新高考英语概要写作微技能

2018-01-25 13:04浙江杨柳红
教学考试(高考英语) 2018年2期
关键词:主旨段落短语

浙江 杨柳红

一、试题特点解读

根据教育部考试中心(2015)《普通高等学校招生全国统一考试英语科考试说明(高考综合改革试验省份适用)(第一版)》(以下简称《考试说明》),浙江省英语高考试题将出现概要写作这一写作题型,具体要求为:提供一篇350词以内的短文,要求考生基于该短文写出一篇60词左右的内容概要。我们对该写作题型作如下解读:(1)“基于该短文”,即基于原文的主要内容和主要观点,不能添加自己的任何观点。(2)“60词左右”,要求文章精练、简洁;词数少于40或多于80的,从总分中减去2分。(3)“内容概要”,指对文章中重要内容的归纳概括,与主题关系不紧密的细枝末节不需要写进概要。

《考生说明》中对于概要写作的评分原则和给分要求有非常清晰的描述,主要有以下四个方面:(1)对原文要点的理解和呈现情况;(2)应用语法结构和词汇的准确性;(3)上下文的连贯性;(4)对各要点表达的独立性情况。我们对该评分原则作如下解读:(1)“对原文要点的理解”,指通过阅读把握原文的要点,为阅读环节;“对原文要点的呈现”,指通过写作呈现原文要点,为写作环节。(2)“应用语法结构和词汇的准确性”,指运用语法结构和词汇呈现原文要点的综合语言能力。(3)“上下文的连贯性”,指对原文各要点间逻辑关系的理解和呈现,所写概要应是前后连贯、意义完整的一篇概括性短文。(4)“对各要点表达的独立性”,即用自己的语言表达原文中的各个要点,切不可摘抄原句。值得注意的是,用自己的语言表达不等同于表达自己的观点,内容要点一定要来自原文。

二、概要写作微技能

概要写作是对原文的高度浓缩,是阅读者在不改变原文中心思想、体裁和结构的前提下,用简洁、精练的语言表述一篇文章或一本书的主要内容、基本观点或事实。笔者结合长期的教学实践,归纳出以下六个行之有效的概要写作微技能。

(一)归纳主旨大意

将一篇350词以内的短文提炼成60词左右的概要,需要一个过程。它大致是从文本整体的理解到各部分的概括再到整体的合成。首先,我们需要整体阅读文本,归纳主旨大意。

议论性和说明性文体通常围绕某个主题(topic/subject)展开。概要写作的第一步便是阅读并抓取该主题,进而提取主旨大意,即有关该主题的主要内容或作者对于该主题的观点或主张,这一过程被称为归纳主旨大意。议论性和说明性文体通常含有概括全段主要内容的句子,即段落主旨句,它受到段落中其他句子的支撑。支撑方式通常有:举例、解释、论证、引言、数据等。我们可以把这一微技能分解为:

1.对段落进行逻辑分解

归纳主旨大意要建立在厘清句与句之间逻辑关系的基础上,可借助逻辑衔接词(but,however,so,therefore,also,another等)、代词(this,that,such等)、数词和具有结论性的 动词(f i nd,show,display,reveal,indicate,conclude,decide,point out等)进行语篇分析,对段落进行逻辑上的意义分解,从而找到具有统领作用的段落主旨句。

2.借助主旨句出现的位置

受西方“开门见山”的思维习惯的影响,段落主旨句多在段首,少数在段中或段末。有时段落中没有统领全段的主旨句,或由多个(通常为两个)句子表达主旨意义。有时,首句(和前几句)只是起到导入话题或过渡衔接的作用,关键还是看其他句子是否支撑该主旨句。

3.纳入篇章主旨的架构中

定位段落主旨句时,还应兼顾语篇大背景,即在全文主旨大意的统领下归纳段落主旨,将段落主旨纳入语篇主旨的架构中,即建立“语篇意识”。

【案例1】

①Many Chinese students have studied English for approximately ten years,but most of them cannot even speak English correctly or fluently.② In my opinion,there are several obstacles that have caused this to happen.③ The main obstacle is fear! ④ Another is the habit of mentally translating from Chinese to English and then to change these thoughts into spoken words and sentences.⑤ Many of these diff i culties are caused by the way Chinese people study and learn the language.

