根據(jù)多年來對(duì)雅思寫作大作文的分析研究,盡管議論文的話題繁多,但其問題模式都可以歸屬于兩大類,討論類和分析解決類,討論類常見的如:
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
What is your opinion?
Discuss both the advantages and disadvantages.
而分析解決是指對(duì)某一負(fù)面現(xiàn)象進(jìn)行原因的分析,再給出解決方法。如:
Discuss the possible causes of this phenomenon and suggest some recommendations about how to combat it.
上述兩類相信參加過雅思考試或者在準(zhǔn)備的烤鴨們都已經(jīng)非常熟悉了,那么在考試中出現(xiàn)幾率較高的是第一類討論型的題目,占了百分之八十以上,所以學(xué)會(huì)此類題目的論證過程的擴(kuò)展對(duì)議論文分?jǐn)?shù)的提高起關(guān)鍵作用。
在雅思寫作的評(píng)分標(biāo)準(zhǔn)中,我們看到前兩個(gè)評(píng)分標(biāo)準(zhǔn)中,均出現(xiàn)了對(duì)段落擴(kuò)展的描述,第一個(gè)評(píng)分標(biāo)準(zhǔn)task response,指任務(wù)完成度,在文章內(nèi)容方面的體現(xiàn)即文章是否回答了題目的關(guān)于topic的論證,是否都圍繞主題,無偏題離題現(xiàn)象發(fā)生,能否完整全面的對(duì)話題進(jìn)行論證。而第二點(diǎn)coherence and cohesion,指連貫和銜接,內(nèi)容是否連貫,很大程度上取決于論證過程的擴(kuò)展是否有緊密關(guān)聯(lián),有無邏輯性??梢娮h論文論證過程的合理有邏輯的擴(kuò)展非常重要。
II 讓步段的概念及用法
在議論文中,常見的論證方法很多,如舉例子、解釋、類比、對(duì)比、列數(shù)據(jù)等,下面要給大家總結(jié)介紹一類在論證中能否體現(xiàn)論證的全面性的方法,即讓步的論證方法,首先我們來看幾個(gè)句型:
1. As is granted, … However, convincing arguments have been made that …
2. Opponents would argue that… However, …
3. Although/ In spite of the fact that …, people tend to believe that …
4. It is undeniable that …
從以上三個(gè)句型,我們看出讓步就是先退一步承認(rèn)自己不同意的一個(gè)事實(shí),再對(duì)其進(jìn)行反駁,如某人去面試,老板要拒絕聘請(qǐng)錄用這個(gè)員工,他會(huì)在拒絕前先說一番承認(rèn)這個(gè)人在某些方面還不錯(cuò)的一些話,這就是讓步。這樣論證的優(yōu)點(diǎn)是更加全面的論證,不會(huì)一味的一邊倒,就片面的認(rèn)為一個(gè)事件的存在只有優(yōu)點(diǎn)或只有缺點(diǎn),且論證也更有說服力。這種論證方法常出現(xiàn)在討論類的單邊論證中,我們來看一個(gè)題目:
The main purpose of public libraries is to provide books and they should not waste their limited resources and space on providing expensive hi-tech media such as computer software, videos and DVDs. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
針對(duì)這樣一個(gè)題目,通過審題,題目要求考生探討圖書館是否需要提供高科技媒體。根據(jù)分析,我們可以得出單邊論證的結(jié)構(gòu),同意提供多媒體。具體結(jié)構(gòu)參照如下:
Introduction: State my opinion
The hi-tech media should been provided by the public libraries.
Body: Ph 1 Making concession
Multimedia facilities are expensive.
Ph 2 Reason one to support my opinion.
Hi-tech media can store information much longer than traditional means.
Ph 3 Reason two to support my opinion
Visiting a library with multimedia access is much more interesting.
Conclusion: Restate my opinion
The investment is justified and should be encouraged.
從上述結(jié)構(gòu)我們看出作者的觀點(diǎn)是支持提供高科技媒體,但這個(gè)論證過程非常全面,它先在論證的第一段就退一步承認(rèn)其缺點(diǎn),然后再就這一點(diǎn)進(jìn)行反駁,這個(gè)段落就是讓步段,參考之前提供句型,得出這一段:Opponents of a high-tech library would argue that multimedia facilities are expensive. This may be true to some extent, because a DVD player is often more expensive than a bookshelf. However, with immense storage capacity, these new high-tech media can actually save the most valuable resource-space.
讓步段還可以運(yùn)用到討論類另一種結(jié)構(gòu)中,筆者謂之雙邊傾向論證。我們通過一個(gè)具體的實(shí)例來解釋這種論證結(jié)構(gòu)以及讓步在其中的用法。
There are social, medical and technical problems associated with the use of mobile phones. What forms do they take? Do you agree that the problems outweigh the benefits of mobile phones?
建議此題一定要認(rèn)真審題,因?yàn)檫@個(gè)問題模式對(duì)文章的結(jié)構(gòu)有著直接的影響。它有兩問,第一問要回答手機(jī)的三個(gè)方面的問題,第二問優(yōu)缺點(diǎn)討論,結(jié)合這兩問,得出文章結(jié)構(gòu)如下:
Introduction: State my opinion
The problems of mobile phones far exceed the merits.
Body: Ph 1 the benefits brought about by mobiles (Making concession)
Convenient, functional
Ph 2 the social, medial and technical problems of mobile phones
Conclusion: Restate my opinion
Although mobile phones have some benefits, the negative influences should not be overlooked.
看完結(jié)構(gòu),不難理解雙邊傾向的結(jié)構(gòu)即兩個(gè)方面優(yōu)點(diǎn)和缺點(diǎn)都提及,作者的觀點(diǎn)是傾向其中一方的,那么不同意的那一方的論證段就可以理解為讓步段。結(jié)合句式,我們可以寫一下讓步段的topic sentence:
It is undeniable that mobile phones have facilitated our lives in many different ways.
接著可以列舉手機(jī)使用的幾個(gè)具體的優(yōu)點(diǎn)。這種讓步和單邊論證讓步的區(qū)別是它可以不用直接在這個(gè)段落后面反駁。
III 結(jié)語
讓步段在論證過程中有著相當(dāng)廣泛的實(shí)戰(zhàn)意義,它可以幫助考生擴(kuò)展文章的字?jǐn)?shù),達(dá)到要求,此外,它還能使得論證過程更加全面。推薦學(xué)生準(zhǔn)確使用此種論證方法,希望對(duì)寫作取得高分有切實(shí)的幫助。