4、作文开头部分写作技巧

4、作文开头部分写作技巧 The Writing Skills for the beginning part of Compositions It?s well known that the most difficult part for students in writing a composition is how to begin. Just as proverb says“Good beginning is half success”, good beginning is crucial to the success of writing. This is firstly because good beginning can increase the writer?s confidence, which will lay a good foundation for the next parts; secondly good beginning can provide readers with new and fresh feeling, which can give the teachers good impression so that the writers can get high marks. There are no fixed methods for the beginning of compositions, any beginnings are OK, which are pertinent to the requirements and subjects and are attractive to the readers. But when you feel confused to begin the composition, the following methods may give you some hints. 1. Story-telling In the beginning of the composition, the writer tells the story of his own or tells the story that he knows well in vivid language to attract the readers and then gradually leads to the subject. There are several advantages for this method: One is true and credible. As these stories happen in our daily life that are quite familiar to the readers, when they read the stories, they will feel that the stories are as believable as happening beside themselves. The other is natural. The writer comes to the article subject tirelessly in story telling, which gives the readers a kind of simple and unadorned feeling. The following article begins in this method: Directions: In this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write on the topic THE WORLD IS GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER. Your composition should be based on the outline given below. Outline: 1) The means of modern transportation is more and more developed; 2) The communication between people is getting more and more frequent; 3) Conclusions The World Is Getting Smaller and Smaller Most of us may have such experiences: One day, when you go to some place far away from the city where you live and naturally think you know nobody there, you are surprised to find that you run into one of your old classmates on the streets. Both of you cry out,” What a small world”! Why is there a feeling that the world is getting smaller and smaller? First, faster and safer means of transport have greatly reduced distance. In the past it took people two months to New York City takes only twenty hours. Second, the advance in communications technology makes it possible for us to know everything happening in the world without leaving our homes. Just pick up your telephone or press the keys of your computer, you can talk to anyone with seconds. Finally, political and business activities have brought people into frequent contact with each other. For example, an American congressman talk with the Japanese Prime Minister in the morning, attends conference in Australia in the afternoon, and appears in a dinner party in Shanghai at night. Obviously, the more advanced technology and our society, the smaller the world will be. Analysis: This article begins in the method of story telling, the writer tells his experience that may be familiar to everybody: He met an old classmate unexpectedly in a strange city that leads into the subject- It?s a small world. Such subject can remind us of many stories in the daily life, so it?s easy to follow when we are writing. However, it?s easy to start an article in the method of story telling, but it?s also easy to write away from the topic. So we must keep to the point when writing, that is the story should be relevant to the subject and should play a role of leading into the subject. 2. Using quotations Quotation is a common method used in the beginning of writing. The writer leads into the subject by quoting well-known sayings, aphorisms, proverbs and idioms that are familiar to the readers. Such beginning is not only vivid and philosophic but also can come to the point in a direct way, which makes the article literary, interesting and absorbing. As we mentioned when talking about the principles of grading compositions: with or without “highlights” is the important principle to distinguish high mark compositions and low mark compositions. Using quotations appropriately can of course improve the quality of articles and make them wonderful and moving. Please read the following example article: Directions: For this part you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition of no less than 120 words on the title ON LOVE. You may write according to the following outline: Outline: 1) One cannot live without love; 2) One should pay love to get love; 3) True love is unforgettable. On LOVE What makes the world go around? Perhaps the physicists will tell you without any hesitation, “It?s the energy that makes the world go around”. However, the people with romantic trend will say, “It is love that makes the world go around.” Yes, love is the base on which we human beings? survival depend. Without love, we all will be filled with indifference or even hatred. Needless to say, we will ruin ourselves as well as the whole world. To be loved you have to love. For love means giving and sacrifice. True loves are willing to sacrifice themselves for each other?s sake. True love needs no expression in words. A handshake, a gentle touch inspired by respect and admiration, will leave you intoxicated and remain in your memory. One who cannot create happiness, even make sacrifice for his beloved, cannot regarded as a true lover. Real love is unforgettable. With the development of science and technology, love becomes more and more noble, rich, fine and subtle. As is known to all, everyone is born with the right to love and to be loved. Love is an everlasting source of happiness in your life. Even you are old you will recall and cherish it with deep emotion. Human love exists with human beings. Wherever there are people, there is love. Analysis: Love is an eternal topic of human beings. In the beginning of the article, when talking about the importance of love, the writer did not call boring slogans, but quoted the different answers to the question “what is the driving force of the world?”, which points out the subject distinctly and vividly. As the driving force of the world, the importance of love has spoken for itself. 3. Making definition Before writing, it?s important to have an idea of the subject. The noun words or word groups in the title are often the key words of the composition. If the author thinks that this key word is not familiar to the readers or wants to restrict the discussion range of the subject, it?s better to come to point by the means of definition or explanation. Definition can make the readers understand the subject more profoundly. In a definition the sentence patterns and structures are very simple, it?s easy for the students to master, so it?s a more practical method to begin a composition. Directions: Write a composition of no less than 120 words on the topic MY ATTITUDE TOWARDS PEER PRESSURE according to the following key words. You are allowed not to include all of them. Key words: obsess, change, avoid, advice, make use of, under the pressure; make progress, a sense of confidence, impetus, therefore, so My Attitude towards Peer Pressure Peer Pressure refers to the pressure that comes from your colleagues or your classmates. Most people are obsessed by it. But I always try to take it actively, that is to say, I try my best to change the pressure into a kind of impetus. As a college student, I have no way to avoid peer pressure. It seems that every other student is working harder and for a longer period. Sometimes I feel they are all more competent than I am. What shall I do? My decision is to make best use of this pressure. So under the pressure I also work harder and longer, and because of my hard work, I have no time to think about the pressure. Therefore, I shall make greater progress. A sense of confidence is born in me. So now I?d like to advise all those who are burdened with peer pressure to stop worrying and try to make it your motivate force to achieve your goal. Analysis: The key word of this article is “peer pressure”, this word may be strange to the readers. The author explained it at the beginning of the article: peer pressure means the pressure from classmate, colleagues or peers. When the readers understand the title, they can easily accept the author?s following points. Let?s read another example article: Directions: Write a composition of no less than 120 words on the title ON SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. You may write according to the following outline: Outline: 1) What is the sense of responsibility? 2) My responsibility. 