根據(jù)歷年考試的情況和考試大綱及新教學(xué)大綱的規(guī)定,六級考試短文寫作大抵有以下幾種題型:①提綱作文;②提示作文;③圖表作文;④關(guān)鍵詞作文;⑤寫文章摘要或大意;⑥信函;⑦個(gè)人簡歷等。
一、提綱作文
這是一種限制性命題作文,先給出英文作文標(biāo)題,然后再用英語或漢語列出提綱,要求考生根據(jù)所給出的提綱確定寫作主題,構(gòu)思段落模式,寫出符合要求、一定字?jǐn)?shù)的短文。提綱作文省卻了考生立提綱的構(gòu)思過程,但從另一角度給考生提出了新的要求:考生必須既緊扣標(biāo)題,又嚴(yán)格遵守提綱,不能脫離或漏掉提綱規(guī)定的作文要點(diǎn)。一般提綱作文給出的提綱有幾點(diǎn),短文就寫幾段,但如果提綱中僅有二點(diǎn),則考生可以在構(gòu)思時(shí)增加一個(gè)終結(jié)段?忌臉(gòu)思過程主要可從以下幾個(gè)方面進(jìn)行:
1.根據(jù)提綱要求設(shè)計(jì)每段的主題句,注意最好不要逐字翻譯提綱。
2.根據(jù)提綱及主題句自由搜索寫作素材。
3.從所搜列的原始素材中為每段選取最能說明問題,也即與短文標(biāo)題、提綱及主題句最為密切的2~3個(gè)要點(diǎn),注意也要選擇考生本人感到最容易下筆的內(nèi)容。
二、提示作文
提示作文也是一種限制性命題作文,給出英文作文標(biāo)題后,以中文或英文給出一段關(guān)于這篇短文寫作內(nèi)容的提示,要求考生按照提示范圍
確定短文主題,先構(gòu)思寫作提綱,再構(gòu)思短文及段落的展開模式,最后搜索寫作素材,選取寫作要點(diǎn)。提示作文的提示方式多種多樣,除了下面要分節(jié)專門討論的圖示和關(guān)鍵詞形式外,主要還有①提供幾個(gè)供選擇的建議或方案;②提出幾個(gè)提示性問題;③提供短文要包含的一些要點(diǎn);④闡述問題或現(xiàn)象的小段文字。
三、圖表作文
如前所述,圖表作文是一種特殊的提示作文,即提示以圖表的形式出現(xiàn),提示的信息隱含在圖表之中。考生必須先仔細(xì)研讀圖表,使圖表中的數(shù)據(jù)、曲線、圖形等成為與短文標(biāo)題相關(guān)并能為我所用的有意義的信息。
考生讀圖時(shí)務(wù)必要把握表層信息和深層含義這兩方面的內(nèi)容,主要考的是考生對圖表深層次信息(原因、根源、發(fā)展可能等)的挖掘和闡述。
這類作文都可以采用下列統(tǒng)一的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)提綱:
1.現(xiàn)狀——圖表揭示的表面現(xiàn)象
2.原因——引起圖表表面現(xiàn)象的深層次社會根源
3.發(fā)展趨勢或啟示——圖表所表述的現(xiàn)象的發(fā)展前景(或趨勢)及從中我們得到的啟示
四、關(guān)鍵詞作文
關(guān)鍵詞作文也是一種特殊的提示作文。這類題型的提示不再是一段連貫的文字或隱含大量連貫信息的圖表,而是由一定話題組合在一起的一組單詞或詞組。這些詞語通常需要全部用到短文中,且往往又是涉及短文主要內(nèi)容的關(guān)鍵詞,這些詞一般有與短文內(nèi)容相關(guān)的實(shí)義詞(包括動詞、形容詞、名詞或副詞),和與短文篇章結(jié)構(gòu)相關(guān)的連接性詞語兩類,通常按一定的(先后)順序或邏輯關(guān)系排列。
這類作文需要考生根據(jù)關(guān)鍵詞提供的實(shí)際上并不連貫的信息片斷通過聯(lián)想來構(gòu)思短文的主題及提綱,并要求將全部關(guān)系詞恰到好處地運(yùn)用在整篇短文中,所以寫作起來有一定的難度。六級考試雖把它們?yōu)橐环N題型,但至今未考過。這類作文的構(gòu)思寫作方法:
