英语写作—如何写短文How to write short essays (exposition/argumentation)I. Two types of argumentII. How to write exposition: one-sided argumentative essaysAn exposition or argumentative essay is an essay in which the writer agrees or disagrees with an issue, using reasons to support his or her opinion. The goal is to convince the readers that his or her opinion is right. Exposition/Argumentation forces writers to take a stand on an issue, support their stand with solid reasons, and support their reasons with solid evidence.III. Structure of an exposition (or: an argumentative essay)Introduction Opening remarks to catch reader’s interestThesis statementPlan of development/Preview of main ideas (optional)Topic sentence 1 (supported by supporting points)Specific evidenceBody Topic sentence 2 (supported by supporting points)Specific evidenceTopic sentence 3(supported by supporting points)Specific evidenceConclusion Summary (optional)General closing remarks (e.g. Recommendation/prediction, etc.)IV. How to Write an Introduction1) Four objectives of an introduction:●Capture the attention of readers and make them read on.●Provide background or necessary information to help readers understand the essay’sthesis.●Reveal the essay’s central idea as expressed in the thesis statement.●Guide the reader to important ideas in the body of the essay.2) How to write good opening remarks:●Asking questions or present a problem●Stating the importance of the topic●Giving historical background●Using startling facts, remarks or statistics●Starting with an opposite opinion●Starting with an idea or situation that is the opposite of the one you will develop●Telling a story, an anecdote, or an incident; or describe a scene●Citing quotations●Defining an important term or concept●Using comparison, contrast or an analogy●Starting with general, moving to specific like a funnelExercise 1: Reorder the following group of sentence to make the introduction start with being general to being specific.a.If done properly, a handshake gives the impression of strength and honesty, and ifdone improperly, it conveys weakness and dishonesty.b.In some cultures, people bow, and in others, they shake hands.c.In English-speaking countries, shaking hands is the custom.d. A proper handshake has four ingredients: pressure, pumps, eye contact, and verbalmessage.e.The way people greet each other when they meet for the first time varies fromculture to culture.f.How one shakes hands sends an important message about one’s character. Exercise 2: What kind of opening remarks is used in the following introductions? A.When students complete a first draft, they consider the job of writing done – andtheir teachers too often agree. When professional writers complete a first draft, they usually feel that they are at the start of the writing process. When a draft iscompleted, the job of writing can begin.B.―The most alarming of all man’s assaults upon the environment is the contaminationof air, earth, rivers, and sea with dangerous and even lethal materials,‖ Rachel Carson wrote a quarter of a century ago in her celebrated book Silent Spring.Today there is little disagreement with her warnings in regard to such broad-spectrum pesticides as DDT, then widely used, now banned. But there is still hot debate over how to apply modem pesticides—which are designed to kill specific types of weeds or insects—in ways that do not harm people and their environment.C.Divorce and out-of-wedlock childbirth are transforming the lives of Americanchildren. In the postwar generation more than 80% of children grew up in a family with two biological parents who are married to each other. By 1980 only 50% could expect to spend their entire childhood in an intact family. If current trends continue, less than half of all children born today will live continuously with their own mother and father throughout childhood. Most American children will spend several years ina single-mother family.D.Alcoholism is a disease whose horrible consequences go beyond the patient.Families of alcoholics often become dysfunctional; spouses and children areabandoned or endure physical and emotional abuse. Co-workers suffer too.Alcoholics have high rates of absenteeism (旷工，旷课), and their work is often unreliable, thereby decreasing office or factory productivity. Indeed, alcoholicsendanger the whole community. One in every two automobile fatalities isalcohol-related, and alcoholism is a major cause of violent crime.E. The Pilgrims (1620年移居美洲的英国清教徒) who arrived in Massachusetts in1620 came to find religious freedom. In the 17th and 18th centuries, large numbers of African men and women were brought as slaves to work on large plantations in the South. Immigrants from northern and southern Europe came in the early 19th century to escape poor economic conditions at home. Later in the 19th century, the firstimmigrants from China came as contract laborers to build the railroads connecting East and West. In the 20th century, political and economic refugees arrived from Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Indeed, the United States has seenimmigrants come from many different parts of the world, and they have come for many different reasons. Their ability to adjust to life in their adopted land hasdepended on several factors.3) How to write the thesis statement (文章的论点句/中心句)The thesis statement is the most important sentence in the introduction.A. The thesis statement states the specific topic of the essay.∙Young people in this country have less freedom than young people in mycountry.∙The large movement of people from rural to urban areas has major effects oncities.∙My older sister helped me overcome shyness.B. Sometimes a thesis statement lists subtopics that will be discussed in the Body. In this case, it includes the preview of main points.∙Young people in this country have less freedom than young people in my country in their choice of where they live, whom they marry, and what kindof job they choose.∙The large movement of people from rural to urban areas has major effects on a city’s ability to provide housing, employment, and adequate sanitationservice.∙My older sister helped me overcome shyness by encouraging me to meet people, speak in front of people and take part in social activities.C. Sometimes a thesis statement also indicates the pattern of organization of the essay, such as chronological order, spatial order, order of importance (or emphatic order), comparison/contrast, topical order, etc.