大學英語論說文寫作要義

1、Argumentation議論文 議論文又稱說理文，是一種剖析事物、論述事理、發(fā)表意見、提出主張的文體。 議論文通常采用擺事實、講道理的方式，圍繞某一有爭議的觀點展開論證，陳述各種理由，表明作者的立場、闡明作者的觀點和看法。 寫議論文的目的是要讓讀者認識某事物或觀點，接受自己的看法，并在此基礎(chǔ)上采取某種行動。（一）（一）論點論點：論點是作者對所議論對象持有的見解和主張。論點決定了該選擇什么樣的論據(jù)，也決定了該采用什么樣的論證方法，因此，它是議論文的核心和靈魂。（二）二）論據(jù)論據(jù)：論據(jù)用來證明論點的事實和道理。它是證明論點的根據(jù)，也是議論的基礎(chǔ)。論據(jù)分為事實論據(jù)和事理論據(jù)兩種。事實論據(jù)是對客觀事

2、物的真實的描述和概括，包括事例、史實、數(shù)據(jù)等；事理論據(jù)是指經(jīng)過實踐證明和檢驗的科學原理、定律公式以及約定俗成的警句格言等。（三）（三）論證論證：論證就是用論據(jù)來證明論點的過程。議論文的論點是“要證明什么”，論據(jù)是“用什么來證明”，而論證是解決“如何進行證明”的問題。論證的目的在于揭示論點和論據(jù)之間的內(nèi)在邏輯關(guān)系。一、 議論文的三要素1.論點要正確 議論文的寫作目的是為了讓讀者接受和認同作者的觀點。如果論點本身存在缺陷，不但論證起來難度大大增加，要贏得讀者的首肯就更是難上加難了。Women are inferior to men. （有缺陷的論點）Knowledge is power.（正確的論

3、點）2.論點要鮮明 鮮明的論點總是以明確的判斷形式出現(xiàn)，清晰的表現(xiàn)出作者對所論述事物的肯定或否定，贊成或反對。因此，一些諸如perhaps、maybe、I think等表示可能性或語氣過于緩和的詞語就不適宜出現(xiàn)在論點里面。Watching television is not a waste of time. （鮮明的論點）Watching TV might not necessarily be a waste of time.（不夠鮮明的論點）3.論點要具有可辯性 論點表達的是作者的意見、態(tài)度或思想，應(yīng)該具有可辯性，而不是簡單地提出文章所要說明的是事實。Many college student

4、s live off campus rather than on campus nowadays. （不具備可辯性） College students should not live off campus.（具有可辯性）論據(jù)的基本要求是真實可靠，充分典型。 首先，選擇的論據(jù)必須要準確可靠，否則不但論點將失去說服力，整篇文章將喪失可信度。 其次，證明一個論點要選取足夠多的論據(jù)。論據(jù)如果過于單薄，也會削弱整篇文章的說服力。 最后，所選論據(jù)要能充分的反應(yīng)事物的本質(zhì)和規(guī)律。偶然的、個別的事例不能有力地證明論點的準確性。常用的論據(jù)1）事實論據(jù)。事實論據(jù)是一般議論文中使用最多的論據(jù)類型。例如： We ca

5、n see many bicycle riders run the red lights and pedestrians cross the busy streets anywhere.常用的論據(jù)2）實例論據(jù)。實例論據(jù)必須真實，且具有代表性。例如：It is reported that yesterday a 76-year-old man was run down by a lorry when crossing the street.常用的論據(jù)3）數(shù)據(jù)論據(jù)。在列舉數(shù)據(jù)論據(jù)時，注意不要長篇累牘地列舉大量數(shù)據(jù)，而要選擇讀者熟悉的或來自權(quán)威人士的意見，如來自政府部門、業(yè)內(nèi)權(quán)威出版物、行業(yè)專家的意