我们首先对这一段落进行逻辑分解:第一句陈述现象用以导入话题;第二句当中的代词“this”指代第一句中所提到的现象,通过“have caused”这一逻辑词我们得知“several obstacles”导致了这一现象;通过第三、四句中的“The main obstacle”和“Another”可得出,这两句是“several obstacles”其中的两个例子,他们与第一句陈述的现象之间是因果关系;最后一句中的“these diff i culties”指的就是第二句中所提到的“several obstacles”,属于同义复现,而通过“are caused by”,我们得知“these diff i culties”是由“the way Chinese people study and learn the language”所导致的。综上,这一段含有两个因果关系,即中国学生说不好英语是由“several obstacles”导致的,而这些“obstacles”或者“diff i culties”是由“the way Chinese people study and learn the language”所导致的。

基于以上分析,我们把这一段落要点概括为:

The obstacles causing students’ failing to speak English fl uently despite ten years’ efforts lie in their way of learning the language.

或者:The way Chinese learn English sets obstacles to the miserable situation where they can’t speak it fl uently even after years of devotion.

(二)筛选概括支撑信息

在归纳主旨大意之后,为了让读者在不读原文的前提下透彻且全面地了解原文信息,我们有必要在段落中筛选、概括个别信息来支撑所提炼的段落主旨。我们可以把这一微技能分解为:

1.分解支撑句群

从意义的角度看,支撑句并非表达同一个意思,我们可以根据含义(逻辑)将支撑句进行意义分解,把表达同一个意思的支撑句划为一个支撑句群。通常,支撑句之间的衔接词可以帮助我们厘清它们之间的关系。

2.筛选支撑句群

在作者看来,不同的支撑句或支撑句群所表达的支撑信息并非同等重要,这可以从支撑句或支撑句群的先后顺序和内容详略等来判断,这也是筛选支撑信息的重要原则。

3.概括支撑句群

若所筛选的支撑句群篇幅较长,要进行概括总结,归纳出其支撑段落要点的关键点。

【案例2】

①Companies use colors to great effect to encourage us to buy their products.② For example,purple is seen as creative and mixes well with red,to show that a company has ideas and the power to make them happen.③Orange and blue are also recommended colors for companies to use,because orange is the color of communication and blue suggests safety and security.④So this could be a particularly good combination.⑤ Companies have found certain colors “speak” to specif i c age groups.⑥They often use red to attract younger people to buy their products,for example,as it is vibrant and more youthful than colors like gold and navy,which older customers seem to prefer.

通过阅读,学生很容易得出第一句为本段的段落主旨句,其关键信息是“use colors”“to encourage us to buy their products”。下面我们要筛选、概括支撑信息。我们先分解支撑句群,把表达同一个意思的支撑句划为一个支撑句群,即第②③④句为一个支撑句群,第⑤⑥句为一个支撑句群。然后,我们要筛选概括支撑句群,归纳出其支撑段落要点的关键点,即第一个支撑句群以purple,red,orange和blue为例,阐释Colors convey certain images/signals/information.第二个支撑句群的主旨句是第⑤句,第⑥句给出支撑的例子。

基于以上分析,我们把这一段落要点概括为:

Also,companies employ color to promote sales,considering the image it conveys and age groups it attracts.

