专四作文培训二年级班材料

专四作文培训二年级班材料 写作 Module One Topic Sentences and thesis statement Part One Topic sentences 一(A paragraph is composed of: 二(The function of a topic sentence A topic sentence includes both the topic and the main point the writer wants to make about that topic. 三(The place of a topic sentence: A. the first / second sentence of a paragraph Learning English at college is different from learning English at the middle school. In the middle school, the students are more dependent and passive. But college students must solve most of the problems by themselves. They will have to consult the dictionaries and reference books by themselves and prepare their lessons. B. the last sentence of a paragraph Similarly, in order to write successful answers to essay questions on history or anthropology examinations, a student must arrange the relevant facts and opinions according to some accepted pattern of paragraph structure. And certainly when a student writes a book report for English, or a critiques for politics studies, or a term paper for sociology, style January, 2005 1 写作 and organization are often as important as content. Clearly, the ability to write well organized, concise paragraphs and essays is essential to a student's success in almost all university courses. 四(How to write a good topic sentence 1. Narrowed topic + Main point = Topic sentence Oral presentations + make me very nervous= topic sentence Planning a vacation carefully + can be time-consuming, but it is well worth doing. PRACTICE 1 FIND THE TOPIC SENTENCE AND MAIN POINT Read the paragraph that follows and underline the topic sentence. In the spaces below the paragraph, identify the narrowed topic and the main point. A recent survey reported that employers consider communication skills more critical to success than technical skills. Employees can learn technical skills on the job and practice them every day. But they need to bring well-developed communication skills to the job. They need to be able to make themselves understood to colleagues, both in speech and in writing. They need to be able to work cooperatively as part of a team. Employers can’t take time to teach communication skills, but without them an employee will have a hard time. NARROWED TOPIC: communication skills MAIN POINT: Employers consider communication skills more critical to success than technical skills. PRACTICE 2 IDENTIFYING TOPICS AND MAIN POINTS In each of the following sentences, underline the topic and double-underline the main point about the topic. a. The level of nicotine in cigarettes is kept high by the tobacco industry. b. The oldest child in the family is often the most independent and ambitious child. c. Dinnertime telephone sales calls should be illegal. January, 2005 2 写作 d. The beach on a hot midsummer day is a great place for people watching. 2. Complete in form and meaning 2.1 a. To ease students’ study burden, good to students. b. Easing students’ study burden does good to students both physically and mentally. 2.2 a. How to write a composition. b. How to write a composition is not an easy thing to talk about. 3. Narrowed 3.1 a. The Olympic Games are exciting. b. In the Olympic Games the football teams from many countries compete intensely. 3.2 a. Art is important. b. Art instruction for young children has surprising benefits. PRACTICE 3 Read the following sentences carefully and decide whether they are good topic sentences. a. World War II affected many people. b. College is challenging c. I would like to be successful in life d. Having a positive attitude improves people’s ability to function, improves their interactions with others, and reduces stress. 4. Specific 4.1 a. To cooperate with others well, one needs to know something about cooperation. b. To cooperate with others well, one should be tolerant, considerate and should have a sense of teamwork. 4.2 a. Students are often overwhelmed. b. Working college students have to learn how to successful juggle (同时做) many responsibilities. January, 2005 3 写作 4.3 a. I enjoy sports. b. Participating in sports activities occupies most o my spare time in the university. PRACTICE 4 Write sentences that are specific. In the space below each item, revise the sentence to make it more specific. There is no one correct answer. As you read the sentences, think about what would make them more understandable to you if you were about to read a paragraph or essay on the topic. a. My job is horrible. ________________________________________________________________. b. Working with others is very rewarding. ________________________________________________________________. 5. declarative, forceful, confident and definite 5.1 a. Why do I like to watch TV so much? b. I like to watch TV very much because it is informative, educational and entertaining. 