地道英语写作教程 上

Part Ⅰ Basic Elements of English Writing 2

Unit One Words 2

1.1 Meanings of a word 3

1.1.1 Polysemy of words 3

1.1.2 Extension of word meaning in different contexts 6

1.2 Use words correctly 7

1.2.1 The singular and plural forms of a special group of nouns 7

1.2.2 Abstract nouns 8

1.2.3 Collective nouns 9

1.2.4 Idioms 9

1.2.5 Synonyms 10

1.2.6 Transitional words 11

1.3 Use words precisely 12

1.3.1 Distinguish among synonyms 12

1.3.2 Distinguish between general words and specific words 13

1.3.3 Distinguish the words similar in spelling 13

1.3.4 Distinguish between formal and informal words 14

1.3.5 Distinguish the emotional coloring 15

1.4 Use words tersely 16

Exercises 18

Unit Two Sentence Writing 21

2.1 Comparison between Chinese and English sentence writing 21

2.1.1 Synthesis vs analysis 21

2.1.2 Comparison:subjective awareness vs objective awareness 23

2.1.3 Comparison:straightforward vs periphrastic 25

2.2 Principles for writing English sentences 27

2.2.1 Know the basic sentence patterns of English 27

2.2.2 Know the extension of English sentences 30

2.2.3 Know the varieties of English sentences 33

2.3 Improve qualities of English sentences 36

2.3.1 Avoid redundant words 36

2.3.2 Avoid cliche 37

2.3.3 Construct precisely 38

2.3.4 Have coherence 38

2.3.5 Have good rhythm and beautiful pronunciation 39

2.4 Avoid typical sentence errors 40

2.4.1 Sentence fragments 40

2.4.2 Choppy sentences 42

2.4.3 Stringy sentences 43

2.4.4 Disturbing inconsistency 44

2.4.5 Incomplete constructions 46

Exercises 47

Unit Three Punctuations 50

3.1 General introduction 50

3.1.1 Understanding punctuation 50

3.1.2 Functions of punctuation 51

3.2 Mistakes frequently made on punctuation 53

3.2.1 Mistakes by misunderstanding 53

3.2.2 Mistakes on punctuation resulting from grammatical confusion 54

3.2.3 Other mistakes 56

3.3 Different kinds of punctuation marks 57

3.3.1 Comma 57

3.3.2 Parenthesis 65

3.3.3 Dash 66

3.3.4 Colon 67

3.3.5 Semicolon 68

3.3.6 The ellipsis mark 70

Exercises 71

Unit Four Paragraph Writing 73

4.1 General introduction 73

4.1.1 Definition 73

4.1.2 Comparison analysis 73

4.2 Components of a paragraph 76

4.2.1 A topic sentence 76

4.2.2 Supporting sentences 79

4.2.3 The concluding sentence 80

4.3 Paragraph development 82

4.3.1 Development by listing 83

4.3.2 Development by examples 84

4.3.3 Development by definition 85

4.3.4 Development by comparison and contrast 85

4.3.5 Development by cause and effect 87

4.3.6 Development by classification and division 88

4.3.7 Development by process analysis 90

4.3.8 Combined pattern of development 90

4.4 Special paragraphs 90

4.4.1 Introductory paragraphs 90

4.4.2 Concluding paragraphs 92

4.4.3 Transitional paragraphs or emphatic paragraphs 93

4.4.4 Paragraphs in a conversation 94

4.5 Build effective paragraphs 94

4.5.1 Unity 95

4.5.2 Coherence 95

4.6 Tips to avoid ineffective paragraph writing 99

4.6.1 Don't hesitate to show your main point in the first place 99

4.6.2 Don't try to achieve coherence without using any transitional means 99

4.6.3 Don't use the subjective assumption to develop the paragraph 100

Exercises 100

Unit Five Figures of Speech 103

5.1 General introduction 103

5.1.1 The definition of figures of speech 103

5.1.2 The value of figures of speech 104

5.1.3 The categories of figures of speech 105

5.2 Lexical stylistic devices 106

5.2.1 Analogy 106

5.2.2 Simile 106

5.2.3 Metaphor 107

5.2.4 Personification 108

5.2.5 Euphemism 109

5.2.6 Pun 110

5.2.7 Irony 111

5.2.8 Hyperbole 112

5.2.9 Oxymoron 113

5.3 Syntactical stylistic devices 114

5.3.1 Parallelism 114

5.3.2 Climax 114

5.3.3 Enumeration 115

5.3.4 Antithesis 116

5.4 Phonetic stylistic devices 116

5.4.1 Alliteratiton 116

5.4.2 Assonance 117

5.4.3 Consonance 118

Exercises 118

Part Ⅱ Essay Writing 122

Unit Six Narrative Writing 122

6.1 General introduction 122

6.1.1 Definition 122

6.1.2 Modes of narration 122

6.1.3 Characteristics of narration 125

6.1.4 The basic pattern of narrative writing 129

6.2 Constructing Process 135

6.2.1 Abstract a theme 135

6.2.2 Express the theme 137

6.2.3 List an outline 138

6.2.4 Select meaningful incidents and appropriate details 139

6.2.5 Select appropriate relating structure and order 141

6.2.6 Select a suitable perspective 141

Exercises 142

Unit Seven Descriptive Essay Writing 147

7.1 General introduction 147

7.1.1 Definition 147

7.1.2 Modes of descriptive writing 147

7.1.3 Structure of descriptive writing 150

7.2 Constructing principles of descriptive essay 152

7.2.1 General introduction 152

7.2.2 Principles of descriptive essay 153

7.2.3 Build words and expressions 154

7.3 Graph description 156

7.3.1 Main types of graph writing 156

7.3.2 Trend description 159

Exercises 161

Unit Eight Expository Essay Writing 163

8.1 General introduction 163

8.2 Types of expository writing 165

8.2.1 Process writing 165

8.2.2 Comparison and contrast writing 169

8.2.3 Cause and effect writing 176

8.2.4 Definition writing 181

8.2.5 Illustration writing 185

8.2.6 Division and classification writing 190

8.3 Language features in exposition writing 193

Exercises 194

Unit Nine Argumentative Essay Writing 197

9.1 General introduction 197

9.1.1 Basic elements of an argumentation 197

9.1.2 Basic structure of an argumentative essay 201

9.2 Types of argumentation 207

9.2.1 Fact-clarifying essay 207

9.2.2 Position-taking essay 208

9.2.3 Cause-analyzing essay 211

9.2.4 Solution-proposing essay 212

9.2.5 Film or book review 213

9.3 Comparison between Chinese and English argumentative essay and the negative transfers 215

9.3.1 Indirectness vs directness 215

9.3.2 Subjectivity vs objectivity 217

9.3.3 Parataxis vs hypotaxis 219

9.4 Useful expressions and sentence patterns 220

Exercises 223

References 225