3) My planning. On Sense of Responsibility By sense of responsibility, we mean the realization of one?s task, duty or obligation. As a teacher, one should be responsible for meeting the students? need of being well educated. As a student, one should recognize his or her duty and should be blamed if one fails to carry out one?s duty. Now my heart is heavy with the burden of sense if responsibility. For me, duty means studying hard, facing any difficulties, and accept any challenges. It makes me think a lot. As a youth of 21st century, I must be fully aware that whether I can carry out my duty concerns not only myself, but also the society and the future or our country. So in order to be well prepared for my future duty, I should study hard. By my own efforts, I?m sure I will be competent for my future job. From now on, I will read books that I do not like to read, and do things that I do not like to do. In fact, there is no absolute like or dislike. The more you read, the more you are interested in reading. I have had such personal experience. Therefore, I can carry on to the end, doing things in which I am not interested to the end because it is my duty to do so. Analysis: The author started the article in the way of definition and explained what the sense of responsibility is. According to the author, the sense of responsibility refers to the sense of knowing one?s own mission, duty and obligation. We should know that the definitions in writing are not required to accord with scientific norm completely. The writing in college English examinations is not the writing of scientific research, so only logicality and easy understanding of your explanations are OK. 4. Raising questions The method of questioning means to make questions on the debatable problems and what will be discussed in the composition. Such beginning can arouse the readers? interest and attention and can quickly attract them into the discussion in the composition. Furthermore, what the author writes will be around the questions and the solutions to them, so this kind of beginning can contact the whole article intensively and make the entire article have continuity and logicality. Let?s analyze the following two articles: Directions: Write a composition of no less than 120 words on the title WHY I CAME TO COLLEGE. You may write according to the following outline: Outline: 1) Why you choose to go to college? 2) Do you think it’s a good choice? Why I Came to College Why have I chosen to attend college? Is the four-year academic life worthwhile? I have asked myself these questions again and again in the past two years. I have often been troubled when I heard the stories that quite a few of high school graduates with poor academic records had made a big fortune. I often wondered in the past whether I had made a wise choice when staying up very late preparing for the coming examinations. After a considerate thought, I finally reached the conclusion that attending college is one of my wisest choices in my life. There are several reasons for this choice. First, I attended college because I enjoy learning and gaining knowledge. Armed with knowledge, I will be more powerful in realizing my life goals. Second, I didn?t choose to attend college merely because college is a place which helps one to seek scientific truth. It also helps one to become a well-developed person. Besides the knowledge in the textbooks, we have a lot of opportunities to contact with a rich variety of social and political ideas, helping to expand our horizons and widen our outlooks. Finally I don?t want to conceal my material motive, apart from academic and philosophical ones. In today?s society, if you want to get a decent job, college education is very essential. So I know that attending college is a practical and necessary step to prepare me for the fierce competition of the society. All in all, I think attending college is worthwhile. Now I will never regret it. Though the short-term benefit of education cannot show now, it will gradually pay off. Analysis: The above article begins with the two common questions that college students often ask themselves to lead into the subject directly and to arouse the readers? interest and curiosity. Then the author develops the whole text around the two questions and answers them. The article goes naturally and fluently and forms a coherent whole. Let?s read the other article: Directions: For this part, you are to write an essay according to the title SCIENCE AND PEOPLE. Your essay should be finished in 40 minutes with no less than 150 words. You should base your essay on the outline below: Outline: 1) human beings’ factors in the development of science 2) the contribution of science development to human beings Science and People When science is mentioned, some people often think that science has nothing to do with ordinary people. Is it right? Can we realize our modernization with a high illiterate rate of about 10% of its total population? Absolutely not! Nor can we produce high-quality products with a lot of poor-skilled laborers, not to mention catching up with the advanced science and technology in the world with 90% of its young people who cannot receive higher education. In fact, the greatest impetus that makes science progress all the time is people. On the other hand, without science, the development of society and progress of human race are impossible. When asked about science, some people will immediately associate it with many scientific discoveries such as computer, TV, satellite, digital communication and so on. It is true that science has revolutionized our way of living and changed the lives of millions of people. It has become a new “magic” capable of doing everything. The latest appliances and devices around you for a better living have come as a result of scientific studies. In modern society, man can hardly live without penicillin, telephone, computer and TV. Science is a decisive factor for human beings? material prosperity. But the true values of science do not merely lie in these things. Rather, they lie in the way in which science contributes to man?s physical, intellectual and mental well-being. Science has not only improved people?s standard of living, but also, most importantly, their understanding and their opportunities for spiritual and intellectual growth. More than any other subject, science has freed people from ignorance and has multiplied their energies, hopes and ambitions. Undoubtedly, China needs to popularize science among people and to promote its development. Analysis: Science and human beings are two common topics for compositions in English examinations. At the beginning of the article, the author uses two questions to deny some people?s view that science has nothing to do with common people. And upon this the author brings forward his view distinctly that “It?s impossible to realize modernization in a country with 10% illiteracy”. 5. Using data It?s a common model of beginning to use some data from investigation and statistics to present the readers the to-be-discussed questions. Using data can make the readers feel that it?s precise and believable. The source of data is broad: mass mediums such as newspapers, magazines, TV stations, broadcasting stations and Internet etc; the investigation data and result declared by social organizations or government departments. Maybe you cannot remember every concrete data clearly and accurately, but whether the quoted data is accurate or not will not affect your score because it?s impossible for the teacher to remember all the data when going over the examination papers. In addition, the data about a certain thing from different aspects is not identical completely, you are an expert in this aspect if you can draw forth the data. So if your data is in line with common sense, the teacher will not consider it true or not. Let?s analyze the following article: Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition of no less than 120 words on the topic HARD WORK IS GOOD FOR HEALTH. Your writing should be based on the outline below: Outline: 1) Scientists find out that people who work hard have longer life expectancy than common people. 2) Why is work good for health? Hard Work Is Good for Health Scientists find that the hard-working people live longer than average men and women. Career women are healthier than housewives are. Evidence shows that the jobless are in poorer health than jobholders are. An investigation shows that whenever the unemployment rate increases by 1%, the death rate increases by 2%. All this comes down to one point: work is helpful to health. Why is work good for health? It is because work keeps people busy, away from loneliness and solitude. Researches show that people feel unhappy, worried and solitary when they have nothing to do. Instead, the happiest are those who are busy. Many high achievers who love their careers feel they are most happy when they are working hard. Work serves as a bridge between man and reality. By work, people come into contact with each other. By collective activity, they find friendship and warmth. This is helpful to health. The loss of work means the loss of everything. It affects man spiritually and hence makes him liable to disease. Besides, work gives one the sense of fulfillment and the sense of achievement. Work makes one feel his value and status in society. When a writer finishes his writing or a doctor successfully operates on a patient or a teacher sees his students grow, they are happy beyond words. From the above we can come to the conclusion that the more you work the happier you will be and the healthier as well. Analysis: In order to explain the importance of work to health, the author proves it by using data. From the investigation result “Rate of unemployment rises by 1%, the death rate will rise by 2% in response”, the author gets such conclusion: work is good for health. Let?s do with the other article: Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition of no less than 120 words on the topic POPULATION PROBLEM IN CHINA. Your writing should be based on the outline below: Outline: 1) Population has become a big problem of our country. 2) A series of social problems have been brought forth with the increase of population. 