(三)提炼关键词

在归纳主旨大意和筛选支撑信息后,我们有必要分析所提炼的主旨句和支撑句,找到它们的关键词,这一过程被称为“提炼关键词”,这也是为同义转换做好准备。我们可以从以下两方面入手:

1.结合篇章、段落主旨

我们首先要结合篇章、段落主旨大意,选取与文本主旨密切相关的词或短语。它们通常是名词(短语)、动词(短语)和形容词(短语)等实词。在文本中,这些实词有可能以原词、代词、同义词、近义词或反义词、上下义词的形式反复出现,这也起到了提示作用。

2.结合句法知识

就主从复合句而言,关键词通常在主句部分,而非从句部分,但含有宾语从句的主从复合句例外,关键词应在宾语从句部分。就简单句而言,关键词通常在主谓宾部分,而非在定语、状语和其他补充说明部分。就并列句而言,连接两个简单句的并列连词是判断关键词的关键所在。

【案例3】①The power of color has been used for centuries and we should be making the most of it in our lives.②Color affects us to a greater degree than most of us realize.③It is used increasingly by psychologists and therapists for inf l uencing mood and state of mind,and for various types of treatments when we are ill.④Some people even believe that the blind can benef i t from the‘vibrations’(震动)that color gives off.

通过分析,我们得出第①句为第一、二两段间的过渡句,第②句为主旨句,第③句为支撑句,第④句为第③句的极端例子。那么,我们就要提炼第②③两句中的关键词。根据以上两个原则,我们提炼出以下关键词:“color”“affects”“to a greater degree”“influencing mood”“treatments”而“psychologists”和“therapists”所表达的意思与“inf l uencing mood”“treatments”一样,属于同义复现。

基于以上分析,我们把这一段落要点概括为:

Their power can be greater than expected for they’re increasingly used to influence our state of mind and treat illness.

或者:...used in psychological and medical areas.

(四)合并相关信息

由于所提炼的关键词相对零散、孤立,有必要依据它们的逻辑关系进行整合,使信息合理联结,这通常指段落主旨句、关键词和段落支撑句关键词的合并,而不是指合并同一层级的主旨句,即要点。

合并信息首先需要对信息进行分类、整合,找到信息之间的逻辑关系,再使用恰当的逻辑衔接词将这一逻辑关系体现出来,以达到主旨信息和支撑信息的合并。常见的合并手段有:

1.运用从句(状语从句,非限制性定语从句等)2.运用同位语

3.运用短语(介词短语,非谓语动词短语等)

4.运用并列连词:如 and,but,or,nor,so,yet,while,as well as,not only...but also...,either...or...等。

【案例4】①Companies use colors to great effect to encourage us to buy their products.② For example,purple is seen as creative and mixes well with red,to show that a company has ideas and the power to make them happen.③Orange and blue are also recommended colors for companies to use,because orange is the color of communication and blue suggests safety and security.④So this could be a particularly good combination.⑤ Companies have found certain colors“speak”to specif i c age groups.⑥They often use red to attract younger people to buy their products,for example,as it is vibrant and more youthful than colors like gold and navy,which older customers seem to prefer.

通过分析,我们得出第①句为段落主旨句,第②③④句为一个支撑句群,第⑤⑥句为一个支撑句群,两个支撑句群与主旨句间的逻辑关系为解释,即颜色能鼓动人们买东西的原因。这样,我们就找到了主旨信息与支撑信息间的逻辑关系,接下来,我们就需要用表“解释”的逻辑衔接词合并主旨信息和支撑信息。

基于以上分析,我们把这一段落要点概括为:

Also,companies employ color to promote sales,considering the image it conveys and age groups it attracts.

其中,“considering”一词很好地把主旨信息和支撑信息间“解释”的逻辑关系体现了出来。

(五)变换表达方式

变换表达方式的第一个要求是客观精确地表述原文要点,不能因变换表达方式而增添了自己的评价等不属于原文的信息,或删减了原文的关键信息,甚至改变了原文的意思,即做到“不增不减不曲”。要做到“不增不减不曲”,首先要认真阅读并充分理解所给材料,并养成忠于原文的改写意识和习惯。变换表达方式的第二个要求是简要表达原材料的意思,即在正确理解原文的前提下,用简洁的语言表达与所给材料一致的信息。简言之,要做到“不繁”。常见的变换手段有:(1)长变短:从句(名词性从句、定语从句、状语从句)变成短语(名词短语、动词短语、非谓语动词短语)或单词(名词);(2)具体变概括。