1.弄清標(biāo)題及寫作要求,按所給關(guān)鍵詞語的順序進(jìn)行聯(lián)想構(gòu)思,確定前后各詞語間的邏輯關(guān)系并擬定作文提綱。
2.根據(jù)關(guān)鍵詞語的組合合理分段。
3.正確使用所給的關(guān)鍵詞語。既要把所有詞語用上,又要用得正確、恰到好處。注意不能只考慮所給詞語的使用而忽視了短文內(nèi)容的合理性、連貫性和切題性。
五、寫文章摘要或大意
寫摘要或大意實(shí)際上是書面表達(dá)能力的一種應(yīng)用,當(dāng)屬于應(yīng)用文寫作范疇。這一題型先提供給考生一篇較長的文章,然后要求他在規(guī)定的時(shí)間及字?jǐn)?shù)范圍內(nèi)寫出該文章的摘要或大意。文章摘要或大意是文章主題、主要論點(diǎn)、論據(jù)等要點(diǎn)信息的概括和總結(jié)。寫摘要或大意的目的是要客觀、完整、準(zhǔn)確、扼要地把原文的主要內(nèi)容和觀點(diǎn)再現(xiàn)在一篇相對較短(約原文的1/4至1/5)的短文里。六級考試至今也尚未考到過該題型。寫摘要或大意的方法與步驟:
1.以較快的速度閱讀原文,找出主題和要點(diǎn)等所需信息。
2.根據(jù)這些主要信息,構(gòu)思這些內(nèi)容的重組順序和方式。要求摘要所包含的信息盡可能濃縮、完整、準(zhǔn)確。同時(shí),重組一般宜遵循與原文相同的先后順序。
3.要忠于原文,不遺漏要點(diǎn),不添加原文中沒有的情節(jié)或觀點(diǎn)。注意區(qū)分原文的要點(diǎn)和細(xì)節(jié),并略去細(xì)節(jié)。
4.切忌簡單拼合原文的要點(diǎn)和主題,要用自己的語言通過濃縮重新組織。
六、信函
英文書信是典型的應(yīng)用文寫作,英文書信大抵可分為私人信函與公務(wù)信函兩大類。公務(wù)信函一般為單位之間或單位與個(gè)人之間就某些非個(gè)人事務(wù)而往來的信件。私人信函則是親朋好友之間就個(gè)人事務(wù)、情感交流而往來的信件。公務(wù)信函比較講究格式和語體。
信函的寫作主要涉及信函必須遵循的特殊格式,另外英文信函還講究個(gè)“A、B、C”。A即Accuracy-準(zhǔn)確,B即Brevity-簡潔,C即Clarity—清晰。英文信函的格式。英文書信通常由七個(gè)部分組成。它們是信封、信頭、信內(nèi)地址、稱呼、正文、結(jié)尾套語和署名。
除信封獨(dú)立于其他六個(gè)部分之外,其他六個(gè)部分均出現(xiàn)在信紙上。
信箋包括:①信頭
②信內(nèi)地址
③稱呼
④正文
⑤結(jié)尾客套
⑥署名
①信頭。指發(fā)信人地址及日期。位于信箋右上方,先寫地址,最后一行寫日期。
②信內(nèi)地址。指收信人姓名、地址。信頭下隔行靠信箋左側(cè)。公務(wù)信函必須寫信頭和信內(nèi)地址。
③稱呼。指對收信人的稱謂語。信內(nèi)地址下隔行頂格書寫。
④正文。指書信的主體內(nèi)容。這部分與漢語書信相同。
⑤結(jié)尾客套。指寫信人的謙稱。正文下方2~3行從中間偏右處開始書寫。常用的謙稱客套有(需大寫首字母):Yours Faithfully或Faithfully Yours, Yours Truly或Truly Yours,Yours Sincerely或Sincerely(Yours),Yours Ever,Yours Respectfully等。
⑥署名。指寫信人最后落筆。位于結(jié)尾套語下方。
范文.公務(wù)信函——求職信(信頭、信內(nèi)地址略):
Dear Mr.Cavendish,
I saw your advertisement in the local paper this evening,and I wonder if you would consider me for a job as a waiter this summer.
