二、 首段和尾段的写作
上一讲中我们介绍了段落的扩展模式，也就是说，我们已经了解了文章中间一部分的叙述模式。根据四六级写作的特点，一般首段和尾段都要自己补上，那么怎么才能写好首尾段呢，下面我介绍一下，首尾段的写作方式。
1 ．首段的写作
首段的写作方式一般为：
运用事实性信息、调查或故事等引出话题， 2 ）导入主题，然后提出自己的观点，也就是文章的论点
首段开篇的方式常见的有：
1 ） 谚语法
由于谚语一般已经被大家所接受，用谚语提出自己的观点也容易被读者所接受。
As the saying goes, "Money makes the mare go", but there are many things we can't buy with money, such as time and true love. …
2 ） 定义法
定义法是通过对文章中的关键词做一些简单或正面或反面的解释，限定其范围，这样比较有利于引出主题。
"Practice makes perfect" is an old saying. It tells us that it does not matter if we are clumsy at doing something. As long as we keep on trying and practicing, we will do a good job in the end.
3 ） 提问法
通过提问一个或一连串的问题，可以激发读者的兴趣，从而引出主题。
a. Do you have many friends? Are they similar to you or different from you? Which kind of friends do you prefer?
b. What is a good student? Different people may have different answers to this question.
4 ） 概括法
概括法指先总结文章内容所涉及的现状，然后引出主题。
In recent years, with the development of science and technology, the Internet has come into more and more homes and is playing a more and more important role in our work and daily life. It has become a must to us, but at the same time, Internet has also brought with it a lot of problems.
5 ） 故事法
故事法指用简单有趣的故事激发读者的兴趣，从而提出自己的观点。如下面 "Is Stress a Bad Thing?"
6 ） 引语法
"Just as eating without liking harms the health, learning without interest harms the memory and can't be retained." From Vinci's words we can see how important it is to motivate the students in language learning.
7 ） 调查法
为了得到读者的认可，文章的开始可以引出调查数据等，借以提出主题，如下面 "Is Stress a Bad Thing?" 的 1 ）和 "Can Schoolchildren Start Using the Internet?" 的 4 ）。
8 ） 假设法
假设法是指通过假设提出一种选择，交代文章要涉及的问题，从而提出文章的主题。
Suppose you were offered two jobs, one is highly-paid but rather demanding, the other is less demanding, but poorly-paid, which would you prefer? …
9 ） 综合法
具体写作时，同学们没有必要拘泥于一种方式，可以将上述方法总和起来。
首段示例 1 ：
题目： Is Stress a Bad Thing?
提纲： 1 ）有人害怕压力
2 ） 有人认为压力并不是一件坏事
3 ） 我的看法
" I can't stand the pressure and competition," explained one friend of mine when asked why he decided to quit his highly-paid but demanding position in his company recently. My friend may have his own reasons, but I don't think his decision is wise in reality.
It is true that my friend's case is not unique. In the last few years quite a number of men and women have chosen to do something less competitive at the cost of a comfortable, easy life a highly-paid job can obtain. They are afraid that the stresses and strains of work will rob them of joy and happiness and do them harm both physically and mentally. In fact, however, stress isn't the bad thing it is often supposed to be. Unless it gets out of control, a certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and challenge, and to give purpose and significance to an otherwise meaningless, idle life. People under stress tend to express their full range of potential and to actualize their own personal worth - the very aim of a human life.
Stress is a natural part of everyday life and there is no way to avoid it. What we can do is to develop our adaptive abilities to deal with it rather than to escape from it.
就这一标题而言，根据所提示的提纲，首段的写作还可以采用下列方式：
1) According to a recent survey, in the last few years, quite a number of young people have chosen to quit their demanding but highly-paid jobs. Although they may have their own respective reasons, I don't think their decision is wise in reality.
2) Which job do you prefer, a highly-paid but very competitive position or a poorly-paid but also less demanding job? You may choose the latter and have your own reasons, but I don't think this choice is wise enough whatever reasons.
3) Faced with a hard and demanding task, people's attitude varies widely: some try to avoid it and others regard it as a challenge to their abilities. In fact the choice we make between "flight" or "fight make the difference between leaders and mediocrities( 平庸之辈 ).
