高考英语写作策略研究方案合集20篇

导语：随着互联网的发展，网站慢慢取代了报纸的作用，下面是yuwenmi小编为大家整理的优秀英语作文，欢迎阅读与借鉴，谢谢!

报纸

1.传统媒体，天天更新，信息可靠 2. 携带方便，随时随地可以阅读 3.仅有文字和图片

网站

1.新兴媒体，信息更新速度快 2.依赖于电脑及互联网 3. 包含文字、图片、音频和视频

注意：

1.短文必须包括表中所有内容，可以适当发挥; 2. 词数：100-120 3. 参考词汇：更新update;音频audio;视频video

Newspapers and Websites

Newspapers and websites are two major new media in the world today, both of which can provide us with lots of news and information. But theyre different in some ways.

Newspapers enjoy a longer history and often come out daily with more reliable news and information. They can be carried and read almost anywhere you like. So many people like reading them. But they can only contain texts and photos.

On the other hand, websites are quite new and popular, especially among young people. Websites have not only texts with pictures but also audios and videos, which makes stories more interesting. Whats more, they are updated from time to time. So the latest news is always seen on websites instead of in newspapers. But it is not quite convenient for people without a computer connected with the Internet to get information from websites.

【参考译文】

报纸和网站

报纸和网站是当今世界上的两大新兴媒体，它可以为我们提供大量的新闻和信息。但他们在某些方面不同。

报纸有着较长的历史，每天都会出现更可靠的新闻和信息。他们可以携带和阅读几乎任何地方你喜欢。这么多人喜欢读。但它们只能包含文本和照片。

另一方面，网站是新的和流行的，尤其是在年轻人。网站不仅有图片文字，还有音频和视频，这使得故事更有趣。更重要的是，他们不时更新。所以最新的新闻总是出现在网站上而不是报纸上。但是没有电脑连接的人从网站上获取信息并不太方便。

全国统一命题时出现的小作文，实则就是一种微写作。分省命题后，部分省份仍保留了具有微写作意义的小作文(如2005年重庆卷、2014年北京卷、2011—2014年江西卷等)。相对于大作文容易出现的“假大空”应试体症状而言，微写作贴近生活、紧扣教材、联系时事的命题特点更有利于考生抒发真情实感，客观描述事物，准确表达观点。

微写作的考查要求常常与表达方式、修辞、句式、人称、角度等语言表达联系起来。从本质上说，微写作是语言综合运用题。微写作的形式多样化，可以是改写、扩写、缩写、仿写以及种种片段性写作。

从表达方式看，我们可以把微写作分为六大类：记叙类、描写类、说明类、议论类、应用类、抒情类。下面我们逐个说明。

—————■记叙类■—————

【技法指导】不必六要素(时间、地点、人物、起因、经过、结果)面面俱到，一般以事件的某个环节或人物的某个方面为中心，描绘出一个精彩的镜头，或是动人的画面，进而揭示事件的意义，展示人物的个性。

【例题】苏东坡被贬到黄州后，在元丰五年到城东南30公里的沙湖准备买田终老，写了首词《定风波》。请将其小序“三月七日，沙湖道中遇雨。雨具先去，同行狼狈，余独不觉。已而遂晴……”扩写成一篇短文。要求：①以第一人称写作;②侧重于叙事;③有反衬的手法;④语言简明、连贯、得体，结构完整。

☆考场佳作☆

我定下心来，在沙湖买下那几亩幽僻的地，就把自己托付给这儿吧。

揣着地契，我适然而回，路上鸟儿啁啾。半路忽然下起了小雨，拿雨具的人早已回家了，同行人只得冒雨前行。不一会儿，路变得泥泞起来，难走起来。同伴都埋怨这鬼天气。雨水顺着大家的头发流下来，衣襟湿透了，一副狼狈相。我暗自发笑，如此雨天，真爽快呀!雨滳滴答答地打在一片竹林间，我伏下身子，随手采了几蔸嫩笋，同行者的身影已消逝在前方，眼前美酒、脆笋似乎正飘香。一点风雨怎能吓倒我呢?雨停了，太阳与路旁的野花正艳着，似乎在对着我笑呢。

有这样一个可以托付终身的地方，真好呀!(江西省南康中学 谭新阳)

【点评】习作通过同伴冒雨前行的狼狈来反衬“我”在雨中漫步的悠闲，对比鲜明、叙述得当。

—————■描写类■—————

人物描写类

【技法指导】可以从正面切入，通过肖像、语言、动作、心理等描写直接刻画人物形象;也可以从侧面切入，借助景物或者描绘他人等间接描写来烘托人物，表现人物的精神面貌。

【例题】参照杜甫的画像，结合你对杜甫的了解，请你发挥联想与想象，对杜甫的画像作一番描绘。要求：运用第二人称，至少用一种修辞手法，200字左右。

【写作点拨】写作时要有条理，可以由上而下进行描写，也可以由下而上进行刻画。同时注意详略得当，突出杜甫的神韵，体现出他忧国忧民的情怀。另外，也可以适当引用杜甫的名句，运用排比、比喻、对比等多种修辞方法以增添文采。

☆考场佳作☆

风急天高，残阳西下。杜甫，你为何孤独地端坐于兀石之上?你愁眉紧锁，如一抹挥之不去的浓云久久地笼罩在你那沧桑的额头。你的目光幽然，若有所思;你的两鬓霜染，面容憔悴;你那稀疏的胡须在秋风中瑟瑟作抖。你注视着远方，用目光亲抚着那一片你深爱着的大地。你双手抱膝，宽大而陈旧的衣袍却永远罩不住你那旷世的傲骨。秋风为你漂泊的经历而痛苦，淡云为你贫病的窘境而忧愁，苍石为你难酬的壮志而低泣，但你依然用高远的目光寄托着对盛世的期盼。(江西省南康中学一考生)

【点评】习作巧妙地化用杜甫的经典诗句，以描绘杜甫的精神风貌。语言优美，描写生动。

景物描写类

【技法指导】要抓住景物的独特之处，发挥想象，变换观察角度，调动各种感官，做到绘声绘色。同时还要善于运用比喻、拟人等修辞手法，以及动静结合、虚实结合等表现手法，将主观上的喜怒哀乐融入客观的景物描写中，做到情景交融。

【例题】以“啊，好美的一条河”为开头，联系生活，描写一个画面。要求：运用至少两种修辞手法，写景动静结合，描写生动优美，200字左右。

【写作点拨】此题要求对“一条河”进行描绘，可以写自己所见，也可以写自己所想。写作时要注意写景的顺序，可以用“听”“看”等动词或者“河里”“河岸”等方位名词来标记。如果能在写景的同时，赋予“一条河”以人格化的色彩，从而做到虚实结合，就容易高人一等。此外，整个文段还要能表达一个中心，如表达对河的喜爱之情或者由河而生发出的某种人生感悟。

☆考场佳作☆

啊，好美的一条河!河水静悄悄地流淌着，哺育着两岸的花草树木。初晨的阳光洒落在河面上，此时的河仿佛是一个刚出浴的美人，脸上透着绯红的光，不时地整理着湿漉漉的秀发，显得静谧、安然。水面波光粼粼，近处的鱼儿在水面自由快乐地嬉戏着，不时地噔个气泡，来个翻滚。水面飘着雾气，朦胧了周围的森林。林中不时飞出几只鸟，传出几声鸟鸣，仿佛是应和水中的鱼儿们。群山拥抱这条河，河水哺育着这群山。突然，鱼儿们仿佛听到了什么，都争相跳出水面，尾巴在空中甩出几丝水雾。原来，是渔夫的吆喝声啊!(江西南康中学 刘艳平)

【点评】习作先总写河的特点，再由近至远依次写了河里的鱼儿、河边的飞鸟与群山等景物，条理清晰、动静结合、描写细腻。

场面描写类

【技法指导】场面描写是对人物在一定时间和环境中的活动所构成的画面的描写。要综合运用记叙、描写、抒情、议论等表达手段，使场面生动而富有感染力。写作时要注意两点：(一)点面结合，有序可循;(二)活动为主，突出气氛。

【例题】根据下面的情境写一则短文，描述课堂情境。

上午最后一节课下课铃音响过了5分钟，老师还没有下课的意思，不少同学早已“身在曹营心在汉”。

要求：(1)要描写人物神态和心理活动;(2)运用至少两种修辞手法;(3)结构相对完整，语言简明、连贯、得体;(4)不少于200字。

【写作点拨】此题富有生活气息，大多数学生有切身体会，能够抒发真情实感。写作时可以通过勤奋好学的学生与心不在焉的学生之间的对比，也可以通过师生之间的“对峙”，把“不少同学”那种欲言又止、敢怒不敢言的焦急而矛盾的心态体现出来。

☆考场佳作☆

已经过了5分钟，老师还是稳如泰山，岿然不动，似乎没有听到那长长的悦耳的下课铃声……教室里慢慢地传来阵阵骚动声，很多人开始蠢蠢欲动，一张张脸上呈现出各种表情。瞧，第一组中间的那长发男一脸紧张与迫切，似乎像一艘船在波涛中欲达彼岸。第二组后排的那平头男则表现出一脸愤怒与激动，似乎在埋怨老师，恨不得要上去痛扁他一顿。第三组前排的那马尾辫则表现出一脸安然自若，她无视周边的一切，心如止水认真听着老师的讲话……种种形态与表情尽收眼底，胜似卢沟桥的狮子一般，千奇百态。他们内心似波涛、似巨浪不停翻滚……人虽在而心已飞，难道只为等待老师口中的那一句“下课”?(江西南康中学 朱占亮)

【点评】习作语言风趣诙谐，选取了三个有代表性的学生，在形象的描述中不动声色地表露出对不安心听讲的学生的批评之意。老师的专注与学生的躁动，在鲜明对比中刻画了“下课铃响后”那种特定场合下的特殊情形。

—————■说明类■—————

【技法指导】说明类微写作的对象可以是日常物品、影视作品，可以是场所、建筑、时令特征，也可以是漫画等。事物说明文的写作关键是要抓住事物的特征，而漫画说明文重在准确、全面。说明类微写作的技巧在于运用恰当的说明方法，依据合适的说明顺序，围绕事物的特征来进行写作。语言要通俗易懂、科学严谨。

【例题】阅读下面的材料，按要求写一篇不少于200字的小作文。

在绵延不断的时间流动中，人们设立了一个个的节点，这些日子叫作节日。团圆与亲情、浪漫与爱情、狂欢与喜悦、追思与缅怀……中国人的各种情感都融入了中华民族的一个个传统节日里。

请根据你的经历与理解，选择中华民族的一个传统节日，写一段说明性文字。要求：(1)开头点明说明的对象;(2)说明顺序要合理、清晰;(3)运用举例子、作比较的说明方法;(3)须引用一句与之相关的古诗。

