IELTS 寫作的四個基本要素與策略(2/2)

~接續上文

三. 簡約明白的句子

接下來, 我們要討論到的是 “簡約明白的句子” 要素. 同學一般都認為高級寫作不就是要寫一些很長, 然後又結構複雜, 文法艱深的句子嗎? 其實不然, 好的文章除了結構完整, 內容又言之有物, 簡單又明白的表達方式讓讀者一但就懂, 才是主要目的. 此處所謂簡約明白的句子, 簡單來說就是 who, what, when, where, which, 和 how 等資訊, 都交代得一清二楚, 不要讓讀者去猜測. 尤其是歐美人士都很直接, 想表達什麼, 要傳遞什麼訊息就是要快又準, 清楚明白地表達出來就好. 不要拐彎抹角, 或試圖賣弄文采, 寫些大道理且複雜的句子. 那麼, 要如何寫出簡約明白的句子呢? 請看以下的例句, 修改前和修改後的差異, 您就會開始有概念了.

	模糊不清:	引人猜疑之處:	明確指出:
1	I will contact you soon. 我再跟你聯絡.	How and when? 何時? 如何聯絡?	I will call you next Monday morning at 10. 我下週一早上十點會打電話給你.
2	He saw the man yesterday. 他昨天看到那男子.	What man? 哪個男子?	He saw the Human Resources Director yesterday. 他昨天遇到人事部經理.
3	This is the most important thing. 這是最重要的事.	What thing? 什麼事?	This is the most important item on the agenda. 這是今天會議內最重要的議題.

另外, 寫作時可以多使用 “power verbs” 強有力的動詞, 給人有實際行動力的感覺. 請看以下例子:

1. The sales manager put forward a proposal. 改: The sales manager proposed a solution.
2. The customer gave a positive reaction. 改: The customer reacted positively.
3. He will go back to Korea next month. 改: He will return to Korea next Month.

同學也可以使用形容詞來讓句子的意境更精準:

1. We had a meeting. 改: We had a productive meeting.
2. He is a manager. 改: He is a demanding manager.
3. The suppliers are always on time. 改: The Japanese suppliers are always on time.

四. 恰到好處的字彙與修辭

最後, 我們要討論的是 “恰到好處的用字”  word choice 與修辭部份. 此處列出常用的用字替換, 讓同學感覺一下用字層次上的不同. 另外也使用句型, 讓同學感覺讓句子變化生動的差異.

	中文意思	一般用字	可顯示出層次感的用字
1	好運的	lucky	fortune
2	不好的	bad	negative
3	震驚的	shocked	astonished
4	有限的	limited	finite
5	重要的	important	critical, essential
6	很棒的	wonderful	marvelous, outstanding
7	關鍵的	key	crucial
8	有助的	helpful	beneficial
9	聰明的	smart	intelligent
10	根本的	basic	fundamental

再者, 在此也舉 “連接詞” 句型的例子, 讓句子變得生動有變化.

連接詞	例句
both~ and	E-mail is both fast and convenient to use. Jack is both intelligent and efficient.
not only~ but also	Not only this firm but also others are experiencing financial difficulties.
either A or B	It was either Monday or Tuesday when the book was stolen. Either the manager or the assistant manager can help you.
not~ but	We are not attending the conference, but a few people from the sales department are.
more~ than	The firm has more people than it knows what to do with. I would be more than happy to introduce you to a few people.

以上所提出的是四個大方向, 當然還有其他很多的 IELTS 寫作技巧, 將會在課堂上討論與實際演練.

(本文作者 Wendy老師，服務於飛揚國際文理補習班，服務於跨國公司多年，也有多年專業英文教學經驗，負責雅思解題週末班的雅思寫作與雅思閱讀。詳細介紹請見：Wendy老師小檔案)