3) The importance of controlling population. Population Problem in china The population in China is becoming a more and more serious problem today. It is reported that the net increase per year in our country is 15 million and China is encountering a birth peak during the 2000s. If the population continues to grow at the same rate, there will be 15 billion people in China in the immediate future. With population increasing, a series of other problems may arise. There has emerged an increasing pressure on the supply of food, water, fuel, jobs, houses, and etc. It is obvious that China?s economic development and the improvement of people?s living standards will be challenged by the rapid growth of population. Though the Chinese government has taken a series of measures to solve the problem and achieved great success in birth control, the importance of birth control to our country?s economic reforms and development. Analysis: Population problem is and will be a hot topic in our society in nowadays or even within a long time. It has appeared many times in CET4, CET6 and entrance examinations for postgraduates. The author uses the horrifying data “Our country has a net increase of population every year by 15 million, and in the near future, the population of our country will be 1.5 billion.” to explain that population has become a big problem of our country. 6. Explaining phenomena Everybody knows that the happening and development of anything belongs to a certain social phenomenon. The author explains this phenomenon at the very beginning of the article and puts out the argument in a straight-forward manner. While explaining this phenomenon, the author often uses some surprising facts to attract readers? attention. Let?s read the following two example articles: Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic FIGHTING AGAINST FAKE AND INFERIOR GOODS. You should write at least 120 words and base your composition on the outline below: Outline: 1) There are many fake and inferior goods in the market. 2) How to get rid of fake and inferior goods? Fighting against Fake and Inferior Goods Nowadays, fake and inferior goods are a common occurrence in our market. From daily used necessities to other products used by big factories, fake and inferior goods, with poor quality, do great harm to their consumers. They have not only made bad effects on the society and people, but also laid roadblocks. On the one hand, the government should enforce anti-fake laws. Those who produce and sell fake and inferior goods should be punished severely. In addition, governments at all levels should organize anti-fake groups to supervise the manufacturers and sellers. On the other hand, consumers should have some knowledge of false and genuine goods, If we have bought some goods of poor quality, we should complain to the Consumers Association to protect our right of consumption. In a word, as long as the government and consumers act hand in hand, fake and inferior goods will be denied the chances to enter into our market, so that our economy will develop in a healthy way. Analysis: At the very beginning of the article, the author sets forth a phenomenon that is quite familiar to everybody: Fake and inferior goods are a common occurrence in our market; and then the author points out their bad effects on the society and people to attract readers? attention; finally the author puts forward the ways to deny fake and inferior goods. Let?s analyze the other article: Directions: For this part you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition on the topic JOY AND SORROW. You should write at least 120 words and base your composition on the outline below: Outline: 1) Joy and sorrow are common things in our life. 2) What is joy? 3) The reasons for sorrow and how to get rid of it. Joy and Sorrow In our life, joy and sorrow are like shadows that follow and accompany us. Sometimes we are in joy. Sometimes we are in sorrow. At times we cannot tell joy from sorrow. What is joy? In the eternal nature, joy is a driving power, which pushes the world forward. A joyful person has a sound mind and lives a harmonious life. He takes part in beneficial activities and shares the joy with his partners in everyday life. It can be said that a joyful person is satisfied from being kind to other. Sorrow is often self-sought. The desire for power adds to one?s sorrow. The desire for power goes parallel with the desire for fame. When the desire for power and fame is out of balance with reality, it becomes the root of sorrow. Besides, envy, revenge and vanity are also the source of sorrow. The three evils exist in man?s imagination. People suffer from them unconsciously. To be happy, one must get rid of sorrow led by desire and imagination. Analysis: The author uses the phenomenon that joy and sorrow are like shadows that follow and accompany us to clarify his view that joy and sorrow are common things in our life. 7. Introducing background The author sometimes would rather describe some backgrounds to foreshadow the subject than directly discuss it at the beginning. Everyone knows that the creation, development and dying out of any object are related to its background. The introduction to the broad backgrounds including politics, economy, culture and life etc. can help readers understand the subject better. Let?s analyze the following article: Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition of no less than 120 words on the topic IS “SERVING THE PEOPLE” OUT OF DATE. Your writing should be based on the outline below: Outline: 1) Market economy and “Serving the People”. 2) Now there are still many people serving the people quietly and never showing off. 3) What shall do? Is “Serving the People” Out of Date With the development of market economy, money plays a much more important role in the society. It seems that almost everything of serving the people has been out of date. However, developing market economy is not in contradiction with the thought of serving the people will never be out of date and should be the essential spirit in our market economic society. Obviously, everybody can see the fact that more and more people like Xu Hu and Li Suli have emerged. They don?t regard money as the most important thing, but go to great lengths to the flood victims or children in the remote poor areas. Perhaps, some think about them as fools, but they are the very people our society needs. As young men, we should do better in serving the people. The idea that we college graduates are superior to others just because we have received higher education are superior to others just because we have received higher education should be worked off. We are all from the people and should serve the people undoubtedly. Analysis: “Serving the People” used to be the guideline of Chinese people, and now has the spirit been out of date? The author firstly sets forth the social background for some people?s view that serving the people has been out of date, that?s: with the development of market economy in our country, money has played an important role in our life. Under such background, it?s not surprising that some people wonder whether the spirit of serving the people has been out of date. Then the author uses some true examples to show that there are still many people serving the people quietly and never showing off in today?s society. The author is in favor of the view of serving the people and shows us what he will do according to his own situation. 8. Subject The method of subject means that at the beginning of the article, the subject is pointed out in the first sentence, which is the topic sentence of the first paragraph and it?s also the main idea of the whole text. This kind of method comes to the subject directly and is often adopted by many examinees. The following article begins in a method of subject: Directions: For this part you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition on the topic PLEASURES IN READING. You should write at least 120 words and base your composition on the outline below: Outline: 1) I like reading. 2) Why? Pleasures in Reading I enjoy reading very much. Quite often a food book may absorb my attention so completely that for the time being I forget my surroundings and even myself. I think reading can offer me certain pleasures that real life cannot do. In the first place, reading can get rid of loneliness. In the pages of books I can talk and walk with the wise and the good of all lands and all times. The people I meet in books are always ready to give me friendship, sympathy, and encouragement, whereas my friends in reality cannot give me these when they leave me. Furthermore, reading can add fullness to my life. By reading I can travel the whole world, and lead varied lives. Through books, the beauties of the nature, the enjoyment of art, the achievement of the architecture, the marvels of engineering, are all open to my wonder and appreciation. It can be said those who cannot enjoy reading are poor men; those who enjoy reading most can obtain the most happiness from it. Analysis: The first sentence: “I like reading very much.” in the first paragraph is not only the topic sentence but also the main idea of the whole text. The writing style is very concise and to the point. 9. Comparison At the beginning of the article, one or several views, which are against the author?s, are usually presented and briefly explained, and then the author?s view or the view that the author is for is introduced. Through comparison, readers can have a better understanding of the author?s view. This kind of beginning is usually more suitable for some debatable issues. The following passage begins with comparison: Directions: You are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition on the topic Opportunity in three paragraphs. You are given the main idea of each paragraph in English. Your part of the composition should be no less than 130 words. Remember to write it clearly. 1) Some people think the opportunities are quite few; some other people think everybody has chance. 