【写作指导】此题意在唤醒人们对中华民族传统节日的关注与重视，在传统节日式微的现状下，具有较强的现实意义。传统节日有除夕、春节、元宵、清明、端午、七夕、中秋、重阳、冬至等。考生先要选择好一个自己熟悉的传统节日，不能把国庆节、劳动节、妇女节、母亲节等当作传统节日。写作时，要按照一定的逻辑顺序行文，如所写节日的时间、来由、习俗、文化意蕴等。作比较可以是横向的(与其他传统节日比较)，也可以是纵向的(自身的比较)。

☆考场佳作☆

清明节是二十四节气之一，也是我国历史悠久的传统节日之一。童稚时，我们便在“清明时节雨纷纷，路上行人欲断魂”的诗句中领略了扫墓者对先人的追思、缅怀场景。与喜庆的春节不同，清明节主要表现的是一种凄婉、哀伤的节日气氛。清明节的活动有很多，比如吃艾叶米果、扫墓、摇旱船等。人们以此来缅怀祖先还有故去的亲友。这些祭祖活动，体现了中国人感恩、不忘本的道德意识以及孝道文化的源远流长。清明时，人们也会参加踏青、荡秋千、踢蹴鞠、插柳等活动。清明节既有祭祖、追念先人功德的悲酸泪，又有踏青游玩的欢笑声，是一个富有特色的节日。(江西省南康中学 廖薇)

【点评】习作从缅怀先人之悲与踏青游玩之乐两个方面对清明节的含蕴进行了阐述，内容翔实，详略得当。

—————■议论类■—————

【技法指导】议论类微写作要求考生能够对某一事物、某种现象、某篇文章等发表评论或加以赏析。此类微写作一般先叙述现象或引用材料，然后明确论点，接着分析材料，用合适的论证方法，或举事例，或引名言，围绕现实和自身论述自己的观点。结尾再总结全文，照应开头或强化中心，提出解决问题的办法。

【例题】今天早晨是家长送你来考场的吗?请对“家长送考”现象予以评论。要求观点鲜明，有理有据。(2014年高考北京卷)

☆考场佳作☆

天下的迎来送往，当然有实用的，但更多的是玩虚的。比如梁山伯与祝英台，都是成年人了，回家干吗还要送啊?但人家一送再送，一直送了十八里。新兵入伍去军营，行李物品并不多，干吗要送啊?但政府每年都要组织人马敲锣打鼓。人家图的，都是温馨感受，滚烫情怀。同理，家长送子女参加高考，并不是因为子女需要家长帮什么忙，而是父母对儿女情感的直接抒发。家长送一送，温暖又贴心，干吗要反对?(《送一送，更温馨》北京一考生)

【点评】习作巧妙地运用类比论证，用梁祝送情人、政府送新兵，类比父母送考生。观点旗帜鲜明，说理形象生动。

—————■应用类■—————

【技法指导】此类微写作要了解其基本格式要求，如标题、称呼语、问候语、结束语、落款等，同时还要积累一定量的谦辞与敬辞，注意语言表达的简明、连贯、得体。

【例题】请你以一位热心公益的环保志愿者身份，给所在城市(X市)的居民写一封倡议书，就改善污染状况提出自己的思考和建议。字数200字左右。

☆考场佳作☆

倡议书

亲爱的X市居民：

您好。最近一段时期，我们都深受雾霾之苦，大家对这种严重污染天气带来的危害有切肤之痛。现在政府已经向雾霾“宣战”，我们每一位市民也应该行动起来!在此，我们恳切倡议如下：一、减少私家车出行，多乘公交地铁;二、节约水电，不浪费纸张;三、垃圾分类，支持资源回收利用;四、适量点餐，参与“光盘”活动。以上举措，都是举手之劳，却能为改善X市大气环境发挥重要作用!让我们马上行动起来，从此时此地做起，从自身做起!如果我们都是治霾人，不信蓝天唤不回!

倡议人：一位环保志愿者

某年某月

【点评】习作符合倡议书的写作要求，详细地交代了倡议的背景和原因，提出具体可行的倡议内容，语言简练得体，且具有较强的感染力。

—————■抒情类■—————

【技法指导】直抒胸臆的抒情类微写作，可以借鉴颁奖词的写法，采用第二人称，使用直接表白的形式，直接抒发对景物、人物、事物的感情。也可以采用第三人称，借助比喻、拟人、夸张等修辞手法，将抽象的感情形象化、生动化。间接抒情的抒情类微写作，往往需要结合描写、议论等表达方式，抒发对景物、人物、事物的感情。

【例题】写一段抒情文字(可写诗歌)，纪念自己的18岁。要求感情真挚，富有文采。(2014年高考北京卷)

☆考场佳作☆

请为我喝彩

十八岁，是一道门槛，跨步出去，就是广阔的天地。

十八岁，是一把竖琴，随手一弹，就是动听的旋律。

十八岁，是一列和谐号动车，鸣起笛，就能驶向远方。

十八岁，是花朵，是生机盎然，是绚丽多姿的图画;是蓄势待发，是锐不可当，是蓬勃向上的力量;是我从今往后的每一个笑容。

十八岁，请全世界为我喝彩!

【点评】习作把十八岁比作门槛、竖琴、动车，既贴近生活，又形象生动。文辞优美，富有感染力。

实战演练

某中学文学社举办“感动心灵——我最崇敬的课文人物”评选活动，请从入选的蔺相如和刘和珍中任选一位，为其写一则颁奖词。

要求：①请先将所选人物姓名写在答题卡上，然后写颁奖词;②符合人物特征;③语言表达生动、连贯、得体;④至少运用一种修辞手法。

【写作点拨】颁奖词是对人物事迹和精神的高度概括，写作时首先应对写作对象有充分的了解，力求用最简洁的文笔，勾勒人物的主要事迹，彰显人物精神。比如蔺相如最闪亮的事迹莫过于完璧归赵、渑池会、将相和，而刘和珍是鲁迅笔下真正的猛士，她敢于直面敌人的刺刀。另外，颁奖词的语言要求意蕴丰富、自然流畅，适当运用修辞手法。

【参考范文】

(示例一)蔺相如：身为门客，胆识超强;完璧归赵，智勇无双;渑池赴会，舌战群狼;位超廉颇，忍辱避让;国家为先，如海器量。伟哉蔺相如，千秋美名扬!

(示例二)刘和珍：你是真的猛士，“敢于直面惨淡的人生，敢于正视淋漓的鲜血”。始终微笑的刘和珍君，你激励我们每个热血青年，为了祖国更加强盛，“奋然而前行”!

实战演练

庄子在《逍遥游》中为我们塑造了一只展翅翱翔、博击长空的大鹏形象。那么，当大鹏在高空中飞翔时它看到了什么?听到了什么?又想到了什么?请你发挥想象，描写大鹏当时的所见所感。

要求：(1)使用第一人称;(2)运用比喻、排比两种修辞手法;(3)想象合理，结构相对完整;(4)不少于200字。

【写作点拨】此题材料来源于教材，有利于引导学生重视、回归教材文本，也有利于考查学生的思维能力。写作时，要以“我”的口吻，突出“我”俯瞰大地的雄姿英发，以及“我”不肯安于现状，奋翅飞向“启明之方”的南海，勇于超越自我的胸怀大志、向往光明的形象。可以直接描述，也可以通过和蜩与学鸠等小鸟的自我夸耀、目光短浅、胸无大志的对比来凸显“我”的所见所感。

【参考范文】

飞得高，看得远啊!果真如此。天空是我自由翱翔的舞台，云彩是我搏击长空的佳影，阳光是我驰骋天地的源泉。我要飞得更高，让那些目光短浅的小斑雀只能妒忌;我要飞得更远，让那些自命不凡的人们只能羡慕。听，那惊涛拍岸的声音，像观众的掌声，此起彼伏;看，那飞奔的骏马，在我看来，也只是一只只蚂蚁。我看到江河在奔腾不息，我看到世界之巅——珠穆朗玛峰犹如一位矗立的猛将，像穿着甲胄的勇者，守卫着祖国家园。我也要做那样的勇者，我相信我能做得更出色。(江西省南康中学 肖霆)

【点评】文脉清晰，感情真切，活现了大鹏的雄心壮志与广博胸襟。、

实战演练

莫春者，春服既成，冠者五六人，童子六七人，浴于沂，风之舞雩，咏而归。(《子路、曾晳、冉有、公西华侍坐》)

联系课文内容，展开你想象的翅膀，写一段200字以上的文字，重点刻画“莫春”时节的景物和“咏而归”的神态。

【写作指导】这是曾晳基于自己的政治主张而描述的一幅理想中民风淳厚、国泰民安的太平盛世图。所以，描述出来的“莫春”景象应该是生机勃勃、充满活力的，而不能是死气沉沉或者残败落寞的。对人物“咏而归”的神态描写要反映出人物自由而愉悦的心境。由于涉及的人物比较多，刻画时最好能够以点带面，以个别写群体。

【参考范文】

露湿春草，竹叶滴音。风轻轻地一舞，便掠起泥土氤氲的生气，清新而纯净。莺歌穿柳，燕尾剪窗，阳光肆意地一洒，便铺下空中弥散的春意，勃勃而盎然。身着春服的五六个青年，和六七个欢笑奔跑的稚童，在沂水边踏青。他们昂首引颈，神采奕奕，正唱着一曲动听的歌，迈步而行。他们走在一片绿色的春意里，哼唱着张扬而充满活力的歌曲。与莺歌燕鸣相牵相绕，织成一首春的交响曲，在广阔的春天里凝成一片深重辽远的跫音。(江西省南康中学 袁聪)

【点评】佳作把重心放在刻画“咏而归”的人物神态上，排比手法的运用让文章语言富有表现力与感染力。

实战演练

某学校有口号：“一切为了学生!为了一切学生!为了学生一切!”请针对该口号(三句话)的语言表达，写一段200字以上的评论文字。

【写作指导】这是一篇评论性的小作文，评论的对象为学校口号的语言表达，而非口号的内容。在写作过程中，有些同学对此口号施行的可行性与必要性等进行论述，偏离了命题的要求。此题类似对广告语的鉴赏，考查学生对语句的理解、分析的能力。写作时层次要清晰，可先按总分顺序阐明口号的含义，然后分析其使用的表现手法，最后再指出可能产生的宣传效果。

【考场佳作】

我觉得这个学校的口号非常新颖，很有创意。它利用“一切”“为了”“学生”三个词的顺序颠倒，组成了三句不同意思的话。“一切为了学生”是说学校所做的任何事情都是为了学生，强调的是目的。“为了一切学生”是说学校为的是所有的学生，强调的是学生的范围。“为了学生的一切”是说学校为的是学生的整体素质而非学习成绩等某一方面，强调的是学生的整体性。这三句话组合在一起，就是说学校所做的每一件事情都是为了所有学生的一切。该口号只有三个词，但其表达出来的意思却很清晰，简单明了，使人耳目一新，过目不忘，让人一看就能明白学校的用意。

