英语写作基础教程effectiveSentences.pptx

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1、Effective SentencesvAim:Qualities of an effective sentence and ways to achieve effectiveness.Correctness alone cannot make a good sentence because it may not express the idea it intends to express very clearly or forcefully.It has to be effective at the same time.Qualities of an effective sentence:U

2、nityCoherenceConcisenessEmphasisVariety 第1页/共30页UnityUnity means that there is only one main idea in a sentence;and thatthat idea is complete.(Unity does not mean a writer can write only simple sentences.)A long sentence expresses ideas that are closely connected.They are eitherA central idea suppor

3、ted or modified by various subordinate ideas,orTwo or more related parallel ideas.e.g.The explorer who has just returned from the Antarctic is busy writing reports on his adventures on that ice-covered continent,where he did not see any animals except penguins.(The central idea:The explorer is writi

4、ng reports on his adventures in the Antarctic.)第2页/共30页unityuBorn in a small town in South China in the early 50s,he grew up to be a famous musician.(The two parts of the original sentence are not logically connected,because a man born in a small town in South China in the early 50s would not necess

5、arily become a famous musician.)He was born in a small town in South China in the early 50s.In his childhood he liked to sing songs.Later he entered a conservatory.In the 70s he became a famous musician.uDream of the Red Mansions is the best-known novel.(This seems to be a correct sentence,but its m

6、eaning is not complete.“The best-known novel”should have been modified.)Dream of the Red Mansions is one of the best-known classical Chinese novel.Of all written before the 20th century Dream of the Red Mansions is perhaps the most popular.#第3页/共30页CoherencenClear and correct arrangement of the part

7、s of a sentence(连贯，尤指各部分间逻辑的、有序的、完美的一致关系)Do not separate words that are closely related unless it is necessary.E.g.Do not use a dangling modifier or put a modifier far from the word it modifies.Do not use different forms to express parallel ideas.E.g.Do not make unnecessary shifts in person and numb

8、er,and the voice,tense or mood of verbs.E.g.Do not make unnecessary or confusing shifts in person or number.Do not use a pronoun with ambiguous reference.Go on.第4页/共30页Do not put a modifier far from the word it modifies.uI read an interesting story in a magazine about sportsmen.I read in a magazine

9、an interesting story about sportsmen.In a magazine I read an interesting story about sportsmen.uThe idea he mentioned at first sounded good.The idea he first mentioned sounded good.The idea he mentioned sounded good at first.uHe gave a reason for not attending the meeting,which nobody believed.He ga

10、ve a reason,which nobody believed,for not attending the meeting.He gave a reason for not attending the meeting,a reason which nobody believed.Back第5页/共30页Do not use different forms to express parallel ideas.uA man is judged not only by what he says but also by his deeds.A man is judged not only by h

11、is words but also by his deeds.(?1)uWe thought she was charming,intelligent,and a very capable young woman.We thought she was charming,intelligent,and very capable.(?2)uWe have great faith and high hopes for her.We have great faith in and high hopes for her.uThis composition is quite good as far as

12、the use of language is concerned,but its content is poor.The language of this composition is quite good but its content is rather poor.(?3)Back第6页/共30页Do not make unnecessary or confusing shifts in person,number,tense,mood,and voice.uStudents should learn to analyze and solve problems independently.

13、Dont rely on your teachers help.They should not rely on their teachers help.(mood)uThose who want to join the chorus should sign your name on this sheet or paper.their names(person and number)uHe looks up difficult words in his dictionaries,and it is very helpful.which is (person:wrong modifier/ante

14、cedent)uShe reviewed the lesson taught last week and all the exercises assigned by the teacher were done.did all the exercises assigned by the teacher.(person)第7页/共30页Do not make unnecessary or confusing shifts in person,number,tense,mood,and voice.uThe explosion destroyed the building and a number

15、of people were injured.The explosion destroyed the building and injured a number of people.(person)(?1:voice agreement)In the explosion the building was destroyed and a number of people injured.(voice)uA lot of higher houses were built around hers in the past few years and she gets no more sunlight.

