我不知道今年大作文的字数要求是多少,去年大作文的字数只要400字左右,而以前最多的时候是500——600之间。我想那时候对很多考生来说,怎样凑够字数是个很大的问题,因为实在不知道写什么东西。没什么东西好写——很多人都有这样的感觉,原因在哪?回想我们高考时,语文作文的字数要求是700字,如果把700字翻译成英文的话,恐怕要上千字了吧。四年前高考时尚且有那么多东西可写,不至于读了四年大学就没东西可写了吧?原因在于写作文时用英语思考,这好比一个正常走路的人,突然要他用拐杖走,那怎么可能走得快呢。所以,在写作文时,首先需要转变的一个思想是——用中文思考。
比如2004的题目是 “最近几年,中国大学每年都在扩招。有些人大加赞扬,认为这是具有历史意义的进步,标志着高等教育普及的开始;还有些人认为这不过是教育领域的“大跃进”,对高等教育的质量弊大于利。请写一篇500——600字(英语)的议论文,表明你的观点。无论你观点如何,请自圆其说。须自拟题目。(In recent years China has witnessed a drastic increase in the annual enrollment of university students. While some hail it as an achievement of historical significance that marks the beginning of popularizing China's education of higher learning, others dismiss it as nothing but an educational "great leap forward" that will do more harm than good to the quality of college education in China. Write an essay of 500 - 600 words unequivocally expressing your stand on this issue. Whatever position you take。 make sure to justify your decision. Give a title to your essay.)
当我们看中文题目时,就会觉得这个题目好简单。简单一句话,你对大学扩招这件事是什么态度?理由是什么?我们平常卧谈时,倘若遇到这样的题目,谁不能侃上个把小时?这个说大学扩招就为了圈钱,当年那个向国家总理提议的人就是这么说的,那个说还不是就业形势不好,让那么多人在大学里花钱,既减少就业压力,又拉动消费。还有的人说,大学一扩招,大学毕业生马上就不值钱了,物以稀为贵嘛。有反对的,也有支持的。有的说了,让更多人接受高等教育也很好呀,接受过高等教育的人,文化素质毕竟会高一些,而且为终生学习打下了基础,国家不是在提倡“终生学习”吗?另外还有人说了,本科生质量是没那么高了,那也只是平均状况,就好像酒里掺水,掺的多,酒更淡;但就个人来讲,好的依然好,不好的么,就难说了。还有的说研究生招生把好关,国家科研能力不就没问题了。你看看,就这一个问题就有多少话可以说啊,怎么会没话说呢。只是用英文思考了,不觉间就纠结于字词语法,一下子就把思维给局限住了。所以,想内容,还是要用中文来思考。这话是对普通的人来说的,至于那些英文学得特别好的,用英文思考都没问题的,就自当别论了。
议论文的首段和尾段,以及每一段的开头句和结尾句是最为关键的,这些地方需要特别注意,我建议手段和尾段要多花点时间,最好打个草稿,不需要什么都写,把需要选用的关键句型和词语要先想好;每一段的开头和结尾也需要如此。至于高分语言,我在谈翻译时已经讲过了,这里就不赘述了。
在这里,第一段不妨可以这样写:Over the last decade, universities have admitted more students than ever before. While some agree to this expansion, others are opposed to it. As far as I am concerned, I argue that the increase in enrollment is a good thing. 这样第一段就写好了,三个句子,四十个单词,论点也表明了。
至于中间三段,试举一例。就写第三段好了。顺便提一句,中间三段,尽量把短一点的放前面,长一点的放后面,简单的放前面,复杂的观点放后面,这样看起来由浅入深,层层递进,条理分明。第三段关键的是前两句和最后一句,这里最好打个草稿。前两句和最后一句写好了,中间的就好办了,即使写得不是很出彩,问题也不大。
Finally,the quality is not the sole criterion to evaluate higher education, because the number of graduates cultivated is also of enormous significance. It is true that the rapid increase of college students will dilute the effect of education for the present. The shortage of experienced teaching staff, the limited teaching facilities and the lack of one-on-on tutoring will arouse difficulty in raising the education standard. This, however, is just an interim state. Over time, more faculty members will be recruited by universities; more funds will be invested in campus equipment; new management approaches will be employed to give better tutoring to college students. In a nutshell, after a period of adjustment, the quality of higher learning will eventually be improved despite of the growing size of the university.
至于最后一段,只要重申观点就好了,适当地提及三个分论点,但是不要用原句,可以paraphrase一下,用我的话说,就是用不同的词说同样的(废)话。例如:
In conclusion, I believe that the growing universities will cultivate more talents for our country. The graduates will be better capable of taking a way of “lifelong learning”. Although there are some problems in the current system of higher education, the obstacles will eventually overcome. To expand the universities will be beneficial in more than one way.