众所周知,雅思写作对字数和时间有非常严格的要求。小作文150字以上,大作文250字以上,写作考试只有60分钟。事实上,很难在60分钟内完成两篇作文的审查、分析和构思、写作和检查的全过程。
据高分作文统计,大部分高分作文字数在180左右,大作文字数在280左右。如果达不到字数,分数会大打折扣。
1、字数不足的原因
事实上,就信息量而言,雅思写作题目中的信息量相当大。如果字数不够,主要原因如下:
1.内容匮乏
在小作文中,这主要体现在图表信息概括不全面。例如,表格只是横向比较而不是纵向比较,或者组合图标题没有简要阐述每个表之间的关系,等等。
在大作文中,可能是因为作文主题的材料积累不够,很难想到丰富的内容和语言来支持近300字的文章。
2.缺乏细节描述细节描述不仅是高分作文的亮点,也是补充字数的重点。具体来说,有些学生的大作文论证有时比较笼统,缺乏详细的分析和描述;小作文注重趋势,弱化数据等等。
3.缺乏复杂的语言
这是许多冲刺6段学生的瓶颈,即缺乏复杂的表达句型,只使用简单的句子。各种句型不仅增加了文学才能,而且在很大程度上避免了内容的单调和字数的缺乏。
让我们以雅思作文为例,看看作文中如何布局内容,以达到合理的“字数”效果。
二、合理“凑字数”
1.开头段对于大作文开头introduction段落,我们可以对题目进行一定程度的改写,并对问题给出直接明确的回答,明确立场。
以剑13 Test1作文为例:
Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems, as well as practical problems.To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?(住在一个说外语的国家会导致一些社交和实际问题,你同意吗?)
以下是剑桥真题附录中,一篇6.5分学生作文的第一自然段:It is clear that living in a foreign country has its own benefits and drawbacks to consider.(改写题目) I agree with this statement(点明态度), however I think that anybody coming in another country should respect national culture. In this essay, I would like to outline the social and practical problems.(概述文章内容)
2.主体段大作文一般有2-3段主体段,每段分别给出一个主要观点,来支撑我们在首段中表明的立场。
对于刚刚举例的这个作文题,一个比较清晰、有逻辑的分段方法就是:社交问题写一段,实际问题写一段。每个主体段中,列举2-3个分论点,并分别进行简要的拓展和论证。
以社交问题段为例,范文是这样的:The social problems would be language barrier, which means that a person coming from another country might not be able to speak and understand the language which might be a problem as far a person who is living in a country, and a person who came in the country.(首句点明观点)Another problem is linked to the language barrier, but it might influence the behavior of others. An individual who come into the country might offend others with their behavior or language.(第二层观点) For example, some cultures like English people prefer to be very polite and say things differently from other cultures.(举例)Therefore, a person who doesn’t know how to behave in a particular culture might offend others around him.(总结本段论点)
不少烤鸭大作文字数无法达到250字,往往是因为主体段中,只是简单地陈述自己的想法,没有对观点进行论证,缺乏进一步的解释或举例说明。按照雅思写作的评分标准,不进行论证/解释/拓展,就会导致在Task Response维度上产生至少1分的差距!
3.结尾段
结尾一般比较简单,一般只需重申自己的立场,或是给出简要的小建议和展望,通常最多1-2句话。
比如这篇6.5分的例文最后一段,再次点明住在一个说外语的国家确实会出现一些问题,并用最后一句话给了一个小建议:To summarize, it can be said that there are a lot of misconceptions which people have people have when they come in a foreign country, and in my opinion and from my personal experience people should educate themselves in order to know how to behave in different situations with different cultures.
其实一篇雅思作文只要结构完整、论证清晰到位,字数一般不成问题!希望同学们能多读范文,把握其结构和语言精髓,并多练习提高写作速度