2) My view (explaining the reasons by examples and getting conclusion). Opportunity People have different views on opportunity. Some think that op-opportunities are rare, and only the luckiest persons can obtain them, while others think that in a sense everyone has opportunity from time to time. As far as I am concerned, I agree with the latter opinion to some extent. As a western saying goes, “Every dog has its day,” which means everybody has opportunities to be successful in has its day,” her life. In fact, no one can be denied access to opportunity. Those who claim that they have been out of luck just can„t recognize or make good use of opportunities. So, we must try our best to search for and create more opportunities. Let? s take Newton, the world-famous scientist, for example, Before him almost everyone had seen an apple falling from a tree, but only Newton discovered the law of thinking over answers to problems and stuck to his studies in spite of difficulties .The story tells us that a wise man is always creating his opportunity rather than waiting for it. In conclusion, I believe that opportunities are abundant in our society and everyone is equal for them. We can acquire them only if we are well prepared and qualified. As a proverb says, “Opportunities are only for the prepared mind”. Analysis: In this article, the two different kinds of viewpoints that “some people think the opportunities are quite few, only lucky people can get them” and “some other people think everybody has chance” are introduced in comparison. And then the author shows that he is in agreement with the later one in a clear-cut stand and expounds it by examples to reach his own distinct conclusion. Summary: It?s no doubt that good beginning is half success. We have made a detailed expounding on the common beginning of articles. The methods of beginning an article mentioned above are often found in excellent compositions. After you have learned these methods, you can choose suitable methods according to different writing styles and requirements to serve your writing. The Proving Methods in Body Part of Compositions No doubt, good beginning is important, but that doesn?t mean you can be careless in next parts. On the contrary, the articles with only good beginning are just like a tiger?s head and a snake?s tail. Strictly speaking, the soul and core of the whole text lies in the body part. It mainly proves some certain issue, phenomenon or viewpoint with believable arguments. Whether the proof is enough or the language is fluent will directly affect your writing result. In the following, some common proving methods will be introduced to you for reference only. 1. Proving by examples When expounding some argument, the method of proving by examples is one of the methods that we are mostly familiar with. As we mentioned before, proving by examples means to expound and prove an argument with some detailed examples, so it?s true and believable. While doing proof, using some vivid examples properly can make your argument more incisive, and can make many abstract, complicated objects or hard-explained viewpoints concretized. Using examples can make proving concrete, clear and easy to understand. However, when using this method, we should firstly pay attention to the representativeness and appropriateness of the examples. Representativeness means that the given examples can appropriately expound your argument. For instance: when talking about the influence of high technology on our modern life, you?d better give some examples which have brought significant effect to us such as digital communication, space technology, computers and clone technology etc.; thif you present some scientific achievements of the 20 century as examples such as electric lights, telephones, radios etc., their representativeness is not so typical. Appropriateness mainly requires that the author?s examples should be brief and to appropriate amount. When writing, giving examples aims at expounding and proving your argument, it?s a means rather than a purpose, so don?t take giving examples as a task. If the examples account for much of the text, it will become less convincing. For example, when a student wrote about “Honesty Is the Best Policy”, he took the story “Here come wolves!” as an example to show that it is harmful to tell lies, he wrote the story in more than two hundred words, so when the story was over, the article finished. Such example supersedes the subject, so he wrote away from the subject. Secondly, examples should be appropriate, accurate, authentic, typical and illuminating. Let?s take one paragraph of Lesson Six as an example, Book One, College English (Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press): The working conditions were poor. The tables where the workers sat were very high and uncomfortable. Except for half an hour at lunchtime, there were no breaks in the day to relieve the boring work. There was no music. The walls of the workrooms were a dull gray color. Analysis: In order to expound and prove the argument “poor working condition”, the author presented four examples: The tables where the workers sat were very high and uncomfortable; there were no breaks in the day to relieve the boring work; there was no music; the walls of the workrooms were a dull gray color. The four examples are terse and clear; and they are appropriate to expound and prove the argument. We can see the similar example in Lesson Five of Book Two, College English: Einstein was purely and exclusively a theorist. He didn?t have the slightest interest in the 2 practical application of his ideas and theories. His E=mcis probably the most famous equation in history-yet Einstein wouldn?t walk down the street to see a reactor create atomic energy. He won Nobel Prize for his photoelectric theory, a series of equations that he considered relatively minor in importance, but he didn?t have any curiosity in observing how his theory made TV possible. Analysis: The argument of this paragraph is “Einstein was purely and exclusively a theorist”. The 2 author uses two examples to prove it: His E=mcis probably the most famous equation in history-yet Einstein wouldn?t walk down the street to see a reactor create atomic energy; he didn?t have any curiosity in observing how his theory made TV possible. Let?s see another example article: Directions: For this part, you’re allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the title of ON FALILURE. Your composition should be based on the outline given below. Remember to write it clearly. Outline: 1) Failure is common in our life. 2) Different people take different attitudes towards failure. On Failure Failure is common in our life. Almost everyone experiences failure in his life. When one fails in his attempt to do something, he often feels upset. Failure is never pleasurable, but it is something accompanying us all the life. Is failure a bad thing? Different people take different attitudes towards failure. Some people give up in the face of failure because they are afraid of difficulties, having no confidence in themselves or being lazy. Those people will amount nothing. While some other people persevere in what they are doing in spite of failures. Those who are not afraid of failure and those who can learn from failure can finally achieve what they have expected. There are many examples of famous failures. For instance, the “spider-story”. To spin his web, the spider tried to reach across a rough place in the rock. He tried six times to spin his web. On the seventh time, he made it and went on to spin his web. Edison, the inventor of light bulb, made hundreds of models that failed before he found the right way to make one. Once he was asked why he kept on trying to make a new type of battery when he failed so often. He replied, “Failure? I have no failures. Now I know 50,000 ways that don?t work.” From the examples, we learn that in one way, failure is part of life. In another way, failure may be a way towards success. As the old saying goes, “Failure is the mother of success.” In fact, failure is an important factor toward success. When you learn to use it, failure can make a positive contribution to your life. So when you fail, instead of blaming something else, you should ask, “Why did I fail?” You should always remember that success belongs to those who have failed many times and learned a lot from their failures. Analysis: The topic sentence in this article is “Different people take different attitudes towards failure.” In order to prove his argument “Those who are not afraid of failure and those who can learn from failure can finally achieve what they have expected.”, the author uses two typical and well-known examples: One is that, to spin his web, the spider didn?t give up in face of failure, and after he had failed six times he finally made it on the seventh time. The other is the story of Edison, the inventor of light bulb, made hundreds of models that failed before he found the right way to make one. The two properly used examples make the article full of evidences and convincing. 2. Cause and effect According to the general law of writing argumentation, the first part is to put forward the argument, that means “WHAT”; the second part is to analyze the problem, that means “HOW”; the third part is to solve the problem, that means “HOW”. So, according to this law, the method of cause and effect is especially suitable for the body part of argumentation. The method of cause and effect is used to explain and prove some certain argument or phenomenon, to discuss and analyze something?s cause and effect. This kind of article can be divided into two categories: One is that the result can be seen in the article, the examinees are required to analyze its reasons (writings according to diagrams or charts belong to this category); the other is that the reasons have already been given in the article; the examinees are required to analyze the result. We should know that one the one hand, one result is often caused by different reasons, on the other hand, and one reason may cause different results. So, while analyzing the reasons, please be careful to avoid doing it from only one side; while discussing the result, please pay attention to the characteristic of “one result, more reasons”. When doing analysis of cause and effect on some certain proposition, the following essentials should be paid attention to: 1) The chosen materials for cause and effect should be enough and typical, which is good to broaden and deepen the subject. 