English Writing課件.ppt

WritingThe Whole Composition I. Steps in Writing a Composition 1. Assemble your ideas 2. Work out your thesis3. Make an outline 4. Write the first draft 5. Revise the first draft 6. Make the final copy 1. Assemble your ideas n When a topic is assigned, you student should first try to think of as many relevant facts as you can and write them down on a piece of paper (without caring about the form and the order of the ideas, grammar, or spelling). n Suppose the topic assigned is The School Library. You should jot down quickly all the relevant ideas that come to your mind. Here is an example: The School Libraryn A large number of useful booksn All kinds of dictionaries and reference booksn The reading-rooms spacious and quietn Newspapers and magazinesn The librarians patient and helpfuln Closed on Sundays and holidaysn A little crowded in the eveningn Students leave books on chairs to reserve seats n Very few newspapers from abroadn Students are not allowed to take schoolbags into the First Reading-Roomn Seniors would not be able to write their graduation papers without using the libraryn Teachers go to the library frequently 2. Work out your thesisn From the points listed above you should try to find a proper thesis or theme. The thesis of a composition is its main point or its central idea. It is the conclusion that should be drawn from the facts to be presented in the composition. After that, you should look at the list of facts again, eliminate those unnecessary or unimportant ones, rearrange them in a logical order, and write an outline. Possible Theses n The library is a nice place to work in.n The library plays a very important part in a students life.n The work of the library needs improvement. 3. Make an outlinen Once the thesis is formulated, certain facts on the list will become more important than others, while a few may seem irrelevant. After those suitable items are picked out, an outline like the following one may be prepared: n Topic: The School Libraryn Thesis: The library plays a very important part in a students life.n Outline:n I . A student has to borrow books, from the library. A. He needs reference books for his elective courses. B. He may want to read novels, stories and plays.n II. He reads newspapers and magazines in the library. A. Many new magazines are on display in the First Reading-Room. B. There are newspapers from all provinces. C. Back numbers may be borrowed at the counter. n III. He needs the library all the more in his junior and senior years. A. The library provides him with books for his research. B. He would not be able to write his graduation paper without using the library Types of Outlinesn Thesis (controlling idea)n I . Introductionn II. Main idea: A. Sub-idea B. Sub-idea: 1. Supporting detail 2. Supporting detail: a. Fact 1 b. Fact 2n III. Main idea: A. Sub-idea B. Sub-idea: 1. Supporting detail 2. Supporting detail 3. Supporting detail C. Sub-idea n IV. Conclusion Two Commonly Used Types of Outlinesn the topic outline n the sentence outline A Topic Outlinen Thesis: Foreign trade is beneficial to and indispensable for all nations.n I . Introduction: the foundation of foreign traden II. The necessity of visible trade A. Lack of certain commodities B. Insufficiency of particular items C. Comparative advantage in certain items D. Latest innovations and different styles of commodities. E. The importance of a favorable balance of trade n III. The necessity of invisible trade-exchange of services between nations A. Transportation B. Insurance C. Tourism D. Technologyn IV. Conclusion: the purpose of foreign trade and the importance of the balance of payments A Sentence Outlinen Thesis: Foreign trade is beneficial to and indispensable for all nations.n I . Introduction: the utilization of different economic resources and the development of different skills form the foundation of foreign traden II. Trade in commodities (visible trade) is necessary between nations. A. No nation has all the commodities it needs. B. A nation may not have enough of certain commodities. C. A nation may sell certain commodities at a profit. D. Latest innovations and different styles of commodities may make foreign trade necessary. E. All nations strive to maintain a favorable balance of trade so as to be assured of the means to buy necessary goods. n III. Exchange of services between nations (invisible trade) is part of foreign trade. A. Nations vie in providing transportation for foreign trade. B. Prudent exporters purchase insurance for their cargoes. C. Tourism brings a nation huge profits. D. Technology is also exported and imported.n IV. Conclusion: the purpose of foreign trade is to earn money for necessary imports and it is important to keep the balance of payments. Rules for Writing Outlinesn Avoid single subdivisions. If there is a major point marked “I”, there must be at least another marked II; if there is an A, there must be a B, and so on.n Avoid mixing types. A topic outline is written in noun phrases, and a sentence outline in sentences. Do not mix these two types.n Use parallel structures for the headings of the same rank. Make sure subheads of like rank are of equal important and are related to the heading and arranged in logical order. n Make sure the thesis is a complete declarative sentence in the affirmative; do not use a question, a phrase or a dependent clause. 3. Writing the First Draft n It is necessary to write a first draft in which there should be enough space between lines for future corrections and improvements.n While writing the draft, you need not be afraid of departing from the outline at one place or another.n Youd better stop to revise your outline or work out a new one if you find your original outline entirely impracticable. 4. Revising the First Draft n I. Content: Look at the essay / composition as a whole n II. Organization: Look at the arrangement of the material n III. Sentences: n IV. Diction: n V. Capitalization and punctuation I. Content: Look at the essay / composition as a wholen A. What is the topic of the essay / composition? Does the draft fulfill the assignment (e.g. mode of development or type of composition)?n B. Is the thesis clear? Is it supported by enough facts (details, examples, reasons, etc.)