众所周知,雅思写作常见的论证方式包括因果论证、举例论证和反面对比论证。其中,举例论证作为有说服力的论证方法之一,是用具体的事例来支持论点的方法。但是笔者发现,在举例子的时候,很多同学都会出现错误。所以基于笔者对同学们举例论证常见错误的总结,来和大家分享一下雅思写作中常见的几类举例子错误。
1.使用个人案例(包括自己、亲戚朋友和小说人物)
中心句:There are many reasons to argue that certain professions are underpaid.
举例论证方式1: For example, my friend is a nurse and he has to work very long hours so I don’t get much time to see him, but when he does have some free time he can’t afford to do very much because of his low wages.
举例论证方式2: For example, nurses are often required to work long hours leaving them little time for socializing, and even during their leisure time they are often limited by low wages.
这两种举例论证方式中,方式2往往更受考官欢迎,原因在于方式2的论证内容显得客观且有说服力。在托福写作中个人例子的确是常见的论证方式。但是在雅思写作中却不同,雅思真正官方资料(剑桥雅思)上官方满分范文从不使用个人例子。因为个人例子有很强的主观性和偶然性,并没有说服力。当然,雅思真题上都会写Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience。这是不是就意味着雅思写作中能用个人的例子呢?请注意,来自个人知识和经验的例子不代表就是个人的例子。你举例说护士就是一个报酬低于他们工作时间的职业不也是来自你自己的知识和经验吗?所以,建议考生们在雅思写作中一定要避免使用个人案例。
2. 编造官方权威的例子
中心句:The overuse of technology is also having a significant impact on our ability to socialize in a face-to-face environment.
举例论证方式1: A recent Harvard study indicated that most people now spend less than half the amount of time talking directly to people compared with just 10 years ago, attributing this change to our focus on mobile devices in public places such as waiting for a bus or even walking along the street.
举例论证方式2: It is common to see that most people now spend much less time talking directly to people compared with just 10 years ago, attributing this change to our focus on mobile devices in public places such as waiting for a bus or even walking along the street.
相比之下,第1种举例论证中的哈佛研究会引起考官读者的质疑,他们很可能会怀疑这种研究是否真实存在。在雅思考试中,编造官方数据甚至权威研究是万万不可取的,自己编的数据往往一眼就会被阅卷人识破。就算是真的知道的真实存在的研究,也不建议同学们使用,而是可以用it is common to see that.....之类的句子来写这种现象,因为雅思并不是考查你的专业领域常识的考试,写进去很可能适得其反。
3. 例子句子结构单一,内容过于冗长
中心句:A variety of TV channels can provide more choices to audience of different ages.
举例论证方式1: With more TV channels, the elder can choose their favorite programs like documentaries. The middle-aged people can choose some TV series to watch. The children could watch some cartoons on the TV.
举例论证方式2: With more TV channels,the elder can choose their favorite programs like documentaries,while the young can watch some entertainment programs.
从字数上看,论证方式1在字数上更胜一筹,但这里众多分散的短句给人的感觉很拖沓。相比之下,论证方式2更加精炼且概述性强,所以在内容上与中心句的内容更加贴切。基于笔者多年的教学经验,为了让例子更加准确且说服力强,建议在举例的时候,一般用一句话,内容需要高度浓缩,直指要论证问题的核心;多用复杂句,包含比较丰富、具体的内容。
总结:
综上所述,雅思作文中进行举例论证时,应避免使用个人案例,杜绝编造官方权威数据的例子,并且例子内容需要高度浓缩,直指要论证问题的核心。为了增加考生们举例子时的表达准确度和多样性,现提供以下举例论证的标志表达以供参考:
1.for example/instance, + 句子
There are many advantages of mobile phones, for example, we can use phones to chat with friends, listen to music and shop online.
2. such as/like/including, +名词/动名词
Unique architecture is always adored by local people or even foreigners, such as the bird's nest and the water cube in Beijing.
3. A good example for ... is that +句子
A good example for traffic reduction is that citizens choose to take public transport.
4. A case in point is that +句子
A case in point is that senior citizens are encouraged to live in a nursing house.