托福写作:结构性词汇介绍
英文写作和中文写作在行文习惯和逻辑上都有很大的差别,今天小编给大家带来了托福写作:结构性词汇介绍 ,希望能够帮助到大家,下面小编就和大家分享,来欣赏一下吧。
托福写作:结构性词汇介绍
相比于中国(或者说东方)风格的婉转隐晦,美国人则更坚持简洁明了。那么从行文习惯上,这个特点有一个很常见的体现,那就是结构性词汇的使用。这里所说的结构性词汇是我自己起的名字,可能不同的人有不同的说法。这些词汇在文章当中的作用就是表明和构建框架,告诉读者每一部分的内容分别是什么。它们与逻辑关联词的最终目的相似,都是为了使文章看起来调理更加清晰、结构更加合理。
对于综合写作来说,各位老师通常为同学们提供的模板当中很多都是结构性词汇,最典型的就是序数词和类似序数词作用的一些表达。简单的有first,second,third,高级一些的有first of all,moreover,in addition等等。这些是用来分隔和标明综合写作的三段主体段,方便读者(即阅卷人)理解和寻找要点。另外很重要的一种结构性词汇就是“阅读文章提到”“听力部分认为”等等这类说明观点持有者身份的部分。有了这些我们才能明确下面我们所体现的内容到底是哪一份材料的观点,从而避免歧义。
对于独立写作,结构性词汇也有非常重要的作用。与综合写作相同的就是我们需要用到分隔并标明分论点的序数词。这些序数词或者类似功能的词汇出现,读者就能意识到后面一般会紧跟着一个主体段的分论点。除此之外,为了体现清晰的结构脉络,主体段内其他几个关键环节(比如“说理”和“论据”)也需要结构性词汇的引入。比如说理,即把主旨句当中的理由再表达得更清晰明确一些,所以引入说理环节的结构性词汇就可以是:
1. That is to say, ...
2. To be more specific, ...
3. In other words, ...
他们的意思也很简单,分别是“那就是说”“更具体地说”“换句话说”。而引入论据的方式就更简单了,for example/take sth.as an example等等都很常见。
关于结构性词汇的重要性,笔者也是在美国留学的过程中逐渐意识到的。因为在自己的essay甚至论文当中,导师和写作指导都曾或多或少强调了这些词汇的重要性。也就是说,一旦内容上进入了不同的部分或者环节,就应该用明确的标志物表明这种转换。当然文中提到的一些结构性词汇还是非常简单的几个,同学们可以询问老师或课后自行积累,以获得更多逼格更高更地道的表达。
托福写作:如何避免写出假的thesis statement?
独立写作中最重要一句话就是thesis statement,也就是你的观点(opinion)。写在开头段的最后。那么如何判断你的写出的thesis statement是符合美国人要求的呢?那么,你就要问自己以下5个问题。
1.这是不是一句grammatically-complete的句子?
2.它是否arguable(可以被议论的)?
3.它是否supportable(可以被支持的)?
4.它是否表达了一个main idea?
5.它是否是个疑问句?
来看一下例子:我的观点是California was the best trip ever. 那么这句话是否是个合格的thesis statement呢?通过问自己这5个问题我们就可以判断出来。
1.这是不是一句grammatically-complete的句子?
是的。这句话有主语和谓语。
2.它是否arguable(可以被议论的)?
是的。很明显,我是通过对比了其他地方的旅行经历才得出了加州是最棒的这一观点。
3.它是否supportable(可以被支持的)?
是的。我会用三个分论点来支持我的观点。1)learning how to surf at Malibu; 2) going sightseeing; 3) meeting Vincent.
4.它是否表达了一个main idea?
是的。我只有一个main idea:having a fantastic time in California.
5.它是否是个问句?
