如何正確對待雅思作文的參考範文

朗閣海外考試研究中心 袁敏敏

備考的學生分為兩種:大部分選擇參加上課培訓,少部分是自學。對上課的學生來說,他們除了上課聽老師講解寫作的解題方法和解題思路,課後也需要大量的寫作練習,或者希望能有範文參考,給與自己更多的想法和素材;而自學的學生主要通過購買參考書,慢慢地領會書中的講解,參考其中的範文並進行模仿寫作。

不管是老師給與學生範文還是學生自己搜索範文,參考範文的來源主要有以下幾種:

1)官方的高分範文;

2)參考書上的範文;

3)網絡參考範文;

學生視參考範文為‘救命稻草’,所以往往不分青紅皂白地借用,而一旦脫離了範文,自己依然無從下手,主要原因是學生對範文的依賴已經遠遠超過自己的理解,沒有正確地找到自己想要什麼。在本文中,朗閣海外考試研究中心的專家們會摘錄不同渠道的參考範文,通過分析讓學生真正理解如何更好地利用參考範文。

一:官方的參考範文

官方的範文一般是考官所寫,而且都是滿分作文。比如:

In many countries, schools have severe problems with student behavior.

What do you think are the causes of this?

What solutions can you suggest?

本題來自劍橋4,TEST4的TASK 2,屬於report題型,題目簡單闡述了一個事實,即學生在學校的行為問題比較普遍,需要分析其原因,並給出相應的解決方法。在這本書的答案部分,考官提供了a good example,原文摘錄如下:

Paragraph 1: Introduction

Poor student behavior seems to be an increasingly widespread problem and I think that modern lifestyles are probably responsible for this.

分析:

本段首先改述了題中的事實,所用詞彙和句子結構對大部分學生來說都比較容易接受,是很好的參考內容;在表述自己觀點中,考官明確提出是什麼原因(modern lifestyles)導致(be responsible for在這裡理解為‘導致、引起’,學生可以模仿利用這種好的短語)了學生的行為問題,這種表達觀點的方式很直接,但是很多學生的概括能力還並未達到這個程度,所以不太能在introduction中可以直接表達這樣的觀點,大部分都會表達為:I think several reasons contribute to this phenomenon.此外,題中給出了兩個問題,除了問及這個現象的理由之外,還需要給出解決方法,但考官並未在開頭段中回答第二個問題。作為學生來說,他們會感到困惑,report題型的作文,在開頭段中到底需不需要全部回答問題,而在平時,老師的回答都是‘需要’,所以對於這樣的introduction,學生需要保持自己的寫作習慣,不能完全照搬。

學生習作範例:

It is true that many schools are troubled by students’ behavioral problems.(簡單的事實改寫)There are various reasons for this phenomenon, but measures could be taken to tackle the problem(簡單地回答了題中的兩個問題).這樣簡單明瞭的introduction,完全可以和考官範文媲美。

Paragraph 2:

①In many countries, the birth rate is decreasing so that families are smaller with fewer children. ②These children are often spoilt, not in terms of love and attention because working parents do not have the time for this, but in more material ways. ③They are allowed to have whatever they want, regardless of price, and to behave as they please. ④This means that the children grow up without consideration for others and without any understanding of where their standard of living comes from.

分析:

整個段落由四句話構成。第一句話的表達比較簡單,學生很容易接受,值得學習,但從內容上看,並不是整個段落的topic sentence,這種自由式的寫作風格有違老師平時所講的段落結構(topic sentence + explanation),因此學生會感到迷惑,也不易模仿;第二句話中在介詞短語部分出現了平行結構not…, but…,這種結構讀起來節奏感很強,而且能形成鮮明的對比,指出現在的父母用錯誤的方式寵愛孩子(以滿足物質為主),往往缺少關愛和關心;第三句話依然存在並行結構,be allowed to do ……, and to do ……,進一步指出父母對孩子的放縱;最後一句話還是用and連接前後兩個without,解釋前面的行為所帶來的後果。

整個段落基本以並行結構為主,值得借鑑;在內容方面,一步一步地解釋了父母對孩子放縱是導致孩子行為問題的原因,學生需要理解這其中的邏輯和層層遞進的聯繫,這也是學生平時欠缺的地方。

Paragraph 3:

When they get to school age they have not learnt any self-control or discipline. They have less respect for their teachers and refuse to obey school rules in the way that their parents did.

分析:

只有兩句話,其實從本質上講,這不能算作段落,似乎就這麼沒頭沒尾地出現在了文中。這會讓學生產生很多的疑問:

1)這兩句話的作用是什麼?

2)論述了什麼內容?

3)topic sentence是什麼?

4)在寫作的過程中,什麼情況下可以這樣論述?

等等這些問題,對並不是local English or American老師也是很大的挑戰,不知該如何解釋,因為這種段落悖於平常的講解和所見,所以只能告訴學生不要去模仿這樣的寫法。

Paragraph 4:

①Teachers continually complain about this problem and measures should be taken to combat the situation. ②But I think the solution to the problem lies with the families, who need to be more aware of the future consequences of spoiling their children. ③If they could raise them to be considerate of others and to be social, responsible individuals, the whole community would benefit.