5.2 a. In this paragraph I will talk about why people go to college. b. People have many complex reasons for going to college. 5.3 a. This school should consider banning cell phones from classrooms. b. Because ringing cell phones are disruptive to class, this school should ban their classroom use. PRACTICE 6 Write topic sentences on the following topics which you will have to narrow. a. Good neighbors b. Private cars of China c. Famous stars become professors of universities d. Marriage on campus January, 2005 4 写作 Module two Introductory Paragraph 一(A composition is composed of: Introductory Paragraph Development P Development P Development P Concluding Paragraph 二(The function of an introductory paragraph is to expresses the main idea of the composition and to arouse the interests of readers. 三(Ways to write an introductory paragraph: 1. 对立法: Ever since the easing of school children’s study burden is advocated by educators. Some teachers and parents frown at it, saying that it will exert bad effects on the children. ( 转折)But I think easing school children’s study burden will do good to school children both physically and mentally. Sentences often used: a. when asked about …, the most/ quite a few people think/ believe/ answer, other people regard /view/ see/ think of …as…, I view quite/ a bit differently. b. Now a lot of /the majority of /most people believe/ think/ feel that … Although/admittedly …, there is no/ little evidence/ it is questioned whether…, c. Now, it is commonly/ generally/ widely accepted/ recognized /acknowledged that …. They claim/ believe/ argue that….but I wonder/doubt whether… January, 2005 5 写作 2. 比较法: Discuss the advantage and disadvantage of this trend several years ago, people were often a little surprised when they heard that a college student was doing a part-time job. “Why? Maybe he is short of money,” they thought. Nowadays, it is not an uncommon occurrence that college students are working as tutors, salesmen and tour guide. Many students put up advertisements on bulletin boards or lamppost to search for odd jobs. Why do many students show great interest in a part-time job? Sentences often used: a. For years/ Until recently…had been/ was seen/viewed/ regarded as… But that is changing now/ people are taking a fresh look at it. With the growing/ mounting demand for/ interested in/ concern for…, people…. b. Several years/ decades ago, people …. Now, … . Why do people/ has such change taken place? 3. 背景法: The problem of development vs. environment has now been in the limelight. Nowhere is the clash more visible than in China, where the world’s largest population faces pollution, deforestation and acid rain on a large scale. Sentences often used: a. Recently the issue/ problem of … has been brought into focus/ brought to public attention. b. Recently the phenomenon of/ problem of/ rise in … has drawn/ arouse public/ world-wide attention…. 4. 引用法: “Great minds must be ready not only to take the opportunity, but to make them.” Colton, a great writer once remarked. But it still has a profound significance now. To a person, in whose lifetime opportunities are not many, to make opportunities is more essential to his success. Sentences often used: January, 2005 6 写作 a. One of the great early men/ writers/ scientists/ philosophers said/ wrote/ remarked that … If this is true/ the case, then the present/ current view/ value/ attitude/ situation should make us wonder whether/ ponder over… b. “…” That’s how one college student/ official/ housewife/ father described/ commented/ complained/ criticized …. 5. 举例法: Once in a newspaper I read a crowd of people who remained appallingly indifferent to the plea of a mother. As she failed to offer the required amount of cash as a price to save her drowning son, the woman at last watched her son sink to death. The story is not rare in newspapers and on TV and the casualness and detachment our people now have developed has aroused nationwide concern. Sentences often used: a. The other day/ Some month ago, I/ a friend of mine… The story/case/ incident is not rare/unusual, it is one/typical of thousands of … b. I have a friend/ A friend of mine who…. Should/ Can he …? Such a choice/ dilemma/ problem we often meet/ face/ confront in out daily life. 6. 