?n C. Is there irrelevant material that should be removed?n D. Is the logic sound? Are there gaps in the logic? II. Organization: Look at the arrangement of the materialn A. Does the introductory paragraph lead to the main point of the paper?n B. Does each paragraph have a separate central idea? Does it relate to the essays main idea or to the previous paragraph? Are there proper transitions between sections? Are the paragraphs arranged in climactic order?n C. Does the concluding paragraph give the reader a clear impression of what the paper intends to say? III. Sentencesn A. Is each sentence clearly related to the sentence that precedes it and to the sentence that follows?n B. Are there unnecessary sentences that may be removed?n C. Are there structural mistakes?n D. Are there wordy and redundant sentences?n E. Is there variety in sentence type? n F. Are there any grammatical mistakes in the following respects? IV. Dictionn A. Are there words that are not appropriate for the topic or the style of the whole essay (e.g. too colloquial or too formal)?n B. Are there words or phrases which are directly translated from Chinese but which may mean something different in English?n C. Are there collocations, which may be incorrect because they are taken from Chinese (e.g. a big rain)? V. Capitalization and punctuation 5. Making the Final Copyn After the draft is carefully revised, a clean final copy has to be made. The very last step in writing a composition, a step that should never be forgotten, is to check the final copy. In doing so you are likely to find that you have made careless mistakes in grammar and spelling, and you may also want to change a word here and there. Exercisesn Suppose the topics assigned are: 1. Chinese young people of the 20th century 2. A familiar professor (My English teacher) 3. Appearances are deceptiven Write down 1215 relevant points.n According to the points you have written, formulate three possible theses.n Choose one thesis which you consider most suitable. n Work out an outline. II. Organization1. Some Principles 2. The Beginning 3. The End 1. Some Principles n Unity n Coherence n Richness n Proportion 2. The Beginningn To the writer the beginning is often the hardest part of an essay, because he has to decide from what point to start, and in what direction to go. There is no single way to begin all essays. The following are some sentence patterns to begin a composition :n At the beginning of the composition, the writer first introduce two opposite opinions on the issue to be discussed, and then express his / her own opinion about it. The sentence patterns to express different opinions are often used in disputed topics. 1. When asked about,the vast/overwhelming majority of/most/ many/ quite a few people believe/think/ answer/say that. But other people regard/view/ see/ think of. as(But I think/view quite/ a bit differently). n 1. 1 n When asked about the biggest problem today, many people say that it is the serious energy crisis. They are afraid that the world will soon run out of oil and run short of food. But other people hold optimistic views: they regard it as a natural result of the economic development and believe it will be only solved with further advances in economy and technology. n 1.2n When asked what kind of career they will pursue upon graduation, most of college students say that they would choose a job which will bring them a lot of money and a comfortable life. Working in a big bank or company is what they desire. But I think quite differently. I would prefer a career which will help realize my potentials. 2. When it comes to, some people think / believe that. Others argue / claim that the opposite / reverse is usually the case / true . There is probably some truth in both arguments /statements, butn 2.1n When it comes to international sport such as the Olympic Games and the World Cup soccer game, some people believe that it creates goodwill between the nations and that if countries play games together they will learn to live together. Others say that the opposite is true: that international contests encourage false national pride and lead to misunderstanding and hatred. There is probably a little bit of truth in both arguments, but in recent years the Olympic Games have done little to support the view that sports encourage international brotherhood. n 2.2n In the last decades, advances in medical technology have made it possible for people to live longer than in the past. Yet when it comes to the desirability of extending the life of the terminally ill, some people, including some doctors, say that the quality of life is as important as life itself, and that people should not be forced to go on living when the conditions of life have become unbearable. They argue that people should be allowed to die with dignity and decide when they want to die. However those who are in favor of life-extending measures argue that life under any circumstances is better than death and that the duty of doctors is always to extend life as long as possible. There is probably some truth on both sides, but recently the public clamor for the legalization of voluntary euthanasia seems increasingly strong.n 2.3n When it comes to what makes the world go round, some persons say that it is love. Others of a less romantic and more practical turn of mind say that it isnt love; it is money. But the truth is that it is energy that makes the world go round. 3. There is a public debate / general discussion / much controversy today / nowadays as to / about /over / on the problem /issue of . Those who criticize / oppose / object to contend / argue that . They believe that . But people who favor / advocate, on the other hand, maintain /assert that . n 3.1n There is much discussion today about whether fast economic growth is desirable. Those who criticize economic growth argue that we must slow down. They believe that society is approaching certain limits on growth. These include the fixed supply of natural resources, and the possible negative effects of industry on the natural environment. People who want more economic growth, on the other hand, argue that even at the present growth rate there are still many poor people. They maintain that only continued growth can create the capital needed to improve the quality of life and provide the financial resources required to protect our natural surroundings from industrialization. n 3.2n There is a general debate on the campus today over the phenomenon of college students doing a part-time job. Those who object to it argue that students should not spend their precious time in this way. But people who advocate it, on the other hand, claim that, by taking a major-related part-time job or summer job, students can not only improve their academic studies, but also gain much experience, experience they will never be able to get from the textbooks. 