6、見等。例如：According to the Department of Transportation, accidents have increased by 40% compared with a decade ago.1. 歸納法（Induction） 歸納論證是由個別到一般的論證方法。它通過許多個別的事例或分論點歸納出它們共有的特性，從而得出一個一般性的結(jié)論。也就是先羅列一系列論據(jù)，可以是事實論據(jù)，也可以是理論論據(jù)，也可以兼而有之，然后自然而然地概括出其中的道理或規(guī)律。例如：The existing solutions to traffic jam mainly aim at impr

7、oving bus systems and broadening major roads. Widening the existing roads can solve traffic snarls on some level. Soaring car ownership compounds the chronic annoying problem, so we must sharply reduce the heavy reliance on cars and drive a shift to the mass transportation. It is a cheap and good wa

8、y. We can create a system of customized bus routes and highlight the development of subways, trolleys and light rail. The effective combination of these solutions will enable the urban areas to possess a smooth traffic. 本段先采用事實論據(jù)，指出現(xiàn)在解決城市交通問題的辦法是建立完善的公交車系統(tǒng)及拓寬路面。再提出另一事實論據(jù)，說明私家車數(shù)目飛速增加惡化了交通問題，再推論出解決的辦法

9、，即創(chuàng)建滿足乘客需要的公交路線，加強地鐵，電車和輕軌的建設(shè)。最后得出結(jié)論，要有效地結(jié)合以上幾種方法，才能使城市交通更通暢。2演繹法（Deduction）演繹法則是從一般到特殊的論證方法。作者先提出自己的論點，然后援引一系列的事實或理論論據(jù)加以論證。例如： However, nowadays the whole society is faced up with “credit crisis”. To begin with, business is threatened by the lack of credit and trust between enterprises and banks. A

10、ccording to a recent survey carried out by the Peoples Bank of China, a total amount of 3 billion yuan debts were not paid off to banks by the enterprises in the year 2002. In addition, lies often exist between friends. Xiao Wang, my neighbor, was persuaded to buy certain insurance product and turne

11、d out to find that he was cheated. Even, we have heard lots of news reports that family members cheated each other for their respective benefits. 本段第一句指出現(xiàn)在整個社會面臨信任危機這樣一個現(xiàn)象，然后用僅2002年中國人民銀行未能收回的貸款就達30億元這一數(shù)據(jù)，說明缺乏信用對商業(yè)社會的巨大危害。再用小王被騙錢的實例論據(jù)說明其對個人造成的損失。由總到分，脈絡(luò)清晰。3類比法（Analogy） 類比法是用讀者熟悉的事物來類比某一陌生的事物，以證明這一陌生

12、事物具有某種特點，從而論證作者的觀點。例如： The ecology has the same going-style with an organism. If the neat economy of growth within an organism such as a human being is sometimes disrupted, a group of cells will grow without limit. This is the dread disease of cancer, and unless that growing group of cells is someho

13、w stopped, the wild growth will throw allthe body structure out of true and end by killing the organism itself. In ecology, the same would happen if, for some reason, one particular type of organism, say, the human being, began to multiply without limit, killing its competitors and increasing its ow

14、n food supply at the expense of that of others. That, too, could end in the destruction of the larger systemmost or all of life and even of certain aspects of the inanimate environment. 一般人對生態(tài)學不是很了解，這里用癌細胞的瘋狂生長作類比，讓人了解到某種生物的無限制繁殖對整個生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的危害，用易懂的事物解釋了一個令人望而生畏的科學概念。 此外，常用的論證方法還有例證法（Exemplification），比較對

