段落写作技巧

第一课：TOPIC

当你看到一个主题时，要先缩窄 (narrow down) 所写的题目内容，例如：

这段落是讨论吸毒的影响,引申题目至「记忆力衰退」，这样你便可专注此项来写这段落了。现在，试就此题目收窄所写的内容：

The Topic Sentence 主题句:

撰写段落时，首先须要决定你的写作目的，而当你拟定了主意（idea）后，便可以开始写这段落的主题句。

写主题句的要点包括：

1)主题句共分两部份：Topic + Controlling Idea

例如：

Smoking cigarettes is hazardous to your health.

Topic Controlling Idea

2)主题句不能太含糊，范围太大，令人不明白你的重点；若主题

句太细致，则很难再去阐述或讨论下去，所以要在限定范围内展开你

的话题。

例如：

Exercise is good for you. (too general)

Aerobic exercise is good for your health. (suitable)

Driving a car can be hazardous. (too general)

Drunk driving is hazardous. (suitable)

3)主题句可放在段落之首，中间或是最后，也可隐藏于句中，视

乎你想怎样表达。不过，很多时候，在开首写出主题句的方式，较容

易引起读者的注意，同时，便于环绕中心主题铺陈开展下文，引导读

者了解段落大意。

4)主题句必须表达你对该题目的独特见解，所持态度，或是理据

所在，才能吸引读者继续看下去。

Exercise:

Choose one of the following topics and brainstorm the topic. After writing everything that comes to your mind on the topic, sort through the list and choose an idea that interests you. Write a topic sentence that has a controlling idea. If necessary, narrow down the topic further.

第二课：Supporting Details

当你决定了主题句 (Topic sentence)后，下一步便是提出论点，支持或说明你的主题句，包括：

Examples, information, evidence, facts etc.

例如：

A final examination in a course will give a student the initiative to do his or her best work throughout the course. Students who are only taking notes and attending classes in order to pass a few short tests will not put forth their best effort. For instance, some of my friends in drama, in which there is no final examination, take poor notes, which they throw away after each short test. Skipping classes also becomes popular. Imagine the incredible change a final examination would produce. Students would have to take good notes and attend all classes in order to be prepared for the final examination.

--- Suzanne Gremillion

这段落的中心思想说明：“ The advantages of the final examination”。首句先点明主旨，并以戏剧班为例，加强主题的说服力，每句的意思都环绕着这个中心开展，作出比较，最后一句撮要本段意思。

现以表列出此段之结构，令大家更容易明白。

Exercise:

1.Divide the following paragraph into three parts: introduction,

supporting details and conclusion.

2.Which sentence has the main idea of the paragraph?

3.The writer must support his main idea. How many reasons or examples

does the writer give?

4.Does the writer give details to explain each reason or example?

5.Does the writer use any special words in the discussion to help you

understand how many reasons or examples he has?

6.What does the conclusion do? Does it give a summary, hope for a

change or give advice?

Times Squares is unquestionably the center of entertainment in New York City. There are nearly a hundred Broadway theaters and

Off-Broadway stages. People can choose many kinds of musicals from international well-known classical to lively and unusual productions. For example, I have seen several Broadway shows like “Cats” and “Miss Saigon.” I enjoyed the emotional songs and experienced the ir joys and sadness. Besides Broadway theaters, there are a lot of movie theaters in which most recent Hollywood first-run films are shown. People can see different popular films and spend a whole day in these theaters. Moreover, during lunchtime, there are some street performances such as Jazz and Hard Rock. People crowd the street and listen to ethnic and experimental music with special sound effects. As a result, no one feels bored in Times

Squares as it brings her or him a rich variety of entertainment like Broadway musicals, movies and street shows.

第三课：Unity & Coherence

Unity 统一性

段落中每一句均须与此段的主题相关，并提供数据来支持主题，句子间必须先后有序，合乎逻辑，否则便会欠缺统一性。当你写下一段落时，必须检查每句的内容是否依据主旨，如果不是的话，便要修改或移到另一段。

例如：

Learning a foreign language has changed. Not long ago, students would sit with pen in hand, writing the basic forms of a language, learning structures they would never be able to speak. In that same classroom today, pens and notebooks have been put away. The spoken sounds of foreign tongue fill the room. Today the last skill learned --- writing a foreign language --- comes as a natural and possible part of the total language-learning process. Yet, just a few years ago, the last skill learned was the first skill mastered today --- speaking a foreign tongue. To visit some foreign countries, travelers have to apply for visas.

Topic sentence: Learning a foreign language has changed.

