(一)解析出題人
1.出題內(nèi)容
六級考試的作文內(nèi)容為社會、文化或日常生活的一般常識,不涉及知識面過廣、專業(yè)性太強的內(nèi)容。具體說來可以分為三個方面:
1)關(guān)于大學和大學生的話題,例如:
My View on University Ranking(2010年12月)
Due Attention Should Be Given to the Study of Chinese(2010年6月)
College Students'Mental Health(2008年12月)
2)常見的社會問題,例如:
The Impact of the Internet on Interpersonal Communication(2012年6月)
The Certificate Craze(2012年6月)
Should Parents Send Their Kids to Art Classes?(2009年12月)
On the Importance of a Name(2009年6月)
Will e-books Replace Traditional Books?(2008年6月)
3)人生哲理類話題,例如:
A smile is the shortest distance between two people(2013年6月)
Good habits result from resisting temptation(2013年6月)
On Maintaining Trust(2012年12月)
The Way to Success(2011年12月)
根據(jù)這三類既往考題的特點,我們可以設(shè)想出更多的六級寫作練習題或模擬題,例如:
Should Reserved Seats Be Acknowledged on Campus?
Do Libraries Become Useless at the Age of Information?
Equality of Education opportunity
Giving Teenagers Cell Phones
Generation Gap
Everything Is Difficult Before It Is Easy
2.出題形式
六級考試作文的出題方式有:命題作文、圖畫或圖表作文、根據(jù)所給文章(英文或中文)寫出文章摘要或大意、關(guān)鍵詞作文等。但后兩類迄今為止沒有考過,今后考的可能性也不大,原因在于摘要型寫作不利于考生的主觀發(fā)揮,而關(guān)鍵詞作文的發(fā)揮余地又太大,不便于大規(guī)模改卷評分。根據(jù)具體特點,歷年六級考試作文真題可以分為六個類型,在本章第二節(jié)會有詳述。改革樣題及考試真題反映出近年六級寫作向更實用的方向發(fā)展,從過去單一的提綱式寫作演變?yōu)閳D畫作文、圖表作文、名言警句評論等多樣化的題目形式,但從根本上來看,它們都沒有超出話題作文的范疇。
3.時間與詞數(shù)
六級考試作文要求在30分鐘內(nèi)寫出一篇150~200詞的文章。具體注意事項如下:
1)30分鐘的時間要做到合理安排。建議的安排是“5+20+5”。前面的5分鐘是審題和構(gòu)思,中間20分鐘寫作,最后5分鐘檢查文中可能犯的錯誤。這其中又要特別注意:
① 前面的5分鐘只是做審題和構(gòu)思。審題包括審查題目和提綱,兩者都比較重要。給定的題目不得擅自改動;給定的提綱不得歪曲。構(gòu)思不可也不必花太長時間。愿意的話可以在準考證的空白處用幾個關(guān)鍵詞勾勒一下寫作思路,其實通常打腹稿即可。并不建議打草稿,因為考場上是不發(fā)草稿紙的,而且也不允許考生帶草稿紙。并且,打草稿的時間過長可能導致最后沒有時間謄寫。
② 最后5分鐘也特別關(guān)鍵,最少也應留出2、3分鐘,來檢查和改正文中的錯誤。因為恰恰是一些沒有改正過來的低級錯誤導致了作文的低分。但要改動的主要是語法和拼寫錯誤,盡量避免出現(xiàn)成句或成段的改動,導致卷面凌亂。
2)詞數(shù)最好寫到180~200詞,這是對歷年優(yōu)秀范文詞數(shù)統(tǒng)計后得出的結(jié)論。詞數(shù)少于150會被扣分,詞數(shù)太多又容易引起閱卷人的反感,而且片面追求詞數(shù)容易導致忽視語言質(zhì)量,得不償失。
(二)解析閱卷人
1.閱卷步驟與原則
CET作文題采用總體評分(Global Scoring)的方法。閱卷人員就總的印象給出獎勵分(Reward Scores),而不是按語言點的錯誤數(shù)目扣分。通過分析閱卷的過程與閱卷人員的心理,我們可以制訂自己的應對策略。
1)作文的外觀 文如其人,作文的外觀在很大程度上影響著一個閱卷人對一篇文章的好惡。外觀包括字體是否工整、美觀;卷面是否清楚、潔凈。
2)作文的內(nèi)容 外觀畢竟不是決定性因素,內(nèi)容才是更重要的。題目中要求的內(nèi)容要點必須寫全,否則會按比例扣分。
3)作文的語言 語言是一篇文章的靈魂,是最重要的評分依據(jù),包括語法、拼寫的正確性和詞句的準確性、多樣性。
4)作文的邏輯 六級作文多為議論文,或帶有議論性文字的文章,因此要尊重英語的議論邏輯,保證有論點、有論據(jù),且開宗明義,做到語言形式上的連貫性。
2.閱卷實例與分析
具體評卷示例如下:
2013年6月真題
Directions:For this part,you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay commenting on the remark “A smile is the shortest distance between two people.” You can cite examples to illustrate your point.You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.
