考北外英语研究生有一门是写作，包括对一篇阅读文章的summary(300字)和commentary (500字)，还有另外二选一的essay writing(题目类似GRE issue作文题，写800到1000字)。一开始知道考试要在3个小时内写这么多，瞬间石化，细想就算平时期末论文1500都要写到郁结，怎么写得完？不过不要担心，老师们肯定也灰常明白我们考生的苦衷。大概考察的要求只是我们在考试时能写出不要有语法错误，逻辑完整，内容充实，然后偶尔蹦出一两个精彩词汇和精彩句型，他们就心满意足了吧。我从11月中旬开始练习写作第二部分，最后12月中下旬开始练summary,与考研的好基友们互相批改。每次看着满目疮痍的作文恨不得自挂东南枝。同学评语：不要再写像散文一样的议论文啦！不过坚持写作了好几篇，然后看过一些国外写作教程和新东方的《作文大讲堂》，没事就看看新闻神马的，考试居然得了135分，暴喜，因为考试的时候毕竟紧张，作文质量立马打回原形。以下是我复习考研时的写作摘抄和总结，希望能有用o(∩_∩)o… I. Summary II. Commentary III. Essay Writing Summary 要看清是summarize the passage 还是summarize the views in the passage, 读完全文划出thesis statement 和各段的topic sentence 以及比较重要的几个论据（例子，数据，对比等），然后用自己的话联成一个完整的小passage 就OK了。我针对自己的弱点给自己的提醒是： 1. 摘要中也要突出原文重点（长度要合适，某个论点在原文长度最长，在summary中也同样如此） 2. 要记住使用linking devices，把全文结构脉络缕清。（不是罗列views，论点与论点之间的关系要体现出来。）Summary依然是篇完整的文章或段落，要有introduction(Identify the title, author and views), main body( views) and conclusion. (再说一遍Brief, just a few well-stated sentences that give a sense of closure.) (这样也可以凑字数嘛o(∩_∩)o…) 3. 引用尽量不要超过4处，尽量用自己的话。要paraphrase一定要记得加quotation marks“”（但是考试的时候谁管这么多，中国的老师好像也不是特别注重这点。但是外教会判成plagiarism） 高手版（model summary） In “How to Heal a Hypochondriac” (Time September 30, 2003), M. Lemonick reports on research into ways of dealing with hypochondria, a thinking disorder that makes healthy people believe that they are suffering from one or more serious diseases. Not only do hypochondriacs genuinely suffer from their disorder, but they create a significant burden on the health-care system. Research suggests that hypochondriacs fall into three categories: those who have a variant of obsessive-compulsive disorder, those who are hypersensitive to any physical symptoms, and those whose hypochondria were triggered by a stress life event. Cognitiv
e therapy, in which patients are trained to direct their attention away from their symptoms, and antidepressant medicine both seem helpful in treating hypochondria. The most difficult part of treatment is suggesting that a patient suffers from hypochondria without angering or embarrassing him or her. 废柴版（我写的，其实考试也就这水平，字数少很多，句也很散，考试也没写够字，所以看出评分并不严） The author begins with arguing against the proponents’ rationales of mandating paid family leave. They hold “It will help families” and “The US is the only rich country that doesn’t have it.” The author believes the two reasons are “irrelevant” and “wrong.” In his/her view, paid family leave will be counterproductive because legislation cannot change the laws of economics. Then the author argues in both the demand side effect and the supply side effect. Mandated paid family leave will increase the cost of hiring women, so the result is that less women will be employed, as is the case with the disabled after the ADA’s passage (The Americans With Disabilities Act). Meanwhile, it reduces women’s incentive to return to work after a long parental leave. Some other policies are more effective, such as work-for-pay programs, ending the marriage penalty and other flexible choices for the family. In sum, the author holds that mandated paid family leave is not the best option to families. More choices should be available for them. （此篇选自星火《五大题源》95面 做过的阅读或者经济学人杂志等上面的文章可以用来做Summary and commentary ） Commentary紧呈以上的summary， 继续analyze and evaluate. Analyze 指 examine the parts of a whole. Evaluate 指对全文的rate, appraise, or judge and attach an opinion of value to worth to something. A commentary considers how the reading presents main idea. We can discuss the originality of the passage,/ insights of the author, /the humor, /your response on weightier matters, /and consider the facts and possible consequences or implications of the main idea./ Commentary 属于 written reaction 一种。Written reaction reacts to ideas, responds to content and structure, and analyzes the central idea of a reading and contributes an informed opinion, based on facts and reasons, not emotion. Written reaction 包括commentary 和 argument. 但是写的时候我两个都写，反正凑字数嘛。 An argument 是 examine, interpret, evaluate the views in the passage and state your own opinion. 而且require specific facts and reasons to defend and support a stand on an issue. 三步走 I. Take a position II. Defend it III. Provide logical reasons. 其实，经常写的book report(书评)就是introduction, summary, written reaction( commentary and argument), conclusion四部分组成。 Model Summary and Commentary A Reaction to Martin Buber’s Philosophy Summary: Martin Buber’s philosophy, as set forth in Between Man and
