英语写作中的过渡性词语( 四 )


Ever since humans have lived on the earth, they have made use of various forms of communication. Generally, this expression of thoughts and feelings has been in the form of oral speech. When there is a language barrier, communication is accomplished through sign language in which motions stand for letters, words and ideas. Tourists and the people unable to hear or speak have had to resort to this form of expression. Many of these symbols of whole words are very vivid and exact and can be used internationally; spelling, however, cannot. Body language transmits ideas or thoughts by certain actions, either intentionally or unintentionally. A nod signifies approval, while shaking the head indicates a negative reaction. Other forms of nonlinguistic language can be found in signal flags, Morse code, and picture signs.
在该段中为了说明topic sentence中的 "various forms of communication" , 作者将其分为oral speech, sign language, body language及other forms of nonlinguistic language , 并逐加阐述 。采用这种方法的段落并没有标志突出的连接词 , 所述各项均为平行并列关系 , 所以没有明显的主次之分 。
【因果分析法(cause and effect)】
在阐述某一现象的段落中 , 常采用因果分析法 。例如:
The role of women in today's society is changing. One reason is that women have begun to assert themselves as independent people through the women's movement. Also, women are aware of the alternatives to staying at home. Another reason is that increasing numbers of women who enter new fields and interests serve as role models for other women. Moreover, men are becoming more conscious of the abilities of women and have begun to view their independence positively.
本段中 , 主题句提出了一种社会现象 , 推展句则对产生这种现象的原因作出各种解释 。常用于因果分析法的连接词有:because, so, as a result等 。
【定义法(definition)】
在科普文章的写作中 , 定义法是必不可少的 。通过下定义 , 可以使读者对该事物有一个更直接的认识 。
Automation refers to the introduction of electronic control and automation operation of productive machinery. It reduces the human factors, mental and physical, in production, and is designed to make possible the manufacture of more goods with fewer workers. The development of automation in American industry has been called the "Second Industrial Revolution".
这一段文字使我们了解了 "automation" 和 "Second Industrial Revolution" 两个概念 , 分别由 "refers to" 和 "been called" 引出 。常出现在定义法中的词语有:refer to, mean, call等 。
【重复法(repetition)】
句子的一部分反复出现在段落中 , 这就是重复法 。它往往造成一种步步紧逼的气氛 , 使文章结构紧凑 , 有感染力 。比如:
Since that time, which is far enough away from now, I have often thought that few people know what secrecy there is in the young, under terror. I was in mortal terror of the young man who wanted my heart and liver; I was in mortal terror of my interlocutor with the iron leg; I was in mortal terror of myself, from whom an awful promise had been extracted; --
该段中反复应用了I was in mortal terror of …我经常处于恐怖之中 。以上 ,  我们结合具体文章讨论了展开段落的几种方法 。在实际写作中 , 我们往往不必拘泥于一种写作方法 , 而是将若干方法穿插在一起 , 使文章有声有色 。
五:结尾段
我们知道文章的开头很重要 , 因为好的开头可以吸引读者、抓住读者的注意力 。同样 , 文章的结尾也很重要 , 好的结尾会使读者对全文的中心思想留下深刻的印象 , 可以增添文章的效果和说服力 , 让人深思 , 回味无穷 。确切地说 , 结尾的作用就是概括全文内容 , 进一步强调或肯定文章的中心思想 , 使读者加深印象;有时也用于展望未来 , 提出今后方向或令人深思的问题给读者留下回味和思考的余地 。但是 , 如何才能写好英文短文的结尾呢? 下面就介绍几种写结尾段最常用的方法:

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