提问法: What it take to succeed in one’s studies or career,Opinions vary widely. Given approximately equal circumstances, some claim the success factor is largely a matter of luck – being in the right place and the right time. Others speak of utter devotion to work, combined with a degree of ruthlessness. Still others maintain that it is undoubtedly a matter of how much intelligence you have or simply how much education your mother had. Sentences often used: a. Should/what …? Opinions of/Attitudes toward …vary widely/greatly from person to person. Some think of/regard/view… as…. Others argue/believe/claim… b. How do you/What do you/ Do you ever think of …? How do you/ What do you/ Do you ever see…? In answer/reply to these questions, we must… c. “Why do/have…?” Many people often ask/pose the question like this. January, 2005 7 写作 Module Three Concluding Paragraph 1( 结论法: Taking into account all the relevant factors which affect and contribute to the attitude, we may safely conclude that we won’t make a dent in the attainment of women’s social status and their equal opportunities in every field if men’s attitude remains unchallenged. Sentences often used: a. From what has been discussed above/ Taking into account all these factors/ Judging from all evidence offered, we may safely/ reasonably arrived at/come to/ reach/ draw the conclusion that…. b. In conclusion, it is more important/ valuable…. 2. 建议法: Students and their parents urgently need a smoother transition from high school to college. Colleges and universities, working closely with schools, need to commit themselves to help students make the right personal choice that will help them continue on educational journey that will extend beyond their college years, and that will help them confidently take first step toward fulfilling their hopes and dreams. Sentences often used: a. It is hoped/suggested that great/ considerable/sustained efforts should be made/exerted to attain/ achieve the goal… b. We need to/ What we need is… c. It is high time/necessary that… Here are a few examples of some of the things/ measures that might be done/taken immediately. 3. 总结法: In summary, the significance for college students of doing a part-time job means more than money and experience. It will broaden their outlook and exert a profound influence on their personality and life. Sentences often used: In summary, … January, 2005 8 写作 To sum up, … 4( 展望法: Living in the suburbs is becoming a predominant pattern, and with the improvement of traffic and the perfection of services, it will prove to hold great superiority over city life. What will happen to/become of…? We don’t yet know for certain, but one thing is certain/clear. 5. 警示法: If we don’t ease our school children’s study burden now, just imagine what would become of our children in a few years: their eyes short-sighted, their backs hunched, they are nothing but book worms. Therefore, easing our children’s study burden is not a necessity, but a must. a. We must search for/look for/call for a quick action/measure, because the present/current situation/tendency/state of …, if permitted/allowed to continue/proceed, will surely/certainly lead to/result in the end/heavy cost of… b. Obviously/Clearly/No doubt, if we can’t change/control/improve the situation, there is every chance that …. c. If we ignore the problem, it is very likely that… d. Unless there is an immediate action, it is very likely that… January, 2005 9 写作 Module Four Exemplification 一( The order of writing a paragraph 1. from general to specific Computers are being used more and more widely in the world today, for the simplest reason that they are far more efficient than human beings. Computers have much better memories and can store huge amounts of information, and they can do calculations in a fraction of the time taken by a human mathematician. In fact, computers can do many of the things we do, but faster and better. They can pay wages, reserve seats on a plane, control machines in factories, work out tomorrow’s weather, and even play chess, write poetry, or compose music. Nowadays, it is very convenient and economical to do anything on the Internet, such as sending or receiving email, shopping, advertising, making friends, and entertaining. The globe will be like an office or home. This is the unprecedented charm of the computer. In short, computers have been making the whole world much more advanced and civilized than ever before. 2. from specific to general Computers have much better memories and can store huge amounts of information, and they can do calculations in a fraction of the time taken by a human mathematician. In fact, computers can do many of the things we do, but faster and better. They can pay wages, reserve seats on a plane, control machines in factories, work out tomorrow’s weather, and even play chess, write poetry, or compose music. Nowadays, it is very convenient and economical to do anything on the Internet, such as sending or receiving email, shopping, advertising, making friends, and entertaining. The globe will be like an office or home. This is the unprecedented charm of the computer. Computers are being used more and more widely in the world today, for the simplest reason that they are far more efficient than human beings. 