2009年12月英语四级写作的基本理论与技巧

　　文章的开篇方法多种多样，大家必须根据文章的题材、体裁、读者等来加以选择。这里介绍四种常用的开篇方法：

　　1) 开门见山,直入主题

　　开始段可用简洁的语言直陈主题思想，既可以吸引读者的注意力，又可以避免跑题。例如：

　　主题：Euthanasia(安乐死)

　　It has been said that euthanasia is quietly being practiced in some urban areas of China, despite a lack of legal protection for the death option. In my opinion, it is right to exercise mercy killing.

　　该段第一句引入安乐死这一讨论的主题，第二句接着直接陈述作者对安乐死的看法。从这个开始段不难看出，全文将阐述“为什么实行安乐死是对的”。

　　2) 以问句形式开头,点明主题

　　文章的开头还可用设问的方式点明主题，提示全文内容，激发读者读下去，探个究竟。例如：

　　主题：Water Shortage

　　China, a country blessed with a great number of rivers, has abundant water resources. However, China’s many cities are going thirsty.What has caused the shortage?

　　本段第一句说中国水资源丰富，第二句指出中国许多城市却缺水，第三句提出了读者心中的疑问：是什么原因导致缺水呢?从而激发读者的兴趣，吸引读者读下去，寻找问题的答案。

　　3) 引用名言、谚语，点明主题

　　开始段还可以巧妙引用与主题相关的名言、常用习语、谚语、格言等，既可增强文章的感染力，也可点题或表明作者的观点。例如：

　　主题：Honor(荣誉)

　　“We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.”

　　So ends the Declaration of Independence. The men who founded the United States had many differences, but they agreed on one thing: Honor. Two hundred years later we seem to have lost it.

　　该段引用《独立宣言》的结束语(“我们谨以我们的生命、我们的命运和我们神圣的荣誉相互立誓”)，很自然地引入“荣誉”这一讨论的主题，同时也增强了文章的感染力。

　　4) 描写共有经历，引起共鸣

　　开始段还可通过描写与读者共有的经历，引起读者的共鸣，增强说服力。例如：

　　主题：Daydreaming

　　“Daydreaming again, Barb? You’ll never amount to anything if you spend your time that way! Can’t you find something useful to do?”

　　Many youngsters have heard words like those from their parents. And until recently this hostile attitude towards daydreaming was the most common one. Daydreaming was viewed as a waste of time. Or it was considered an unhealthy escape from real life and its duties. But now some people are taking a fresh look at daydreaming. Some think it may be a very healthy thing to do.

　　本段通过许多年经人常常从他们父母那听到的话开头，引出“白日做梦”这一主题，很容易引起读者的共鸣，激发他们的兴趣，同时又能增强了文章的说服力。