【英语写作技巧】Chapter3.EffectiveSentences课件

1、Chapter 3 Shaping Effective Sentences第1页，共32页。Qualities of Effective SentencesUnity （统一）Coherence （连贯）Conciseness (简洁) Variety第2页，共32页。Unity（统一） Unity is one of the fundamental qualities of effective writing. Unity in sentences helps to make the idea clear. A unified sentence expresses a single comp

2、lete thought. It doesnt contain ideas that are not closely related ,nor does it express a thought that is not complete by itself.第3页，共32页。Examples Which is better?We paid a porter two dollars for taking our luggage to our rooms, and the hotel lobby was very elegant.We paid a porter two dollars for t

3、aking our luggage to our rooms, and we found that the hotel lobby was very elegant.第4页，共32页。Which is better?Born in a small town in South China in the early 50s, he grew up to be 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. L

4、ater he entered a conservatory. In the 70s, he became a famous musician.第5页，共32页。Coherence Coherence means that all parts in a sentence are connected in a smooth and logical order. In other words, the meaning of most of sentences depends on word order; therefore the position of different parts in a

5、sentence is very important to clear communication. 第6页，共32页。Ways to achieve sentence coherence1. Use parallel structures, which include:Her office is small, chilly and dirty( P.Adj.)I enjoy football and hockey. (PN.)Our dog ran across the lawn and under the hedge. (P.Phrase.)We requested that he sin

6、g our favorite songs and that he allow us record them. (P.Clause)第7页，共32页。I want to learn English and he wants to learn French. (P sentence)Correct the following: A man is judged not only by what he says but also by his deeds.We thought she was charming, intelligent and a very capable young woman.Ma

7、ny people choose air transportation because it is fast, offers convenience, and it is not very expensive.第8页，共32页。2.Avoid shifts between tenses She invited me for lunch, but I didnt accept it because I have to go home at noon.3. Avoid shifts between voices The little boy finally had to go to his unc

8、les, but it was not liked by him.4. Avoid shifts between persons One reason that I like living in the city is that you can easily get what you want in big department stores. 第9页，共32页。5. Avoid shifts among the indicative, imperative and subjunctive moods. It is therefore an important part of the park

9、 rangers duty to watch the tourists and above all dont let anyone try to feed the tigers. If I were president of the university and he was my second in command, things would be very different.第10页，共32页。Conciseness (简洁) A sentence should contain no unnecessary words. If the idea is fully expressed, t

10、he fewer words are used, the better. Compare the following:Wordy （啰嗦）There have been good harvests in agriculture.There have been good harvests.第11页，共32页。Another important aspect is good health. It is one of our great blessings. It may be achieved through proper diet and exercise. Rest is also desir

11、able.The search of the forest that they conducted was entirely complete.It makes me painful to think that she has to work 12 hours a day and seven days a week.第12页，共32页。Ways to Achieve ConcisenessAvoid nouns made from verbsRewrite the passive voice as active Cut or shorten words or phrasesCombine se

12、ntences第13页，共32页。1.Avoid nouns made from verbsMake (a)+nounmake an investigation ofmake a careful study ofmake a decision to make a proposal thatmake efforts tomake an analysis ofmake an improvement in第14页，共32页。 have (a) +nounhave a dislike to do have trust inhave an influence onhave respect forhave

13、 adequate knowledge ofOther similar structuresexcise control overplace stress ongive guidance to第15页，共32页。2. Rewrite passive voice as active because the passive often denotes a state rather than an actionThe 1990 law is seen by most businesses as fair, but the cost pf applying have sometimes been ex

14、aggerated.Most businesses see 1990 law as fair, but some opponents have exaggerated the costs of applying. 第16页，共32页。3. Cut or shorten empty words or phrases.1) substitute at all times- alwaysAt the present time nowFor the purpose of- forIn order to-toFor the reason that becauseDue to the fact that-

15、becauseBecause of the fact that becauseIn the event that -if第17页，共32页。 by means of byIn the final analysis-finally as far as I am concerned- I think2) CuttingCooperate togetherRepeat againFew in numberLarge in sizeSquare in shapeNew innovation第18页，共32页。Mutual cooperationPositive guidanceSerious natu

16、ral disasterUnfortunate tragedyDisappear from viewWhisper softy第19页，共32页。 4. Combine sentences: often the information in two or more sentences can be combined into one tight sentence. Jack applied for a job. He went for an interview. He was hired. Jack applied for a job, went for an interview and wa

17、s hired.第20页，共32页。Combine sentences by coordinatingThe earliest electronic computers were not compact. They were considered not reliable at that time.The earliest electronic computers were neither compact nor reliable at that time.第21页，共32页。Combine sentences by subordinating He needed comfort from h

18、is mental anguish. He would walk in the woods to find peace. Whenever he needed comfort from his mental anguish, he would walk in the woods to find peace第22页，共32页。 I enjoy Christmas very much. I like shopping. I like decorating the tree. I like giving presents. I enjoy eating on Christmas day. I enj

19、oy eating turkey. I like a lot of dressing. I like pumpkin pie. I also like being with the family. I like seeing my grandmother. I like seeing my nieces. I enjoy Christmas very much. I like shopping and decorating the tree. I also enjoy giving presents. On Christmas day I love eating all the turkey,

20、 dressing and pumpkin pie. Finally, I look forward to being with the family and seeing my grandmother and nieces in particular.第23页，共32页。Variety In a paragraph or an essay, each sentence stands in relation to those before or after it. To make sentences work together effectively, we need to vary the

21、sentence length, structure or word order to reflect the importance and complexity of ideas.第24页，共32页。Ways to achieve sentence variety Vary the length of the sentenceVary the beginningVary the order of subject, verb or objectOccasionally use command, question or exclamation第25页，共32页。Vary the length o

22、f the sentence Mr. Smith woke up at 7:00. His alarm clock rang. He dressed quickly. He had to drive to the airport to meet an important client at 8.After Mr. Smith woke up at 7:00 by his alarm clock, he dressed quickly because he had to drive to the airport to meet an important client at 8.第26页，共32页

23、。Vary the beginning1.Begin sentence with adverbsGently, he mixed the chemicals together.Relentlessly, the defendants lawyer cross-questioned the witness for a week.Quickly, he finished answering the last question on the test.第27页，共32页。2.Begin sentence with appositives A city of ancient origins, Xi a

24、n, used to be the capital of eleven dynasties.3. Begin sentence with phrases In spite of her hard work, he failed the course. Troubled by a dream, he woke up with a start. To get a good seat, we went to the game early. Learning English is not easy.Exhausted from his testimony, the witness didnt coop

25、erate.第28页，共32页。4. Vary the order of subject, verb or object The general won the battle and planned the next days campaign. The general, winning the battle, planned the next days campaign. Her talent for music is an acquired skill that attracts many of her classmates.第29页，共32页。ExercisesI. Rewrite ea

26、ch of the sentences to clearly indicate a relationship between ideas, adding words when necessary. 1. He stopped worrying, and there were no rumors.2. Although the visiting professor had different and refreshing views, I played football on September 12.3. There are many types of bores at social gath

27、erings, but personally I prefer a quiet evening at home.第30页，共32页。4. John was advised to hire a tutor in Spanish immediately, but the long hours of work at a service station kept his grades low.5. At last I returned the book that I had used for the report which I made Tuesday to the library.II. Convert each of the following series of short sim