樣卷
①Nowadays it is easier for us to meet more and more people who even didn't know us.How can we make friend with them as fast as possible.A smile may be is the shortest distance between two people.
In my point of view,someone's first sight is important for others to recognize him.A person who is always smiling would easy to be regarded as easy going and warm heart.Otherwise he may be thought as curious.Second,smiling can cheer others up.In the daily life,we are always expecting someone smile to us when we feel disappointed.We will soon form a good relationship between us.Last but not the least,smiling can also calm yourself down when you meet strangers or someone important.For example,when you are going to attend an interview or make reported to your new boss,it is good for us to smile before your speeching.Others will think that you have prepared for it and are worth to trust.
Because of the three reasons I have told before,I deeply believe a smile is the best way for us to make friends and shorten the distance between others.
通篇看來,這篇作文基本上做到了內(nèi)容切題,層次清楚。但是,文章的語言出現(xiàn)了較多的語法錯誤,其中有一些是嚴重錯誤。有些地方表達思想不夠清楚,文字勉強連貫。因此,按照15分為滿分的分制,這篇文章得8分。大致修改如下:
Nowadays it is easier than before for us to meet people who do not even know us.How can we make friends with them as fast as possible?A smile may be the shortest distance between two people.
From my point of view,a smile is valuable in the following ways.First,the first impression is important in the process of communication.A person who is always smiling would easily be regarded as easygoing and warmhearted.Otherwise he may be considered as cold or proud.Second,smiling can cheer others up.In the daily life,we are always expecting someone to smile to us when we feel disappointed.We will soon form a good relationship between us.Last but not least,smiling can also calm yourself down when you meet strangers or someone important.For example,when you are going to attend an interview or make a report to your new boss,it is good for you to smile before your speech.Others will think that you have prepared for it and are worth trusting.
Because of the three reasons I have mentioned above,I firmly believe that a smile is the best way for us to make friends and shorten the distance between us and others.
②The remark,“A smile is the shortest distance between two people”,emphasizes the importance of smile in our daily life.And I could hardly express how much I agree with it.
Smile does have magic power,which costs nothing but brings more than you can expect.Last month,I was confined to the hospital with flu,feeling lonely and miserable.Many friends came to see me with brunches of flowers and fresh fruits,but what impressed me most was their smiles.Their warm and encouraging smiles were like sunshine,injecting vigor into my heart and I felt they were always around me,loving me and supporting me.
Smile can also narrow the distance between strangers.When the terrible earthquake struck Wenchuan,thousands of people got severely injured.I saw on TV the nurses treated the patients with smiles,and volunteers served with smiles,comforting and encouraging the survivors.Their smile brightened up the days for the misfortune people.
Such is the power of smile.Not only can smile deepen the friendship but also convey the positive energy from people to people.Therefore,smile to people around,and we can change the world into a better one.
通篇看來,這篇作文既做到了內(nèi)容切題,層次清楚,又做到了語法正確(只有個別小錯誤),語言閃光;而且表達思想清楚,文字通順,連貫性好,完全有理由得14分。以下是對這篇作文的修訂,并對閃光點做了批注:
The remark “A smile is the shortest distance between two people” emphasizes the importance[用詞準確,有難度]of smile in our daily life.And I could hardly express how much I agree with it[賓語從句使用到位].
Smile does have magic power[強調(diào)方式得當,且用詞地道]:it costs nothing but brings more than you can expect[語言嫻熟].Last month,I was confined to[用詞準確而有難度]the hospital with flu,feeling lonely and miserable[分詞短語作伴隨狀語,顯示了語言水平].Many friends came to see me with bunches of flowers[用詞準確而有難度]and fresh fruits,but what impressed me most was[語言熟練而正確]their smiles.Their warm and encouraging smiles were like sunshine,injecting vigor into my heart[分詞短語作狀語]and I felt they were always around me,loving me and supporting me[分詞短語作狀語].
