英语作文语言技能

　　组段

　　段落是由一群若干语义相关的句子围绕一个中心思想组合在一起的写作单位，是比词和句子更高一级的写作单位，是句子与篇章的中间层次，是连句成篇必须经过的一个过渡阶段。文章的段落中心是否突出、层次是否分明、展开是否合理、衔接是否自然、内容是否充实等等都要直接影响到文章的质量，因此，掌握英文写作中段落的结构特点、展开的方法对于写作十分重要。

　　一、段落的结构

　　英语文章的段落一般由主题句、扩展句、转折句和结论句组成，分别起到起、承、转、合的作用。为了让读者更好地掌握上述四种句子的特点和写法，下面分别进行介绍。

　　1. 主题句

　　主题句是全段的灵魂,它表达段落的中心思想，概括地提供中心思想发展的线索，并规定段落展开的范围。因此具有概括性、指向性及限定性。它可以放在段落的开头、中间或结尾。但更宜放在段首，这样可以开门见山地点明全段的主题，有利于作者理清思路， 使文章更加紧凑，中心突出，同时也有利于阅卷老师领会作者的意图。例如：

　　Though the governments of Great Britain and the United States are quite different, they share basic similarities in some aspects. First, the British Parliament is made up of Lords. Likewise, the U.S. Congress has two divisions—the House of Representatives and the Senate. Next, the essential function of the British Parliament is to make laws; a bill has to be presented to both houses for debate to get passed before it can become a law. In the United States, the House of Representatives and the Senate play similar functions. Third, the Prime Minister in Great Britain appoints the members of the cabinet, who serve as advisors and make government policies. In the same manner, the U.S. President appoints his cabinet, which is composed of heads of the governmental departments. Finally, the British monarch (queen or king) has the right to veto a law. The U.S. President can also refuse to sign a bill passed by the Congress.

　　本段的主题句出现在段首， 指出英美两个国家的政府机构虽然有很大不同， 但在一些方面则存在着相同之处。然后列举了四个共同点来说明英美两国政府实质上的一致性。作者在段落一开始就点明中心思想，给读者留下较深的印象。

　　2. 辅助句

　　主题句告诉读者该段的宗旨，段落中的其他句子应以主题句为中心，服务于主题句，对主题进行阐明、发挥、论证或解释，使读者对主题有全面、深刻的了解。例如：

　　Advertising is not always truthful. A product is often misrepresented. The advertiser exaggerates the benefits of the merchandise he wants to sell. Thus, he misrepresents the truth. The consumer falls a victim to such advertising. Millions of people have bought advertised products and they have not always been satisfied.

　　文中第一句便是主题句，提出全段的中心思想：广告并不总是真实的。接下来的几个句子都是辅助句，对这一主题进行解释和说明。

　　3. 转折句

　　在写作过程中,特别是在议论文的写作中，有时在一段中需要转变意思表达或描述的角度，这时，便需要用转折句把这种转折表达出来，才能保证文章的通顺自然。如果说扩展句是从正面去论证、解释作者的观点的话，那么转折句就是从反面来论证支持作者的观点。例如：

　　Money cannot necessarily bring us happiness. Some people are poor but they are still happy, because they hold an optimistic view to life, and can remove all the obstacles in the way under the help and support of their friends and relatives. By contrast, some rich people are busy in earning money in their lifetime, and hence neglect their friends and love. They have had a large amount of money and lead a luxurious life, but they may feel lonely inside.