议论文,作为雅思写作中举足轻重的一部分,锻炼的是烤鸭们在遇到一个受人关注的话题时说理和自圆其说的能力,它培养的不仅是考生在应试时的临场反应能力,更是将来在国外生存时完成essay以及与他人沟通和交谈的能力。因此在雅思写作考试中,议论文占了将近三分之二的分值。
雅思官方对该篇作文的字数要求为不少于250字,此要求和国外留学时所需要的1000字起步的essay相比虽存在差距,但已经使许多考生头疼不已。为什么如此多的中国考生在写作过程中存在字数不达标和无话可说的情况,归根结底是由于对议论文思路扩展的那些重要切入点不够了解,没有掌握说理时的方法和技巧。下面专家将对论文思路扩展方法一一分析。
一、因果推理法
所谓议论文,最关键之处在于论述得当。支持句应使主题句更加令人信服,令考生的想法更加鲜明的呈现在考官面前。然而,中国考生在论述时往往存在一些误区:
(一)一味重复主题,空洞解释。此类段落不论字数多少,都给人空虚的感觉。考生往往为了凑足篇幅而“不择手段”。表面看来扩展了许多,但仔细体会永远只有一个意思。不得不让考官觉得即单调又啰嗦。
(二)论述浮于表面,不达根源。这类考生往往缺乏刨根究底的精神,总是在主旨周围绕圈子,不达中心。这也是中国考生的通病,看似八九不离十,却总也不愿把话点破,让考官怎能不又急又气。
在所有的扩展方式之中,因果推理法是最受用也是最透彻的方法。凡事先追溯到其原由,再扩展其结果,这是将主题阐述清晰、论述有力并且具有逻辑感的最佳手段。例如在“出国留学利弊”这一题目之前,若考生单纯说“有可能会使青少年学坏”,难免缺乏说服力,但若紧接着扩展“因为孩子高中毕业后思想上还不成熟,若认识不好的朋友会难以抵抗社会上不好的诱惑”,那么此论点一定会让考官眉头舒展,点头认同。由此可见,善用此推理法会让议论文如虎添翼,事半功倍。
引出原因的表达方式主要有:Because../Since.../As....
引出结果的表达方式主要有:so.../Therefore,.../Consequently,.../Accordingly,... /As a result,.../In this way,.../result in.../Thanks to.../Due to.../ Owing to..
【写作真题】Aircrafts have been increasingly used to transport fruits and vegetables to some countries where such plants hardly grow or ate out of season. Some people consider it a good trend, but some people oppose it. Discuss.
【名师献计】It is important to note that imports are now increasingly affordable to the general population. Thanks to the rapid development of the freight transport industry, air travel has become an economical mode of transport, resulting in the subsequent decrease in the cost of importing. Meanwhile, technical advance in the food processing industry has made it much easier to preserve fresh fruits and vegetables over a long-haul air flight. Because of the wide availability of imported crops, there are more varieties...
二、举例法
雅思考试有条写作指令叫做:Include relevant examples from your own experience. 所以很多考生在考试时都喜欢使用举例法(exemplification)。这一扩展方式本身无可厚非,然而在使用时几种例子是不适合的。
(一)局限于自己或朋友的例子。此类例子往往缺乏客观性和说服力,由于第一人称的局限导致所叙述事件难免“鸡毛蒜皮”。要明白,个人不代表整体。
例:I keep my dog to avoid my loneliness and I find a lot of fun.
这样的例子让人犹如在看记叙文,和议论文很不搭调。
(二)引用过多数据。太多专业数据会给人捏造的痕迹,缺乏真实性。考官会质疑数据的出处。
例:A survey indicates that the number of people smoking has increased to as high as 65 percent in China.(一项调查显示。。。)
"65%"让文章看起来有些假,有捏造的嫌疑。"A survey"又不够具有代表性。
(三)中国式的例子。一个国家同样难代表世界。雅思是international的考试,不应将范围框的太局限。此外考官来自各个国家,过分使用一个国家的例子会引起他们的反感。
例:Many children in China like to play computer games for a long time, leading to their poor eyesight.
只需小小改动便可成为成功范例。
因此,首先考生应了解,举例是一种常见的论述方式,特别在论述某一些比较抽象的话题的时候(比如文化类或跟艺术相关的话题)。但是,并不是每个段落都需要例证法,举例过多或过分牵强会影响文章的正式感,甚至给考官喋喋不休的感觉。
举例是为了更加形象地叙述事情。提醒考生们要注意以下原则:
(一) 要来源于生活,要具有生动的论述效果。不能过于空洞,也不能脱离现时,否则就失去了举例的意义。
(二) 要客观表达。虽然来源于身边社会,但不可让描述方式变的太鸡毛蒜皮,拿不上台面。其实这点非常容易办到,只需要把事件中某一个具体的你,我,他,变成是客观群体,比如说people across the globe, students, they之类的人称即可。
举例的常见表达方式: for example,/for instance,(后加句子)
Such as/ like (后加词组)
Take... as an example,
A case in point is that......
其次,在举例时还应注意尺度。
1. 应避免使用第一人称和第二人称,为了加强客观性,应将人称写成第三人称。
改正:Those people who raise pets, such as dogs and cats, are more likely to gain happiness and relieve their loneliness.(那些养宠物,例如养猫和养狗的人往往更容易获得快乐并且缓解孤独感)
2. 应避免引用一项调查研究,并同时伴有过多数据。应将数据去掉,用含糊的方法表示。
改正:There is much evidence to show that the number of people smoking has increased at an alarming rate in China. (大量证据表明。。。)
3. 应避免将例子局限在一个国家,尤其是中国。应将范围放至全世界。
改正:Many children around the world like to sit in front of the screen for a long time, leading to their poor eyesight.(在全世界,许多孩子在屏幕前待太久,导致了他们的视力减弱。
“全世界”的表达方式:around the world, all over the world, across the globe
【写作真题】The advocates of international aid believe that countries have a moral obligation to help each other, while the opponents consider it necessary, because money is misspent by the governments that receive it. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
【名师献计】This aid is essential to the homeless and useful in helping recipient countries return to their normal state after major disturbances. For example, with the humanitarian relief obtained worldwide on an annual basis, victims of natural disasters (such as tsunami, drought, flood) throughout the world can recover rapidly and rebuild their homeland.