15、照法（Comparison and Contrast）等。 英語議論文的結(jié)構(gòu)較為固定，通常包括引論、本論和結(jié)論三個部分。簡短的英語議論文受篇幅所限，往往使用“三段體”或“四段體”的段落模式。 1.引論部分（立論） 2.本論部分（論證） 3.結(jié)論部分二、議論文的基本結(jié)構(gòu) 引論部分負責提出需要論證的議題，表明作者觀點，給出與題目相關(guān)的必要背景信息等。引論部分一般都很簡短；但它表達的是整篇文章的主題思想，能起到駕馭全文的作用。意義清晰明確、精彩新穎的引論不僅有助于讀者理解全文，還能激起讀者的閱讀興趣。1. 引論部分（立論） 文章一開始就以主題句點明全文主題，然后圍繞主題內(nèi)容進行發(fā)展。例如： It i

16、s usually better to be honest than dishonest. Sometimes honesty may get you in trouble or hurt someone, but telling the truth is usually less harmful than lying. Dishonesty can possibly result in guilty feelings, cause distrust, or even ruin your reputation.1）直接點出主題（開門見山）：引論部分的常見寫作方法 引用一些具體詳實的數(shù)字或數(shù)據(jù)，

17、然后做出概括性分析或引出主題。例如： Recently a Beijing information company did a survey of college life among more than 700 students in Beijing, Guangzhou, Xian, Chengdu, Shanghai, Wu Han, Nanjing and Shenyang. The result have shown that 67% percent of students think that saving money is a good habit while the rest

18、believe that using tomorrows money today is better. As far as I am concerned, I prefer the latters opinion, which is illustrated by the following factors.2) 引用具體詳實的數(shù)字或數(shù)據(jù)： 提出有爭議或探討性的具體問題，然后做簡要的回答、展開引導性簡短討論或直接進入主體段。例如： Have you ever dived into a pool in the mountains? Have you ever wandered through th

19、e quiet forest? Have you ever enjoyed the sunshine on the afternoon beach? If you do not have such exciting experiences in your leisure time, you may sure lose something valuable that your life can offer. That is why I prefer to be outside than to be inside for my leisure activities.3）以問題形式提出主題： 引用一

20、段名人名言，或人們常用的諺語、習語，來確定文章的寫作方向。例如：We all know the famous saying, “Where there is a will, there is a way.” But seldom can we use it in our study and work. In fact, attitude or “will” is often one of the factors that determine whether we can do something better or not.4）引用名言警句：引論部分的常見寫作方法 As the saying/

21、 proverb goes, Nothing is impossible to a willing heart, we can fulfill our dream if we are willing to make efforts. 對討論的主題或問題加以定義，然后進行深入探討。這種方法需要對所論述主題進行深入調(diào)研，否則易犯邏輯錯誤。例如： Fast food is defined as standardized restaurant foods that are prepared in mass, served quickly and uniform in taste and quality

22、 because they are typically sold by nationwide chains. Although decades ago the term was mostly synonymous with “convenience”, today it is used to define the food that is “unhealthy”, “robotic” and “greasy”.5）運用定義法： 本論部分是議論文寫作的重點，常見的簡短議論文用一段或兩段的篇幅（主體段）對引論部分所提出的問題進行論證。論證時可以采用第三單元講到的各種論證方法，如歸納法、演繹法、例證

23、法、類比法、對比法等。但無論使用什么方法，主體段都需具備以下特征：語義完整，層次分明，結(jié)構(gòu)清晰，邏輯嚴謹，并能體現(xiàn)文章主旨。2. 本論部分（論證） 主體段通常由三部分組成：主題句（Topic Sentence）、擴展句(Developing Sentence)、結(jié)尾句(Concluding Sentence)。如下圖所示：擴展句1擴展句2擴展句3主題句結(jié)尾句 主題句點出段落的主題。每個段落只能有一個主題（Central idea)，它常用一個句子來表達，所以稱為主題句。段落的主題句一般位于段首，也可置于段中或段尾。初習寫作者最好把主題句放在段首，這樣易于把握結(jié)構(gòu)。以下分別介紹了主題句位于段首、

