英语书面表达往往要经过认真审题、拟出表达要点、根据要点扩展成文、修改检查这几个步骤才能完成。而修改检查是写好一篇文章、提高表达质量、取得高分的关键。那么,在书面表达时,我们如何进行修改检查呢?
一、修改
在书面表达中,对一篇文章的修改,我们应注意以下几个方面。
1.恰当使用同义词或近义词,避免因词语的重复使用而造成的文章表达的单一性
请看下面一段描写与他人联系方式及接受新闻信息的今昔对比文字:
Over the past twenty years or so,great changes have taken place in our life. Take my family for example. My parents contacted others mainly by sending them letters in the past,but now we get in touch with them by telephone at home. And once my parents listened to the radio for news and other information,now we watched the news and other programs on TV instead.
以上一小段文字中,在表达“联系”时用了contact与get in touch with、“过去”用了in the past与once、“但是”用了but与instead,从而避免了单词的前后重复使用,使得句子的表达灵活多变,且无烦琐之感。
2.适当增加修饰语句,使得句子的表达有血有肉,更加丰满,避免句子表达的枯燥、干瘪
请看下面一组描写住房条件的今昔对比的句子:
(1)About twenty years ago,my parents lived in a small room,but now we have moved into a large house.
(2)When they got married about twenty years ago,my parents lived in a small room crowded with furniture,but now we have moved into a large new three-room apartment.
比较之下,第(2)句无论在句子结构上,还是在语句的修饰方面,显然比第(1)句更自如、更有文采。
3.删除冗余词语,使句子显得更简洁、利落
有些考生在进行书面表达时,担心文章的词数不足,便刻意在句中增加一些修饰成分。这样,反而适得其反,会大大影响文章的表达效果。体会一下下面的一段文字,看看删除了括号中的词语以后,是否给人一种要言不烦、简洁流畅的感觉呢?
When they got married about twenty years ago,my parents lived in a small room(and it was )crowded with furniture,but now we have moved into a large new three-room apartment (in a new building).In short,changes (that have taken place)in our life in the past twenty years have brought us comfort and convenience.
4.适当转换句式,使句子结构长短交错,生动活泼
例如:
(1)Mike doesn’t like swimming in summer, and his brother doesn’t like swimming,either.
可转换成:Mike doesn’t like swimming in summer, and neither does his brother.(倒装句)
(2)We should do something to prevent such a mistake from being made again.
可转换成:Something should be done to prevent such a mistake from being made again.(被动结构)
以上两句通过转换,意义没变,但表达效果大不相同。
5.尽量运用高级词汇或句式,来增加文章表达文采,提高文章得分档次
高级词汇的选择主要体现在用高中所学词汇来代替初中所学词汇,用书面语词汇来代替口语词汇,并能运用课本外所掌握词汇来代替课本中所学词汇。高级句式主要是指分词、定语从句、介词短语、省略句、修饰性状语等。请体会一下下面几个句子中的划线部分被句后括号中的词汇或句式替代后的效果。
例如:
(1)I’m writing to tell you something about a flat for you. (inform you of )
(2)The bathroom and the kitchen are very good.(well furnished)
(3)The flat has an area of 25 square meters and has a bedroom,a bathroom and a kitchen. (with)
(4)The flat situates in a building on Fangcao Street,and it is not far from Jianxin Chinese School. (which)
(5)If you don’t like it,I can try and find another place for you. (not)
(6)When they got married about twenty years ago,my parents lived in a small room and it was crowded with furniture. (crowded或which was crowded)
(7)When he pointed to the policeman not far away,the young man explained. (Pointing to)
6.巧妙使用句子间的连接(过渡性)词语,使全文结构严谨,层次清晰,过渡自然,表达更具有连贯性
连接(过渡性)词语的使用是语言的连贯性得以实现的最重要的手段。在句子与句子之间、段落与段落之间恰当地使用一些承上启下的连接(过渡性)词语是非常必要的。请体会下面的两小段文字中的连接(过渡性)词语。
(1)In the bedroom,there is a bed,a sofa,a desk and a chair.The bathroom and the kitchen are well furnished. Moreover,Bus No. 11 can take you straight to the school. Actually,it’s only one stop way. Do you think you’ll like it?
(2)When they got married about twenty years ago,my parents lived in a small room crowded with furniture,but now we have moved into a large new three-room apartment In short,changes in our life in the past twenty years have brought us comfort and convenience.
二、检查
一篇书面表达经过认真审题,拟出要点,再扩展修改成文后,检查这一环节是不可缺少的。检查时,我们应该注意以下几个方面。
1.检查文体格式、人称、动词时态是否符eMeAtJXp25NnTE5Ni3jjT4OY1dvNvAqAatfX10gtVpA=合写作要求
正确的文体格式、人称、动词时态会给阅卷老师留下一个良好的印象,为提高文章的得分档次打下基础。
2.检查所写文章要点是否齐全,有无遗漏
按高考书面表达评分标准,每遗漏一个要点,要扣除2分,因此遗漏要点将会严重影响文章的得分。
3.检查连接(过渡性)词语的使用是否有误
不同意义的连接(过渡性)词语在句子间所起的作用也有所不同,我们在使用时千万不能任意乱插乱用。只有准确使用,才能使得所写文章更具有连贯性,否则,将会影响文章成绩。
4.检查标点符号、大小写及单词拼写是否正确
在英语中,一般不使用冒号、书名号等标点符号,有些同学在写信、留言条等文章开头的称呼时,常受汉语的影响,总是使用冒号,如“Dear Tom”,其实应该使用逗号;在写书名时,用书名号,如《Oliver Twist》,其实,英文书名不需要用标点符号,仅大写即可。另外,句子的首字母要大写,单词拼写要正确,尤其是一些不规则动词的过去式或过去分词,要特别注意弄清。记住:高考书面表达评分标准规定,标点符号、字母的大小写、单词拼写的错误,每三处扣1分。
5.检查所写文章总词数是否符合要求
近年来,全国高考英语书面表达所要求考生写作的总词汇都是以150词为要求,故考生在写作时,一般不得少于130词,或不得多于170词。否则,按高考书面表达评分标准,要扣2分。
总之,在书面表达中,只要我们能严格按照写作要求去做,准确把握写作方法,掌握写作技巧,就一定能写出一篇好的文章。
参考文献
[1] 王笃勤.英语教学策略论.北京:外语教学与研究出版社,2002.
[2] 教育部.普通高中英语课程标准(实验).北京:人民教育出版社,2003.(责任编辑 郭振