Man, seems similar to Plato’s in many respects. Although the philosophers disagree about the source of goodness, they both believe that goodness is an absolute, quite distinct from people. They believe we strive to attain goodness by making wise choices. Buber’s philosophy has important applications for teachers. Buber feels that the formal teaching of value is worthless. Nonetheless, he believes that the teacher presents a selection from the real world and acts as a model to the pupil (indirect teaching). Buber develops the concept of “inclusiveness”, which is the complete realization of the submissive person (i.e., the student) To develop the mental powers to make good choices, Plato suggests the (direct) study of mathematics, philosophy, and other disciplines. Plato attempts to outline an ideal society where everyone can live peacefully and develop to the fullest capacity. Reaction and Implication In the educational situation, this inclusiveness means that educators must beware of dangers of such a relationship. They must refrain from arbitrariness and must exercise responsibility in interpreting the real world to the pupil. I agree: Teachers should consider the needs and rights of their pupils and try to respond in a way that will benefit them. This goal requires not only responsibility in the selection of classroom material but also fairness in grading, settling disputes, and other situations which arise. I concur with Buber’s theory about the teaching values: values are caught, not taught. A teacher should be of good character and should act as a role model for students. How can educators accomplish this responsibility? Buber says they can do it by conscious and willed selection. In other words, educators should know what they want to achieve and select the proper means to achieve it. They should examine their basic principles and understanding what is happening – not merely what they think they are doing. They must be objecting as well as responsible. Finally, Buber believes that “Life lived in freedom is personal responsibility or it is a pathetic farce” (“Education”, Section III). Rousseau, in a similar vein, says that pupils are obliged to develop their intellectual powers to learn a vocation and provide for themselves. Like Buber, Rousseau is greatly concerned about the educator’s responsibility of keeping evil away from pupils. This idea of personal responsibility involves intellectual self – discipline as well as physical self-discipline, but it helps us to gain self-respect and stature in the eyes of others. It helps us to find a purpose beyond ourselves – and perhaps that is what life is really all about. Conclusion In short, although Buber’s tradition Judeo-Christian philosophy will not appeal to Any Rand fans or existentialists with leanings towards Nietzsche or Sartre, I believe it provides an excellent set of principles for undergirding education. ISSUE 其实写下来感觉最难的还是文章的
构思和内容论证。以下是我总结的一些笔记。 STEP 1: Position. (Controversial issues are controversial precisely because no single stance convinces everyone, because there is always room for counterargument and for other positions that have their own power to convince. // merely taking sides is not enough 比如说不能光写 Euthanasia is wrong. 这样太肌无力) （当然北外的题目通常不会太controversial） STEP 2: Thesis (represent position directly and clearly, it should appeal to readers and not exclude qualifications and exceptions 限定一下 免得显得太绝对) e.g. topic: gay marriage A couple’s right to marry should not be restricted because of sexual orientation. (Improved) Every couple who wishes to commit to each other in marriage (qualification) should have the right to do so, regardless of sexual preference. (Improved 2) Everyone, gay and straight, will benefit from extending the basic human right of marriage to all couples, regardless of sexual preference. e.g. Life sentences with no parole are justifiable for all sane people found guilty of first-degree murder. ( exceptions: those insane people and those tried on lesser charges) STEP 3: Finding Supporting Reasons( 这个找论据最头疼了，实在不知从何下手的时候可以从以下一一找) 1. Special rules or principles, such as law, politics and business. (E.G. A person is innocent until proven guilty) 2. Expert opinion and hard evidence ( detailed and current information) 3. Tradition (Bible, Constitution, sayings, writings, quotations ) 4. Comparison→analogy 类比论证 例1 Marijuana use should be decriminalized. Analogy : It is no more harmful than alcohol which is legal( it is similar in effect to alcohol…) 例2 Discrimination based on sexual should not be tolerated today just as discrimination based on race, common thirty years ago, is no longer tolerated. 例3 (oppose sharing the world’s limited resources) requiring the wealthy nations of the world to feed the starving nations is analogous to requiring the occupants of a lifeboat filled to a safe capacity to take on board those still in the water until the lifeboats sinks and everybody perishes. 可以说这是耍赖的论证，但不能否认它也是类比论证的一种。 5. Cause-and-effect因果论证Depend on credible ,adequate hard evidence and expert opinion 6. Definition All argument requires definition for clarification. If we define a term by placing it in a category, we are saying that whatever is true for the category is true for the term we are defining. 例1 Thesis: Women must have suffrage, access to higher education, and sovereignty over their own minds and bodies. Reason: Women are individuals. (女性也是人，人人都有权享受选举 教育及自主自理等， 所以女性也同样有权。。。) Individual 就是一个category All individuals are endowed with certain inalienable rights, the definition reminds that women belong in the categor
y of “individual” just as much as men do and so deserve the same rights. 考完研已经好长一段时间了，一直懒惰没及时把总结的资料整理好。不好意思现在记得的也就这些了。祝大家考研成功，心想事成！