∙When shopping online, use these four strategies to buy satisfactory goods.∙When buying a used car, use these four steps to get the best price.∙French and English share some similarities in vocabulary and pronunciation. D. The thesis statement is normally the last sentence in the introductory paragraph.V. How to Write the BodyNotebut for a short essay THREE body paragraphs are the best.2. How to Write a Good Body ParagraphA paragraph is a series of sentences that are organized in a coherent way, and are related to a single topic. A good paragraph should have a topic sentence and several supporting sentences. Sometimes a paragraph also has a concluding sentence, which summarizes the paragraph or leaves the reader with something to think about.A topic sentence presents the topic or the main idea of the paragraph, and it often appears at the beginning of the paragraph. The topic sentence should have a topic and a controlling idea.A body paragraph has several supporting sentences; they are organized by certain patterns. Common patterns of organization include listing/enumeration(列举), exemplification (举例), narration, description, cause/effect, comparison/contrast, classification and division, process analysis, and definition.Exercise 3: Read the paragraph and answer the questions:Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes. Gold never needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever. For example, a Macedonian (马其顿的)coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was made 25 centuries ago. Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and science. For many years, it has been used in hundreds of industrial applications, such as photography and dentistry. The most recent use of gold is in astronauts’ suits. Astronauts wear gold-plated (镀) heat shields for protection when they go outside spaceships in space. In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also for its utility.Questions:1.Underline the topic sentence. What’s the main point/idea? What are the sub-points?2.Does the paragraph have enough support? What is used as support?3.Do it have a concluding sentence?Exercise 4: Which is the topic sentence? Which sentence does not belong in this paragraph?1. (A) The campus in summer seems a more relaxed place than in the fall. (B) Fewerpeople are about, and the gardener works slowly in the heat. (C) Over by theclassrooms, several workmen hammer and saw without much energy. (D) Next to the library, even the fountains seem smaller and quieter. (E) Two hundred marathon runners came jogging rapidly past at that moment. (F) It feels as if vacation time is here already.2. (A) People usually travel for their pleasure. (B)However, visitors to Japan inevitablymeet with many problems during their stay. (C)Tourists find that social customs are different. (D)For example, on meeting someone, the Japanese usually bow slightly, even if they shake hands too. (E)Traffic rules may also be confusing, for cars drive on the left, while in many countries right-side drive is the custom. (F)England, as well, has this kind of problem. (G)The biggest problem, of course, is the difference in language: You can't translate word for word. (H)So, if you want to enjoy Japan, you should be prepared in advance to meet these difficulties.3. (A) There's nothing like a commercial to ruin an evening's TV entertainment.(B)Before a show even starts, two or three commercials begin the viewing. (C)Thenas the action builds and tension mounts, another two or three minutes of ads break the mood. (D)And some TV shows are still very good at setting the mood. (E)At the end of the show, the announcer says, "We'll be right back," but it's just a trick to get you to stay tuned for still more advertisements. (F)The program is really already over.4. (A) A paragraph without a topic sentence is like a ship without a captain. (B) Shipsneed direction, and so do paragraphs. (C) The captain of a ship chooses the direction, and then uses the crew, wind, and rudder as support. (D) In bad weather, the ship rolls back and forth. (E) Similarly, the topic sentence establishes the direction for the paragraph. (F) Then the other sentences of the paragraph provide the support to stick to that course.Exercise 5: Which is a better paragraph? Why?A. I wouldn’t want to be a teenager again, first of all, because I wouldn’t want to worry about talking to girls. I still remember how scary it was to call up a girl and ask her out. My heart would race, my pulse would pound, and perspiration would trickle down my face. I never knew whether my voice would come out deep and masculine, like a television anchorman’s, or squeaky, like a little boy’s. Then there were the questions: Would she be at home? If she was, would she want to talk to me? And if she did, what would I say? The one time I did get up the nerve to take a girl to a movie, I was so tongue-tied that I stared silently at the box of popcorn in my lap until the movie started. Needless to say, I wa sn’t very interesting company.B. I wouldn’t want to be a teenager again, first of all, because I wouldn’t want to worry about talking to girls. Calling up a girl to ask her out was something I completelydreaded. I didn’t know what words to express or how to express them. I would have all the symptoms of nervousness when I got on the phone. I worried a great deal about how I would sound, and I had a lot of doubts about the girl’s reaction. Once, I managed to call up a girl to get out, but the evening turned out to be a disaster. I was too unsure of myself to act in a confident way. I couldn’t think of anything to say and just kept quiet. Now that I look back on it, I really made a fool of myself. Agonizing over my attempts at relationships with the opposite sex made adolescence a very uncomfortable time. VI. How to Write a ConclusionCommon techniques to write a memorable conclusion1) Make a prediction2) Suggest results or consequences3) Suggest a solution, make a recommendation, or call for action4) Quote an authority on the topicExercise 6: What technique is used in each of the following conclusion?A.It is clear that the US system of higher education is in trouble. For many students,four years of college is no longer possible because of increasing costs and decreasing financial aid. To reverse this trend, we must demand that government increase its financial support of colleges