二( Ways of development 1. by exemplification January, 2005 10 写作 Sample for Effects of Television on Young Children a. Nowadays in the society, there are enormous fake commodities. For example, when you go to the supermarket, you may buy some fake food commodities. When you go to the pharmacist’s, you may buy some fake medicine. The deep root of this phenomenon lies in people’s greed for material wealth. In order to accumulate a large amount of money in a short time, they try every means to produce fake commodities without any regard for other people’s benefit and health. Fake commodities can do great harm to both consumers and the society. For example, fake medicine is not only a waste of money but also a great harm to the customer’s health. Sometimes fake medicine can even be fatal. Fake commodities are usually sold at a low price. It causes unfair competition in the market economy and puts the whole in disorder. b. It is much more convenient to communicate with others by telephone when you have something urgent. For instance, when you are short of money at the university and are anxious to ask your parents for help. You can get through easily and talk with them immediately if you dial the right number. But a letter will take several days before it reaches the destination and returns to you. For messages of urgency, telephone appears favorable. Besides, you save the trouble to spend time writing. What’s more, you can hear the voice. Telephone can keep people in touch with each other easily. On the other hand, telephone sometimes seems less formal, and to some extent it makes people lazy. Most people would rather choose to pick up the telephone for communicat Practice: Analyze the above-mentioned two paragraphs by using one of the two graphic organizers. Spider Map January, 2005 11 写作 Sentences often used: a. …is often/frequently/generally cited/quoted/mentioned as a single/common/familiar/prime example of … b. a good/better/classic case in point/example of this is/can be best provided by… c. This offers/provides/proves/shows a typical/concrete instance/example/illustration January, 2005 12 写作 of …, to d. …, for one/for example/say, … e. Take, for example/ in case of a man who/thing that…. f. I can think of no better illustration of the idea/view than the fact/example/case of …. January, 2005 13 写作 Module Five Comparison and Contrast a. Comparison by similar points My hometown and my college town have several things in common. First, both are small rural communities. For example, my hometown, Gridlock, has a population of only about 10,000 people. Similarly, my college town, Subnormal, consists of about 11,000 local residents. This population swells to 15,000 people when the college students are attending classes. A second way in which these two towns are similar is that they are both located in rural areas. Gridlock is surrounded by many acres of farmland which is devoted mainly to growing corn and soybeans. In the same way, Subnormal lies in the center of farmland which is used to raise hogs and cattle . . . . Thirdly, both of these towns are similar in that both contain college campuses. Gridlock, for example, is home to Neutron College, which is famous for its Agricultural Economics program as well as for its annual Corn-Watching Festival. Likewise, the town of Subnormal boasts the beautiful campus of Quark College, which is well known for its Agricultural Engineering department and also for its yearly Hog-Calling Contest. Comparison Paragraph -- Organized by Similar Points TOPIC My (a) hometown and (b) college town are SENTENCE similar. POINT #1 Both are small rural communities. DETAIL , Gridlock has about 10,000 people. (a) , Subnormal has about 11,000 local DETAIL residents. (b) , It has about 4000 college students. POINT #2 Both are located in rural areas. January, 2005 14 写作 , Gridlock is surrounded by many acres of farmland. DETAILS , This farmland is devoted to growing (a) corn. , The land is also used to grow soybeans. , Subnormal is in the center of land used for raising hogs. DETAILS , This land is also used to raise (b) cattle. POINT #3 Both towns contain college campuses. , Gridlock is home to Neutron College. , This college is famous for its DETAILS Agricultural Economics program. (a) , It is also famous for its annual Corn-Watching Festival. , Subnormal contains Quark College. , This campus is famous for its DETAILS Agricultural Engineering (b) department. , It is also famous for its yearly Hog-Calling Contest. b. Comparison by subtopic: My hometown and my college town have several things in common. First, my hometown, Gridlock, is a small town. It has a population of only about 10,000 people. Located in a rural area, Gridlock is surrounded by many acres of farmland which are devoted mainly to growing corn and soybeans. Gridlock also contains a college campus, Neutron College, which is famous for its Agricultural Economics program as well as for its annual Corn-Watching Festival. As for my college town, Subnormal, it