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新概念教材的经典之三，在于它的实用性，书中经典句型层出不穷。新东方的新概念教学提倡学以致用，绝非简单临摹，而是教导学生举一反三，灵活运用。说到运用，英语学习中听、说、读、写、译，缺一不可，篇幅所限，本篇着重探讨一下“写”，即英文写作。
写作很重要，它能折射出一个人文化的蕴积，反映出一个人知识系统的构建情况，是衡量一个人素质修养的重要标准。而在我们诸多英语考试中，写作能力也是占着举足轻重的地位。
怎样才能写出一篇好的文章呢？
一篇好文章包含的因素有很多：出众的构思，丰富的内容，紧密的结构，精准的词汇，优美的句型，恰当的修辞等等。其中，构思、内容与写作人的阅历相关，而文章的词汇、句型、修辞等方面就是写作人语言能力的体现了。
本篇就来探讨一下词汇、句型和修辞这三方面。如果把写文章比作建楼房的话，词汇就是写作的基本材料，其作用如同砖瓦石块；句型则是比词汇高一级的建筑材料，其作用如同钢筋水泥和大梁；而修辞如同楼房的装修，三者缺一不可。
然而，纵观多年来学生英语作文考试，考生作文成绩欠佳的原因有很多，从词汇、句型和修辞方面来说，这些问题大致可以归纳成以下五类：陈词滥调、罗嗦累赘、词语贫乏、句式单一、平铺直叙。
陈词滥调
陈词滥调，就是过于频繁地使用人人熟悉而又缺乏语言深度的表达，这些表达犹如被吮干了汁水的柑桔，没有丝毫的美感可言。不幸的是，陈词滥调在逐年增多，而且广受学生们的“青睐”，在文章中学生们动辄便是以下表达：
to be honest, every knife has two edges, more and more ,in my view, as we all know，it’s very important , for example，such as，I like，as the saying goes，be always doing……
这些词人人会用，用一次两次也罢，若人人都用、次次都用，写者无意，阅者就要倒胃口了。语言要新鲜，陈词滥调听了发腻。所以我们在写文章的时候要避免因循守旧，拾人牙慧。
罗嗦累赘
简练是英语写作的基本要求之一。纵观古今中外的著名作家、文坛巨匠都非常重视言语的简练。美国作家海明威以语言朴实精炼著称，他在谈到自己如何遣词造句的时候说，
I put down what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way I can tell it.
从这句话可以看出所谓语言简练不是说写简单的句子，而是能够简明清楚地表达内容，组成凝练紧凑的句式结构。可惜很多学生下笔大方，动辄便是千言万语，犯了“罗嗦累赘”的毛病，而“罗嗦累赘”分为以下三种：
1．过份追求浮夸之辞
有些学生患上了“美辞堆砌症”，总喜欢搜罗一些文绉绉或貌似深奥的表达方式，等到自己写东西的时候，就想方设法把它们堆砌进去，以为这样就能搞出“佳作”来。这样单纯追求生动或优雅，玩弄文字技巧的做法，结果往往事与愿违，会出现词藻华丽而内容空洞的文风。其实即使是一个极其普通的词，只要它与具体的上下文搭配地妥帖，也会显出神韵来。前英国首相丘吉尔可算英文大家，他有句名言：
We shall fight on the hills. We shall fight in the streets. We shall fight blood and sweat and tears.
这是多么简洁而有力的句子!所用的何尝不是一个小学生所掌握的词汇？又何尝有一个夸词浮句？很多英语学习者撰写英文句篇，惯于寻章摘句，好用深词，所以才会弄巧成拙。
所以当我们可以用一些符合西方人士讲话作文习惯的常见词语表达意思时尽量不要用复杂而少用的词语，比如：
用do something (不用perform， accomplish)；
用end／finish a letter (不用terminate，conclude)；
用learn, find out the truth (不用ascertain)；
用try to do something well (不用endeavor)；
用begin one’s work (不用commence，initiate)；
用ask a friend to dinner (不用tender him a banquet)等
上述斜体都是简单词，拼写和发音都简明易懂，易为别人理解接受；没有必要画蛇添足用一些繁琐的词汇。
再来看看下面的句子：
（原）： My little sister has a preference for chocolate milk.
（改）： My little sister prefers chocolate milk.