and universities and restore financial aid programs. Our future depends on it.B.To sum up, the costs of attending college are up and financial aid for students isdown. Fewer and fewer future members of the workforce are able to educatethemselves beyond high school. As a result, the nation will waste the intelligence, imagination, and energy of a large segment of the present college-age generation. C.In conclusion, costs are rising and financial aid is declining, with the result thatmany can no longer afford to go to college. If our nation is to prosper, increasedgovernment funding for education is essential, even if it requires higher taxes. As Horace Mann argued in his Fifth Annual Report, a nation’s economic wealth will increase through an educated public. It is therefore in the self-interest of business to pay the taxation for public education.D.We have seen how the costs of attending college have been rising while, at the sametime, sources of financial aid for students have been disappearing. If this trendcontinues, fewer and fewer families will be able to send their children through four years of college.VII.How to Evaluate a paragraph/essay1.UNITY (同一性): If every sentence in the paragraph sticks to ONE topic, theparagraph has unity. And if all paragraphs stick to the thesis of the essay, your paper has unity.2.COHERENCE (连贯性): All supporting ideas must be organized so that theycohere, or stick together. There are no sudden jumps in meaning. Sentences arelogically connected. Key techniques include:Repeat key words and phrases.●Use consistent pronouns.●Add transitions and other connecting words.●Arrange your contents logically. Often use a clear method of organization(such as time order; spatial order; emphatic order; cause and effect;comparison and contrast)3.SUPPORT(论据): Support your thesis with SPECIFIC evidence and details. Inother words, have a variety of specific details in your body paragraphs to support your thesis.4.SENTENCE SKILLS (语言技能): If you write clear, error-free sentences, yourpaper will demonstrate effective sentence skills.VIII. Sample EssayThe following is anexposition (or an argumentative essay)entitled “Teenagers and Part-time Jobs”by John Langan from ―College Writing Skills with R eadings‖ (1993:6). Read the essay and answer the following questions:―The pressure for a teenager to work is great, and not just because of the economic plight (困境) in the world today. Much of it is peer pressure to have a little bit of freedom and independence, and to have their own spending money. The concern we have is when the part-time work becomes the primary focus,‖ says Roxanne Bradshaw, educator and officer of the National Education Association. Many people argue that working can be a valuable experience for the young. However, working more than 10 hours a week is harmful to adolescents because it reduces their involvement with school, encourages a materialistic and expensive lifestyle, and increases the chance of having problems with drugs and alcohol.Schoolwork and the benefits of extracurricular activities tend to go by the wayside (被搁置) when adolescents work long hours. As more and more teens have filled the numerous part-time jobs offered by fast-food restaurants and mall store, teachers have faced increasing difficulties. They must both keep the attention of tired students and give homework to students who simply don’t have time to do it. In addition, educators have noticed less involvement in the extracurricular events many consider healthy influences on young people. School bands and athletic teams are losing players to work, and sports events are poorly attended by working students. Those teenagers who try to do it all—homework, extracurricular activities, and work—may find themselves exhausted and prone to illness. A recent newspaper story, for example, described a girl in Pennsylvania who came down with mononucleosis as a result of aiming for good grades, playing on two school athletic teams, and working thirty hours a week.Another drawback of too much work is that it may promote materialism and an unrealistic lifestyle. Some parents say that work teaches adolescents the value of money. Undoubtedl y, it can, and it’s true that some teenagers work to help out with the family budget or save for college. However, surveys have shown that the majority of working teens use their earnings to buy luxuries — iPhones, iPads, laptops, even cars. These young pe ople, some of whom earn $500 and more a month, don’t worry about spendingwisely. In many cases, experts point out, they are becoming accustomed to a lifestyle they won’t be able to afford several years down the road, when they’ll no longer have their parents to pay for car insurance, food and lodging, and so on.Finally, teenagers who work a lot are more likely than others to get involvedwith alcohol and drugs. Teens who put in long hours may seek a quick release from stress, just like the adults who need to drink a couple of martinis after a hard day at work. Stress is probably greater in our society today than it has been at any time in the past. Also, teens who have money are more likely, for various obvious reasons, to get involved with drugs.Teenagers can enjoy the benefits of work while avoiding its drawbacks simplyby limiting their work hours during the school year. As is often the case, a moderate approach will be the most healthy and rewarding.Questions:1.About unity: Which sentence in the body should be omitted because it is not related to the topic of the paragraph?2. About support:1) Where in the body are specific details needed?2) Which paragraph develops its point by citing and then refuting (反驳) anopposing point of view?3. About coherence: What transition words are used to introduce the three supportingparagraphs?4. About introduction: Which method of introduction is used?5. About conclusion: Does the essay briefly summarize the main ideas? What kind of closing remarks are used?Homework Assignment:●People have different opinions about whether cell phones (including laptopsand tablets) should be banned in class or not. What's your opinion?●Write an exposition essay of about 300 words to express your opinion.●Remember to follow the structure of an exposition/argumentative essay.●Remember to create a title for your exposition.●Use Times New Roman, 12-point font.●Double space your essay.●Print on both sides.●Indented format.●Submit your essay in Week 10.。