【点评】习作准确地理解了命题的意旨，从三句话的侧重点进行评论，对学校口号进行了深入浅出的评述。思路清晰，见解新颖。

在我们的英语写作过程中，如果能够很好的运用英语谚语，能给我们的作文带来亮点。下面是语文迷整理的高频谚语，一起来看看吧。

(一) Where there is a will，there is a way. 有志者事竟成。

(二) One false step will make a great difference. 失之毫厘，谬之千里。

(三) Slow and steady wins the race. 稳扎稳打无往而不胜。

(四) A fall into the pit，a gain in your wit. 吃一堑，长一智。

(五) Experience is the mother of wisdom. 实践出真知。

(六) All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. 只工作不玩耍，聪明孩子也变傻。

(七) Beauty without virtue is a rose without fragrance.无德之美犹如没有香味的玫瑰，徒有其表。

(八) More hasty，less speed. 欲速则不达。

(九) Its never too old to learn. 活到老，学到老。

(十) All that glitters is not gold. 闪光的未必都是金子。

(十一) Practice makes perfect. 熟能生巧。

(十二) God helps those who help themselves. 天助自助者。

(十三) Easier said than done. 说起来容易做起来难。

(十四) A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.千里之行始于足下。

(十五) Look before you leap. 三思而后行。

(十六) Rome was not built in a day. 伟业非一日之功。

(十七) Great minds think alike. 英雄所见略同。

(十八) well begun，half done. 好的开始等于成功的一半。

(十九) It is hard to please all. 众口难调。

(二十) Out of sight，out of mind. 眼不见，心不念。

(二十一) Do as Romans do in Rome. 入乡随俗。

(二十二) An idle youth，a needy age. 少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲。

(二十三) As the tree，so the fruit. 种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。

(二十四) To live is to learn，to learnistobetterlive.活着为了学习，学习为了更好的活着。

(二十五) Facts speak plainer than words. 事实胜于雄辩。

(二十六) Call back white and white back. 颠倒黑白。

(二十七) First things first. 凡事有轻重缓急。

(二十八) Ill news travels fast. 坏事传千里。

(二十九) A friend in need is a friend indeed. 患难见真情。

(三十) live not to eat，but eat to live. 活着不是为了吃饭，吃饭为了活着。

(三十一) Action speaks louder than words. 行动胜过语言。

(三十二) East or west，home is the best. 金窝银窝不如自家草窝。

(三十三) Its not the gay coat that makes the gentleman. 君子在德不在衣。

(三十四) Beauty will buy no beef. 漂亮不能当饭吃。

(三十五) Like and like make good friends. 趣味相投。

(三十六) The older， the wiser. 姜是老的辣。

导语：寂寞，让你能够听到更多的声音。而孤独，让你听到自己的内心。那一刻，意味着你已经告别了寂寞。下面是yuwenmi小编为大家整理的写作素材，欢迎阅读与借鉴，谢谢!

把心迹写成随笔，写下的是寂寞;走过泥泞的道路，留下的是寂寞;哼着自编的歌曲，唱出的是寂寞;欣赏一篇好文章，品到的是寂寞;思索一件小事，想到的是寂寞;捧起晶亮的雨滴，留在心中的还是寂寞。

寂寞似酒，需品才能察觉它的内在。

寂寞如诗，需感才能发现它懂得内涵。

不管寂寞是酒还是诗，不管它是好还是坏，寂寞是一种灵感，一种妙不可言的美。

一直以来，寂寞就占据我的心怀，凭着一种共同的节拍，但是奇怪，我惟独不能感觉到它的存在，或者由于悲哀，抑或是习惯，对寂寞的到来，再也没有力量去关怀。

心境平和的海面，片刻的柔和，片刻的憔悴，片刻的寂寞，片刻波光弧影的微笑。

但，我想告别寂寞，虽然它是一份美，但我不能永远都沉睡再寂寞中，我会醒来的，只是时间问题而已。可是我还没有醒来，所以我依旧寂寞，正因为如此，我想告别寂寞。

法国哲学家帕斯卡说过："人的所有不快乐，都是因为他无法独自待在房间里"。

我想告别寂寞，却不知道迎来了孤独。

然而，当你年长一点，你会学懂去享受孤独，正如你学懂了寂寞。

寂寞，让你能够听到更多的声音。而孤独，让你听到自己的内心。那一刻，意味着你已经告别了寂寞。

我感觉到：寂寞正在慢慢消逝，成为往事，成为记忆，它闪耀不定的微笑，浮动在一层层的泪水里。

我感觉到：寂寞和孤独，隔着长长的一生，心和心，要经过多少岁月，才能告别寂寞而不迎来孤独。

夜色在身后合拢，寂寞走向星空，成为一个无解的谜，一颗冰凉的泪点，挂在永恒的脸上，躲在我残存的梦中。

寂寞是什么......

【作文题目】

阅读下面的材料，按照要求写一篇不少于800字的作文(60分)

浙江义乌小商品是中国乃至世界小商品批发零售的集散地。今日，小商品城的业主们，买断了“中国梦年画”的全部版权，将其印制在小商品上。这些小商品受到了国人的欢迎，特别是孩子们的喜爱，也深受外国人的青睐。物美价廉，加上中国梦年画的包装，这种设计新颖独特的小商品，顿时打开了居民的家门，销量倍增;中国梦，因小商品借船出海，走进了世界千万家。

【范文欣赏】

善假于物的智慧

深受国人喜爱的中国梦的系列漫画，凭借义乌的精美小商品走出国门;义乌精美的小商品借中国梦系列年画的“船”出海，销量倍增，还深受外国人的青睐。这说明具有中华文化象征符号的产品，倘若细致精美和有效搭载，就可迅速传播，让更多的世界人民接受。相互依托，相互凭借，两全齐美，乐而为之，这是一种善假于物的智慧。

凭借载体，才能迅速传播。任何事物都不是单一的存在，都是在一定的环境下存在的，那么就需要充分利用各自的优势，相互依赖，相互依托，互为表里。纵观历史，中国的对外文化交流当从丝绸之路开始。当时的汉文化可以说是东亚地区最先进的文化了。它以其丰富的内涵——仁义礼智信，迅速得到周边的少数民族学习借鉴，并逐渐同化。一种文化被另一种文化的认同和接受，需要凭借本民族智慧这个有效搭载，才能迅速被接受。中原文化正是由于先进的防治技术和先进的冶炼技术，生产出的先进工具等得以推广，而产生的价值观念，形成了永恒意义的文化内核，才在周边获得少数民族和东亚中亚等民族的认同，得以迅速扩展，最终形成中华文化圈。由此可见，凭借载体是有效传播一种大智慧，古代的中华文化得以取胜扩大自身影响力的重要因素，这对于我们今天文化“走出去”，具有着重要的借鉴意义。

凭借载体，提高自身素质。若要自己的文化得到认同，必须提高自身的素质，创造出灿烂的文化。当代国际竞争日益激烈，国家间的竞争已由经济政治层面的竞争上升到文化上的竞争。让自己的文化更先进，必须提高自身的素质。韩国把中国的端午节申遗，美国在世界各地推广着其所谓的普世价值观，一些日本动漫让中国的青少年在潜移默化中，受日本民族主义，甚至军国主义思想的熏陶……各种各样大餐的一波又一波袭来，文化侵略也好，文化传播也罢，都是一种文化的渗透，自己落后，却责怪人家文化先进，怎样保护自身文化不受侵略?因此发挥中华文化传统的魅力，就要挖掘、承传古代优秀文化的精髓，丰富优秀文化的内涵，提高本民族文化的修养，即努力提高中华民族文化的质量，在激烈的文化竞争环境中才能立稳脚跟。看来，以质取胜是保卫我国文化安全的重要途径，也是文化传播的前提。

凭借载体，贵在文化创新。当一种文化止步不前时，就要穷则思变，在创新上下功夫。中华文化要想走出去，提高质量和效益，就必须通过文化创新来驱动。中国梦的小漫画，就是传承中华文化的载体，形式新颖，能客观反映民族审美情趣，内涵丰富，深受人们的喜爱，这是传播手段的创新。由中国仿造，到中国制造，再到中国创造，这本身就是一种众多方面的创新，只有提高了文化产品的质量，才能在国际市场上广受欢迎，推动了中华文化走出去，实现以质取胜，以新取胜。可见，创新才能在时代大潮中“弄潮儿涛头立，手握红旗旗不湿，”。

中华文化日益走向世界，我们作为传播中华文化的使者，需要载体，更需要彼此的凭借，要积极热情地向外弘扬中华文化，就是善假于物，这是我们民族的智慧。最终获得世界的赞美与认可，提高中华文化国际影响力，使中华民族永远屹立于世界民族之林。

议论文写作指导

议论文的三要素

(一)论点

古人云：“文以意为先，意犹帅也;无帅之兵，谓之乌合。”无论写什么文章都必须立论。立论就是针对客观事物或问题，直接提出自己的见解和主张，阐明其理由，表明自己的态度。

举例：1、如针对和英国首相撒切尔夫人商谈香港回归问题，有人提出香港可以暂时不驻军，邓小平则掷地有声说：主权问题不是一个可以商量的问题!

2、“五四青年节”，各地都在举行庆祝活动，各级党委、政府部门主要领导悉数参加会议，足见领导对青年的重视。有媒体用这样观点做题目：关注青年就是关注祖国的未来。

(二)论据

论据，是支撑论点的材料，是作者用来证明论点的理由和根据。通俗说，就是文章中“摆事实、讲道理”，所以，论据主要有事实论据和理论论据。事实论据包括代表性事例(名人故事等)，确凿的数据，可靠的史实等;理论论据主要是指文中使用的名言警句、谚语格言以及作者的说理分析等。

论据使用注意事项：

1、论据必须为论点服务，即观点和材料要统一，能证明论点。

2、论据要典型，不能用诸如“我同学就是一个这样的人”，同时论据更要丰富(多积累、勤积累才能做到)

3、论据要新颖。新颖方能吸引人。选择新鲜的别人尚未用过的论据是金子，别人已用的论据你能变换角度用是银子，别人经常用的而你又照搬照用的是石子。记住：写作文时，如果你能一下子想到的事例，别人也会一下子想到，所以就注定你的论据不够新颖了。

4、论据丰富时，事例排列的顺序应当这样：古今中外。

(三)论证

论证是运用论据来证明论点的过程和方法，是论点和论据之间的逻辑关系纽带。论点是解决“需要证明什么”，论据是解决“用什么来证明”，论证是解决“怎样证明”。

中学阶段常用的论证方法有：引用(引言)论证、事例(名人、时代人物)论证、正反对比论证、类比论证、因果论证以及比喻论证。

以下是短文写作中使用率最高、覆盖面最广的基本句式，每组句式的功能相同或相似，考可根据自己的情况选择其中的个，做到能够熟练正确地仿写或套用。

1．表示原因

1）There are three reasons for this

2）The reasons for this are as follows

3）The reason for this is obvious

4）The reason for this is not far to seek

5）The reason for this is that

6）We have good reason to believe that

例如：

There are three reasons for the changes that have taken place in our life

．Firstly，people’s living standard has been greatly improved．Secondly，most people are well paid，and they can afford what they need or like．Last but not least，more and more people prefer to enjoy modern life．

注：

如考生写第一个句子没有把握，

可将其改写成两个句子。

如：

Great changes have taken place in our life．

There are three reasons for this．这样写可以避免套用中的表达失误。

2．表示好处

1）It has the following advantages

2）It does us a lot of good

3）It benefits us quite a lot

4）It is beneficial to us

5）It is of great benefit to us

例如：

Books are like friends．

They can help us know the world better，and they can open our minds

and widen our horizons．Therefore reading extensively is of great benefit to us

3．表示坏处

1）It has more disadvantages than advantages

2）It does us much harm

3）It is harmful to us

例如：

However，everything divides into two．

Television can also be harmful to us．It can do harm to our health and make us lazy if we spend too much time watching television.