变换表达方式的主要方法有:

1.近义替换法

2.词性转换法(抽象名词:improvement,popularity,absence/shortage,addiction,ambition,anxiety,awareness,concern,worry,confusion,curiosity,determination,devotion,f l uency,opposition,belief,relief,failure 等 )

3.语态互换法

4.句式变化法

5.归纳总结法

【案例5】

①Although a lot of people were strongly against it,three more nuclear power stations were built.

改为:Another three nuclear power stations were constructed despite the strong opposition.

② Besides,one has to consider who is spending the holiday with.

改为:Another consideration is the companion.

③ It will be serious if we don’t solve the serious problem of pollution.

改为:Failure to solve the problem of pollution will be a disaster.

④There is no room for doubt that classical music is becoming popular with young people.

改为:It is fi rmly believed that classical music is gaining popularity among the youth.

⑤It is impossible for life to exist on the Mars because there is little or no air for breathing and growing.

改为:The absence of air makes the existence of life on the Mars impossible.

⑥You will have a better chance to get the job if you can speak English fl uently.

改为:Fluency in spoken English means an advantage in job hunting.

(六)运用衔接手段

运用衔接手段要以明确主旨信息间、主旨信息与支撑信息间的逻辑关系为基础,即明确文本结构框架。在概要写作中,我们一般借助逻辑衔接词达到语篇的衔接过渡。

1.首 先:f i rst,f i rst of all,to begin/start with,in the fi rst place,above all...

2.其次 (表递进 ):also,besides,in addition,additionally,moreover,furthermore,meanwhile,more importantly,equally importantly,what’s more,what’s worse,worse still...

3.最后:last but not least,f i nally,eventually,at last...

4.表比较、对比:similarly,while,instead,instead of,rather,by contrast,unlike...,different from...

5.表 转 折:yet,but,however,nevertheless,on the contrary,on the other hand,even so,surprisingly,strange enough...

6.表因果:because of,due to,thanks to,owing to,on account of,in consequence of,result from,therefore,so,as a result/consequence,consequently,in consequence,thus,accordingly,result in,give rise to...

7.表总结:in short,in brief,brief l y speaking,to sum up,in summary,on the whole,in conclusion,in a word,all in all...

8.表举例:such as/like...,for example/instance,from...to...,whether...or...,a wide variety of...,that range/ranging from...to ...

9.表目的:to,in order to,so that,with the purpose of...

10.表 让 步:anyway,although,though,while,despite,in spite of...

三、提醒与建议

1.概要写作的起点是要点及其关键词的准确提取,做到不增不减不发表个人评价,客观地呈现原文要点,如果要点提取出现偏差,后面将越走越错。

2.把支撑句分解为若干个支撑句群,筛选、概括其中的一个写入概要中,做到一个主旨信息加一个支撑信息。注意,如主旨信息比较完整,也可不需要支撑信息。

3.理清主旨信息与支撑信息间的逻辑关系,并选用恰当的逻辑衔接词合并主旨信息和支撑信息,尽量做到一个要点一个句子。

4.理清段与段之间的关系,这使我们明白文章的结构及要点与要点间的关系,使所写概要的结构与原文的结构保持一致。

5.在落笔写每一个要点前,都思考这一要点与前一要点间的关系,并用恰当的逻辑衔接词加以体现,做到每个要点都以逻辑衔接词开头。

6.转换表达方式以准确把握主旨及正确提取关键词为前提,在这一个前提下,尽量提高语言层次,做到“不增不减不曲不繁”。

7.通常,我们可以通过改变主语、句式、语态和词性等来进行同义转换,不要只想着寻找近义词。

8.概要写作中第二次提到关键词,可用代词进行替换,以使语言简洁流畅。

9.关注词数、书写及语法错误。

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