分析:

第一句話針對題目問題,簡單做出回答,這種方式學生完全可以模仿參考;短語combat the situation可以作為同義替換加入自己的詞彙庫;第二句話就上面段落論述的原因給出相應的解決方法;第三句話是對前者解決方法的深度論述。

段落用詞簡單準確,句子結構也並不複雜,學生完全可以理解模仿,是很好的參考材料。

Paragraph 5:

Perhaps parenting classes are needed to help them to do this, and high quality nursery schools could be established that would support families more in terms of raising the next generation. The government should fund this kind of parental support, because this is no longer a problem for individual families, but for society as a whole.

分析:

就目前國內的雅思寫作教學來說,可能大部分的老師都會按照相對固定的方式教學,即明確告訴學生全篇寫4段或者5段:1 introduction + 2/3 body paragraphs + 1 conclusion。也就是說,不管是五段式或者是四段式作文,最後一段一定是結尾,其目的是通過對主體內容的概括和開頭段的觀點保持呼應,而這篇文章的結尾卻是論述解決學生行為問題的方法。就段落安排來說,這是學生不可理解的地方,也是老師不推薦學生模仿的地方。

從內容來說,這裡提到的解決方法特別好,同時也可以積累相關的詞彙,比如parenting classes (家庭教育課程),high quality nursery schools (高質量幼兒園),raise the next generation (培養下一代),fund sth (給…提供資金),parental support (父母的支持);句子結構不難,對大部分學生都可以接受,是很好的素材。

二:參考書上的參考範文

市面上的參考書種類很多,內容質量也參差不齊。很多學生,尤其是基礎比較差的學生認為,買參考書是很必須的,但買了之後卻很少看,甚至到考完依然嶄新如初。問及原因,他們只是笑笑說:“太多了,來不及看,也看不下去,太難了”。

最近在學生中比較流行的參考書主要是兩本,一本是《顧家北手把手教你寫作》,另一本是《愼小嶷十天突破寫作》。略略翻看了一下,兩本書的風格完全不同,前者注重語法、寫作細節講解以及範文分析;後者以話題詞彙為主,羅列了雅思大作文中常考話題的高頻詞彙以及短語,可惜的是鮮少有該高頻詞彙的例句,最後一小部分摘錄了幾篇7分的學生習作,並且又從範文中挑取了一些高分詞彙。好的詞彙對獲得高分很重要,尤其是地道的表達方式,比如寫到waste disposal,有一種方法是“焚燒”,幾乎所有學生都會寫“burning”,但知道“incineration”的鳳毛稜角,而考官對於後者一定是眼前一亮,印象極好的。

從實際角度來比較這兩本書,學生更希望知道如何寫出一篇‘正確’的作文,包括審題的正確、論述方向和內容的合理以及句子的正確,至於用詞,只要盡他們所能即可,特別是基礎薄弱的學生,7分作文對大部分學生來說真的是遙不可及。當然,不同的學生有不同的需求,大家可以根據自己的實際情況挑選適合自己的參考書即可。

例如:

A longer prison term as a way of punishing those who break the law is not as good as other methods.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

範文摘選:(顧家北手把手教你寫作---劍10版)

Paragraph 1: Introduction

Imposing sentences is widely accepted as a method to punish those who commit serious offences and sometimes as a correctional method. This approach may be effective, but we should also consider other ways to reform offenders.

分析:

Introduction部分由兩句話構成,第一句話中用了is widely accepted as,表示對題中觀點的改寫;imposing sentences同義替換a longer prison term,commit serious offences代替break the law,a correctional method替換good methods。總體用詞比較難,學生不太想得到;句式也相對難,學生很難寫得這麼精準。第二句話是觀點的表達。這種表達方式很值得學生模仿,因為很多學生對錶達觀點常常存在一個誤區,認為在觀點類考題中,只能表達為“agree or disagree”,其實,在理解的基礎上,真正說出自己的看法就是觀點。

例如:

Some people think that success of life is based on hard work and determination, but others think there are more important factors like money and appearance. Do you agree or disagree with the statement?

在這個題中,有兩個不同的觀點,分別指出人生成功的不同因素(努力工作和決心、金錢和外貌)。如果學生僅僅回答agree or disagree,會讓人不明白到底同意或者否定的是前者觀點還是後者觀點,而且對於成功,從這篇作文更好的論述出發,應該回答為:all the factors are of equal importance. 這就讓所有人都很清楚你的想法是什麼,而且對主體論述也有了很好的指導作用。

Paragraph 2:

①The prison sentence may have a deterrent effect on either prospective offenders or habitual offenders. ②Imprisonment means that those who violate laws will lose freedom, a consequence that no rational person is willing to take. ③The criminal record can have a lasting impact on their lives including their career. ④They will not commit crimes when they run out of money; instead, they will choose to find work or run a small business to earn a living. ⑤This can help create a peaceful and safe community.