4．表示重要、必要、困难、方便、可能

1）It is important（necessary，difficult，convenient, possible）for sb．to do sth．

2）We think it necessary to do sth．

3）It plays an important role in our life．

例如：

Computers are now being used everywhere，whether in the government，in schools or in business．

Soon, computers will be found in every home，too．

We have good reason to say that computers are playing an increasingly important role in our life and we have stepped into the Computer Age．

5．表示措施

1)We should take some effective measures．

2）We should try our best to overcome（conquer）the difficulties．

3）We should do our utmost in doing sth．

4）We should solve the problems that we are confronted（faced）with．

例如：

The housing problem that we are confronted with Is becoming more and more serious．Therefore，we must take some effective measures to solve it．

6 ．表示变化

1）Some changes have taken place in the past five years．

2)A great change will certainly be produced in the world’s communications．

3）The computer has brought about many changes in education．

例如：

Some changes have taken place in people’s diet in the past five years．The major reasons for these changes are not far to seek．Nowadays，more and more people are switching from grain to

meat for protein，and from fruit and vegetable to milk for vitamins．

7．表示事实、现状

1）We cannot ignore the fact that．．．

2）No one can deny the fact that．．．

3）There is no denying the fact that．．．

4）This is a phenomenon that many people are interested in．

5）However，that’s not the case．

例如：

We cannot ignore the fact that industrialization brings with it the problems of pollution．To solve these problems，

we can start by educating the public about the hazards of pollution．

The government on its part should also design stricter laws to promote a cleaner environment．

8．表示比较

1）Compared with A，B．．．

2）I prefer to read rather than watch TV．

3）There is a striking contrast between them．

例如：

Compared with cars ,bicycles have several advantages besides being affordable．Firstly，they do not consume natural resources of petroleum．Secondly，they do not cause the pollution problem．Last but not least，they contribute to people’s health by giving them due physical exercise．

9．表示数量

1）It has increased（decreased）from．．．to．．．

2）The population in this city has now increased （decreased）to 800，000．

3）The output of July in this factory increased by 15％compared with that of January．

例如：

With the improvement of the living standard,the proportion of people’s in some spent on food has decreased while that spent on education has increased．

再如：From the graph listed above,it can be seen that student use of computers has increased from an average of less than two hours per week in 1990 to 20 hours in 2000．

10．表示看法

1）People have（take，adopt，assume)different attitudes towards sth．

2）People have different opinions on this problem．

3）People take different views of（on）the question．

4）Some people believe that．．．

Others argue that．．．

例如：

People have different attitudes towards failure．Some believe that failure leads to success．

Every failure they experience translates into a greater chance of success at their renewed endeavor．However ,others are easily discouraged by failures and put themselves into the category of losers．

再如：

Do“lucky numbers really bring good luck？

Different people have different views on it（注：

一个段落有时很适宜以问句开始，考生应掌握这一写作方法。）

11．表示结论

1）In short，it can be said that ．．．

2）It may be briefly summed up as follows．

3）From what has been mentioned above,we can come to the conclusion that ．．

例如：

From what has been mentioned above，we can come to the conclusion that examination is necessary，however，its method should be improved．

12．套语

1）It’s well known to us that ．．．

2）As is known to us．．．

3）This is a topic that is being widely talked about．

4）From the graph

（table，chart）listed above，it can be seen that ．．．

5）As a proverb says，“Where there is a will，there is a way．

例如：

As is well known to us，it is important for the students to know the world outside campus．

The reason for this is obvious．Nowadays,the society is changing and developing rapidly，and

the campus is no longer an“ivory tower.As college students，

we must get in touch with the world outside the campus．

Only in this way can we adapt ourselves to the society quickly after

we graduate.

【提要】成人高考英语作文高考信息 : 2017成人高考专升本英语作文范文：征文稿

在日常生活中，因特网起着越来越重要的作用。请根据下表所给提示英文为某英文报纸写一篇题为On the Internet 的征文稿。

On the Internet

The internet is playing a more and more important part in our daily life. On the net, we can learn news both at home and abroad and all kinds of other information as well. We can also send messages by E-mail, make phone calls, go to net school, read various kinds of books and learn foreign languages by ourselves. Besides, we can enjoy music, watch sports or matches and play chess or cards. On the net, we can even do shopping, have a chat with others and make friends with them. In a word, the Internet has made our life more colorful.

[成人高考专升本英语作文征文稿On the Internet

规范英语论文的格式,使之与国际学术惯例接轨,对从事英语教学,英语论文写作,促进国际学术交流都具有重要意义。下面是小编为你带来的关于英语论文的写作格式和规范，希望对你有帮助。

一、英语论文的标题

一篇较长的英语论文(如英语毕业论文)一般都需要标题页,其书写格式如下:第一行标题与打印纸顶端的距离约为打印纸全长的三分之一,与下行(通常为by,居中)的距离则为5cm,第三、第四行分别为作者姓名及日期(均居中)。如果该篇英语论文是学生针对某门课程而写,则在作者姓名与日期之间还需分别打上教师学衔及其姓名(如:Dr./Prof.C.Prager)及本门课程的编号或名称(如:English 734或British Novel)。打印时,如无特殊要求,每一行均需double space,即隔行打印,行距约为0.6cm(论文其他部分行距同此)。

就学生而言,如果英语论文篇幅较短,亦可不做标题页(及提纲页),而将标题页的内容打在正文第一页的左上方。第一行为作者姓名,与打印纸顶端距离约为2.5cm,以下各行依次为教师学衔和姓、课程编号(或名称)及日期;各行左边上下对齐,并留出2.5cm左右的页边空白(下同)。接下来便是论文标题及正文(日期与标题之间及标题与正文第一行之间只需隔行打印,不必留出更多空白)。

二、英语论文提纲

英语论文提纲页包括论题句及提纲本身,其规范格式如下:先在第一行(与打印纸顶端的距离仍为2.5cm左右)的始端打上 Thesis 一词及冒号,空一格后再打论题句,回行时左边须与论题句的第一个字母上下对齐。主要纲目以大写罗马数字标出,次要纲目则依次用大写英文字母、阿拉伯数字和小写英文字母标出。各数字或字母后均为一句点,空出一格后再打该项内容的第一个字母;处于同一等级的纲目,其上下行左边必须对齐。需要注意的是,同等重要的纲目必须是两个以上,即:有Ⅰ应有Ⅱ,有A应有B,以此类推。如果英文论文提纲较长,需两页纸,则第二页须在右上角用小写罗马数字标出页码,即ii(第一页无需标页码)。

三、英语论文正文

有标题页和提纲页的英语论文,其正文第一页的规范格式为:论文标题居中,其位置距打印纸顶端约5cm,距正文第一行约1.5cm。段首字母须缩进五格,即从第六格打起。正文第一页不必标页码(但应计算其页数),自第二页起,必须在每页的右上角(即空出第一行,在其后部)打上论文作者的姓,空一格后再用阿拉伯数字标出页码;阿拉伯数字(或其最后一位)应为该行的最后一个空格。在打印正文时尚需注意标点符号的打印格式,即:句末号(句号、问号及感叹号)后应空两格,其他标点符号后则空一格。

四、英语论文的文中引述

正确引用作品原文或专家、学者的论述是写好英语论文的重要环节;既要注意引述与论文的有机统一,即其逻辑性,又要注意引述格式 (即英语论文参考文献)的规范性。引述别人的观点,可以直接引用,也可以间接引用。无论采用何种方式,论文作者必须注明所引文字的作者和出处。目前美国学术界通行的做法是在引文后以圆括弧形式注明引文作者及出处。现针对文中引述的不同情况,将部分规范格式分述如下。

1.若引文不足三行,则可将引文有机地融合在论文中。如:

The divorce of Arnolds personal desire from his inheritance results in “the familiar picture of Victorian man alone in an alien universe”(Roper9).

这里,圆括弧中的Roper为引文作者的姓(不必注出全名);阿拉伯数字为引文出处的页码(不要写成p.9);作者姓与页码之间需空一格,但不需任何标点符号;句号应置于第二个圆括弧后。

2.被引述的文字如果超过三行,则应将引文与论文文字分开,如下例所示:

Whitman has proved himself an eminent democratic representative and precursor, and his “Democratic Vistas”

is an admirable and characteristic

diatribe. And if one is sorry that in it

Whitman is unable to conceive the

extreme crises of society, one is certain

that no society would be tolerable whoses

citizens could not find refreshment in its

buoyant democratic idealism.(Chase 165)

这里的格式有两点要加以注意。一是引文各行距英语论文的左边第一个字母十个空格,即应从第十一格打起;二是引文不需加引号,末尾的句号应标在最后一个词后。

3.如需在引文中插注,对某些词语加以解释,则要使用方括号(不可用圆括弧)。如:

Dr.Beaman points out that“he [Charles Darw in] has been an important factor in the debate between evolutionary theory and biblical creationism”(9).

值得注意的是,本例中引文作者的姓已出现在引导句中,故圆括弧中只需注明引文出处的页码即可。

4.如果拟引用的文字中有与论文无关的词语需要删除,则需用省略号。如果省略号出现在引文中则用三个点,如出现在引文末,则用四个点,最后一点表示句号,置于第二个圆括弧后(一般说来,应避免在引文开头使用省略号);点与字母之间,或点与点之间都需空一格。如:

Mary Shelley hated tyranny and“looked upon the poor as pathetic victims of the social system and upon the rich and highborn...with undisguised scorn and contempt...(Nitchie 43).

5.若引文出自一部多卷书,除注明作者姓和页码外,还需注明卷号。如:

Professor Chen Jias A History of English Literature aimed to give Chinese readers“a historical survey of English literature from its earliest beginnings down to the 20thcentury”(Chen,1:i).

圆括弧里的1为卷号,小写罗马数字i为页码,说明引文出自第1卷序言(引言、序言、导言等多使用小写的罗马数字标明页码)。此外,书名A History of English Literature 下划了线;规范的格式是:书名,包括以成书形式出版的作品名(如《失乐园》)均需划线,或用斜体字;其他作品,如诗歌、散文、短篇小说等的标题则以双引号标出,如“To Autumn”及前面出现的“Democratic Vistas”等。

6.如果英语论文中引用了同一作者的两篇或两篇以上的作品,除注明引文作者及页码外,还要注明作品名。如:

Bacon condemned Platoas“an obstacle to science”(Farrington, Philosophy 35).

