1.审题要认真
短文的标题是对全文的高度概括。通过认真审题来确定标题的核心词或者说关键词,依此来整理思路。因此,考生看到试题后绝对不能提笔就写,而是应该认真审题,看清题目的要求和提示,充分利用题目所提供的信息、关键词所圈定的范围,在确立主题后再动笔。
如 从标题 The Misery of Shyness 中得知,考生不但要解释说明 Shyness ,更重要的是要突出由 Shyness 带来的Misery 。至此,短文要重点阐述带来了什么Misery 。
2.文体要统一
正式文体的文章不宜用非正式的语句。有些考生在一篇很正式的议论文中用以下的句子做结语 OK, this is what I want to say.或是That’s my opinion. Do you agree with me？等等,使文章显得不伦不类 。
3.主题要突出
标题如果是 Pollution from Cars 或 Air Pollution ,以下段落的阐述显得有些赘述 1 Part of this problem is the world’s exploding population. 2 A growing population undoubtedly means more factories polluting the air. 3 Besides, land and water pollution has also increased. 4 Pollution is, in fact, threatening our health, our happiness, and our civilization.尤其是第三句,还有点跑题 。
4.文字要连贯
一篇好文章要注重连贯性。连贯性主要体现在句子与句子、段落与段落的衔接上,这种衔接要通过过渡词语来实现,以达到文章通顺,语言流畅。例如 It is clear that television news can vividly bring into us dramatic events of importance, such as wars, games and soon, but it can not cover important stories in detail they may deserve because of its time limitation. On the contrary, print news excels in its ability to devote as much space to a story as it sees fit, though it can not compete with television visually. Besides, television is essentially a passive medium. Such as, but, because of, on the contrary, though, besides 这些过渡词把句子从语义上连接起来,形成一个有机的整体,读起来犹如行云流水,自然酣畅。
5.内容要一致
要删除多余的词语,否则, 一是破坏了文章的一致性, 二是有凑字数之嫌。如
1 Scientists fear that nuclear energy will one day destroyus.2 They say that the explosion of a nuclear bomb can kill millions of people and cause disease and deformity in later generation.3 Because of limited energy resources, scientists are studying the possibilities of nuclear power.4 And any failure from a nuclear plant may cause enormous damage to the affected area5 What’s more, up to now people have not discovered a safe way to dispose of radioactive wastes.
本段中的第三句与主题不符, 也与第二和第四句不连贯, 应删除。
6.表达方式要多样化
词、句型使用的多样化不仅给文章增加了色彩和可读性,与此同时也可反映考生的词汇量和语言掌握的程度等。为避免文章平淡、呆板, 可使用不同的句式 强调句、倒装句、否定句等等。长短句使用合理相间,用短句表达有力的结论,用长句体现严密的逻辑关系。考生在举例说明的段落中尤其要注意词语的多样性。
7.考点要覆盖全
无论是什么形式的写作都有写作内容上的要求,一般为三个方面。考生在动笔前一定要看清写作内容上的要求,以确保文章覆盖所有考点。
8.语言要流畅
评分标准已清楚地告诉考生 文章要语言流畅、字句通顺、表达准确, 这是得高分的基础。
Last year the public spent two hundred million pounds on pet food alone, to say nothing of animal care bills and furniture.1 It is difficult not to feel resentful about this when one considers what the same amount could do for victims of starvation and poverty,2 and it is not unusual for me to get hot under the collar when I read about another old person who has left all his ／her money to a dog or cat home.
这两句在表达意义上用词十分到位,随着两个 when 引导的状语从句内容的递进,主句对表现气愤程度的加强通过用词的不同而表达得淋漓尽致；排比结构的运用使观点更加明确 在1 中 It is difficult not 和 to feel resentful about this 与2 中的 it is not unusual 和 to get hot under the collar 词语表达极其准确。这需要考生在平时大量阅读文章时多注意积累好的语言表达。
9.首尾要呼应
上述几项被阅卷者称为闪光点 ,即加分的因素。除此而外, 更重要的一点是要注意文章的完整性,即首尾要呼应。
10.检查要到位
这个重要环节往往被考生忽略不计,而因为少了这个环节所造成的后果真可谓是功亏一篑 。在阅卷过程中,时不时会发现 ourself、thinked、the person who are… ,而这些会酿成不良后果的错误完全可在一两分钟的时间内检查、修改完成。所以, 在写完短文后, 要耐心地再读一遍。