠后的位置上，并且句子的结构直到最后一个词时才完整。对偶句会给人留下深刻的印象，因为它包含相反的意思，而且因节奏和谐而悦耳。对偶句主要用于说明文、辩论文及演说等正式文体中。

——摘自《英语写作手册（中文版）（第二版）

论证的策略
Because argumentation assumes controversy, you have to work especially hard to convince readers of the validity of your position. Here are five strategies to help win over readers whose viewpoint may differ from yours:

(1) Use tactful, courteous language: You are attempting to persuade readers to accept your viewpoint. It is important not to anger them by referring to them or their opinions in rude or belittling terms. Keep the focus on the issue you are discussing, not on the people involved in the debate.

(2) Point out common ground: Another way to persuade readers to consider your opinion is to point out common ground— opinions that you share. Find points on which people on all sides of the argument can agree. Readers will be more receptive to your idea once they have considered the ways in which you and they think alike.

(3) Acknowledge differing viewpoints: The earlier you acknowledge the better. Ideally in the introduction. By quickly establishing that you recognize the other side’s position, you get your readers “on board” with you, ready to hear what else you have to say.

One effective technique is to cite the opposing viewpoint in your thesis statement. In the first part of the thesis, you acknowledg

e the other side’s point; in the second, you state your opinion, suggesting that yours is the stronger viewpoint.

Another effective technique is to use one or two sentences in the introduction to acknowledge the alternative position.

(4) When appropriate, grant the merits of differing viewpoints: Sometimes an opposing argument contains a point whose validity you cannot deny. Then, the strongest strategy is to admit that the point is a good one. You will lose credibility if you argue against something that clearly makes sense. Admit the merit of one aspect of the other argument while making it clear that you still believe your argument to be stronger overall.

(5) Rebut differing viewpoints: To rebut means to point out problems with an opposing view, to show where an opponent’s argument breaks down.

——摘自《美国大学英语写作》

分类说明文的展开
Developing a division or classification essay:

When writing a division or classification essay, your purpose is to present your audience with your own unique way of dividing and classifying a particular topic. In order to write a successful essay, you will need to first choose a topic that interests readers and lends itself to being divided and classified.

Once you’ve selected your topic and figured out how to divide it, you will need to provide specific details so that readers fully understand the categories you made. Whatever division you make, be sure to include enough details to make your division-classification method clear to your readers. And always keep your audience in mind, so that you can write an essay appealing to them.

——摘自《美国大学英语写作》

演绎法与归纳法
主题句的位置比较灵活，通常位于段首, 其优点是开门见山，一目了然。用演绎法 (deduction)写的段落也称“扩张法”，就是以概述主题开首，随之辅以细说，即用具体细节或事例来演绎展开主题句中的主题思想。用归纳法 (induction) 写段落也称作“收拢法”，从细节出发，最后归纳到段落的中心论点。用此种方法写作时，主题句一般位于段落的末尾，它是依据上文的细节推出的论点，起到画龙点睛的作用。

主题句有时也位于段落的中间。这种写作方法常用来比较或对比不同的对象。段中主题句起承上启下、使上下文平衡的作用。
当一个名词同时带有几个修饰词语时，修饰词语的位置如何排列呢？
在英语中，当一个名词同时带有几个修饰词语时，修饰词语的位置大体可按下列顺序排列：

限定词（包括冠词、物主代词、指示代词、不定代词等）→数词→一般描绘性形容词（短词语在前，长词语在后）→表示大小、长短、高低的形容词→表示形状的形容词→表示年龄、新旧的形容词→表示颜色的形容词→表示国籍、地区、出处的形容词→表示物

质、材料的形容词→表示用途、类别的形容词→名词中心词。

例如：A tall intelligent young Chinese debater’s eloquent speech particularly attracted the audience’s attention.

——摘自《新世纪实用英语写作》（第三版）
为了强化主题，写作时可采用演绎法与归纳法相结合的方法。有时主题句可能会出现在段首而又在段落最后一句重述，前后呼应，两次点题可更加突出段落的主题。这就是所谓的“三明治式结构”(sandwich-style)。如果段落很长，运用这种结构可以给人更深刻的印象，并有助于读者对主题思想的理解。

在有的段落中，主题句甚至不直接写出来，而是通过细节的陈述含蓄地表达出段落的主题思想 (implied topic sentence)。实际上它是客观存在的，只是隐含在字里行间，需由读者意会。

——摘自《新世纪实用英语写作》（第三版）

因果说明文的写作目的是什么？
The main purpose of a cause-and-effect is to explain to your audience (1) the cause of a particular event or situation; (2) the effects of an event or a situation, or more rarely, (3) a combination of both.

——摘自《美国大学英语写作》

使用具体的词更加利于表达
具体词汇有助于使文章清楚、准确、生动和鲜明，因为与一般词汇相比，具体词汇的信息量更大，表达力更强。

General It is often windy and dusty here in spring.

Specific In spring there is often a very strong northwest wind. It carries so much fine dust with it that sometimes the sun becomes obscure. There is no escape from the fine dust; it gets into your eyes, your ears, your nostrils, and your hair. It goes through the cracks of closed windows and covers your desks and chairs.



——摘自《英语写作手册》（中文版）（第二版）



如何使用习语
习语是有特殊意思的固定短语，其意思和组成这个习语的各个词的意思大不相同。

习语常用于发言和文章中，使得语言自然、地道。外国学生在使用习语时应注意两点：1）大多数习语用于非正式或口语化文体，谈话时可用；但少数是俚语，应慎用，如 all balled up（使……变得紊乱/一团糟），to cough up（勉强说出或供出）；2）很多习语由于用得太多而不再新鲜有趣，如 armed to the teeth，as good as gold，因而以少用为宜。



——摘自《英语写作手册》（中文版）（第二版）

头脑风暴的准则都是什么？
Brainstorming was originally proposed by Alex Osborn in 1963 as a method for group problem solving, but it’s also useful for individuals working alone. Brainstorming is also called “ideas cascading”1 where many ideas are generated to serve as raw material for later analysis. Bowkett’s suggestion for this activity is that “once you have identified the concept(s) to be brainst

ormed or the problem(s) to be solved, the golden rule is that all responses are valued and go into the melting pot.” Effective brainstorming requires participants to make links and to look at things in as many different ways as possible and to volunteer to contribute freely without passing judgment on anything. Remember, refinement of ideas or critical thinking is for later use. At this stage you just write down the first thing that comes to mind; anything goes—no idea is to be evaluated or judged, much less discarded.

——摘自《英语写作教程—从创新思维到批判思维》