雅思大作文开头段的那些事

 

在我的教学过程中，我发现很多考生其实不知道雅思大作文开头段应该怎样去写，有的认为只要改写几个单词就可以了，更有甚者直接抄下原文。其实，对于小小的第一段也是很有必要详细说明的。记得几年前看到一个电影叫《Horton Hears A Who》，故事讲述的是一个名叫Horton的大象，发现了灰尘里面也有一个世界的故事。故事很感人，主题是“无论大小，都是生命”。我在这里借鉴一下这句名言，无论哪一段，都是一个系统。那么，作为开头段的这个系统我们应该注意哪些呢？

 

哲学其实真的是一切科学的根本，因为它能帮助我们整理思维，提供一个很好的方法论。在这里我除了讲作文，同时也想告诉大家分析问题和解决问题的一些基本过程。任何一件事情，要想解决都应该经历这样三个过程：what，why 和 how。 翻译成中文即，“是什么”，“为什么”和“怎么样”。我们依次给予讲解。

 

首先我们来看一下是什么。What is it? 许多考生可能会认为，开头段是对题目进行介绍。如果这样想，就错了。其实任何一篇作文包括雅思作文的开头段一定要对你所写文章进行介绍。那么对于雅思作文来讲，无论是要求你进行观点阐述的argumentation类作文，还是要求你阐述问题的report类作文，第一段的作用一定是点题，应该做到“见一叶而知秋”，需要实现的效果是考官看完了你的第一段，就能够对你的文章有一个总体性的了解，或者说这一段你要清晰地告诉考官或读者你的文章是你在论述什么东西。具体来说，你的开头段要包括这样几个方面：第一，所讨论的问题或话题；第二，主体段的讨论对象；第三，你的观点，态度或建议。

 

其次我们来看一下为什么。Why is it important? 说到为什么第一段很重要，我想这个应该很好理解。第一，开头段顾名思义是你全文的一个开头，虽然雅思不按照整体性评分，而是按照具体的四项去评分，但如果第一段你就能写的很好，那么给考官带来的印象无疑也是很棒的，对于拿到一个目标分甚至高分都是很有帮助的。第二，开头段作为整体作文的一部分，占据1/5到1/6的篇幅，同样需要按评分标准来评定。如果你的开头段布局得当，起码在”task response”和”coherence and cohesion” 上会取得不错的成绩。

 

最后我们来看一下如何写作。How should we write it ? 雅思大作文第一段一定要包括这样三个基本要素：“背景句”，“话题”和“观点”。这三个部分是完整统一的，一定不能忽略。

 

第一，背景句：背景句主要起到引题的作用，但要紧密联系题目中的话题。其方法是围绕题干中的关键词或核心词展开。

背景句的写作方法：

1 联系社会背景：任何一个话题肯定都于一定的社会发展息息相关，所以联系关键词的社会背景是一种最简单、最常用的方法。具体可以有以下5种句式：

1) The 21^st century witnesses ---

2) With the development of science and technology,---

3) In modern society, ---

4) It is quite common these days that ---

5) Recently,---

 

例如：There are social, medical and technical problems associated with the use of mobile phones. Do you agree that the problems outweigh the benefits of mobile phones?

参考背景句：

The late 20th century witnessed the boom of science and technology, which gave rise to a series of technological innovations, including the mobile phone.

或with the development of science and technology, the mobile phone is more and more available to and popular with common people.

 

2 重述话题：有的时候题干里是有一个背景介绍的，这时候我们只需将题目所给话题重新复述一遍即可。但切忌原样照搬照抄，不过可以将原文中的词汇和句式进行同义转换。转换句型可以有以下三种．

1) it is generally believed that ---

2) it is said that---

3) it is reported that---

例如：Nowadays, people are facing more and more work-related stress. State the possible reasons for this phenomenon and make some recommendations about how to combat it.

参考背景句：

It is generally believed that individuals are confronted with psychological and physical stress coming from work.

3解释中心词: 即将中心词进行解释或展开说明。此种方法一般适合容易下定义的词比如图书馆。可以有以下三个句型：

1)It is known to all that ---

2)As is known to all, ---

3)--- is known as---

例如：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 with this statement?

参考背景句：It is known to all that public libraries are places with a large collection of books. To some extent, libraries mean books.

 

4 固定套句：套句的使用有利也有弊，利在于简单方便，易操作；弊在于简单、使用人较多。 不过对于目标分数不是很高的考生，如5分至6分，大可放心使用。

1）Recently, there has emerged a heated discussion on + 所要讨论的话题，可以是一个短语也可以是一个句子。

例如：Some people believe that visitors to other countries should follow local customs and behavior. Others disagree and think that the host country should welcome cultural differences. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

参考背景句：Recently, there has emerged a heated discussion on the visitors’ behavior when they go to other countries.

或者 Recently, there has emerged a heated discussion on whether travelers need follow local customs and conventions when they go to other counties.

 

第二，话题: 话题根据不同的题目问法有不同的应对策略。总的来说，雅思题目的问法分为两大类三小类。

两大类：争论类（argumentation）和报告类（report）

三小类：谈论双方观点、是否同意某个观点、原因解决办法

 

1谈论双方观点的题目：将两方观点完全重述一遍，不能只说某一方而抛弃另一方。

题目：Some people believe that visitors to other countries should follow local customs and behavior. Others disagree and think that the host country should welcome cultural differences. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

方法：

1） While some people think that---, others maintain that---

2） Some people believe that ---. However, others hold an opposite view that---

 

2是否同意某一观点的题目：将一方观点重述一遍，不能自己添加对立面。

题目： There are social, medical and technical problems associated with the use of mobile phones. Do you agree that the problems outweigh the benefits of mobile phones?

方法：

1）As for this issue, some people maintain that---

 

3 原因解决办法的题目：将某一现象重述一遍即可。

题目： Nowadays, people are facing more and more work-related stress. State the possible reasons for this phenomenon and make some recommendations about how to combat it.

方法：

1)With this issue becoming increasingly serious, lots of people are discussing its causes and solutions.

 

观点: 按评分标准，雅思作文的观点一定要清晰明确。对于观点的书写有两种方式，一种是开头段明确给出观点；另一种是开头段不给出观点，但读完全文，作者观点一目了然。但第一种方法比较常见于非英语考生，第二种方法常见于以英语为官方语言或非英语国家英语水平较高的考生。

 

1谈论双方观点的题目：在转述话题之后，要明确同意第几种观点。主要有以下几种句式:

As far as I am concerned, I agree with the first/ the second view.

Speaking for myself, I hold the former view/ latter view.

From my point of view,---

Personally speaking,---

In my opinion,---

It seems to me that---

 

2是否同意某一观点的题目: 在转述话题之后，要明确表示同意还是不同意这一观点。

As far as I am concerned, I hold the same view.

However, I do not agree with this view.

However, I have my own idea.

However, I have a different idea.

 

3 原因解决办法的题目：在转述话题之后，概要说明这一现象的原因和解决办法。

1) I will list some causes which I believe should not be ignored as well as some relevant solutions.

 

最后总结一下，雅思作文的开头段其实很重要，但往往会被考生忽略。有的考生甚至生硬的照搬照抄模板，结果第一段就写的乱七八糟。所以，今天我比较系统的告诉大家一些基本的东西，大家可以自己尝试写写，希望对大家有所帮助。