分析:

第一句話是topic sentence,句中key words: the prison sentence是對題中a longer prison term的同義替換;表達優點的句型:have a deterrent effect on … 對…產生威懾效應,可以作為固定表達方式積累;prospective offenders是‘潛在犯罪分子’的意思,這個詞有點難,學生可以替換表達為:would-be criminal, possible criminal, potential criminal;habitual offenders意為‘慣犯’,學生只要記住‘habit’的形容詞形式即可。

第二句話中imprisonment是另一個a longer prison term的替換詞,但是對很多學生來說有點難;整個句子解釋a longer prison term的後果lose freedom,並且又加了一個同位語來進一步指出這種後果對人的作用,rational person也幾乎不為學生所知,一般只能寫many people。根據平時改作文的情況來看,學生很少寫同位語的句式,而更多會選擇從句,比如,這句話可以簡化成:Imprisonment means that those who violate laws will lose freedom, which few people are willing to take.

第三句話簡單明瞭,可以很好地借鑑這樣的表達方式,比如:The criminal record犯罪記錄,have a lasting impact on對…產生持續的影響。

第四句話和第五句話用詞用句都相對簡單,邏輯也很清晰,很容易接受。

Paragraph 3:

①While I agree that a long prison term may sometimes help us fight crime, we can consider community services as an alternative. ②These services can make some offenders, especially those who committed minor crimes, law-abiding citizens, who can learn responsibility and realize the damage caused by crimes to innocent people. ③If they are sentenced to prison, they will possibly make friends with other offenders. ④They will no repent or take stock of their lives, so they may reoffend after being released, which can pose a threat to other members of society.

分析:

第一句話承上啟下,指出另外一種懲罰犯罪分子的方法:community services;as an alternative用得比較普遍,學生可以積累,表示‘作為另外一種選擇’;

第二句話很長,在完整的句子(These services can make some offenders law-abiding citizens.)的基礎上,用插入語(especially those who committed minor crimes)對some offenders做了特殊限定,有用從句(who can learn responsibility and realize the damage caused by crimes to innocent people)修飾law-abiding citizens。句型比較複雜,對平時寫作不多的學生來說,幾乎達不到這樣的水平,但學生可以通過自己的理解進行簡化:These services can make some offenders obey the law and learn to realize the damage caused by crimes to others.

第三第四句話從反面來論述送進監獄的弊端,其中第三句話比較容易,第四句話中的單詞不常用,比如repent和take stock of,依然,我們可以做這樣的修改:They, thus, may recommit crimes after being released, which can pose a threat to other members of society.

Paragraph 4:

①We can also provide educational opportunities and vocational training for them, improving their interpersonal skills. ②It is worth noting that many juvenile offenders or first-time offenders broke the law because of a lack of social experience or low socio-economic status. ③Crime is no longer an option, if they find work and understand legal responsibilities. ④The prison can isolate criminals from society, shattering their confidence in finding work and reintegrating into society.

分析:

第一句話開門見山地給出另外的措施educational opportunities and vocational training,分詞結構improving their interpersonal skills相當於which引導的從句,(但是分詞結構更受考官的青睞,這種從句與分詞之間的轉換方法學生不妨可以熟悉一下,不難掌握) 作用是補充說明這個措施的作用。

第二句話從犯罪的原因表明這個方法的有效性。句中juvenile offenders(青少年犯罪分子) or first-time offenders(初犯者)是很好的criminal的具體表達方式;同時注意到句中用的是because of而不是because,所以在寫句子時要謹慎後面所加的內容。

第三句話用詞雖然不難,但學生不會表達。學生可能會表達為:if they find work or understand the law, they will not make such mistakes.

最後一句話依然超出了普通學生的接受能力。

Paragraph 5:

Overall, I agree that the harsh penalty can deter crime, but it is not the best approach. Through other rehabilitation programs, we can build a happy and stable society.

分析:

簡簡單單的總結,和開頭觀點相呼應:I agree that the harsh penalty can deter crime=This approach may be effective;But it is not the best approach. Through other rehabilitation programs =but we should also consider other ways to reform offenders.

這個總結還可以再具體一點:Overall, I agree that the harsh penalty can make people no longer free, community service and education are also constructive in reducing crimes.

三:網絡參考範文

網絡上的範文有很多是轉載而來,出處也無非是官方範文或者參考書,另外一小部分是不同培訓機構的老師的個人原創,也有海外學生的文章和個別英語佼佼者,五花八門,眼花繚亂。其中不乏有很好的範文,但也有錯誤的,學生在參考之前要有初步的篩選。

總之,我們不能成為參考範文的被動接受者,而應該加入自己的理解,真正地、徹底地明白為什麼會有這樣的範文,哪些內容值得借鑑再利用,哪些可以摒棄,自己的思路和範文的差距在哪裡。參考的價值就在於甄別的過程,而不是照搬。

如何正確對待雅思作文的參考範文


分享到:


相關文章: