上面我们简要论述了英语作文的主要文体, 考虑到目前考生的实际情况, 现在我们再从另外一个角度,也就是从硕士研究生入学考试的试题类型方面来论述一下英语作文的方法。根据考试大纲的规定以及近年来试题的情况, 作文考试主要有以下几种类型: 1. 主题句作文; 2. 提纲作文; 3. 图表作文。
一、主题句作文
主题句作文是指按照所给出的题目和每个段落所给出的第一句进行续写, 完成段落。主题句作文一般由三段组成, 而且三段均为主体段结构, 一般没有开头段和结尾段的结论。例如:
Money
(1)Money is regarded by some people as the most important thing in life. .
(2) But money cannot buy everything. .
(3) There are people who gamble or cheat to obtain money. .
在这种类型的作文中, 每段的主题句已经给出, 考生需要作的事情就是沿着所给出的主题句的思路进行深入的论述。上面的题目我们可以写成:
Money
Money is regarded by some people as the most important thing in life. For those people, a man with plenty of money can live happily. For example, only a rich man can afford expensive cars and luxurious houses. Furthermore, they think that, if one has lots of money, he can travel widely and see many interesting places as they want to. So in their eyes, money is the main goal of their life.
But money cannot buy everything. For instance, no matter how much money one has, he cannot buy good health, which is essential to a good life. Neither can he buy happiness or friendship. Thus, although money is useful in many ways, there are still a lot of things in the world that cannot be bought with money.
There are people who gamble or cheat to obtain money. Those people try to get money by dishonest means. Sooner or later, they will be punished by the law. For them, money will bring them nothing but misery. Only when money is obtained through working can it make people really happy.
在进行主题句作文时, 我们应该注意以下几点:
(1) 紧扣主题句的思想。在上面讲述段落结构时我们已经提到, 主题句的内容是整个段落的主导思想, 它支配着整个段落内容的发展, 发展句的展开一定要受到主题句的制约, 是主题句思想的详细阐述。在写作时, 一定不能偏离主题句的内容, 随便乱写。例如在上面的题目中第一段应围绕“the most important thing”这一主导思想, 而对于第二段来说“cannot buy everything”则是该段内容的中心, 第三段的主导思想为“gamble or cheat to obtain money”。
(2) 理解每一个主题句的内容。在写主题句作文时, 要从短文的整体结构上来考虑各段的内容, 并理解和把握各个段落之间的逻辑关系。
二、提 纲 作 文
提纲作文也是一种控制性的作文类型, 它要求考生根据所提供的题目和提纲要点, 紧扣短文的中心思想进行写作, 提纲可以是以汉语也可以是以英语的形式出现。近几年的作文试题都是采用命题的方法，要求考生写议论文，为了保证判卷的客观性，除了短文的标题之外，还给出了统一的写作提纲以及第一段的段首句，这实际上不仅规定了作文的主题，也规定了文章的大体内容和基本结构，下面我们以96年试题为例加以说明:
Title: Good Health
Beginning Sentence: The desire for good health is universal.
Outline: 1. Importance of good health.
2. Ways of keep it.
3. My own practices.
上题所给的提纲不是完整的句子, 但限定了文章的中心思想和主要内容, 实际上如果我们能按照所提供的内容给每段设计出一个主题句, 那么, 这种作文形式和上面所说的主题句作文就没有什么不同了。该文章可以写成:
Good Health
The desire for good health is universal. Wherever you are and whatever you do, staying healthy is always important. With the improvement of living standards, people are attaching more and more importance to their health. We students can't keep the high study efficiency without good health. The same thing is true with workers, scientists and doctors.
There are many ways to keep fit. First those who are always on the go from morning till night should find time to relax. Because too much stress will affect their health. Second, enough time should be left for sleep because that will help one become rested and refreshed. Finally, regular physical exercise benefits one's health a lot. So we should always keep in mind that a certain amount of exercise is not a waste of time.
As for me, I like playing tennis in the morning. I also take care to have enough sleep and relaxation. I believe this will ensure my good health for the rest of my life.
由于提纲作文只是为考生提供了一条思路, 所以考生可以在提纲限定的范围内自由地选取素材, 在具体的写作过程中发挥一定的独创性进行阐述。在提纲作文的过程中, 应该从以下几个方面着手:
(1) 仔细审题。在此所说的审题主要是指对题目和提纲的理解, 尽管提纲往往不是以完整句子形式出现, 但是它包含了文章和各个段落的中心内容, 因此对题目和提纲进行仔细的研究, 透彻的理解是写好作文的关键, 只有首先理解题目和提纲的内容, 才不至于在写作过程中偏离文章的中心思想。
(2) 写好主题句。提纲作文的提纲一般是以短语的形式出现, 因此, 在写每一段之前首先要根据提纲所提供的信息设计好该段的主题句。这是写好作文的最为关键的一步。关于主题句的写法请参考上文。下面我们再举一例:
Title: How to Spend Leisure Time
Outline: 1. Harmful ways of spending leisure time
2. Beneficial ways of spending leisure time
3. My conclusion
范文:
How to Spend Leisure Time
Leisure life has become a very important part for many people today. Now we have more time for leisure. The improvement in our standard of living has also brought great changes in the way we spend our leisure time. Unfortunately, a lot of people spend their leisure time harmfully. Some watch too much TV and get used to passive amusements. Some play cards or 揗ajang?deep into the night and spend the rest of the holiday sleeping. These and other unwise pastimes result in their fatigue, boredom, emptiness and sickness.
In fact, there are lots of better things to do in our leisure time. Going to concerts or theatre are pleasant experience. Visiting parks or art exhibitions brings us great joy. And there are more entertainment in interesting books or pleasant music than in everyday TV programs.
In brief, unpleasant leisure pursuits lead to unhappiness, while pleasant ones enable us to enjoy ourselves and have a wonderful mind.
三、图 表 作 文
图表作文包括几种形式，有统计表(table)、比率表(graph)、图示与统计数字相结合的图表(chart)或图画(cartoon)等。图表作文要求考生通过分析试题所提供的图表中相互关联的各种数据, 阐述某种现象的规律和原因。它要求将图表中所包含的信息转化成英语描述。例如:
For this part, you are allowed 40 minutes to write a composition about Changes in People's Diet according to the following outline in three paragraphs. Your part of the composition should be no less than 120 words, not including the words given.
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
Grain
49%
47%
46.5%
45%
45%
Milk
10%
11%
11%
12%
13%
Meat
17%
20%
20%
23%
21%
Fruit
&
24%
22%
22%
20%
21%
Vegetable
Total
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Outline: 1. State the changes in people's diet in the past five years
2. Give possible reasons for changes
3. Draw you own conclusion
写作图表作文要注意从以下几个方面入手:
(1) 仔细分析图表中所提供的数据和有关的文字说明, 清楚题目的要求以及弄清各个数据之间的内在关系, 归纳出数据所说明的问题, 即找出规律性的东西。
(2) 切忌堆砌数据, 在对图表进行准确地概括和描述后, 要用更多的篇幅来揭示图表的含义或分析造成这种现象的原因。我们可以把上题写成:
Changes in People's Diet
In the past five years, great changes have been taking place in people's diet. There is a general trend of decrease in the consumption of grain, while the consumption of some high-energy food, such as milk and meat, is increasing steadily.
Why do people have these changes in their diet? In my opinion, there are two major reasons: On the one hand, nowadays people are richer and richer, and they have more money to buy the food with better nutrition, which is generally much more expensive than grain or vegetables. One the other hand, they now pay attention not only to quantity but also to the quality of their food. They have more knowledge in improving the structure of diet.
From the above, we can see that in the past five years people's living level has been rising year by year. We can also expect that there will be a more prosperous future awaiting us.
关于统计表、比率表以及图示与统计数字相结合的图表我们大都见过，但对于图画形式我们见得不多。下面我们举例说明
这样的作文与提纲式作文的写法一样，基本上可以写成三段式，即第一段描述图画，第二段写出它的引申意义，第三段写出自己的观点和看法。上图可以写成：
There is an interesting and funny cartoon: A fat official holds a document which is about the information high way, and he orders his secretary to find out whether this "way" would cross their area or not. His secretary, a thin young man, seems very obedient and is ready to follow his order. On the wall there is a map of communication lines.
It is obvious that this official has no idea of the difference between the usual high way and the information highway. However, he seems very gentle and sure of himself. This reveals a serious problem now in our country. In some areas, especially in some remote and poor areas, some leaders are not qualified enough. They can't catch up with the quickly developed society, so they are actually ignorant of high technology. Moreover, they always think highly of themselves and are reluctant to accept other people's opinions or suggestions. As a result, they will make serious or foolish mistakes like what the above cartoon shows.
In my opinion, it is very necessary to take measures to improve the officials' qualities because it is a key to improving the government's efficiency and quickening the speed of the healthy development of the economy in our country.
本文首先内容切题，所论述的包括了图画的全部信息；条理很清楚，表达了图画的内涵，文字也连贯；句式有变化，句子结构和用词正确，文章长度符合要求。像这样的作文可以得14分左右。