16、A lot of higher buildings have been built around hers in recent years and as a result she gets no more sunlight.(tense)(?2:in any other way?)A lot of higher buildings were built around hers and as a result she got no more sunlight.(tense)#Back第8页/共30页Conciseness Use only the necessary words,or as fe

17、w words as possible so long as the meaning is fully expressed.Use a pronoun instead of repeating a noun.Use a word instead of a phrase with the same meaning,and use a phrase instead of a clause with the same meaning.Do not repeat words or phrases,if possible,in a sentence or in one that follows.Do n

18、ot use different words or phrases with similar meanings in the same sentence.Do not repeat the same idea in different sentences except for emphasis.第9页/共30页ConcisenessuHe gave many reasons for the failure,but the reasons he gave were not convincing.He gave many reasons for the failure,but none of th

19、em was convincing.uIn my opinion,I think your plan is feasible.In my opinion/I think,your plan is feasible.uThis machine was jointly designed by the old engineer in collaboration with some of his younger colleagues.This machine was jointly designed by the old engineer and some of his younger colleag

20、ues.uMr.Smith usually likes to drink all kinds of wines that are produced in France.Mr.Smith prefers wines produced in France.Mr.Smith prefers French wines.第10页/共30页ConcisenessuLi Qing,who was a first-year student of the college,would go to a park near her school every day in the morning.She would b

21、ring a small recorder with her.In the park she would find a quiet corner and listen to a tape of English stories.Every morning,Li Qing,a first-year student of the college,would go to a nearby park,bringing a small recorder with her.There she would listen to a tape of English stories in a quiet corne

22、r.#(break)第11页/共30页Emphasis nWays of emphasis(to lay emphasis on certain words or phrases)Placing e.g.Climatic sequence e.g.The verb and the active voice e.g.Subordination e.g.Repeating important words e.g.Short sentences e.g.Balanced sentences e.g.Periodic sentences e.g.Negative-positive statements

23、 e.g.Rhetorical questions e.g.Emphatic expressions e.g.Go on第12页/共30页EmphasisPlacing(I):The end and the beginning of a sentence usually attract the readers attention,so important elements of a sentence should be put at these two places,especially the end.Compare:lSpain is more interesting than Franc

24、e in many ways,some foreign tourists say.lSome foreign tourists say that Spain is more interesting than France in many ways.lSpain,some foreign tourists say,is in many ways more interesting than France.第13页/共30页EmphasisPlacing(II)nOnly Qian Wen could have written such a nice essay,though there are f

25、ifty students in the class.Of the fifty students in the class,no one could have written such a nice essay but Qian Wen.nWhat was common to all these heroes was that they did not fear death,danger and hardships.What was common to all these heroes was that they did not fear hardships,danger and death.

26、Back第14页/共30页EmphasisClimatic sequencelIn enumerating things or ideas,we should start from the least important and end with the most important,or in the climatic sequence.lA biologist once said the ant is a symbol of wisdom,industry and efficiency.(?1)lHe said he had lost interest in life,fame,posit

27、ion and money after that tragedy.(?2)l(1)A biologist once said the ant is a symbol of industry,efficiency and wisdom.l(2)He said after that tragedy he had lost interest in money,position,fame and even life.第15页/共30页Emphasis:the verb and the active voicevVerbs vs NounslShe made a decision that she wo

28、uld not take the job.lShe decided not to take the job.(shorter,clearer and more emphatic.)vActive voice vs passive voicelTelevision was watched by the whole family in the evenings.lThe whole family watched television in the evenings.(more natural and emphatic)v but with important receiver of an acti

29、on,PV is used:All the old buildings in this block have been pulled down and new houses will be built next year.Back第16页/共30页Emphasis:subordination It means putting a minor idea in a dependent element of the sentence so as to give the main idea a prominent position.Compare：The professor walked into t

30、he classroom and he carried a bag of books with him.The professor walked into the classroom,carrying a bag of books with him.The professor walked into the classroom with a bag of books under his arm.The professor walked into the classroom,a bag of books under his arm.第17页/共30页Emphasis:subordinationv

31、They were waiting for the meeting to begin.They talked with each other.They talked about the womens football team.The team had won victories in Guangzhou.While waiting for the meeting to begin,they talked about the victories won by the womens football team in Guangzhou.vGeneral Grant was an outstand

32、ing commander,but he was not a wise president.This is what our history professor said.According to our history professor,General Grant,who was an outstanding commander,was not a wise president.Back第18页/共30页vRepetition:Unnecessary repetition adds nothing new to the meaning of a sentence;therefore it

33、should be avoided.But sometimes,in a proper context repeating a word or an idea in different words may be a means of emphasis.lBright,very bright,were the stars over the wild,dark Yenan hills.(Anna Louise Strong)lSimplicity,simplicity,simplicity!I say,let your affairs be as two or three,and not a hu