2) General analysis of cause and effect should be logic. 3) Using the transition words to show the relationship between cause and effect properly. The following is an example article that the examinees are required to analyze its reasons: Directions: For this part, you’re allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the title of WHY SOME ANIMALS DIE OUT. Your composition should be based on the outline given below. Your composition should be at least 130 words. Remember to write it clearly. Outline: 1) At present, many animals on the earth are in the danger of extinction. 2) Why? Why Do Some Animals Die Out? Many years ago, men lived in this planet with their neighbors (animals) harmoniously. They all enjoyed living on the rich resources this productive land offered them. What a peaceful life it was! However, nowadays, we have to face the embarrassing situation that many animals are dying off or even become extinct. Why do some animals die out? There are two reasons for that. The first reason comes from human beings. People keep building houses and factories in the fields and woods that used to be animals? “heaven”. If the animals cannot find a place to live, they die out. Hunters have to be responsible for the extinction of some animals, too. In the last century, hunters killed nearly all the passenger pigeons and buffaloes in North America. Pollution is also killing many animals today. As rivers become contaminated, fishes are poisoned to death. Birds that catch the poisoned fish can?t lay strong, healthy eggs. New birds are not born. The second reason comes from the nature itself. Some scientists think that some animals become extinct because of changes in climate. The places where they live become hotter or colder, drier or wetter. The food they usually eat is no longer available. If the animals can?t learn to eat something else, they die. Dinosaurs die out for this reason. More and more animals are dying out, which throws our human beings in great danger. The extinction of some animals will destroy the balance of the nature, so we must be aware that protecting the animals is literally protecting ourselves. Analysis: The article above analyzes why some animal are extinct from the inner and outer causes. The analysis is penetrating and believable. Next, let?s analyze an example paragraph in which reasons are given and the results are to be discussed: The Bad Effects of TV on Viewers Television undoubtedly offers us much entertainment, but it has some bad effects on heavy viewers. Firstly, television encourages passive enjoyment. As the viewers spend hour after hour watching TV, they get receptive and unquestioning about the things on TV. The very danger of watching TV lies in the fact that the viewers make no choice and exercise no judgment, as everything is presented to them without any effort on their part. Secondly, television prevents them from communicating with the real world. What the viewer receives from television dramas is nothing but fictional events, persons, objects and places. As the viewer has grown addicted to television, he often ignores the necessary and important things in reality. As a result, the ultimate effect might be that he would be completely cut off from the real world. Analysis: The writing mode of the above paragraph belongs to “one reason, more results”. The reason “watching TV” leads to several kinds of results, for example: Before TV sets, people become passive and have no creativity; next, TV isolates people from the real world. Through the analysis of the results, the author can present the readers with the benefits or problems of something or some phenomenon. 3. Proving by comparison Proving by comparison is one of the most common ways in English writing. It is usually used to prove some arguable problems or phenomena. Through the comparison of two or more arguments and the evaluation of their separate advantages and disadvantages, the discussed problems can be presented before the readers clearly. Someone?s own viewpoint and stand will be expounded on the basis of summarizing the former parts. Just like we mentioned in the former unit of beginning an article, proving by comparison has two ways: One is separate comparison; the other is cross comparison. The following article belongs to separate comparison. Directions: For this part you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition on the topic ON CLONE in less than 120 words. Your composition should be based on the following outlines. Remember to write it neatly. 1) What is Clone? 2) Different attitudes towards Clone. 3) My view. On Clone The term Clone may not be new to most people. It refers to the descendant of a single plant or animal, produced non-sexually from any one cell, and with exactly the same as the parent. It goes without saying that Clone technology is an achievement in science. However, as to its application, different people take different attitudes. Many people are very excited about the success of Clone technique. They think it offers the possibilities that human beings can breed excellent varieties of plants and animals by making full use of high-grade gene. Hence human can benefit a lot from it. While there are some other people who hold different opinions about the Clone technique. They think it is easily misused, which will bring about disasters. For example, if Clone technique is carried out on human beings, it will lead to moral confusion. Moreover, we can?t predict what disaster it will bring about. Therefore, it is safe to say that the Clone technique in itself is innocent, but once it is misused, its destructive power will be uncontrollable. However, I?m very pleased to read the reports that scientists are trying to breed Clone animals to benefit people. So it is important that we apply the Clone technology properly and make it benefit human beings. Analysis: About the new scientific achievement “clone”, the author shows us two different viewpoints through separate comparison. The well-organized comparison can make the readers know people?s different viewpoints and attitudes toward the problem. Finally, after having synthesizing others? ideas, the author shows his own viewpoint on the problem. Let?s see another article in which the method of cross comparison is used in the body part. Directions: In this section, you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition on the topic BICYCLE—AN IMPORTANT MEANS OF TRANSPORT in less than 120 words. Your composition should be based on the following outlines. Remember to write it neatly. 1) Why are bicycles so popular in China? 2) Compared with cars. 3) The role of bicycles in China. Bicycle---An Important Means of Transport in China Bicycle is an important means of transport in China. Wherever you go, you will invariably find a lot of bicycles. For an average family now in China, there are at least one bicycle or even more. Why is bicycle so popular in China? The answer is quite evident: it?s cheap and convenient. Compared with car, bicycle has a lot of advantages. First of all, it is cheap. A beautiful and modern bicycle costs only as much as the monthly salary of an ordinary Chinese worker; while the price of a car may well go beyond the living conditions of most Chinese people. Since they cannot afford a ca, people have to do with bicycles. Secondly, bicycle is more convenient than car. Bicycle requires very little of the road condition or any additional transport facility, so bicycle riders never have to worry about parking; while the road conditions are vitally important to a car driver. Finding a parking place in big cities is often a headache. Moreover, bicycle doesn?t rely on fuel as the energy resource, nor does it bring about any pollution. While in the case of car, the waste gas it produces has come to be the major cause of the air pollution. Of course, bicycle can?t match car in many aspects. Speed is a very telling example. Nowadays as time is becoming more and more precious for people, bicycle can?t meet the needs of people. In my opinion, in the near future, as the living standard and road conditions are greatly improved in China, bicycle will be replaced by car as the most public means of transport. However, today, even in the next few decades, bicycle will still be the most important means of transport in China. On the other hand, owing to the many advantages that bicycle possesses, it may be converted into a good means of exercising and leisure traveling. Isn?t it just wonderful for the whole family to ride out after supper and enjoy the beautiful moment of the sunset? Analysis: This article is a typical example of using cross comparison to develop the context. After the comprehensive cross comparison between bicycles and cars on price, convenience, fuel, environmental protection and future development, etc, and finally summing up their separate advantages and disadvantages, the author brings forward his own view sufficiently: “Judging from long-term viewpoint, cars will replace bicycles after all, however, in today and even in the following several decades, bicycles will still be the important transportation means in China. On the other hand, even though cars become the most important transportation means in the place of bicycles, bicycles can also be a tool for people?s entertainment and bodybuilding. 