不是问句。
thesis statement永远不可以是一个问句。
所以,基于这五个问题的分析,我们可以确定California was the best trip ever.这句话是一个合格的thesis statement。
在了解了什么是thesis statement的基础上,来看一下什么是假的thesis statement。
a statement of fact 事实的陈述
a.Alaska is a big state.
这是一个不能够被讨论的事实,是一个真理。
b.Californian red wine is the best in the world.
这句话可以作为thesis statement因为是完整的一句话,能够被议论,被支持,表达了一个主要观点,并且不是疑问句。
a question
a. Is global warming a problem?
这里又要强调一遍thesis statement永远不可以是一个问句。
b. Global warming threatens the future of the planet.
这句话可以作为thesis statement因为是完整的一句话,能够被议论,被支持,表达了一个主要观点,并且不是疑问句。
a sentence fragment
a. Paris: the most beautiful cityin Europe.
这句话不是完整的句子。缺少“is”。
b. Without a doubt, the TOEFL iBTis a true measure of your potential.
这句话可以作为thesis statement因为是完整的一句话,能够被议论,被支持,表达了一个主要观点,并且不是疑问句。
simple announce the topic
a. In this essay, I will talkabout the problem of teenagers drinking and driving in my country, Argentina.
这句话只是告诉读者将要写的内容(topic),而没有出现观点。
b. Personally, I think thatteenagers must finish high school before they can get a driver’s license.
这句话可以作为thesis statement因为是完整的一句话,能够被议论,被支持,表达了一个主要观点,并且不是疑问句。
丨练习:判断真假thesis statement
everyone should learn a foreign language.
How difficult is it to get a perfect score on the TOEFL iBT?
The CEO told us that the company had no other choice but to lay off five thousand employees.
In this essay, I’m going totalk about dogs and cats, and other domestic animals.
Iwona is ecstatic. Her grades are so good she got into Harvard and Yale. Now she must choose which one she will attend.
Last night, I went to an Italian restaurant and had lasagna.
The TOEFL iBT consists of four sections: reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
There are many English language proficiency tests; however, TOEFL is the test you must take if you are serious about studying at an English-speaking college or university.
Drinking a bottle of red wine every day will make you smarter.
Why is the price of gasoline going up?
答案:
真
假
假
假
假
假
假
真
真
假
托福写作:灵活使用比喻句,让自己的文章更出彩
不久前,看到新闻推送说Uber的CEO大概要辞职了。因为之前左膀右臂纷纷离职,所以孤注一掷的首席执行官也要撑不下去了。于是,马上看到有段子手说
“So now Uber does not have a CTO, COO, CFO, and CEO on the edge of out, this is the closest Uber ever is to a self driving company.
Uber是如图嘀嘀打车的出行便利平台,2014年进入中国之后,仅仅3年就因为无法本土化而推出中国大陆,此后Uber在其他市场的行情也不乐观,即使在原产地美国,市场占有率也屈居于另外一个打车软件Lyft之后。Uber的总裁是卡兰尼克也是常青藤校的辍学生,在市场行情不好的情况下,仍然执意开辟无人驾驶领域。目前,Uber已经储备了无人驾驶(self-driving)的汽车投入匹兹堡市场进行试点。时隔不久,就传出了公司首脑分崩离析的消息。
这个小段子中“Self-driving”一词一语双关起到了讽刺的有趣效果。一方面,Uber提供驾车服务,也正在推行无人驾驶的服务,巧合地描述了公司。另一方面,现在Uber群龙无首,没有了COO,CFO,CTO甚至CEO来做司机,整个公司变成了一个无人驾驶的公司。读到的人有一种“笑着哭”的赶脚,感叹这家公司未来的悲惨境遇。语言委婉地说人家是自己会开车的公司,貌似要说它前景好,而实际的含义却出人意料。
修辞是语言的修饰,是表达的艺术,触动人的情感,是全世界共同的特征。人类都喜欢比较事物的相似和不同之处,在丰富的想象里中创造自己的世界。英语学习中,也有许多基于西方文化产生的修辞。双关需要一定的巧合才能创造妙语,但是比喻却随处可见。
钱钟书先生说:“比喻是文学语言的根本”。
汉语中说“热锅上的蚂蚁”
英语中说“like a cat on hot bricks”
汉语中说“蠢得像猪”
英语中说“as stupid as a goose”
汉语中说“一贫如洗”
英语中说“as poor as a church mouse”
汉语中《诗经》将琼瑶比做“爱情”
英语中卡夫卡将人比喻成“虫”
每个文化有自己的相似点,但是只要我们找到两个事物之间的相似点就可以自己构造字字珠玑的比喻句哦。
丨话不多说,模板现行
描述同类事物的比较
我们可以说A to B is what Cis to D
中文解释为A之于B好比C之于D
如果我们要说“对孩子恰当的表扬好比太阳之于花一样”
可以怎么说呢?
Appropriate praise to a child is what the sun is to a flower.
以上比较的点是说两者都很重要。
恰当的表扬对于孩子很重要
太阳对于花也很重要
其实重要性在托福写作中是非常常用的内容。
所以,我们再来练习一个说两者重要性相似的句子吧
“教育之于现代社会好比水对于鱼一样重要”
Education to modern society is what water is to fish.
学会了吗?
重要性的句子在托福写作中一定会用到呢。
拿上周六的托福真题“在家吃饭还是出去吃?”举个例子。
我们可以说 Having meals at home ensures our safety.
Healthy food to us is what the sun is to a flower.
健康食物对于我们来说就像太阳之于花一样重要
托福写作范文:关于环境的破坏
Some people believe that the Earth is being harmed (damaged) by human activity. Others feel that human activity makes the Earth a better place to live. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
While the past few centuries have witnessed increasingly better quality of human life, human activity is doing more and more harm to the Earth. Natural resources are being depleted and pollution is being created as a result of development of technology. Natural areas are being damaged as a result of urban expansion to populate more people.
First, we harm the Earth by using more and more natural resources. If we fell too many trees at one time to build
houses and make paper, or if we cut down trees before they grow to maturity, they can hardly grow back in time. As worrisome as overcutting of trees is overfishing. With improved technology and greater drive for money, fish of all kinds are being over hunted, reducing the biomass of some fish to the verge of extinction. Whaling seems a most irksome issue. While most countries argue against it, some countries go whaling to extremes. We often take it for granted that we have unlimited natural resources and use them in a wasteful manner, bringing about great losses.
Second, we damage the Earth by producing pollution in all forms. Factories pollute water and the air. Vehicles pollute the air. Nuclear-related and electronic products are playing an increasingly big role in polluting the air, especially when we dispose of related waste carelessly. We take it for granted that Nature can help clean everything, but it can not.
Third, expanding towns and cities are taking up more and more land. As populations flood to cities, new houses and stores have to be built to accommodate their needs. Land that was good for farming has now become factories and apartment buildings. We seem to take it for granted that we have unlimited land, but we do not.
In summary, human activity seems to be going at the expense of the Earth in various ways. However, our survival depends on the Earth, including natural areas and natural resources, so we have to venerate the Earth.
原文来源:哈佛20篇
托福范文解析
While the past few centuries have witnessed increasingly better quality of human life, human activity is doing more and more harm to the Earth. Natural resources are being depleted and pollution is being created as a result of development of technology. Natural areas are being damaged as a result of urban expansion to populate more people.
While the past few centuries have witnessed increasingly better quality of human life, (while引导词,表对比关系;主语是the past few centuries,要学会物化主语;这句话可以直接背下来套用在科技+政府+社会等话题开头段,“尽管过去的几个世纪见证了人们生活水平的不断提高)human activity is doing more and more harm to the Earth.
2. Natural resources are being depleted(耗尽) and pollution is being created as a result of(由于=as a consequence of= due to=owing to) development of technology.