Farrington points out that Aristotles father Nicomachus, a physician, probably trained his son in medicine(Aristotle15).

这两个例子分别引用了Farrington的两部著作,故在各自的圆括弧中分别注出所引用的书名,以免混淆。两部作品名均为缩写形式(如书名太长,在圆括弧中加以注明时均需使用缩写形式),其全名分别为Founder of Scientific Philosophy 及 The Philosophy of Francis Baconand Aristotle。

7.评析诗歌常需引用原诗句,其引用格式如下例所示。

When Beowulf dives upwards through the water and reaches the surface,“The surging waves, great tracts of water, / were all cleansed...”(1.1620-21).

这里,被引用的诗句以斜线号隔开,斜线号与前后字母及标点符号间均需空一格;圆括弧中小写的1是line的缩写;21不必写成1621。如果引用的诗句超过三行,仍需将引用的诗句与论文文字分开(参见第四项第2点内容)。

五、英语论文的文献目录

论文作者在正文之后必须提供论文中全部引文的详细出版情况,即文献目录页。美国高校一般称此页为 Works Cited, 其格式须注意下列几点:

1.目录页应与正文分开,另页打印,置于正文之后。

2.目录页应视为英语论文的一页,按论文页码的顺序在其右上角标明论文作者的姓和页码;如果条目较多,不止一页,则第一页不必标出作者姓和页码(但必须计算页数),其余各页仍按顺序标明作者姓和页码。标题Works Cited与打印纸顶端的距离约为2.5cm,与第一条目中第一行的距离仍为0.6cm;各条目之间及各行之间的距离亦为0.6cm,不必留出更多空白。

3.各条目内容顺序分别为作者姓、名、作品名、出版社名称、出版地、出版年份及起止页码等;各条目应严格按各作者姓的首字母顺序排列,但不要给各条目编码,也不必将书条与杂志、期刊等条目分列。

4.各条目第一行需顶格打印,回行时均需缩进五格,以将该条目与其他条目区分开来。

现将部分较为特殊的条目分列如下,并略加说明,供读者参考。

Two or More Books by the Same Author

Brooks, Cleanth. Fundamentals of Good Writing: A

Handbook of Modern Rhetoric. NewYork: Harcourt, 1950.

---The Hidden God: Studies in Hemingway, Faulkner, Yeats,

Eliot, and Warren. New Haven: Yale UP,1963.

引用同一作者的多部著作,只需在第一条目中注明该作者姓名,余下各条目则以三条连字符及一句点代替该作者姓名;各条目须按书名的第一个词(冠词除外)的字母顺序排列。

An Author with an Editor

Shake speare, William. The Tragedy of Macbeth. Ed. Louis B.

Wright. New York: Washington Square, 1959.

本条目将作者 Shakespeare 的姓名排在前面,而将编者姓名(不颠倒)放在后面,表明引文出自 The Tragedy of Macbeth;如果引文出自编者写的序言、导言等,则需将编者姓名置前,如:

Blackmur, Richard P.Introduction. The Art of the Novel:

Critical Prefaces. By Henry James. New York: Scribners,

1962.vii-xxxix.

如果引言与著作为同一人所写,则其格式如下例所示(By后只需注明作者姓即可):

Emery, Donald. Preface. English Fundamentals. By Emery.

London: Macmillan, 1972.v-vi.

A Multivolume Work

Browne, Thomas. The Works of Sir Thomas Browne. Ed.

Geoffrey Keynes. 4 vols. London: Faber, 1928.

Browne, Thomas. The Works of Sir Thomas Browne. Ed.

Geoffrey Keynes. Vol.2. London: Faber, 1928. 4 vols.

第一条目表明该著作共4卷,而论文作者使用了各卷内容;第二条目则表明论文作者只使用了第2卷中的内容。

A Selection from an Anthology

Abram, M. H.“English Romanticism: The Spirit of the Age.”

Romanticism Reconsidered. Ed. Northrop Frye. New

York: Columbia UP,1963.63-88.

被引用的英语论文名须用引号标出,并注意将英语论文名后的句点置于引号内。条目末尾必须注明该文在选集中的起止页码。

Articles in Journals, Magazines, and Newspapers

Otto, Mary L.“Child Abuse: Group Treatment for Parents.”

Personnel and Guidance Journal 62(1984): 336-48.

报刊杂志名需划线,但其后不需任何标点符号。62为卷号或期号,如既有卷号,又有期号,则要将二者以句号分开。如:(3.3);1984为出版年份,应置于圆括弧中。

Arnold, Marilgn.“Willa Cathers Nostalgia: A Study in

Ambivalance.”Research Studies Mar.1981:23-24,28.

月刊或双月刊须同时注明出版年月;23-24,28表示该文的前一部分刊于第23和24两页,后一部分则转至第28页。

Gorney, Cynthia.“When the Gorilla Speaks.”Washington Post

31 July,1985:B1.

引用日报上的英语论文必须同时注明报纸出版的年、月、日。B1为该文在报纸中的版面及页码。参考文献(略)(摘自《外语与外语教学》1999年第8期，原文：“英语论文写作规范”作者 刘新民)

导语：善待名利，你将获得彩虹般绮丽的人生。下面是yuwenmi小编为大家整理的作文素材，欢迎阅读与借鉴，谢谢!

名利是场，名利是网，几多较量，几多迷茫。名利是帆，名利是墙，几多奋斗，几多 沮丧。一个古老的哲理，一个常新的命题，世上没有不为名利的超人，只有善待名利的智者。假如人人都清心寡欲，那将是怎样一个世界?假如人人都利欲熏心，那又将是怎样一种情景?请你以名利为话题，写一篇文章。立意自定，文体自选，题目自拟，不少于800字。

提示：

话题材料简洁而辩证第揭示了怎样看待名利的问题，此题若选写议论文，也应运用辩证的眼光，恰如其分地展开剖析，不能片面化、绝对化，当然本题要写出新意与个性，还 可以在 文体与写法上多动脑筋。比如，赋予“名利”以生命形象，让他给主人写一封信，阐述“名利”的丰富内涵;或者大胆想象，虚构一个“名利”飞上天空，到上帝跟前“喊冤”的故事;又如，将“名利”虚拟成被告，写一场“心灵的审判”……都能给人以耳目一新的感觉。

作文标题可以也应该活泼、别致些。比如：1.都是名利惹的祸2.真水无香3.爱“你”没商量?4.名利，想说爱你不容易5.名利专访。

例文：

善待名利

名利是一种什么“病”?是一种通“病”，从人类文明开始至今，从地球的最南端到最北端，每个人都与名利结下不解之缘，有的人一味地追名逐利，有的人则善待名利。名利不是罪恶，在不同的人的身上有不同的价值。

“有些人因为贪婪，想得到更多的东西，却把现在所有的也失掉了。”的确，许多人在名利场上失掉了理智的指南针，陷入了名利的漩涡，结果越陷越深，难以自拔。这样的例子在历史上不胜枚举。但是，名利虽然做了一切恶事，而很多好事也是由名利而生的。

武则天当政时的宫廷诗人宋之问虽依附于权贵，人品低下，为世人所鄙视，但他所作的诗语言精练，气势流畅，为后世批评家所推崇。欧阳修、苏东坡是历代推崇的名士，但他们仕途不顺之后写下的名篇，不也是在为自己的怀才不遇而愤懑，为名利上的郁郁不得志而寄情山水吗?今天，当运动员在刷新一项项世界纪录，科学家在攻克一道道世界难题时，他们难道没有受到金牌、荣誉和金钱的诱惑吗?当然有。正因为在名利的驱动下，人类才会不断追求，在追求名利的过程中不断探索与创新：我们生活在名利之中，名利是我们生活的一部分：如果没有名利，就像没有绿洲的沙漠，使旅人失去了心中的希望。没有名利，就像没有黑夜的白昼，在纯粹的光明中，就像在纯粹的黑暗中一样，什么也看不见。没有名利，就像味觉失去了苦的感觉，虽然品尝得到甜的滋味，但失去了品尝甜的欣喜。没有名利的生活是不完整的，没有名利的生活是不可想象的。老子“小国寡民”、没有名利、远离名利的构想是不现实的。世上没有不为名利的超人，只有善待名利的智者。

名利绝不是万恶之源，关键在于你如何面对。如果你把名利看成一切，那么你将迷失自我，名利会成为切断你幸福的利刃;如果你善待名利，将名利作为奋勇进取的动力，那么名利将成为你的风帆，伴你渡过征程，送你走向成功。

每一杯过量的酒都是魔鬼酿成的毒汁，多一点的贪婪都是幸福的刽子手。

善待名利，你将获得彩虹般绮丽的人生。

评点：

这篇文章对“名利”作了一分为二的分析。文中不少语句富有意蕴，如“名利绝不是万恶之源，关键在于你如何面对”“每一杯过量的酒都是魔鬼酿成的毒汁，多一点的贪婪都是幸福的刽子手”，耐人咀嚼。

开头部分:

How nice to hear from you again. Let me tell you something about the activity. I’m glad to have received your letter of Apr. 9th. I’m pleased to hear that you’re coming to China for a visit. I’m writing to thank you for your help during my stay in America.

结尾部分：

With best wishes. I’m looking forward to your reply. I’d appreciate it if you could reply earlier.

导语：近年来，手机很受中学生的欢迎。说说你对这种现象的看法，下面是yuwenmi小编为大家整理的相关优秀英语作文，欢迎阅读与借鉴，谢谢!

Being a product of high-technology,mobile phones are being more and more widely used. Its small in size, light in weight and easy to carry, offering fast and convenient service for communication.Its of multi-function. The users use it for calling, sending short messages and internet-surfing.

In recent years, mobile phones have become popular among middle school students. Quite a few use them at school to keep in touch with their families and friends instead of writing letters, which, of course brings convenience to them. But I dont think its good to do so.

In spite of the advantage mentioned above, student users often waste a lot of time chatting over the phone in their spare time, some even use them to cheat in exams. In addition, mobile phone bill is also a heavy burden on students families.

【参考翻译】

作为高科技的产物的手机正得到越来越广泛的应用。手机体积小、重量轻、便于携带，能提供快捷、方便的通信服务。功能很多，用户用它来打电话，发短信和上网。

近年来，手机很受中学生的欢迎。不少学生在学校使用它们来与家人和朋友保持联系，而不是通过写信的方式，这当然给他们带来便利。但我不认为这样做很好。

除了上述优势，学生用户经常浪费很多时间在电话里聊天，有些人甚至使用它们在考试中作弊。此外，移动电话费也成为一个学生的家庭沉重的负担。

相关标签: 学生Student 手机Mobile phone

今天我读了一则短文，短文中写的是杨振宁留学时，在实验物理方面很不顺，他选择了放弃，并在理论方面最终取得成就。读到这里我感触颇深。

在我们的一生中，选择几乎无处不在，面对选择时，每个人或许都有自己不同的答案，就像一个岔路口，无论前方的脚印的数目多少，也不代表你的选择，你的命运掌握在你自己手中。

其实，坐在这考场中的我们，不就正是一种选择吗?当初一天天数着日子的时候，当初不分昼夜的学习的时候，当初在电脑面前填写资料的时候，我们就已经做出了选择——我们选择了知识，选择了文化，选择了做一个有意义的人。而在人生中的一个岔路口，我，和大多数人一样，我，选择了那条无数脚印的路。

还记得那些曾经的选择吗?那些决定性的选择?