4. Proving with data To be persuasive, an article should have convincing evidences. Concrete data can support the author?s argument vividly and appropriately. Definite data can help the readers believe the authenticity, authority and doubtlessness of the argument, and accept the author?s viewpoint conscientiously. Let?s analyze an example article proved with data: Directions: For this part you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition on the topic THE PROBLEM OF HUMAN POPULATION in less than 120 words. You must state the population states both in the past and the present and give the reasons. The following words may help you in your writing. Remember to write it neatly.. You should write at least 120 words and base your composition on the outline below. Key words: death rate, birth rate, infant mortality, shockingly high, Industrial Revolution, grow rapidly, population explosion, family planning policies, shortages, social problems, measures The Problem of Human Population It has been estimated that a thousand years ago there were less than 400 million people on earth. In the following 600 years, the world population increased slowly and steadily. At that time, because of the food shortage and backward medical conditions, the infant mortality and the death rate of adults were shockingly high. So the population could hardly grow then. After the Industrial Revolution began in the year of 1850, the population increased a bit faster. thAt the turn of the 0 century, the world saw a great increase of human population. In the year of 1996, the world population was more than 6,000 million. Some experts predict that the world stpopulation will reach 7,000 million at the turn of 21 century. There are reasons for the rapid growth of human population. Firstly, the living conditions of people have greatly improved. Most population of the world is no longer suffering from starvation and some other shortage of living necessities. Secondly, the modern science and technology lead to the improved medical conditions. Due to the advanced medical services, the death rate was much reduced. Moreover, many people in the world are not aware of the importance of family planning. The population explosion has already caused some threatening problems to the whole world. Because of this, unemployment, food shortage, and some other social problems are troubling every government today. It?s time for us to take some measures to control the growth of the world population. Analysis: Through the description of the world?s past and present population situation with concrete data, the readers can clearly know the fact that the world?s population is fast growing. These surprising and thought-provoking data can help the readers think about it carefully and realize the importance of controlling population conscientiously. 5. Proving by drawing analogy Proving by analogy means to draw an analogy between two same or similar things. By using this method, the author can make some abstract argument more clear and then get the conclusion. Using this method properly can make the article more vivid and convincing and can bring rich and bright colors to the article. In the following paragraph, the author draws an analogy between corruption and tumor, which vividly shows the danger of corruption and the necessity of getting rid of it. As tumors decay our health, corruption has done great harm to the government?s reputation. If the tumors are not serious, we can take medicines to prevent them from spreading; if they are serious, we will remove them without any hesitation. It is also true of corruption. We must be aware of its dangers and try our best to get rid of it. Let?s see another article proved by drawing analogy. Directions: For this part you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition on the topic COMPLIMENTS AND COMPLAINTS. You should write at least 120 words and base your composition on the outline below. 1) Everyone loves to be praised. 2) The advantages of praise. 3) Some people always make complaints about others. Compliments and Complaints Everyone loves to receive compliments. They boost our self-confidence and give us a feeling of achievement. After all, who doesn?t like to be told that he looks nice, does a good job or makes an excellent dinner? Compliments are very important to people. Compliments to human beings are just like sunshine to plants. Without them, we cannot grow and flower. Without them, we would live in a gray, cold world. Scientists have also proved that compliments are contributed to achievements. Giving compliments can be equally rewarding. Whether we give them to friends, family members or even strangers, compliments show that we are caring and thoughtful. The other side of the coin isn?t as pleasant. They are just like the cold wind in the winter. “The food tastes terrible.” “Their service is too slow.” “You dyed my hair the wrong color.” These are examples of complaints. Such people complain about everything and are reluctant to give compliments. Nothing can please them. Though sometimes registering a complaint is necessary to improve service or product quality, we should be ready to give our fellows the “sunshine of compliments” instead of “cold wind of complaints”. In his way, we will live in a world full of warmth. Analysis: While comparing the advantages and disadvantages of praise and criticism, the author compares praise to “sunshine”, criticism to “freezing wind”, and then he compares human?s needs of praise to “plants? needs of sunshine”. The author?s viewpoint is expressed fully and delightfully through vivid and appropriate analogy. At the same time, the readers are also affected deeply and convinced by it. 6. Proving of authority The so-called authority here refers to the most qualified; best learned and experienced experts who discuss the issues in the article. When talking about education, educators and teachers are the authority; when talking about economic issues, economists are the authority; when talking about health, doctors are of course the authority. Why do we need “authority” in our argument? The answer is simple: Because their words are much more convincing than ordinary people?s. for example, when talking about the viewpoint that smoking will lead to cancers, nobody believe you even though you repeat it ten times, but if you talk about it with the aid of experts(doctors), the readers will believe you firmly. The proving of authority is used in the following article: Directions: For this part you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition on the topic Honesty. You should write at least 120 words and base your composition on the outline below. 1) The importance of honesty. 2) Dishonesty does harm to oneself as well as to others. 3) So, we will„„ Honesty Honesty, which is a good virtue, means speaking the truth and being fair and upright in act. No matter what you do, if you are honest, you will be trusted and respected. You will benefit a lot from being honest. We may therefore say that honesty is the best policy and dishonesty causes great troubles to the society. However, dishonesty not only does great harm to others, but also brings troubles to the liars themselves. If you are dishonest, you are doomed to suffer many misfortunes. First of all, if you lie or cheat, people around will look down upon you. A famous sociologist once remarked, “… Liars have been dropped out of their social communities all through the history. Spiritually, they are isolated from the society they live in.” in the second place, educators all agree that the students who tell lies all the time cannot be expected to have a good performance in school. They often feel inferior before their teachers as well as their peers. In the third place, numerous experiments conducted by psychologists have justified that the person who lies is always under great pressure both from himself or herself and the society. Manu mental illnesses are due to this unbearable pressure. Lastly, doctors also have found some evidence which indicates that lying should be partly (if not all) responsible for some sudden death caused by heart diseases, stroke, etc. The disadvantages resulting from being dishonest are too many to list. We should cultivate a good habit of being honest. Never should we make such an excuse, as “A little dishonesty is only a trifle thing”. We should immediately get rid of the seed of dishonesty once it is sowed in our minds. Analysis: When explaining the harmfulness of dishonesty, the author does not make an empty criticism; on contrary, he quotes the research achievement of sociologists, educators, psychologists and doctors to confirm the harmfulness in physiology and psychology brought by telling lies. So, with the sufficient evidences, the readers will be convinced. It?s the same in Lesson Ten of Book Two, College English for Intensive Reading, when talking about “The Profits of Praise”, the author expounds and proves it like this: Mothers know instinctively that for children an ounce of praise is worth a pound of scolding… Teachers agree about the value of praise. One teacher writes that instead of drowning students? compositions in critical red ink, the teacher will get far more constructive results by finding one or two things which have been done better than last time, and commenting favorably on them… Behavioral scientists have done countless experiments to prove that any human being tends to repeat an act, which has been immediately followed by a pleasant result… Analysis: In the above article, the author cites the experiences of mothers (they are called the first teachers of children), teachers (authority in education) and the research of behaviorists to show the profits of praise. 7. Proving in positive and negative ways While writing, we often meet such situation: when you want to prove some argument, it?s quite difficult to prove it in positive way. But if you prove it in negative way, maybe you can do it well. And in order to make a penetrating analysis of your argument, it?s the same to use this method. Through being expounded in positive and negative ways, the article will be rich in evidences. Let?s read the following article: Directions: For this part you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition on the topic How to Learn with Success. You should write at least 120 words and base your composition on the outline below. 