3. Natural areas are being damaged as a result of urban expansion(城市扩张) to populate more people.
First, we harm the Earth by using more and more natural resources. If we fell too many trees at one time to build houses and make paper, or if we cut down trees before they grow to maturity, they can hardly grow back in time. As worrisome as overcutting of trees is overfishing. With improved technology and greater drive for money, fish of all kinds are being over hunted, reducing the biomass of some fish to the verge of extinction. Whaling seems a most irksome issue. While most countries argue against it, some countries go whaling to extremes. We often take it for granted that we have unlimited natural resources and use them in a wasteful manner, bringing about great losses.
1. First, we harm the Earth by using more and more natural resources.
主题句1:利用自然资源-->破坏地球
2. If we fell(砍伐树木,fell trees=cut down trees) too many trees at one time to build houses and make paper, or if we cut down trees(砍伐树木)before they grow to maturity(n.成熟), they can hardly grow back in time(及时).
自然资源1 - 破坏森林资源
3. As worrisome as overcutting of trees is overfishing. (as+adj+as A is B“和A一样adj的是B)
“和过度砍伐树木一样令人担忧的是过度捕捞”
4. With improved technology and greater drive(动机=motive=motivation)for money, fish of all kinds are being over hunted(过度捕猎), reducing thebiomass(生物量) of some fish to the verge of extinction.(reduce the biomass of sth to the verge of extinction将...的数量减少到灭绝边缘)
5. Whaling(捕鲸) seems a most irksome(令人厌烦的=troublesome=worrisome) issue.
6. While(引导词“尽管”,表对比关系) most countries argue against it, some countries go whaling to extremes(go sth to extremes 做某事过火).
自然资源2 - 过度捕捞
7. We often take it for granted(take sth for granted把某事认为是理所当然的) that we have unlimited natural resources and use them in a wasteful manner,bringing about(带来) great losses.
结论1
Second, we damage the Earth by producing pollution in all forms. Factories pollute water and the air. Vehicles pollute the air. Nuclear-related and electronic products are playing an increasingly big role in polluting the air, especially when we dispose of related waste carelessly. We take it for granted that Nature can help clean everything, but it can not.
1. Second, we damage the Earth by producing pollution in all forms.
主题句2:产生各种形式的污染-->破坏地球
2. Factories pollute water and the air.
污染形式1 - 工厂
3. Vehicles pollute the air.
污染形式2 - 汽车
4. Nuclear-related and electronic products are playing an increasingly big role in(在...中扮演越来越重要的角色) polluting the air, especially when wedispose of(处理) related waste carelessly.
污染形式3-核相关的和电子产品
5. We take it for granted that Nature can help clean everything, but it can not.
结论2-注意参考上一段结尾句
Third, expanding towns and cities are taking up more and more land. As populations flood to cities, new houses and stores have to be built to accommodate their needs. Land that was good for farming has now become factories and apartment buildings. We seem to take it for granted that we have unlimited land, but we do not.
1. Third, expanding towns and cities(doing做主语,扩大城镇) are taking up(占据) more and more land.
主题句3:城镇扩张-->破坏地球
2. As populations flood to(涌入) cities, new houses and stores have to be built to accommodate their needs(迎合他们的需求).
解释句1: 人口增加-->建造更多住房和商店
3. Land that was good for farming has now become factories and apartment buildings.
解释句2:农业用地-->变成工厂和公寓
4. We seem to take it for granted that we have unlimited land, but we do not.
结论3-注意参考前两段结尾句
In summary, human activity seems to be going at the expense of the Earth in various ways. However, our survival depends on the Earth, including natural areas and natural resources, so we have to venerate the Earth.
1. In summary, human activity seems to be going at the expense of(以...为代价) the Earth in various ways.
2. However, our survival depends on the Earth, including natural areas and natural resources, so we have to venerate(尊敬) the Earth.