我，永远铭记着，那个夜晚。正是那个夜晚，在周恩来，朱德等人的领导下，南昌起义拉开了序幕，这不仅仅是打响了武装反抗国民党统治的第一枪，更是一个选择，他们选择了反抗，选择了斗争，更是选择了正义。面对血腥屠杀?面对黑洞洞的枪口?在我们选择了正义和反抗的时刻，这些就已经无足轻重了。

我，永远铭记着，那些法令。正是那些法令激化了美英之间的矛盾，使得美国独立战争爆发。哪怕他们曾经是一个国家，哪怕是英国占据的美洲大陆，哪怕英军的实力远远高于美军。但当英国选择了剥削，选择了压迫，选择了遏制一个民族的兴起，当他们选择了血腥、镇压、屠杀时。我明白，那些已经无足轻重了

面对着，历史中的硝烟战场，回顾着，历历在目的反抗与压迫，惦念着，数不胜数的民族英雄，他们之间有一个共性。当他们选择了正义，选择了真理时，他们选择了未来——他们将胜利。若有人选择了反动，选择了一己私利，选择了自私，选择了欺凌弱小时，他们选择了过去——他们将离开世界，被尘封在历史之中

选择决定成败，在以后，那遥远的人生旅途中，我们还有好远要走，这就像来到一个个陌生的城市一样，看见那一个个的岔路口了吗?那些就是考验你的时候了，那些就是留给你自己去选择的了。

用你的心去考虑，考虑你的选择，你自己的选择，因为它们决定着你的未来，未来的命运。

记住，选择决定成败。

There?is?a?widespread?concern?over?the?issue?that?__作文题目_____.?But?it?is?well?known?that?the?opinion?concerning?this?hot?topic?varies?from?person?to?person.?A?majority?of?people?think?that?_?观点一________.?In?their?views?there?are?2?factors?contributing?to?this?attitude?as?follows:?in?the?first?place,?___原因一_______.Furthermore,?in?the?second?place,?___原因二_____.?So?it?goes?without?saying?that?___观点一_____.?

People,?however,?differ?in?their?opinions?on?this?matter.?Some?people??hold?the?idea?that?___观点二_______.?In?their?point?of?view,?on?the?one?hand，?___原因一_______.?On?the?other?hand,?____原因二_____.?Therefore,?there?is?no?doubt?that?___观点二______.??

As?far?as?I?am?concerned,?I?firmly?support?the?view?that?__观点一或二______.?It?is?not?only?because?________,?but?also?because?_________.?The?more?_______,?the?more?________.?

2005年英语考纲有重大变化，其中之一就是作文考查的变化。新增加一篇小作文，使作文考查由一篇变为两篇，而原来的大作文的字数也由“不少于200字”调整为“150至200字”，满分20分。新增的作文是一篇100字左右的应用性短文，文体包括有信件、便笺、备忘录等，满分10分。既然是新增题型，就不会太难，但不好预测文体，这就要求考生复习时力求面面俱到，掌握写作规律及注意事项，尤其是对常见的应用文体如书信等

大作文的写作一般会给考生写作提纲，或图表，图画，或图文并茂。命题方式虽然多样，但题目涉及面往往是考生比较熟悉的内容，目的是测定考生语言的实际应用能力。要求表达清楚，文字连贯，中心突出，内容丰富，句式多变，句子结构和用词正确。

语言的应用能力不可能一蹴而就，必须厚积薄发，必须经过长期的实践锻炼。在提高英语写作能力方面，我觉得：一是要背大量的优秀范文，整段整篇地背，并转换为自己的语言，写作时自己能随心所欲支配。考试时避免套用以前死记硬背的几个范文，把一些不达意的词堆积在一起，没有统一性，无法很好地表现主题；二是要多动手。包括对背过的文章进行词语替换，句式转换，句子重组等，以及对某一主题展开写作。多动手才能提高笔下功夫，才能保证在考场上顺利写作。可以说背诵范文是培养语感，积累素材，掌握写作方法，动手写作是实践，是最终目的，这两者结合起来，就是“理论联系了实际”。另外，背诵范文应有针对性，写作训练也是一样，在训练中要掌握每一类型作文的写作规律，根据其每一类作文的写作特点——如提纲式作文就要求考生根据提纲提示的思路和规定的要点展开段落——全面训练，但不要带有押题的心理，靠背几篇范文就能应付考试的心态是不可取的。

下面说一下英语写作过程中的注意事项

一、认真审题

作文第一步是仔细审题，考生要仔细阅读试题要求及相关信息，如图表，图画，数字等，准确把握出题者意图。考研作文忌信手掂来，提笔就写，根本不审题，想到哪儿就写到哪儿，或完全凭自己想象编故事，置考试要求于不顾， “下笔千言，离题万里”。比如1998是一幅卡通画，老母鸡申明外加一首打油诗，讽刺一些企业把该尽职之事作为推销产品的承诺。如果考生说老母鸡很可爱，但爱自夸，然后说自己某个同学也爱自夸，这就偏离主题。2000年的作文“A Brief Histiry of World Commercial Fishing ”.它给出了两张图，从1900年的渔船和鱼量之比到1995年的渔船和鱼量之比的变化谈如何保护渔业资源，应从商业性滥捕鱼这一主题展开话题，有的考生却大谈环境污染。这就偏离了主题，因为题中自始自终都没有谈到环境污染问题。

有的同学没有审题习惯，或担心时间不够草草审题，最后发现文不对题，草草收场，这就影响了英语成绩，同时也会影响后两门考试的考试心情。

二、列出提纲

考试规定的时间是很有限的，所以不能花太多时间准备一个详细的提纲，但关键词提纲或粗略提纲还是非常有必要的。对原始材料分析归纳后要形成一个基本的框架。文章打算分几段写，每段大概怎样写，自数控制在多少，开头段落是道破主题，点名要旨，引人入胜还是先给出主题一般的背景情况和对主题进行浓缩的陈述呢，中间段落和结尾有怎样写呢。这些都要心中有数。有的考生习惯用汉语构思文章，逐句翻译提纲，当碰到某个词卡住时就翻译不下去，僵在那里。要注意列提纲是为了更好更全面的表达主题。主题的表达可有多种形式，不一定非要寻找一个特定的词或句子。考试时考生要充分调动大脑，灵活运用以前所学知识。

三、开始写作

一篇文章往往由四部分组成，标题(title)，首段(opening paragraph),主体(body paragraph),结尾段( concluding paragraph)。标题要新颖，能引起读者兴趣，首段的内容根据文章的体裁而变化，比如议论文可以从一种现象，一种观点出发引出作者的观点。记叙文往往交代人物和故事背景。主体是文章的主要部分，通过合适的语篇模式表达一定的观点，考生要围绕中心按一定顺序分层次有重点的展开叙述，描写，议论。结尾段是对全文的总结，论点上要与前面的叙述一致和统一。写作时要注意以下几点。

1、要统一，连贯。

选择那些最能体现中心思想最具代表性的材料，这些材料要共同表达一致的信息。选材时切忌胡子眉毛一把抓。词语堆积，不伦不类。前后及段落之间在逻辑关系上要紧密衔接，不能把没有任何逻辑关系的词放在一起。可以用恰当的关联词把思想连贯的表达出来。

2、用词准确，语法正确

考试时要特别注意语法，此语，语气，标点符号等，为了避免太多单词拼写错误，语法错误，不要为了追求词语的华丽而堆积一些自己也没把握的单词，不要刻意追求长句而写一些自己不知对错的有多个从句组成的长句。考试时最好选择自己最有把握的词汇，短语，句式。

3、足够字数，卷面整洁

绝对不能字数不够，即使一句话颠来倒去说也要凑够字数。字数不够，即使写的非常精彩，也不能拿高分。

四、修改

英语写作时考生由于仓促，紧张等原因，很容易犯一些简单的，一眼就能发现的错误。所以考生一定要留出几分钟时间用于修改。不要大幅度进行修改，更不要因为修改破坏卷面整洁，影响阅卷老师心情。修改时可以从以下几点进行

1、语法

包括时态是否一致，主谓是否一致，名词单复数是否对应，被动主动语态是否错用等

2、词汇

包括连接上下句或段落的关联词，习惯用语，固定搭配，词类混淆，误用及物不及物动词等。

3、拼写和标点符号

1、审题：审题是做到切题的第一步。所谓审题就是要看清题意，确定文章的中心思想、主题，并围绕中心思想组织材料。

2、进行构思，列出简单的提纲，打造文章之骨架：审好题、立好意后，就要写提纲，打造文章的骨架。文章布局要做好几件事：安排好层次段落，铺设好过渡，处理好开头和结尾。

3、扩展成文：根据字数多少扩展成篇。扩展的内容一定要紧扣主题，千万不要写那些与主题不相关的内容。展开的方式包括：顺序法、举例法、比较法、对比法、说明法、因果法、推导法、归纳法和下定义等。可以根据需要任选一种或几种方式。

在这一步骤中还需注意三方面问题：

1、确保提纲中段落结构的思路与各段主题句的一致性。只有这样，才能保证所写段落不偏题、不跑题。

2、要综合考虑各个段落的内容安排，避免段落内容的交叉。

3、用好连接词，注意段落间、句子间的连贯性。要做到所写文章层次分明，思路清晰，文字连贯，就需要在句与句之间、段与段之间架起一座座桥梁，而连接词起的正是桥梁作用。

在扩展的过程中也有些窍门，以下几点可供参考：

1、在整篇文章中，避免只是用一两个句式或重复用同一词语。英语中存在着极为丰富的同义词，准确地使用同义词可以给读者清新的感觉。同时要灵活运用各种句式，如倒装句、强调句、省略句、主从复合句、对比句、分词短语、介词短语等，从而增加文章的可读性。

2、使用不同长度的句子。如果一个意思用一句话写不清楚的话，通过分句和合句或用两句、三句来表达，增强句子的连贯性和表现力。

3、改变句子的开头方式，不要总是以主、谓、宾、状的次序。可以把状语至于句首，或用分词等。

4、学会使用过渡词。递进furthermore，moreover，besides，in addition，then，etc ;转折however，but，nevertheless，afterwards，etc ;总结finally，at last，in brief，to conclude，etc ;强调really，indeed，certainly，surely，above a11，etc ;对比in the same way，just as，on the other hand，etc。

5、确定文章用第几人称写，基本时态是什么。使用人称时人物不能张冠李戴或指代不明。时态要尽量保持一致。

检查修改：要检查复核，不要写完了事。

要留时间通读全文，修改可能出现的错误。检查上下文是否连贯，句子衔接是否自然流畅。检验的标准主要是句子是否通畅，该用连词的地方用了没有，所用的连词是否合适，是否有语法错误，主谓是否一致，动词的时态、语态、语气的使用是否正确，词组的搭配是否合乎习惯，是否有大小写、拼写、标点错误等，还有就是注意卷面整洁。

可归纳为：中心突出，主题明确;层次清楚，条理清晰;表达

what should we thank?

the thankful great universe provides the environment of existence for us and give us sunlight, air, water and everything in keeping with we existence of space, bring storm to let us accept to toughen for us, bring to us mysterious let us look for.

the thankful parents give us the life, make us feel the merriment of the human life, feel the genuine feeling of the human life, feel the comity of the human life, feel happiness of the human life, also feel hardships and pain and sufferings of the human life!

the thankful teacher works with diligence and without fatigue everyday of teach, give us knowledge ability, put on the wing which flies toward the ideal for us.

the thankful classmate and friend grows up road of, let i no longer standing alone in the itinerary of life; the with gratitude is frustrated and let us become in a time the failure stronger.