1) The reasons for success of your study „„ 2) Please prove it. How to Learn with Success To learn with success is not a very difficult task if some fundamental principles are laid to be its bases. In discussing this subject, four indispensable principles should be mentioned, that is, diligence, devotion, constancy and punctuality. All things can be conquered by diligence. It makes the foolish wise, the poor rich, and the humble noble. It produces a wonderful effect. However, a lazy wit never accomplishes anything in his lire and career. In learning, people often find that the work of a diligent fool doubles that of a lazy wit. Devotion means to set our hearts on one thing at a time and give up all other thoughts. Never think of learning another subject while studying one thing. Those who often change their studies will never succeed in the long run. Therefore, in order to be successful we need devotion. Constancy makes success a certainty. If we study day after day there is nothing that cannot be achieved. On the other hand, inconstancy often results in failure. If you stop on the half way, all your efforts will be in vain. Please remember, “Constant dropping of water wears a hole in the stone”. Besides, there is another rule helpful to one?s accomplishment that is punctuality. The habit of keeping a regular time is of extreme importance to successful learning. If you are often late and retreat in the middle of your study, chances are that you will amount to nothing in your learning. Analysis: How can we make our study successful? The author points out four factors for the success of study, they are: diligence, devotion, constancy and punctuality. The author expounds the importance of the four factors not only from the positive sides but also explains the harmfulness of the negative sides-laziness, being half-hearted, abandoning halfway and being unpunctual. The whole article is clear, vivid and rich in evidences, and the readers can know the author?s argument easily. 8( Proving by classification Proving by classification means to classify an object into several paralleled parts according to its different characteristics and standards, and explain it by means of definition, comparison and examples, etc. For example, we can classify the present music on sale into three categories: classical music, light music and dance music. Another example, we can classify the present mass media into books and periodicals, movies and TV and communications according to its transformation means. It should be pointed out that while classifying something, we should pay attention to the rationality of the classification categories. For example, when classifying books, we can not divide them into good books, reference books, bad books. Proving by classification can make some complicated things clearly presented before readers. This method is used in the following article: Directions: For this part you are allowed thirty minutes to write a composition in no less than 120 words to explain the classification of stars from the eyes of astronomers. 0Color Relative Size Diameter in Kilometers Surface temperature in C Blue ? 16,000,000 25,000 White ? 2,000,000 11,000 Yellow ? 1,600,000 6,000 Orange ? 1,000,000 5,000 Red ? 800,000 3,000 The Family of Stars Astronomers have been able to classify stars according to color. They have discovered that stars with different colors have different sizes, and their surface temperatures are also different. The larger the star is, the higher surface temperature it has. From the table above, it can be seen that stars are generally divided into five kinds: blue, white, yellow, orange and red. Blue stars are the largest ones, with a diameter of 16,000,000 0kilometers. Their surface temperature is also the highest: that is, 25,000 C. White stars come next: 0their diameter is 2,000,000 kilometers and their surface temperature is 11,000 C. Then there are 0yellow stars, 1, 6000,000 kilometers in diameter and 6,000 C in surface temperature. Orange stars are still smaller. They have a diameter of 1,000,000 kilometers and a surface temperature of 5,000 0C. The smallest stars appear red in color. Their diameter is only one twentieth of that of the blue 0stars, that is, 800,000 kilometers and their surface temperature is only 3,000 C. Analysis: This is a typical example of proving by classification. According to the colors of stars, astronomers divide them into five kinds: blue, white, yellow, orange and red, and then introduce the sizes, diameters and surface temperatures of the different kinds of stars separately. The structure of the whole article is clear and easy to understand. Summary: The soul and core of an article lies in the body part, which is essential to its success. The seven methods we mentioned above are not the all and neither are they suitable for any kind of writing. We hope our dear readers will continue doing conclusion and summary in the course of writing. One more thing, it does not mean that only one kind of method can be used in one article. In fact, we can see the comprehensive use of several proving methods in many articles. The Writing Skills for the Ending Part of an Article The ending part is quite important for examinees to get high or low marks. That?s because: 1) the ending part is the masterly generalization and summation, it?s also the reproduction of the spirit of an article. A good ending can deepen readers? understanding of the article and can lead readers to endless aftertastes. 2) The author?s viewpoint usually appears in the ending paragraph after he does the previous proving; in order to know the author?s viewpoint, readers should put focus on this part. 3) For the personnel who go over the examination papers, the ending part is the last part before they grade the article. They have the deepest impression on this part, so, they usually give high marks to the articles with excellent endings. On the contrary, poor endings will get low marks even though the writing goes well in the first parts, which can only give people the impression of beginning with tigerish energy but petering out towards the end. How can we put down satisfactory endings? Are there any writing skills for this part? We will provide you with some common writing methods for your reference in this unit. 1. Drawing conclusion The method of drawing conclusion is one of the most common ways in writing the ending part of an article. Drawing a conclusion of the whole text can make the article well organized and deepen readers? impression on the main idea. Furthermore, this method is easy to master; it does not need new ideas or viewpoints, because in this part it only needs to draw a conclusion on the previously discussed key points. It should be pointed out that while drawing conclusion, the author should repeat his viewpoint or attitude towards something or some phenomenon in a clear-cut stand. The following to-be-analyzed article is in this method: Directions: For this part you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic SHALL WE SKIP BREAKFAST. You should write at least 120 words and base your composition on the outline below: Outline 4) Many health experts consider breakfast as the most important meal of the day… 5) What happens if we ignore the importance of breakfast? 6) We should attach enough importance to breakfast… Shall We Skip Breakfast Many health experts consider breakfast as the most important meal of the day. As the first meal of the day, it can supply enough energy not only to make up for what we have lost since last supper but also to make us work efficiently all day. However, many people don?t pay much attention to it and even skip it. What happens if we ignore the importance of breakfast? First, if we skip breakfast, we?ll be hungry, which makes us lack of energy. Then it will be extremely difficult for us to concentrate on what we are doing. As a result, we can?t work or study efficiently and sometimes make some mistakes that probably lead to serious results. Second, skipping breakfast for a long period will cause some illness such as stomachache, hypoglycemosis and anemia. This has been proved by scientific experiments. Furthermore, scientists say that skipping breakfast will reduce the memory ability. In a word, skipping breakfast will bring harm to us. In conclusion, breakfast is too important to ignore. We should attach enough importance to breakfast every day and stress its nutritive value as well. By doing so, we are able to keep healthy and work efficiently. Analysis: In the ending paragraph, the author uses the phrase “In conclusion” to summarize the key point of the article: “Breakfast is too important to ignore”; and then he expresses his attitude: “We should attach enough importance to breakfast every day and stress its nutritive value as well”; finally he uses the phrase “By doing so” to show the future of having breakfast. Of course, we cannot use only one method to end the article; in fact, good endings always involve the comprehensive use of several methods. 