*不统一句子：To visit some foreign countries, travelers have to apply for visas.

由以上段落可见每句均围绕主旨而发展，主题句：「学习外国语言已经改变了」，但当中有一句：「To visit some foreign countries, travelers have to apply for visas.」则是说申请护照的，明显地不合此段主题 learning a foreign language，所以必须移走此句，才使本段意思归一。

Coherence 连贯性

段落除了须要统一性及文字流畅外，还要句与句，字与字之间有连贯性，要达到此点，便须作出适当排序，如果一段落内句子不统一，则即使有连贯性也没用，反之，若没有连系的句子乱成一团，就算全部与主旨有关，也是令读者看不懂，所以，要做好构段，unity 及coherence二者缺一不可。

要令一段落有连贯性，可使用 transitional words，现以第二课的练习题说明之：

Times Squares is unquestionably the center of entertainment in New York City. There are nearly a hundred Broadway theaters and

Off-Broadway stages. People can choose many kinds of musicals from international well-known classical to lively and unusual productions.For example, I have seen several Broadway shows like “Cats” and “Miss Saigon.” I enjoyed the emotional songs and experienced their joys and sadness. Besides Broadway theaters, there are a lot of movie theaters in which most recent Hollywood first-run films are shown. People can see different popular films and spend a whole day in these theaters. Moreover, during lunchtime, there are some street performances such as Jazz and Hard Rock. People crowd the street and listen to ethnic and experimental music with special sound effects. As a result, no one feels bored in Times Squares as it brings her or him a rich variety of entertainment like Broadway musicals, movies and street shows.

从以上段落中，可以找到一些 transitional words，即「For example, Besides, Moreover, As a result,」用以增加句子之间的连贯性，令段落安排更有次序，而透过这些转折词及字，令读者亦易于明白和找到支持主旨的理据Supporting Details。

Exercise:

Choose one of the following topic sentences, and write a plan for a paragraph. First, copy the topic sentence, and then list three to four points to support it. Finally, make your conclusion.

第四课：Transitions & Conjunctions

句子中的连接词或字可以帮助段落的连贯性，所以在这一课中特别介绍一些常见的 Transitions & Conjunctions 供大家参考之用。

1) Transitions:

用法（一）：

在使用某些转折字时，必须了解标点符号的用法。

例如：若在一句子中使用引申或转折意思，如下列所示，便要用分号和逗号。

_______________;consequently,______________________.

_______________;furthermore,______________________.

_______________;however,______________________.

_______________;indeed,______________________.

_______________;moreover,______________________.

_______________;nevertheless,______________________.

_______________;therefore,______________________.

For example:

You cannot go to the beach because it is raining heavily; moreover, you haven't finished your homework.

用法（二）：

如果要表示两句子间的意思衔接或转移，则运用标点符号时便如下列所示：

______________________.Consequently,______________________.

______________________.Furthermore,______________________.

______________________.However,______________________.

______________________.Indeed,______________________.

______________________.Moreover,______________________.

______________________.Nevertheless,______________________.

______________________.Therefore,______________________.

For example:

I studied Japanese for four years in college. Nevertheless,I had trouble talking with people when I was traveling in Japan.

2) Coordinate Conjunctions

记住这两个英文字：FAN BOYS，便会受用无穷，它们是七个Coordinate Conjunctions 的前缀，即：

f or, a nd, n or, b ut, o r, y et, s o

3) Subordinate Conjunctions

以下的连接词可用在句子中间，或放在句首，要留意标点符号的运用各有不同，前后句的意思也因连接词的位置而作出更改。

___________________after_______________________.

___________________although_______________________.

___________________because_______________________.

___________________before_______________________.

___________________if_______________________.

___________________since_______________________.

___________________when_______________________.

___________________while_______________________.

___________________whenever_______________________.

After_______________ ,______________.

Although_______________ ,______________.

Because_______________ ,______________.

Before_______________ ,______________.

If_______________ ,______________.

Since_______________ ,______________.

Unless_______________ ,______________.

When_______________ ,______________.

While_______________ ,______________.

Exercise:

Choose one of the following topics and develop a paragraph. When you have finished writing, give it to a friend or classmate to read and review. Use the following questions to respond to each other's writing.

Review Checklist

Writer:_________________

Reviewer:_______________

Date:___________________

Review Questions:

1)What is the topic of the paragraph? Is it

narrowed down enough?

2)What is the topic sentence of the

paragraph?

3)What is the controlling idea of the

paragraph? Is it clear and focused? Do you

have any suggestions for improving the

controlling idea?