too is small, having a population of about 11,000 January, 2005 15 写作 local residents, which swells to 15,000 people when students from the nearby college are attending classes. Like Gridlock, Subnormal lies in the center of farmland which is used to raise hogs and cattle. Finally, Subnormal is similar to Gridlock in that it also boasts a beautiful college campus, called Quark College. This college is well known for its Agricultural Engineering department and also for its yearly Hog-Calling Contest. Comparison Paragraph -- Organized by Subtopic TOPIC My hometown and college town are SENTENCE similar. SUBTOPIC #1: GRIDLOCK , Gridlock is a small town. o It has about 10,000 people. , Gridlock is in a rural area. o It is surrounded by many acres of farmland. o This farmland is devoted to growing corn. o The land is also used to DETAILS ABOUT grow soybeans. GRIDLOCK: , Gridlock is home to Neutron College. o This college is famous for its Agricultural Economics program. o It is also famous for its annual Corn-Watching Festival. SUBTOPIC#2: SUBNORMAL , Subnormal is a small town. o Subnormal has about 4000 DETAILS ABOUT college students. SUBNORMAL: o It has about 11,000 local residents. January, 2005 16 写作 , Subnormal is in a rural area. o Subnormal is in the center of land used for raising hogs. o This land is also used to raise cattle. , Subnormal contains Quark College. o This campus is famous for its Agricultural Engineering department. o It is also famous for its yearly Hog-Calling Contest. Here is a list of comparison conjunctions you can use: Short Conjunctions Longer Expressions In the same way, Similarly, X is similar to Y in that Likewise, (they)... ...the X and Y are similar in that same... (they)... ...the same Like X, Y [verb]... as... In like manner, ...also... One way in which X is similar ..., too. to Y is (that)... both Another way in which X is similar to Y is (that)... b. Contrast Even though Arizona and Rhode Island are both states of the U.S., they are strikingly different in many ways. For example, the physical size of each state is January, 2005 17 写作 different. Arizona is large, having an area of 114,000 square miles, whereas Rhode Island is only about a tenth the size, having an area of only 1,214 square miles. Another difference is in the size of the population of each state. Arizona has about four million people living in it, but Rhode Island has less than one million. The two states also differ in the kinds of natural environments that each has. For example, Arizona is a very dry state, consisting of large desert areas that do not receive much rainfall every year. However, Rhode Island is located in a temperate zone and receives an average of 44 inches of rain per year. In addition, while Arizona is a landlocked state and thus has no seashore, Rhode Island lies on the Atlantic Ocean and does have a significant coastline. Here are some contrast conjunctions that you can use: Short Conjunctions Subordinating Conjunctions On the other hand, However, even though + [sentence] In contrast, although + [sentence] By contrast, whereas + [sentence] ..., but unlike + [sentence] ..., yet while + [sentence] nevertheless, Expressions often used: a. Although A has/enjoys/gains/secures a(n)great/important/enormous/considerable/distinct advantage of/over/in…, it can’t compete/be compared with B in…. b. Indeed/Certainly, A plays a more/less important role as/when compared to/with B c. Nothing is/Few things are more …than/as…as…. d. …is/does more B than A/less A than B/ not so much A as B. e. A is/does no more than/not …any more than B is/does f. A is/does no less…than/as much…as/to…as/what B is/does g. As/Just as A…, so B…. January, 2005 18 写作 h. The same (thing) is true of /goes for/happens to/applies to B. i. A and B have/share several things in common. j. Both A and B…, but they differ essentially/widely/profoundly in…. January, 2005 19 写作 Module Six Classification Classification is writing that organizes, or sorts, people or items into categories. FOUR BASICS OF GOOD CLASSIFICATION 1. It makes sense of a group of people or items by organizing them into categories. 2. It uses a single organizing principle. 3. It applies useful categories. 4. It gives examples of what fits into each category. In the following paragraph, each number corresponds to one of the Four Basics of Good Classification. 1 Since I’ve been working as a cashier at Wal-Mart, I’ve discoveredthere are several kinds of 2 customers who drive me crazy. 3 First arethe openly rude ones. 4 They frown and make loud, sarcastic remarks about how long the line is and how long they’ve been waiting. 4 They throw their money on the counter and never say hello or acknowledge me as anything but human scum. I’m embarrassed for myself, but I’m also embarrassed for them. 3 Second are the silent but obviously impatient customers. 