首先我們來討論在描述現(xiàn)象中會用到的舉例詞匯。描述現(xiàn)象就是羅列客觀存在的事實,寫出人們所熟知的,經(jīng)常出現(xiàn)在日常生活中的普遍現(xiàn)象,適合它的舉例詞匯一般有三種:such as與like,include與range from…to…以及for example與for instance。
為了能更加直觀地展現(xiàn)舉例的這種方法,現(xiàn)以TPO26的獨立寫作題目為例,“孩子們選擇與父母相同的工作比選擇與父母不同的工作要好”,并且選擇agree(其實也可選擇disagree,但舉例方法大同小異,所以在此只討論agree的情況),假設(shè)孩子與父母一樣,都選擇教師這個職業(yè),并且提出可以從父母的工作經(jīng)驗中獲得“備課經(jīng)驗與恰當?shù)纳险n方法論”,這就是一個客觀存在的事實,也即描述現(xiàn)象:
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
It is better for children to choose jobs that are similar to their parents’ jobs than to choose jobs that are very different from their parents’ jobs.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
現(xiàn)象一般可由以下三類詞匯引入,現(xiàn)在我們來逐一討論。
一、such as與like。用such as與like來舉例,是廣大考生比較熟悉的,但是在使用的時候需要注意以下幾點:
1. 在such as與like之前是籠統(tǒng)的概念,后面跟具體的含細節(jié)的例子,如上面的expert guidance(專業(yè)指導(dǎo))就是籠統(tǒng)的概念,而help with course preparations and methodology for appropriate lesson giving就是具體的含細節(jié)的例子。
2. 用such as比用like正式,在正式場合,應(yīng)盡量使用such as。
3. such as中的as與like都是介詞,后跟名詞或動詞的ing形式,如Activities such as rock climbing, bungee jumping and parachuting are extreme sports(攀巖,蹦極與跳傘都是極限運動)。在托福寫作考試的過程中,單詞的詞性一定要慎重考慮,選擇單詞的正確詞性(動詞、名詞、形容詞、副詞等)非常重要。
【參考例句】
1. Expert guidance such as help with course preparations and methodology for appropriate lesson giving may benefit children who are planning to be teachers.
2. Children are able to acquire from their parents expert guidance, like course preparations and methodology for appropriate lesson giving.
二、include與range from…to…。根據(jù)筆者的教學(xué)經(jīng)驗,這兩種引入現(xiàn)象的方法并沒有被很多考生所掌握,特別是range from…to…??梢赃@樣說,能夠正確使用range from…to…的考生英語寫作基礎(chǔ)往往都是不錯的。使用include與range from…to…,我們需要注意以下幾點:
1. include與range from…to…可用作一般現(xiàn)在時形式,如例句1與3;也可用作ing形式,如例句2與4。
2. range from…to…通常表示范圍比較廣,如上面的ranging from course preparations to methodology for appropriate lesson giving,也就是說,從備課經(jīng)驗到恰當?shù)纳险n方法論(當然還包括像如何對付調(diào)皮的學(xué)生,如何與學(xué)生家長配合讓學(xué)生的學(xué)習效率最大化等方面),該有的都會有,“應(yīng)有盡有”。
3. 我們一定要有意識地學(xué)習并使用如range from…to…等更加高級的表達方式,而不是停留在自己已經(jīng)熟知的套路上。
【參考例句】
1. Parents’ expert guidance children will obtain includes course preparations and methodology for appropriate lesson giving.
2. Children will acquire from their parents expert guidance, including course preparations and methodology for appropriate lesson giving.
3. Expert guidance children will obtain from their parents ranges from course preparations to methodology for appropriate lesson giving.
4. Children will acquire from their parents expert guidance, ranging from course preparations to methodology for appropriate lesson giving.
三、for example與for instance。提到舉例,相信大部分考生都會第一時間想到for example或for instance,甚至有些考生一篇獨立寫作中有四五個for example,因為在托福獨立寫作中會有多個地方用到舉例。從常理來說,這樣不但會讓評分人產(chǎn)生“審美疲勞”,而且也給人以英語知識積累不多,犯“詞窮”之感。《托??荚嚬俜街改稀肥且罂忌讵毩懽髦畜w現(xiàn)syntactic variety(句法多樣性)的。鑒于此,筆者建議盡量不要使用for example與for instance。但是,如果對這兩種表達情有獨鐘,非要使用不可,也是可以的,但需要注意以下幾點(for example與for instance同義,可互換):
1. 盡量將for example/for instance寫成插入語,這樣可以增加句法多樣性。
2. Take, for example/for instance, …就相當于我們所熟悉的Take … for example/for instance。
3. for example/for instance一般可插入到一個句子的主語與謂語之間。在例句2中,for instance就將主語parents who are teachers與謂語can give隔開了。
【參考例句】
1. Take, for example, expert guidance from their parents.Through discussions with their parents about problems and confusion concerning teaching, children are able to obtain help with course preparations and methodology for appropriate lesson giving.
2. Parents who are teachers, for instance, can give their children expert guidance on how to prepare courses and how to give lessons according to appropriate teaching methodology.