4)Is the paragraph unified? Do all of the

sentences support the controlling idea?

If not, point out sentences that are

irrelevant.

5)Is the paragraph coherent? Are the ideas

logically arranged? Does the paragraph

flow smoothly? If not, suggest ways to

improve coherence.

6)What is the most interesting part of the

paragraph?

7)What has the writer done well?

按时间顺序（Time）：

这是一个最常用的构段方法，以事件发生先后而顺序描述。以下是记叙新年花车游行的过程，大家留意一些连接词在这段落中有效加强其可读性。

Lunar New Year Parade in Hong Kong

Starting in 1996, the Hong Kong Tourist Association organizes a Lunar New Year Parade every year to promote tourism and celebrate this traditional festival. By one o'clock, on third day of January in the lunar calendar, many tourists coming from different countries, together with local people, line the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui, which is the heart of the city, for the parade. When they hear the beat of the drums and the traditional New Year songs approaching, they shout loudly and applaud as the parade begins. At about two o'clock, the main activities – the Lion Dance and the Dragon Dance – lead nearly a hundred floats which represent various associations, large corporations and countries. Moving one by one, some of them wear native costume and dance to their national music. Sometimes, they get off their floats and walk into the crowd. Then they shake hands with people warmly. After a half hour, the parade reaches its climax. Some movie stars with cheerful smiles show up and throw flowers and souvenirs to the crowd. People in the front row go to get them quickly and wave to the float happily. Some tourists take pictures of the various kinds of floats and ask the movie stars to sign their tee shirts. Next, come the clowns and magicians who wear colorful costumes and heavy make-up. They give balloons to the children and practice magic. Around an hour later, the last float passes by and most of the people begin to leave the streets. After the parade, the city becomes calm and well ordered.

以上一段时间顺序清晰可见：

By one o'clock → At about two o'clock → After a half hour → Around an hour later

其中还有一些连接词帮助句子间的联系：

When, Then, Next, After.

各位可以参考上一课有关表示时间的连接词。

(2) 按空间发展（Space）:

描写空间环境，有人喜欢由远到近，或恰恰相反，以空间为序，随步移而转景，将所见到的都写下来。你可以集中陈述一些对象的所在地，由一项移到另一项，排列有序，才能显示作者在空间上的移转。

My Green Room

My room on the second floor of an American couple’s semi-detached house is large and “green.” It is the larg est room in the house with bright green walls and a white square-patterned ceiling. When you step into my room, you will feel fresh and comfortable. Under your feet is a grass carpet that covers the whole room. As you walk straight ahead, a white wooden cabinet with a small magazine tray is on your left. Then you can rest on a round green armchair in front of the cabinet. Opposite the armchair is my nice green sofa covered in a piece of white flower-patterned cloth. My bed, which is covered in a grassy bedspread, is adjacent to the sofa. Behind the head of the bed is a big mirror with two tall wooden cabinets, filled with my favorite books, at both sides. The white wooden desk and a pretty floor lamp sit against the cabinets. There is a small graceful white table lamp and a clock radio at the corner of my desk. I put some family pictures and posters of still-life paintings on this wall, so they can help me relax and generate more new ideas. A colorful, cute and square wall clock above the posters completely matches the green wall. It looks like a beautiful butterfly on a tree. On the right-hand side of the room is a great closet with all my clothes, shoes and some extra space for future winter coats. Next to the closet are two windows with white silk curtains. They face a sunny park. Every morning, you can see some little birds on the windowsill and smell the fresh grass and lovely flowers.

I feel that I live in a “green” room –a part of the cheerful park.

以上一段，作者先描述自己房间的位置，跟着是墙壁和天花板，当进入房间后，首先接触到的是地毯，继续走前几步，会看见各项家具，令读者的眼睛不断游视，从一对象转移到另一对象上，句子间排列有序，尤其运用了很多表示空间的连接词（有横线字），同时，作者运用很多形容词如颜色，形状，物料等，大大加强对象的具体形象，令人易看易明。

为了表现事物的具体化形象，我们可以使用一些形容词，以下是一些使用次序情况：

例如：单是玩具一名词，可以有很多形容词来表达，但前后次序是有规定的。

Most of the beautiful little metal toys

An elegant antique Chinese flower vase

Some round black chairs

即如上一段 "My Green Room" 中：

a white wooden cabinet

a round green armchair

A colorful, cute and square wall clock

Exercises:

Choose one of the following topics and write a paragraph:

Development of Time:

A Halloween night

A celebration of my friend's birthday