2. Quotations Classical and vivid quotations can enlighten the article and make it wonderful. At the same time, the quotations can play a role of summarizing the whole text. Directions: For this part you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic There Is No Water Underground. Study the cartoon carefully. Your composition must be based on the cartoon. Remember to write it clearly. There Is No Water Underground Failing to find the water, the worker, with a cigarette in his mouth and spade in his hands, is leaving the holes he has dug. The five holes are of different depths, but none is deep enough to reach the water. When he dug the last hole a few inches into the earth he lost his patience and concluded that there is no water at the place where he has dug. Therefore he decided to dig another place. From the cartoon we can see clearly that actually there is a great deal of water beneath the holes. If he continues to dig a few inches deeper into the earth, he is sure to find the water. He failed all because of his lack of patience and perseverance. There is no doubt that we have much to learn from the lesson of the worker. A task, no matter how difficult it is, can be fulfilled provided that one holds to it with firmness, patience and perseverance. As the proverb says, “With time and patience the leaf of the mulberry becomes satin”. It is the patient toil and constant effort that bring about success. Analysis: The author uses the well-known proverb “With time and patience the leaf of the mulberry becomes satin” to summarize the whole text and at the same time expresses his attitude toward the matter. The articles with such endings have rich and bright colors as well as are natural and logical. 3. Making suggestions and calls The author reveals the existing issues or phenomena in the body part of the article. After showing his attitude and stand, the author usually should point out the solutions or give some suggestions, which are helpful to solve the problem. These suggestions may be some concrete solutions to the problem as well as some general principles; these suggestions can be used to advise the author himself to take some actions in this aspect, if the solving of the problem is beyond the author?s ability, these suggestions can be used to call on others to take some actions. To end an article in this method can better reflect the author?s idea about something, at the same time readers will feel that the author is not doing idle talk and they will be more convinced of the viewpoint and stand in the article. This kind of method commonly appears in the problem-solving articles. Please read the following article: Directions: For this part you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition in less than 130 words on the topic Smoking to Nonsmokers. Study the essay topic carefully. Your composition must be based on the Essay Topic given below. Remember to write it carefully. Essay Topic 1) According to the Surgeon General, cigarette smoking is extremely hazardous not only to smokers but also to those who are in the area of those who smoke. As a result, smoking should be prohibited in all public places. 2) Are these statement justified? Explain and justify your answer, using illustrations to support your opinion. Smoking to Nonsmokers There have been many studies over the past several years telling us that cigarettes smoking is extremely dangerous. Doctors have shown that those people who do smoke are often the ones who succumb to cancer of lungs. They cut short their lives because of this ugly and unnecessary habit. But now we are told that there is another problem. We have learned that even if you are not a smoker but live in a home with lots of smokers you may be affected by the smoke and are trying to protect your health, and you may find that you have become an innocent victim of this terrible habit. Many people are asking that laws should be passed to prevent smoking in public places. They point out that non-smokers must be protected from the dangers of smoking and that it is unfair to those who do not smoke but become ill because of the habits of those who don not care. Here I? d like to propose that we try our best to prevent the innocent bystanders from suffering and being uncomfortable. Meanwhile, our government should take the responsibility and make laws to help all the non-smokers live in a good environment and enjoy good health. Analysis: Smoking is not only harmful to smokers themselves but also to the bystanders. In the beginning part and the body part the author separately introduces the harm of smoking to smokers and nonsmokers---that?s the subject of the article. In the ending part he advises and calls on everybody and government to take some measures and to take the responsibility to help all the non-smokers live in a good environment and enjoy good health. 4. Making prospect (result) The method of prospect (result) is often used together with the method of suggestions and calls. Generally speaking, after giving suggestions or calling on to take what kinds of actions or measures, the author will explain the importance of these actions or measures through predicting prospects or showing results. That?s to say if not taking the actions or measures will lead to what kinds of results. These argumentations will make the readers realize that the solving of the problem will lead to great importance and brilliant prospect and can draw readers? more attention on the subject. For example, this kind of method is used in the following article: Directions: For this part you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition in less than 130 words on the topic The Shortage of Fresh Water. You should write at least 120 words and base your composition on the outline given below: Outline: 1) Many people believe that fresh water will never be used up. 2) As a matter of fact, human beings are facing the crisis of the shortage of fresh water. 3) The ways to end the crisis The Shortage of Fresh Water Many people believe that fresh water will never be used up. They think fresh water comes from such varieties of sources as wells, rain and rivers that it is always sufficient for use. Such an idea consequently leads to surprising waste of water. As a matter of fact, the earth is short of fresh water. Furthermore, with the rapid growth of the world?s population, the rising demand of water by industry, and the serious pollution of our surroundings, the world is facing the danger of running out of fresh water. Actually, in some big cities, fresh water cannot meet the daily needs. Therefore, it is up to us to find ways to save water. First, we should try to make the best use of water, and not waste it. Second, scientists must work even harder to purify seawater, polluted water and try to find substitutes in industry to reduce the use of fresh water. Such measures will provide us with sufficient fresh water to use. Otherwise, our life in the near future will be bound to fall into great trouble. Analysis: In this article, the author firstly puts forward the problem of the shortage of fresh water with the rapid growth of the world?s population, and proposes the solutions to it. “Such measures will provide us with sufficient fresh water to use. Otherwise, our life in the near future will be bound to fall into great trouble”. The ending part of this article is a typical example of looking forward to the prospect. 5. Integrating with practice After raising a problem and finding some solutions to it, the author not only requires others what to do but also, when necessary, should integrate his own situation with practice and make his own contribution to the solving of the problem. Such ending can make readers have an idea that the author is a person of down-to-earth manner, and his article is therefore more convincing. Please read the example article: Title: Students and Computers Time limit: 40 minutes Word limit: 120-150 words (not including the opening sentence) Your composition should be based on the OUTLINE below and should start with the given opening sentence: “With the rapid development of the electronic information industry, computers are used in all walks of life.” Outline: 1) The importance of computers in modern society. 2) The uses of computers for college students. 3) The necessity of learning how to use computers. Students and Computers With the rapid development of the electronic information industry, computers are widely used in all walks of life. From workshops to modern offices and from the airline in the sky to railway networks on the ground, you can always find computers? magical work. People attribute the important role of computers to their fantastic speed in data processing incredible imitating function. Students at colleges and universities can benefit a lot from using computers. They enjoy a great deal of convenience when they borrow reference books from a computerized library. Their term papers cab be edited and revised on wps or windows program. So much time is saved. It is acknowledged that the twenty-first century will be an information era in which computers play indispensable roles. As far as we college students are concerned, we must realize the necessity of learning how to use computers and follow its steps in order to take up the challenge of the new century. Analysis: The importance of computers is well known. But a special group---college students have entrusted to it a new meaning. In the end of the article, integrating college students with practice, the author points out that computers are especially important to them. “We must realize the necessity of learning how to use computers and follow its steps in order to take up the challenge of the new century”. Summary: The above-mentioned methods generally sum up the key methods of ending argumentations. It?s true that in the course of writing, good writers can never use only one method. Furthermore, the articles of different themes have different endings. So, choosing what kind of endings depends on the theme. In general situation, in order to express the author?s intention, several methods are mixed. Having known the above methods, we may feel that it?s not difficult to write the ending part well; the key is how to start. Ordinarily we can carefully read some excellent ending parts of articles and find out the suitable writing ways for us.