4 Although they don’t say anything, you’ve been aware of them since the time they got in line. 4 They make faces, roll their eyes, and look at their watches every ten seconds. What do they expect? This is Wal-Mart; there are always lines. 3 The third kind is really my least favorite: suspicious customers who watch my every move as if my goal in life is to overcharge them. 4 They turn the monitor so they can see every After looking at the price there, they lean over the price, but that’s not enough. 4 counter toward me and look at what price comes up on the register. 4 Then their heads snap back to look at the monitor. They clearly don’t trust me and are just waiting for me to make a mistake, at which point they will jump all over me. This kind of customer makes me nervous and a lot more likely to mess up. If you are one of these three kinds of customers, remember me next time you’re at Wal-Mart; I’m the one just trying to do my job, and you’re driving me crazy! —Joyce Kenneally January, 2005 20 写作 Sometimes when you are writing a classification (or reading one), it helps to think of classification in diagram form. Here is a diagram of the previous paragraph: Topic customers at Wal-Mart Purpose To describe the bad customers at Wal-Mart Organizing principle Types of customers who drive me crazy Categories Openly rude Silent but Impatient Suspicious Examples Frown Make faces Watch monitor Make sarcastic remarks Roll eyes Lean over counter Throw money Look at watch Check register In classification, writers may go right to the categories themselves instead of stating their organizing principle in a topic sentence or thesis statement. Read the examples that follow: one that states the organizing principle, one that states both the organizing principle and the categories, and one that states only the categories. Topic Organizing principle Students at this college represent a wide range of races Topic organizing principle Categories Students at this college represent a wide range of races, including white, African American, Asian American, and Hispanic American. January, 2005 21 写作 PRACTICE 1 CHOOSING USEFUL CATEGORIES In the items that follow, you are given a topic and a reason for sorting. For each item, list three useful categories. (There are more than three correct categories for each item.) . TOPIC: College courses REASON FOR SORTING: To decide what I’ll register for CATEGORIES: a. English Examples:______________________________________________________ Facts or details:______________________________________________ b. Accounting Examples:______________________________________________________ Facts or details:______________________________________________ c. Math Examples:______________________________________________________ Facts or details:______________________________________________ Practice 2 Write a classification essay on the following topics: Ways of modern communication Relationships of modern people/university students The spending habits of university students Ways of classroom presentation First write an outline by using the outline chart, and then write your essay according to your outline. Spider Map January, 2005 22 写作 January, 2005 23 写作 Module Seven Cause and effect 一(Cause and effect essays are concerned with why things happen (causes) and what happens as a result (effects). Cause and effect is a common method of organizing and discussing ideas. Sample paragraph: In recent decades, cities have grown so large that now about 50% of the Earth's population lives in urban areas. There are several reasons for this occurrence. First, the increasing industrialization of the nineteenth century resulted in the creation of many factory jobs, which tended to be located in cities. These jobs, with their promise of a better material life, attracted many people from rural areas. Second, there were many schools established to educate the children of the new factory laborers. The promise of a better education persuaded many families to leave farming communities and move to the cities. Finally, as the cities grew, people established places of leisure, entertainment, and culture, such as sports stadiums, theaters, and museums. For many people, these facilities made city life appear more interesting than life on the farm, and therefore drew them away from rural communities. January, 2005 24 写作 EFFECT CAUSES (Topic Sentence) (Supporting Sentences) Cities have grown very large. Factory jobs attracted [There are several people. reasons for this.] Better schools attracted (Cities have grown families to move very large.) to the city. Places of leisure, (Cities have grown entertainment, and culture very large.) made city life appear more interesting. 