I am seventeen years old and at present am studying for my ‘A' levels in English and economics.When I leave school,I will hope to take a course in hotel management.During the school holidays last summer,I worked as a waiter at the Central Hotel.The head waiter there,Mr.Macintosh,will be pleased to send you a recommendation for me.
I would prefer to work in your hotel in Filey because it is near my home. However,if there isn't any job there for me,perhaps you could consider me for the Scarborough Hotel.
I would be pleased if you will send me information about the pay and conditions of the job to be offered.I will be free to begin work in the fourth week of July when the school holidays start.
Yours Sincerely,
Peter Tuck
七、個(gè)人簡歷(Resume)
個(gè)人簡歷是新大綱上提到的另一種應(yīng)用文寫作題型。簡歷有普通簡歷和標(biāo)準(zhǔn)格式簡歷兩種,兩種簡歷格式不同但作用完全一樣,都是為了讓他人了解自己的年齡、地址、家庭背景、婚姻狀況、教育、專業(yè)、工作及其他經(jīng)歷等情況。簡歷要求別人看了能相信你的自我介紹,正是為了提高簡歷的可信度,寫簡歷的語言要求簡潔明了、樸實(shí),忌用華麗的詞藻。
普通簡歷與一般的自薦信正文相類似,全部個(gè)人信息通過一段文字表述。
例: An Applicant's Resume
The following is my resume:
My name is Ho Ping.I was born on May10,1956,in Wujiang City,Jiangsu Province.My father is a professor of chemistry and my mother,a doctor in charge.I received a very good home education,both moral and intellectual,in my childhood.During the six years in the middle school,I was particularly interested in and fairly good at science subjects,In1977,I was admitted into the Civil Engineering Department of Southeast Polytechnic University,where I stayed for four years,majoring in bridge building.Upon graduation with honors in1981,I got a job as an assistant in a research institute.I loved my work and devoted all I had to it.Urged by a strong determination to improve myself in basic knowledge and theories,I began to study in my spare time all the courses required by the graduate program.Three years of hard work has yielded some great progress.Now I seem to have got a better grasp of the fundamentals of my speciality.
The authorities of the institute in which I am working have always been showing utmost solicitute for my growth and development.To improve my English they sent me to a special English class training personnel to go abroad for advanced studies.What with my hard work and diligence,and what with the loving care and sincere help of the teachers,I made mighty advances in my English.I am sure after a few weeks of adaptation and familiarization I will have no difficulty in functioning on a daily basis in an Englishspeaking society or in participating fully in graduate studies.
Since my childhood,I have always been trying to cultivate a good character,paying attention to good manners and noble ideas.I frequently examine myself as to whether I am honest and faithful to friends,respectful and responsive to teachers and superiors,loyal and devoted to duties.I put strict demands on my speech and behavior in my daily activities.
Besides,I am physically strong,which owes greatly to constant training and exercise.It is true that health is the sure guarantee for one's success in career. I have,of course,weaknesses and shortcomings,conspicuous among which are impatience with difficulties and hesitation in making some decisions.I consider them my bitter enemies,which I must make every effort to overcome. Now,I am applying for admission to the Graduate School of Civil Engineering of Yoyo University in the U.S.A. If accepted,I plan to stay there for three years leading to a Ph.D.degree.I hope my further studies as a graduate will help improve my service for my country and its people.
另有標(biāo)準(zhǔn)格式簡歷,屬表格簡歷,比較正式,講究一定的格式和先后順序。