24、段中和段末的情況。 主題句位于段首：在英文中，大部分段落的第一句便是主題句，即開門見山地提出問題，然后用擴展句對主題句進行說明、支持、補充和解釋。1）主題句：主題句位于段首： Selfishness has bad effects on a person. Firstly, it makes him friendless. A selfish person does not understand that friendship is based on mutual respect and mutual help. He never offers help to others, but he i

25、s brazen enough to ask others for help whenever he has difficulty. He may take advantage of other peoples kindness, which makes him lose friendship forever. Secondly, a selfish person may never be happy. He is always unwilling to help others, but eager to profit at other peoples expense. A person wi

26、th such behaviors constantly finds himself lonely for he has lost friends. Therefore, a person should avoid being selfish in order to enjoy his life.主題句位于段尾：主題句位于段尾便于總結(jié)全段的內(nèi)容，給讀者以深刻的印象 At present rates of demand, the world has enough oil to last for more than 40 years, enough gas for more than 60 yea

27、rs and enough coal for more than 230 years. Naturally, demand will increase; but so will reserves as companies explore more widely and costs fall. Since 1970 viable reserves of oil have almost doubled while those of gas have leapt three-fold. One distant day a crunch will come, but as it approaches

28、fossil-fuel prices will rise, making alternative forms of energy, perhaps including nuclear power, competitive. There is no reason to spend on nuclear now.主題提出后需要很多結(jié)構(gòu)嚴謹?shù)木渥觼碇С趾驼f明，這些句子就被稱為擴展句。從本質(zhì)上講，擴展句是論據(jù)在段落中的具體體現(xiàn)，是對事實、實例、數(shù)據(jù)等內(nèi)容的再現(xiàn)。擴展句可以分為主要擴展句(major developing sentence)和次要擴展句(minor developing sentence

29、)。主要擴展句圍繞段落主題展開，對主題句加以支持或說明。各主要擴展句之間既相互獨立又相互銜接。次要擴展句用來對主要擴展句作進一步的事實分析和舉例說明。它從屬于某一個或某幾個主要擴展句。例如：2）擴展句： There are many problems with advertise-ments. At first, some advertisements are rather confusing. The bad can be described as the good with certain marketing strategies, which often deceives consume

30、rs into buying goods with poor quality. Therefore, most people always consider advertise-ments as a bad thing, for many goods fantastically advertized mean terrible nightmare to average consumers. Second, most consumers are forced to watch, hear, or read advertisements, no matter how unwilling they

31、are. There are so many advertisements on TV, radio, magazines, news-papers, internet. They have become an inevitable fact of life. Some solutions should be worked out, or advertisements will be harmful to the society to some degree.最后得出的結(jié)論，可以用一個或多個結(jié)尾句表達。結(jié)尾句在主題句位于段首的段落中體現(xiàn)得比較清楚。段落結(jié)尾句的寫作方法很多，以下列舉幾種常見的段

32、落結(jié)尾方法。3）結(jié)尾句 Money is important, but it is not the most important. There are certain things that money cannot buy. For example, a millionaire who suffered from serious cancer was willing to buy his health at expenses of his whole fortune, but he failed and soon died in despair. Many other things such

33、 as devoted friendship and real honor are invaluable and cannot be bought with money either. So money is far from omnipotent. （1）重申段落所講重點，可以通過呼應(yīng)主題句關(guān)鍵詞重申段落的中心思想。： Generally, with the rapid development of our society, women have made enormous strides in their social status; and they get equal position

34、 as men do. In the future, we can expect a more promising prospect for Chinese women.（2）展望或預測段落所講主題可能的未來趨勢、發(fā)展走向、解決途徑。例如 As far as breakfast is concerned, many people think it is not as important as lunch. But many health experts consider breakfast to be the most important meal of the day. If we eat a good breakfast, well have the energy and nutrients we need to begin our working day vigorously. It is especially true if ones work involves mental activity.Can we imagine what happens if we skip breakfast or substitute a simple one for a high qualified meal？