三. Write an outline for the two topics: Why I choose to study English? Causes Effect liked English in high school choose to major in English salaries in the field are high have an aunt who is an English teacher am good at language January, 2005 25 写作 The effects of spending less time on study Cause Effects poor marks reduce study hours Parents are irritated more time to play more time for friends Why the natural disasters happen so frequently? tsunami o you think it is reasonable to allow students getting married on campus? Why D Why do those universities invite the famous stars to be professors? Transitional expressions of cause and effect: For causes For Effects because, due to, on cause consequently, as a result, is, another is, since, thus, resulted in, one for, first, second result is, another is, therefore Sentences often used: a. There are many/several/three/a number of/a variety of reasons/causes for this dramatic/marked/significant/extraordinary increase/decline/growth/change in …first…second…. b. It is fairly easy to find out the reason that/why… c. Thanks to/Owing to/due to/because of/As a result of d. …, in part/ partly because…, e. A number of factors could account for/contribute to/lead to/result in the January, 2005 26 写作 change/increase/decrease/success/failure of/in f. These factors coupled with the growth/change of … lead to/contribute to/result in/help… g. It may cause/produce/effect/bring about a considerable/favorable/marked/undesirable rise/decrease/change in…. h. The influence/effect/consequence of …has not been confined/limited to… It also… i. …is/are the natural/final/direct/inevitable result of… January, 2005 27 写作 Module Eight Note-writing 一( The four parts of a note: a. Salutation b. Date c. Body d. Complimentary close 名称 信件 Date Jan.20 Salutation Dear , Body Complimentary close Yours Charles 二( The division of note: 1. Thanks Sample writing: June 2, 2004 Dear Mr. Wallash, I’m sincerely grateful for your generous recommendation, I am now a postgraduate of the History Department of California University and I will begin my study here tomorrow. The Dean of our department, Pro.Hopkins, did read your letter carefully and said he was glade to have a student of yours in his department. He especially mentioned his pleasant experience of working together with you in Beijing University and expressed his wish to invite you a visiting scholar to our department. Thank you again for your help in recommending me as postgraduate. Yours sincerely, Helen a. I don’t know how to express my gratitude for you… b. I cannot tell you how much I owe you… c. It was thoughtful (more than kind, generous, etc.) of you… d. Thank you again for your generosity (hospitality, generous help, etc) 2. Invitation January, 2005 28 写作 Sample writing: June 1, 2004 Dear Mrs. Li, We should be very much pleased if you and Mr. Li would dine with us on Wednesday at 7 o’clock. It will be quite a small party, as we have only asked Mr. and Mrs. Anderson and Miss Chang Ling, all close friends of ours. We trust you will be disengaged and able to give us the pleasure of your company. Truly yours, Helen a. We should be very much pleased if you would … b. We are delighted to accept… c. It is with great pleasure… d. We are sincerely happy to join you… 3. Congratulations Jan 20, 2005 Dear Tom, I just write to express my heartiest congratulations on your moving into your new house. It is really good news you have at last a house of your own designing, located on a scenic hillside. I can imagine how happy you and your family are. I do whish to call to see you and your new house one of these days. With best wishes to you and your family. Yours sincerely, Mary a. I am writing to express my heartiest congratulations on your.. b. Accept my sincere congratulations from the bottom of my heart on your… c. I wish to congratulate you on your finishing high school and entering … University d. I am much delighted to hear/learn you have passed/won … As one of your friends I am very proud of you, e. It’s the kind of news I like to hear, because it proves once again a hard-working man always gets ahead. Let me offer my warmest congratulations. I know you are January, 2005 29 写作 going to be a great success in… 4. Apologies March 4, 2004 Dear Wang Ping, I am terribly sorry you have been fined by the library for not having returned the book on UFO on time. It is all my fault, which caused you so much trouble. I took the book away without letting you know. I am writing to express my apology and I will give you the money the amount you have been fined. I sincerely hope this incident will not destroy our friendship. Sincerely yours, Mao ning a. I write to apologize for having caused.. b. Please accept my apology for.. c. I am writing to express my apology for… d. I am sorry for… e. It is all my fault I have made you… f. I regret I have caused… 5. Recommendation July 5, 2004 Dear Wang, It is my pleasure to recommend Liu for your