[感恩节英语作文写作

导语：事实上，我们仍然可以做很多事情为节能社会做点事，下面是yuwenmi小编为大家整理的优秀英语作文，欢迎阅读与借鉴，谢谢!

Recently，there has been an activity of “doing your bit for an energy-saving society” in our school. Our schoolmates are highly concerned about the increasing lack of energy and provide their own suggestions.

Some students suggest that we shouldn’t waste any food or paper, though they appear very easy to get. Meanwhile, some other students think it advisable to refuse to use disposable chopsticks and plastic bags. Besides, it is also strongly recommended that those used textbooks as well as reference books of graduates, which are still in good condition, not be thrown but recycled.

Actually, there are still quite a lot that we can easily do: say, try to take buses or ride bicycles instead of driving cars, etc. All of these will definitely help to build an energy-saving society.

【参考译文】

最近，我们学校有一个“为节能社会做点事”的活动。我们的同学高度关注日益增长的能源不足，并提出自己的建议。

一些学生建议我们不应该浪费任何食物或纸，虽然他们看起来很容易得到。同时，一些学生认为最好不要使用一次性筷子和塑料袋。此外，还强烈建议，那些使用的教科书和参考书的毕业生，仍然处于良好状态，而不是扔，但回收。

事实上，我们仍然可以做很多事情：比如，乘公共汽车或骑自行车而不是开车等，这些都有助于建设节约型社会。

下面的材料旨在丰富学生在是非问题写作方面的思想和语言，考生在复习时可以先分类阅读这些篇章，然后尝试写相关方面的作文题。

对于素材中用黑体字的部分，特别建议你熟读，背诵，因为它们在语言和观点上都值得吸收。学习语言的人应该明白，表达能力和思想深度都靠日积月累，潜移默化。从某种意义上说，提高英语写作能力无捷径可走，你必须大段背诵英语文章才能逐渐形成语感和用英语进行表达的能力。这一关，没有任何人能代替你过。

因此，建议你下点苦功夫，把背单词的精神拿出来背诵文章。何况，并不是要求你背了之后永远牢记在心：你可以这个星期背，下个星期忘。这没有关系，相信你的大脑具有神奇的能力。背了工具箱里的文章后，你会惊讶的发现：I can think in English now！

1.?????? Proverbs

1. A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that individuality is the key to success.

2. The primary purpose of a liberal education is to make one’s mind a pleasant place in which to spend one’s time.

3. Next in importance to freedom and justice is popular education, without which neither freedom nor justice can be permanently maintained.

4. The classroom--not the trench--is the frontier of freedom now and forevermore.

5. Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.

6. It is the purpose of education to help us become autonomous, creative, inquiring people who have the will and intelligence to create our own destiny.

7. You see, real ongoing, lifelong education doesn’t answer questions; it provokes them.

8. People will pay more to be entertained than educated.

9.the most important function of education at any level is to develop the personality of the individual and the significance of his life to himself and to others. This is the basic architecture of a life; the rest is ornamentation and decoration of the structure.

10. The essence of our efforts to see that every child has a chance must be to assure each as equal opportunity, not to become equal, but to become different-to realize whatever unique potential of body, mind, and spirit he or she possesses.

11. A great teacher never strives to explain his vision-he simply invites you to stand beside him and see for yourself.

12. If you can read and don’, you are an illiterate by choice.

2. Damaging Research

A study by National Parent-Teacher Organization revealed that in the average American school, eighteen negatives are identified for every positive that is pointed out. The Wisconsin study revealed that when children enter the first grade, 80 percent of them feel pretty good themselves, but by the time they get to the sixth grade, only 10 percent of them have good self-images.

3. Education and Citizenship

An important aspect of education in the United States is the relationship between education and citizenship. Throughout its history this nation has emphasized public education as a means of transmitting democratic values, creating equality of opportunity, and preparing new generations of citizens to function in society. In addition, the schools have been expected to help shape society itself. During the 1950s, for example, efforts to combat racial segregation focused on the schools. Later, when the Soviet Union launched the first orbiting satellite, American schools and colleges came under intense pressure and were offered many incentives to improve their science and mathematics programs so that the nations would not fall behind the Soviet Union in scientific and technological capabilities.

Education is often viewed as a tool for solving social problems, especially social inequality. The schools, t is thought, can transform young people from vastly different backgrounds into competent, upwardly mobile adults. Yet these goals seem almost impossible to attain. In recent years, in fact, public education has been at the center of numerous controversies arising from the gap between the ideal and the reality. Part of the problem is that different groups in society have different have different expectations. Some feel that children should be taught basic job-related skills; still others believe education should not only prepare children to compete in society but also help them maintain their cultural identity (and, in the case of Hispanic children, their language). On the other hand, policymakers concerned with education emphasize the need to increase the level of student achievement and to improve parents in their children’s education.

Some reformers and critics have called attention to the need to link formal schooling with programs designed to address social problems. Sociologist Charles Moscos, for example, is a leader in the movement to expand programs like the Peace Corps, Vista, and Outward Bound into a system of voluntary national service. National service, as Moscos defines it, would entail “the full-time undertaking of public duties by young people whether as citizen soldiers or civilian servers-who are paid subsistence wages” and serve for at least one year. In return for this period of service, the volunteers would receive assistance in paying for college or other educational expenses.

Advocates of national service and school-to-work programs believe that education does not have to be confined to formal schooling. In devising strategies to provide opportunities for young people to serve their society, they emphasize the educational value of citizenship experiences gained outside the classroom. At this writing there is little indication that national service will become a new educational institution in the United States, although the concept is steadily gaining support among educators and social critics.

4. The Teacher’s Role

Given the undeniable importance of classroom experience, sociologists have done a considerable amount of research on what goes on in the classroom. Often they start from the premise that, along with the influence of peers, students’ experiences in the classroom are of central importance to their later development. One study examined the impact of a single first-grade teacher on her students’ subsequent adult status. The surprising results of this study have important implications. It is evident that good teachers can make a big difference in children’s lives, a fact that gives increased urgency to the need to improve the quality of primary-school teaching. The reforms carried out by educational leaders like James Comer suggest that when good teaching is combined with high levels of parental involvement the results can be even more dramatic.

Because the role of the teacher is to change the learner in some way, the teacher-student relationship is an important part of education. Sociologists have pointed out that this relationship is asymmetrical or unbalanced, with the teacher being in a position of authority and the student having little choice but to passively absorb the information provided by the teacher. In other words, in conventional classrooms there is little opportunity for the students to become actively involved in the learning process. On the other hand, students often develop strategies for undercutting the teacher’s authority: mentally withdrawing, interrupting, and the like. Hence, much current research assumes that students and teachers influence each other instead of assuming that the influence is always in a single direction.

5. Education Philosophy

For the past fifty years our schools have operated on the theories of John Dewey (1859-1953), an American educator and writer. Dewey believed hat the school’s job was to enhance the natural development of the growing child, rather than to pour information, for which the child had no context, into him or her. In the Dewey system, the child becomes the active agent in his own education, rather than a passive receptacle for facts.

Consequently, American schools are very enthusiastic about teaching “life skills” –logical thinking, analysis, creative problem--solving. The actual content of the lessons is secondary to the process, which is supposed to train the child to be able to handle whatever life may present, including all the unknowns of the future. Students and teachers both regard pure memorization as an uncreative and somewhat vulgar.

In addition to “life skills”, schools are assigned to solve the ever growing stoke of social problems. Racism, teenage pregnancy, alcoholism, drug use, reckless driving, and are just a few of the modern problems that have appeared on the school curriculum.

This all contributes to a high degree of social awareness in American youngsters.

6. Student Life

To the students, the most notable difference between elementary school and the higher levels is that in junior high they start “changing classes”. This means that rather than spending the day in one classroom, they switch classrooms to meet their different teachers. This gives them three or four minutes between classes in the hallways, where a great deal of the important social action of high school traditionally takes place. Students have lockers in these hallways, around which thy congregate.

Society in general does not take the business of studying very seriously. Schoolchildren have a great deal of free time, which they are encouraged to fill with extracurricular activities—sports, clubs, cheerleading, scouts—supposed to inculcate such qualities as leadership, sportsmanship, ability to organize, etc. those who don’t become engaged in such activities or have afterschool jobs have plenty of opportunity to “hang out”, listen to teenager music, and watch television.

Compared to other nations, American students do not have much homework. Studies also show that American parents have lower expectations for their children’s success in school than other nationalities do. (Historically, there has not been much correlation between American school success and success in later life.) “He’s just not a scholar”, the American parents might say, content that their son is on the swim team and doesn’t take drugs. (Some of the young do choose to study hard, for reason of their own, such as determining that the road to riches lies through Harvard Business School.)

What American schools do effectively teach is the competitive method. In innumerable ways children are pitted against each other—whether in classroom discussion, spelling bees, reading groups, or tests. Every classroom is expected to produce a scattering of A’s and F’s (teachers often grade A=excellent; B=good; C=average; D=poor; and F=failed). A teacher who gives all A’s looks too soft—so students are aware that they are competing for the limited number of top marks.

Foreign students sometimes don’t understand that copying from other people’s papers or from books is considered wrong and taken seriously. Here, it is important to show that you have done your own work and are displaying your own knowledge. It is more important than helping your friends to pass, whom we think do not deserve to pass unless they can provide their own answers. Group effort goes against the competitive grain, and American students do not study together as many Asians do. Many Asians in this country consider their group study habits a large contributor to their school success.

7. Adult Education

After complaining about many aspects of American life, a 40-year-old woman from Hong Kong concluded, “But where else could someone my age go back to school and get a degree in social work? Here you can change your whole life, start a new business, do what you really want to do.”

