Part Two Paragraph Development TechniquesUnit One Writing of Opening ParagraphsI. Rules about the opening paragraphBeginnings are difficult because of the absence of a link or association. They are difficult also because in many cases they demand a special touch or originality from the writer. Except in the case of specialized essays designed to present and comment on information, the aim of the introduction is to arouse the interest of the reader. If the first paragraph is stimulating, interesting, unusual and apt---- the reader will want to find out more about the opinions of this writer ’ s.II. Techniques of Developing the Opening ParagraphsThere are many good ways of developing paragraphs, the following are some methods of developing the opening paragraphs. 1.利用题目、单刀直入当你绞尽脑汁,费思量地考虑如何开头时,不如干脆利用原有题目, 重复或者变相重复题目当中的句子,然后单刀直入地提出自己的论点。
Topic: Some people prefer work or activities that mainly involve working with people. Others choose work or activities that mainly involve working with objects or machines. Compare these types of activities. Which of them do you prefer? Give reasons to support your answer.这是一个对立观点式题目 , 文章的开头可以这样写 :Some people prefer work or activities that mainly involve working with people. Others choose work and activities that mainly involve working with object and machines. Of these two ways of working, I prefer working with people.2. 利用名言、格言开头使用名言、格言开头,使人觉得你是一个知识面广、信息量大的人,同时,也会使你的文章开头富有创意、不同凡响。
如,要求你写一篇议论文,赞同或反对“成功取决于勤奋, 与运气毫不相干”的论点。
There is a humorous saying in English “ The gra ss is always greener on the other side of the valley.” The saying ironically implies that , people, in case of failure, tend to insist that others are luckier3. 利用故事开头利用相关的故事开头能够吸引读者的兴趣,引起读者的思考,为你将要论述的观点做好支撑和铺垫。
但是故事不能太长, 应该点到为止。
如,要求你写一篇关于伦理道德的文章,具体论题是关于如何“尊老爱幼” 。
This is an old American folk tale about a wooden bowl. It seems that Grandma, with her trembling hands, was guilty of occasionally breaking a dish. Her daughter angrily gave her a wooden bowl, and told her that she must eat out of it from now on. The granddaughter, observing this, asked her mother why Grandma must eat from the wooden bowl when the rest of the family were given china plates. “ Because she is old!” The daughter thought for a moment and then told her mother, “ Y ou must save th e wooden bowl when Grandma dies. ” Her mother asked why, and the child replied, “ For when you are old.”4.利用个人的经历开头利用个人经历开头可以拉近与读者的距离,使人产生一些切身感受和同情理解。
个人经历必须严格与论题相关, 为论题做好进一步阐述的铺垫和指引。
在要求论述“大学学习只是为了获得一张文凭”的立场观点时,考生用自己的经历作为文章的开头。
The first thing that struck me when I arrived at the university and it still continues to surprise me was the fact that not all the students loved and mastered their subjects. There are those who go to university only for a degree, which I despise for the following reasons.5. Quotations from the famous persons.“ Rock is the music of teenage rebellion.”___John Rockwell, rock music critic“ By a man’ s heroes we shall know him.”____Robert Penn Warren, novelist 6. A general question or a statement to be illustrated by examples in the rest of the essay.What is it like to be old in the United States? What will our own life be like when we are old? … (The Tragedy of Old Age in America 7. Definition of the subject to be dealt with, in an essay on a specialized topic relevant to science and philosophyStyle is the manner of writing, the fashion and beauty of the expression, the way in which the art of writing is performed, and styles cannot be learned by rules. Nobody can become an artist in words unless the art lies within his mind…III. Analysis of Some Opening Paragraphs1. Some of my friends can ’ t believe my car still runs. Others laugh when they see it parked outside the house and ask if it ’ s an antique. But they are not being fair for my fourteen-year-old Datsun. In fact, my “ antique ” has opened my eyes to the rewards of owning an old car.分析:此开篇段是按照“背景 ---事实 ----论点”的模式构思的。
作者先交待别人对他的车的评论背景, 然后引出他对他的旧车的以及别人评论的看法事实,最后交待全文的中心论点。
Imitating Practice------Some of my friends think I am old-fashioned.------Some of my classmates judge my intelligence by my exam marks.------Some of my colleagues regard my devotion to the job as stupidity.2. I was excited when my English composition instructor announced that computers would be a major part of our writing course. “ Half of the clas ses will be held in the computer lab,” he said, “ and all required work will be done on the computer.” I was thrilled while touring the computer lab to see all the magical-looking machines with their glowing green screens. The machines hummed as if they were alive. I thought to myself excitedly, “ We ’ re living in the middle of the computer revolution, and here is my chance to get on board. ” But three months later, I have had some second thoughts. I believe that computers are a bad idea in the writing classroom. The computer does not help me plan a paragraph, it requires too much time and trouble to use, and it has changed my instructor from a teacher to a technician.分析:此开篇段是以个人的经历为开头的范文 , 此段的构思方法是把主题句放在最后,以此作为承接启下,引发全文讨论的连接点。