consideration as he applies for the post as a market analyst in your company. He is a young man of my acquaintance and I have known him and his family for sometimes. This young man is ambitious, capable and reliable. I hope you can find a place for him. Your friend, Huang Li a. I take pleasure in recommending to you Mr. Liu who hopes to attend your college for postgraduate studies… b. Please allow me to recommend … as a candidate, who, in my opinion, is qualified for… January, 2005 30 写作 c. It is my pleasure to recommend …for your consideration as he applies for in you company d. I take the liberty to introduce… e. I have the honor to introduce to you… f. This is to introduce to you… g. With reference to your advertisement on the local newspaper I beg to offer myself for the position as a… h. I write to apply for a position as a … 6. Decline May 3, 2004 Dear Mr. Smith, We are very appreciative of your so warmly including us among your selected guests for Wednesday. Most unfortunately, however, we shall be unable to avail ourselves of your kind invitation on account of a previous engagement for the same day. I have ordered the Xinhua Department Store to deliver you a trifle which please accepts as a humble token of our felicitation on the party. With best wishes for a very jolly home diner. Yours sincerely, Zhao Wei a. I shall have to say no to your kind invitation… b. Very regretfully,… c. Unfortunately, it will be impossible… d. Because of… we find we cannot… 7. Notice: 事件，时间，地点. Notice Jan. 26 Dear schoolmates, As part of the activities of Project Hope, we will organize several groups of students of different specialties to help the pupils with their studies in the western part of our country from July 15 to August 21. those who are voluntary to offer their help should enroll their names to the Students’ Union before June 28. We believe these January, 2005 31 写作 volunteers will also benefit a lot from this activity. Students’ Union This is to announce/declare that… A …is organized by … to… A will organize a …to… A …is advocated and sponsored by …to.. Those who are …welcome to take part in… Those who …will benefit/learn a lot from… 8(转告 Dear Xiao Wang, Jan. 26 I have to be absent from Prof. Li’ class tomorrow morning because my father will have a surgical operation. I must go to the hospital to be with him and take care of him. So I want you to tell Prof. Li that I can’t attend his class and that I will make up what I have missed. I will appreciate if you do this for me. Truly yours, Zhao Ping I am writing to ask you to do/tell Would you please tell… that… I just want you to tell… A asked me this morning to tell you… A called me and left a message for you, saying… A says he will be very grateful to you if you… 9. 询问 突出重点 Dear sir, Jan. 27 With reference to your advertisement on the local newspaper that your company January, 2005 32 写作 will start an intensive computer class. I want to be enrolled in that class, but don’t know what specific courses will be offered, who will give the lessons and how much I should pay for the whole training. Would you please be so kind as to let me know more about it? I will be very grateful if you provide me with more details. Sincerely yours, Meng Xiao With reference to your advertisement on the local newspaper I want to know more about… I have learned from … that you will… I just want to know specifically about… It is reported that… Would you please be so kind as to give me more information about… I would appreciate very much if you can provide me with more details about… I would be very grateful to you if you let me know… Thank you for your time and consideration… 11. 抱怨:提出抗议及改进建议 Dear, Jan. 27 Our room used to be very tidy and clean. But recently things went to opposite. Some of you littered here and there; some kept their unwashed clothes with bad smells under the bed, some left their dirty shoes and socks on the floor. All these have made our room very messy. Don’t you think we should do something to stop this so as to live in a tidy and clean place again? Yours, Helen I write to show m great anger at your… I am writing to protest against your… January, 2005 33 写作 My complaint about your… is based on the fact that… Hope you will improve your… It is high time you took some measures to solve… I sincerely hope such things will never take place again. 12. 慰问 Dear Jimmy, Jan. 22 I am sorry to hear you are hospitalized due to a high fever. Are you feeling better now? Don’t worry and take it easy. I will come to see you as soon as I am free. I hope you will have a quick recovery and play badminton with me soon. Yours, Mary I am sorry to learn/hear you… It is really a pity that you failed in… I felt surprised that you… Don’t worry about your…, you will soon become… Don’t lose heart; with …you will be successful in the future. January, 2005 34