Smile can also narrow the distance[準確而有難度]between strangers.When the terrible earthquake struck Wenchuan,[例證豐富而語言地道,厚積薄發(fā)]thousands of people got severely injured.I saw on TV the nurses treated the patients with smiles,and volunteers served with smiles,comforting and encouraging the survivors.Their smiles brightened up[用詞靈活而鮮亮]the days for the unfortunate people.
Such is the power of smile[語言地道].It can not only deepen the friendship but also convey the positive energy[準確而有難度]from people to people.Therefore,smile to people around,and believe that we can change the world into a better one.[結(jié)尾建議有力]
③We can doing every thing to people we know.We can talking everything funny or sadly to friends.But if we find new people in life.What can we do.What is the shortest distance between two people?The answer is smile.
When people sadly with something,give he a smile important than everything,the smile like sunlight.It cut through the gloom of the battered things and can give he hope.Smile can through people's heart that if we can not talk something to people.A smile is the shortest distance two people that is truth.If yo want make some new friends,I feel sure smile with them first is very important.Smile can make you look kindly friendly and sunny.Obviously smile is the shortest distance between people to people.If we in different background and different place,I make sure smile to every people is true.Smile can make people friendly and can solve every hardly things.
I think smile like hug,like shake hands are very important to people.It can make everything easy and make the world easy.So a smile is the shortest distance to people.
通篇看來,這篇作文條理不清,思路紊亂,語言支離破碎,大部分句子均有錯誤,且多數(shù)為嚴重錯誤(如can doing,can talking,以及“But if we find new people in life.What can we do.”等標點符號和大小寫使用的低級錯誤),只能得2分。
3.寫作高分策略
通過上面對樣卷的分析,我們可以總結(jié)出作文的五大高分策略:
1)字跡清楚,段落明朗
字體大小應該適中,平時可以專門練習一下英文書法,如手寫印刷體或意大利斜體;最低要求是保證清楚及三個“一致”,即字體大小一致、傾斜方向一致、水平方向一致。段落多數(shù)為三段,少數(shù)可以寫成四段,最好用傳統(tǒng)的自然分段方式,即段首縮進式,每段開頭空4~8個字母的格;如果采用每行都頂頭寫的方式,則段與段之間要空一行,使各個段落一目了然。
2)要點完整,緊扣題目
傳統(tǒng)的考題一般是三點提綱對應著三個自然段,較新的考題第一段一般需描述圖畫或圖表,或闡釋格言,第二段根據(jù)題目要求一般為例證自己的觀點,最后一段收束全文。要完成題目中的要求,同時體現(xiàn)出清晰的層次,確保閱卷人在短時間內(nèi)看到自己寫了規(guī)定的內(nèi)容。
3)首保正確,再求閃光
首先保證每段的第一句是正確的。不必為了追求大詞、長句或所謂的套句而出現(xiàn)語法或拼寫錯誤。這一條是最核心的,因為在寫作時間和篇幅都比較短的情況下,考生寫出的內(nèi)容幾乎是一樣的,這時最重要的判斷標準就是語言的質(zhì)量。首先要保證語法和拼寫正確,哪怕用小詞、短句也可以。有能力的話再追求閃光的詞句。
4)先總后分,連詞用上
英語段落通常采用開門見山、先總后分的結(jié)構(gòu),一般是先寫主題句,后寫擴展句。寫作時通??梢詫⑻峋V直接翻譯出來作為主題句。擴展句之間最好用上關(guān)聯(lián)詞,如表示列舉、舉例、遞進、對比、因果等關(guān)系的詞,因為英語特別重視形式上的銜接,而且這樣可以給人以條理性、邏輯性強的感覺。
5)語言簡練,內(nèi)容得當
這一條不是很重要,但也會在一定程度上影響分數(shù)。有些考生背誦了一些經(jīng)典的句型,為了湊字就全用上了,給人低層次的感覺。還有些考生會在作文中寫上很多無關(guān)的話,如對閱卷人的問候語、過多的設(shè)問等等,徒增湊字之嫌,導致低分。另外,要敢于表達自己的思想,不要一味地為了保證語言正確而裹足不前,只說一些小學生的話。這樣的作文倒是沒有語言錯誤,但肯定也得不了高分。因此,平時要勤于思考,使思維變得更廣、更深、更多樣,因為有見地的文章內(nèi)容同樣會打動閱卷人。