（原）： We are in receipt of your letter and intend to follow your recommendations.
（改）： We have received your letter and intended to follow your recommendation.
（原）： The stranger was conveyed to his place of residence in an intoxicated condition.
（改）：The stranger was carried home drunk.
（原）： I am not in a position to pay your tuition expenses due to the fact I am presently financially embarrassed.
（改）： I cannot pay your tuition fees because I have no money.
（原）： We found our lost dog in the vicinity of the old churchyard.
（改）： We found our lost dog near the old churchyard.
（原）： There has been persistent instability in the number of staff.
（改）： The staff has continually varied in number.
（原）： If I am afforded an opportunity, I shall participate in the student exchange program.
（改）： If I get an opportunity, I shall participate in the student exchange program.
（原）： The nature of the statement was not in accordance with the facts.
（改）： The statement is not true.
（原）： The fact of the matter is that the office does not have enough funds in the allotment to make expenditure on programs of this nature.
（改）： In fact the office doesn’t have enough money for these programs.
从上述句子可以看出：英语表达要清顺、平易而自然，少粉饰藻丽语句，使得写完后能念出来顺口成章。
2．前后重复
在同一语境中出现两个或更多的表明同一意思的表达。在一篇短文中，每一个字都要有意义。简洁是写作的灵魂，不必要的重复常常使句子显得臃肿累赘，大大削弱了句子的表现力。
例：
（原）： We had a serious crisis at school yesterday when our chemistry laboratory caught fire.
（改）： We had a crisis at school yesterday when our chemistry laboratory caught fire.
（原）： My sister and I bought the same, identical dress in different stores.
（改）： My sister and I bought the same dress in different stores.
（原）：That’s the mutual aid to each other.
（改）：That’s the mutual aid.
（原）：At one time total extinction threatened the panda.
（改）：At one time extinction threatened the panda.
（原）：Personally, I believe what you say.
（改）：I believe what you say.
（原）：Shall we collect the toys together?
（改）：Shall we collect the toys?
（原）：It’s very unique/perfect.
（改）：It’s unique/perfect.
（原）：The hillside has become indistinct to sight.
（改）：The hillside has become indistinct.
（原）：That rabbit is disappearing from the view.
（改）：That rabbit is disappearing.
（原）：It is blue in color, round in shape and small in size.
（改）：It is blue ,round and small.
（原）：They are the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen before in my life.
（改）：They are the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen.
（原）：She is attractive in appearance, but is rather a foolish person .
（改）：She is attractive but rather foolish.
（原）：For the purpose of clarity, we shall give each of you a translation of the document.
（改）：For clarity, we shall give each of you a translation of the document.
3． 句式结构冗长繁琐
先体会一下下列例句：
（原）：While I was playing tennis, I decided that I would go for a swim in the lake.
（改）：While playing tennis, I decided to go for a swim in the lake.
（原）：She was delighted when she heard the good news.
（改）：She was delighted at the good news.
（原）：His words moved everyone who was present.
（改）：His words moved everyone present.
（原）：My father is a veteran worker who has retired.
（改）：My father is a retired veteran worker.
（原）：I am much interested in the fund-raising drive. One of the reasons why I am interested is that I enjoy helping other people.
（改）：I am much interested in the fund-raising drive because I enjoy helping other people.
（原）：Norman Green, who was a student at that time, wrote several best-sellers.
（改）：Norman Green, at that time a student, wrote several best-sellers.
（原）：What will be the result if Peter does not come?
（改）：What if Peter does not come?
（原）：All students in college are required to take different tests. These tests are for the purpose of determining what courses the students are suitable to take.
（改）：All college students are required to take different tests to determine what courses suit them.
（原）：In comparison with the writing of composition, the reading of literature is not as difficult.
（改）：Reading literature is not as difficult as writing composition.
莎士比亚有句名言——Brevity is the soul of wit. 简洁的文字，简洁的结构，简洁的行文应该是我们追求的目标。在写作过程中，我们要字斟句酌，删繁就简，剪裁浮字，把那些与句意表达无关的赘词冗语大刀阔斧地剔除掉，用简短的词语和结构表达复杂地句意，使我们的文章不仅生动活泼，而且言简意明，干净利落。
未完待续……
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发表于 2016-7-11 22:43:21