4. Now it is generally / widely / commonly felt / accepted / held / acknowledged / recognized / believed / thought that . They claim / believe / argue that . But I doubt / wonder whether . n 4.1n It is commonly believed that the rise in teenage smoking is the inevitable result of economic development. They argue that if there are no cigarette advertisement on TV, no cigarettes available everywhere, and no adequate pocket money, teenagers are unlikely to take up the habit of smoking. But I doubt that it is a satisfactory explanation. While conceding the effect of advertising and other commercial factors, I think that the primary cause is social and individual rather than economic.n 4.2 n It is widely felt that there is a fear plainly uppermost in the minds of most people today. They are afraid of the future, and if you ask them why, they conveniently blame the atomic bomb. But I suspect that the nuclear weapon is only the scapegoat for our fears. We are not afraid of the future because of a bomb. We are afraid of bombs because we have no faith in the future. I believe people no longer have faith in our ability to control our own future.n 4.3n It is generally agreed that the American educational system is in deep trouble. Everyone is aware of the horrible facts: schools are running out of money, teachers cant spell. Most of us know, or think we know, who is to blame: school boards, government regulations. It is easy to select a villain. But possibly the problem lies not so much in our institutions as in our attitude. It is sad that although most of us profess to believe in education, we place no value on intellectual activity. 5. Many of us believe / claim that ; and that . Not everyone, however, shares / agree with this view /opinion. n 5.1n Many of us have a vague feeling that things are moving faster. Doctors and executives alike complain that they cannot keep up with the rapid developments in their fields. Hardly a meeting or a conference takes place today without some talk about the challenge of change. Among many there is an uneasy mood - a suspicion that change is out of control. Not everyone, however, shares this anxiety.n 5.2 n Many people believe that for the first time in history man can go wherever he likes. Moon landing is truly the climax of modern science and technology, and it can at least satisfy our curiosity about space. Yet it is only a beginning. We must keep space exploration going, not just to satisfy our pride and curiosity, it is important for the welfare of mankind. Not everyone, however, agrees with the point of view. 6. To the popular mind /To the general public / In most peoples opinion /To most people . But despite / in spite of / for all , I believe / one should . n 6.1n To the popular mind, it is immediately assumed that when morals are discussed, it is sexual morals that are meant. The morals of salesmen, doctors, and taxi drivers are only moderately interesting to the general public, while the relations between men and women are frequent themes in novels and movies, themes which no amount of repetition makes stale. Yet in spite of this immense preoccupation with sex, much attention should be drawn to the general moral standards. n 6.2n To most Chinese parents, college is a place their children should go. And their children, for the most part, are also anxious to go. It is in Chinese tradition that there is something about a college that transfers an ordinary child into a superior adult. But in spite of this belief, men and women who have been to college suspect that this is not the case.n 6.3n To most people today, the image of the scientist is of one who collects data in an impartial search for truth. Science is so respected that in any debate - over intelligence, schooling, energy - the phrase “science says” usually crushes the opposition. But now researchers have found the existence of a finagle factor - a tendency by many scientists to give a helpful touch to the data to produce desired results. 7. Now a lot of / the vast majority of / many / moat people believe / think / feel that . But although / Admittedly, , there is little evidence that / it is doubted that / it is questioned that .n 7.1n A lot of people believe that television has a harmful effect on children. A few years ago, the same criticisms were made of the cinema. But although child psychologists have spent a great deal of time studying this problem; there is not much evidence that television brings about juvenile delinquency.n 7.2n Most people believe that our society of consumption creates the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Although this view is widely held, there is little evidence that money brings about happiness. Instead, we find our present way of life leads to increasing anxiety, helplessness, and, eventually, to the disintegration of our culture. I refuse to identify consumption with joy and fun with happiness. n 7.3n There is some feeling nowadays that reading is not as necessary as it once was. Radio and especially television have taken over many of the functions once served by print. Admittedly, television serves some of these functions extremely well; the visual communication of news events, for example, has enormous impact. The ability of radio to give us information while we are engaged in doing other things - for instance, driving a car - is remarkable, and a great saving of time. But it may be seriously questioned whether the advent of modern communications media has much enhanced our intellectual skills. 8. . In response / reaction / answer to the phenomenon /event /idea / question, some people say /think . But do they realize? n 8.1n Now most people get their news and information about the things that are happening at home and abroad from television. They believe the things they hear and see on television. Probably most of the information is true, and we can believe it. But shall we always believe the information which television gives us? Do we never suspect that the given information might be slanted, distorted or the truth totally denied?n 8.2 n In the past few years big business has fallen to a low level in public esteem. A recent Gallup poll shows that big business came in last, in terms of the quality of the products, among all the enterprises which sell household appliances in Shanghai; at the top of the list were small business or business from small towns. In response to the poll, many businessmen argue that this public attitude is due to the inadequacy of their advertising and can be cured by stepping up their advertising campaigns. They are only fooling themselves. Do they realize that the real problem for their loss of public respect is what they have been doing, not what they have been saying about themselves? 9. is a popular