34、ndred or a thousand Simplify,simplify.Instead of three meals a day,if it be necessary,eat but one;instead of hundred dishes,five;and reduce other things in proportion.(Henry David Thoreau)lThe good old days were gone forever,could never be got back again.lShe looked at the stranger with timid suspic

35、ion and uneasy doubt.Back第19页/共30页Short sentenceslThe speaker asked the audience what they thought were the main problems the city government was facing,and how these problems should or could be solved,and he eagerly waited for answers.No answer came.lThe plot is confusing,the characters are very qu

36、eer people,and the dialogue is hard to understand.A strange film.vA series of short sentences used together express rapid movements or tension,and they are emphatic,too.lHe wetted his clothes.With a wet towel over his head,he dashed into the burning house.The smoke choked him.He ran into a room on t

37、he second floor.The most important papers were there.He grasped them and jumped out of a window.Back第20页/共30页Balanced sentencesvA balanced sentence is one that consists of two parts of the same structure and roughly the same length,and with contrasted(or similar)ideas.lThe gentleman values harmony,n

38、ot uniformity;the small man values uniformity,not harmony.lHe likes smoking;his wife hates it.lIt is not easy to be like everyone else;it is harder to be different from everyone else.lYou can fool all of the people some of the time,some of the people all of the time,but you cant fool all of the peop

39、le all of the time.Back第21页/共30页Periodic sentencesvA periodic sentence is one that is not complete in structure or meaning until it reaches the last word,which is the most important word of the sentence.lShe often said to her parents and friends that her greatest wish was to be an artist.lIt is gene

40、rally acknowledged that the sole criterion of truth is practice.lAccording to Taoism the universe was created by a mysterious force called Tao.lHe said for buying a house he had prepared everything but money.Back Compare:(a)To be an artist was her greatest wish and she often talked about this with h

41、er parents and friends.第22页/共30页Negative-positive statementsvWhen a negative statement is followed by a positive one,the meaning is emphasized by the contrast:lRather than love,than money,than fame,give me truth.lThe poor design of the building shows that he is not an architect-he is only a builder.

42、lHe is not an ordinary scholar in this field;he is an authority.Back第23页/共30页Rhetorical questionsvThey are questions in form but emphatic statements in meaning.They are not asked to be answered,for example:Didnt I tell you not to come late?(I did tell you not be/come late and you forgot it.)Whats th

43、e use of feeling sorry about the mistake?Correct it.(It is no use feeling sorry about the mistake.)Isnt it beautiful weather?(It is indeed beautiful weather.)Back第24页/共30页The use of emphatic expressionslThis is the very dictionary I have been looking for.lThe director himself told me the news.lDo te

44、ll us about your recent Antarctic expedition.lHis latest novel is by far the best he has ever written.lIm so hungry that Ill eat whatever food I can find.lWhat on earth are the children doing in the next room?lI dont like the play at all.lMany peasants have motorcycles,not to mention TV sets and rec

45、orders.(let alone)lYou can buy everything under the sun in this department store.lIt was Josephine who told Mrs.Mallard the sad message.lThis theatre is far better than the one we went to last time.#第25页/共30页VarietyvVariety is achieved whenShort sentences are used in between long ones,Simple sentenc

46、es in between compound and complex ones.Periodic sentences in between loose ones.An occasional question,command,or exclamation among statements.#第26页/共30页 I have to declare the decision of His Majestys Government-and I feel sure it is a decision in which the great Dominions(英联邦自治领)will in due course

47、 concur(赞同)-for we must speak out now at once,without a days delay.I have to make the declaration,but can you doubt what our policy will be?We have but one aim and one single irrevocable purpose.We are resolved to destroy Hitler and every vestige(残余)of the Nazi regime.From this nothing will turn us.

48、Nothing.We will never parley(谈判);we will never negotiate with Hitler or any of his gang.We shall fight him by land;we shall fight him by sea;we shall fight him in the air,until,with Gods help,we have rid the earth of his shadow and liberated its people from his yoke(束缚).Any man or state who fights o

49、n against Nazidom will have our aid.Any man or state who marches with Hitler is our foe That is our policy and that is our declaration.It follows therefore that we shall give whatever help we can to Russia and the Russian people.We shall appeal to all our friends and allies in every part of the worl

50、d to take the same course and pursue it,as we shall faithfully and steadfastly to the end.第27页/共30页Variety vVarious sentences are observed in the example:lLong sentences v.s short oneslStatements v.s questions and exclamationslNatural order v.s inverted structurelParallel structure 第28页/共30页Assignme