So at least to this person, school requirements weren’t inhibiting. And to millions of others, adult education is the path to a new career, or if not to a new career, to a new outlook. Schools generally encourage the older person who wants to start anew, and besides regular classes, schedule evening classes in special programs. Today there are so many people of retirement age in college that it is no longer remarkable.

8. Moral Relativism in American

Improving American education requires not doing new things but doing (and remembering) some good old things. At the time of our nation’s founding, Thomas Jefferson listed the requirements for a sound education in the Report of the Commissioners for the University of Virginia. In this landmark statement on American education, Jefferson wrote of the importance of education and writing, and of reading history, and geography. But he also emphasized the need “to instruct the mass of our citizens in these, their rights, interests, and duties, as men and citizens.” Jefferson believed education should aim at the improvement of both one’s “morals” and “faculties”. That has been the dominant view of the aims of American education for over two centuries. But a number of changes, most of them unsound, have diverted schools from these great pursuits. And the story of the loss of the school’s original moral mission explains a great deal.

Starting in the early seventies, “values clarification” programs started turning up in schools all over America. According to this philosophy, the schools were not to take part in their time-honored task of transmitting sound moral values; rather, they were to allow the child to “clarify” his own values (which adults, including parents, had no “rights” to criticize). The “values clarification” movement didn’t clarify values; it clarified wants and desires. This form of moral relativism said, in effect, that no set of values was right or wrong; everybody had an equal right to his own values; and all values were subjective, relative, and personal. This destructive view took hold with a vengeance.

In 1985 The York Times published an article quoting New York area educators, in slavish devotion to this new view, proclaiming, “They deliberately avoid trying to tell students what is ethically right and wrong.” The article told of one counseling session involving fifteen high school juniors and seniors. In the course of that session a student concluded that a fellow student had been foolish to return one thousand dollars she found in a purse at school. According to the article, when the youngsters asked the counselor’s opinion, “He told them he believed the girl had done the right thing, but that, of course, he would not try to force his values on them. ‘If I come from the position of what is wrong,’ he explained, ‘then I’m not their counselor.’”

Once upon a time, a counselor offered counselor, and he knew that an adult does not form character in the young by taking a stance of neutrality toward questions of right and wrong or by merely offering “choices” or “options”.

In response to the belief that adults and educators should teach children sound morals, one can expect from some quarters indignant objections (I’ve heard one version of it expressed countless times over the years): “Who are you to say what’s important?” or “Whose standards and judgments do we use?”

The correct response, it seems to me, is, is we ready to do away with standards and judgments? Is anyone going to argue seriously that a life of cheating and swindling is as worthy as a life of honest, hard work? Is anyone (with the exception of some literature professors at our elite universities) going to argue seriously the intellectual corollary, that a Marvel comic book is as good as Macbeth? Unless we are willing to embrace some pretty silly position, we’ve got to admit the need for moral and intellectual standards. The problem is that some people tend to regard anyone who would pronounce a definitive judgment as an unsophisticated Philistine or a closed-minded “elitist” trying to impose his view on everybody else.

The truth of the real world is that without standards and judgments, there can be no progress. Unless we are prepared to say irrational things—that nothing can be proven more valuable than anything else or that everything is equally worthless—we must ask the normative question. It may come, as a surprise to those who fell that to be “progressive” is to be value-neutral. But as Matthew Amold said, “the world is forwarded by having its attention fixed on the best things” and if the world can’t decide what the best things are, at least to some degree, then it follows that progress, and character, is in trouble. We shouldn’t be reluctant to declare that some things, some lives, books, ideas, and values are better than others. It is the responsibility of the schools to teach these better things.

At one time, we weren’t so reluctant to teach them. In the mid-nineteenth century, a diverse, widespread group of crusaders began to work for the public support of what was then called the “common school”, the forerunner of the public school. They were to be charged with the mission of school felt that the nation could fulfill its destiny only if every new generation was taught these values together in a common institution.

The leaders of the common school movement were mainly citizens who were prominent in their communities—businessmen, ministers, local civic and government officials. These people saw the schools as upholders of standards of individual morality and small incubators of civic and personal virtue; the founders of the public schools had faith that public education could teach good moral and civic character from a common ground of American values.

But in the past quarter century or so, some of the so-called experts became experts of value neutrality, and moral education was increasingly left in their hands. The commonsense view of parents and the publicthat schools should reinforce rather than undermine the values of home, family, and country, was increasingly rejected.

There are those today still that claim we are now too diverse a nation, that we consist of too many competing convictions and interests to instill common values. They are wrong. Of course we are a diverse people. We have always been a diverse people. And as Madison wrote in FederalistNo.10, the competing, balancing interests of a diverse people can help ensure the survival of liberty. But there are values that all American citizens share and that we should want all American students to know and to make their own: honesty, fairness, self-discipline, fidelity to task, friends, and family, personal responsibility, love of country, and belief in the principles of liberty, equality, and the freedom to practice one’s faith. The explicit teaching of these values is the legacy of the common schools, and it is a legacy to which we must return.

9. Schools Should Teach Values

People often said, “Yes, we should teach these values, but how do we teach them?” this question deserves a candid response, one that isn’t given often enough. It is by exposing our children to good character and inviting its imitation that we will transmit to them a moral foundation. This happens when teachers and principals, by their words and actions, embody sound convictions. As Oxford’s Mary Warnock has written, “You cannot teach morality without being committed to morality yourself; and you cannot be committed to morality yourself without holding that some things are right and others wrong.” The theologian Martin Buber wrote that the educator is distinguished from all other influences “by his will to take part in the stamping of character and by his consciousness that he represents in the eyes of the growing person a certain selection of what is, the selection of what is ‘right’, of what should be.” It is in this will, Buber says, in this clear standing for something, that the “vocation as an educator finds its fundamental expression.”

There is no escaping the fact that young people need as example principals and teachers who know the difference between right and wrong, good and bad, and who themselves exemplify high moral purpose.

As Education Secretary, I visited a class at Waterbury Elementary School in Waterbury, Vermont, and asked the students, “Is this a good school?” They answered, “Yes, this is a good school.” I asked them, “Why?” Among other things, one eight-year-old said, “The principal Mr. Riegel, makes good rules and everybody obeys them.” So I said, “Give me an example.” And another answered, “You can’t climb on the pipes in the bathroom. We don’t climb on the pipes and the principal doesn’t either.”

This example is probably too simple to please a lot of people who want to make the topic of moral education difficult, but there is something profound in the answer of those children, something education should pay more attention to. You can’t expect children to take messages about rules or morality seriously unless they see adults taking those rules seriously in their day-to-day affairs. Certain must be said, certain limits lay down, and certain examples set. There is no other way.

We should also do a better job at curriculum selection. The research shows that most “values education” exercises and separate courses in “moral reasoning” tend not to affect children’s behavior; if anything, they may leave children morally adrift. Where to turn? I believe our literature and our history are a rich quarry of moral literacy. We should mine that quarry. Children should have at their disposal a stock of examples illustrating what we believe to be right and wrong, good and bad—examples illustrating what are morally right and wrong can indeed be known and that there is a difference.

What kind of stories, historical events, and famous lives am I talking about? If we want our children to know about honesty, we should teach them about Abe Lincoln walking three miles to return six cents and conversely, about Aesop’s shepherd boy who cried wolf if we want them to know about courage, we should teach them about Joan of Arc, Horatius at the bridge, and Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. If we want them to know about persistence in the face of adversity, they should know about the voyages of Columbus and the character of Washington during the Civil War. And our youngest should be told about the Little Engine That Could. If we want them to know about respect for the law, they should understand why Socrates told Crito: “No, I must submit to the decree of Athens.” If we want our children to respect the rights of others, they should read the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Gettysburg Address, and Martin Luther King, Jr.’ “Letter from Birmingham jail.” From the Bible they should know about Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi, Joseph’s forgiveness of his brothers, Jonathan’s friendship with David, the Good Samaritan’s kindness toward a stranger, and David’s cleverness and courage in facing Goliath.

These are only a few of the hundreds of examples we can call on. And we need not get into issues like nuclear war, abortion, creationism, or euthanasia. This may come as a disappointment to some people, but the fact is that the formation of character in young people is educationally a task different from, and prior to, the discussion of the great, difficult controversies of the day. First things come first. We should teach values the same way we teach other things: one step at a time. We should not use the fact that there are many difficult and controversial moral questions as an argument against basic instruction in the subject.

After all, we do not argue against teaching physics because laser physics is difficult, against teaching American history because there are heated disputes about the Founders’ intent. Every field has its complexities and its controversies. And every field has its basics, its fundamentals. So they are too with forming character and achieving moral literacy. As any parent knows, teaching character is a difficult task. But it is a crucial task, because we want our children to be healthy, happy, and successful but decent, strong, and good. None of this happens automatically; there is no genetic transmission of virtue. It takes the conscious, committed efforts of adults. It takes careful attention.

10. College Pressures

Mainly I try to remind that the road ahead is a long one and that it will have more unexpected turns than they think. There will be plenty of time to change jobs, change careers, change whole attitudes and approaches. They don not want to hear such liberating news. They want a map—right now – that they can follow unswervingly to career security, financial security, Social Security and, presumably, a prepaid grave.

What I wish for all students is some release from the clammy grip of the future. I wish them a chance to savor each segment of their education as an experience in itself and not as a grim preparation for the next step. I wish them the right to experiment, to trip and fall, to learn that defeat is as instructive as victory and is not the end of the world.

My wish, of course, is na?ve. One of the national gods venerated in our media—the million-dollar athlete, the wealthy executive—and glorified in our praise of possessions. In the presence of such a potent state religion, the young are growing up old.

I see four kinds of pressure working on college students today: economic pressure, parental pressure, peer pressure, and self-induced pressure. It is easy to look around for villains—to blame the colleges for charging too much money, the professors for assigning too much work, the parents for pushing their children too far, and the students for driving themselves too hard. But there are no villains: only victims.

“In the late 1960s.” one dean told me. “The typical question that I got from students was ‘Why is there so much suffering in the world’ or ‘how I can make a contribution?’ Today it’s ‘Do you think it would look better for getting into law school if I did a double major in history and political science, or just majored in one of them?’” many other deans confirmed this pattern. One said: “They are trying to find an edge—the intangible something that will look better on paper if two students are about equal.”

Note the emphasis on looking better. The transcript has become a sacred document, the passport to security. How one appears on paper is more important than how one appears in person. A is for Admirable and B is for Borderline, even though, in Yale’s official system of grading, A means “excellent” and B means “very good.” Today, looking very good is no longer good enough, especially for students who hope to go on to law school or medical school. They know that entrance into the better schools will be an entrance into the better law firms and better medical practices where they will make a lot of money. They also know that the odds are harsh. Yale Law School, for instance, matriculates 170students from an applicant pool of 3,700; Harvard enrolls 550 from a pool of 7,000.

It’s all very well for those of us who write letters of recommendation for our students to stress the qualities of humanity that will make them good lawyers or doctors. And it’s nice to think that admission officers are ready reading our letters and looking for the extra dimension of commitment or concern. Still, it would be hard for a student not to visualize these officers shuffling so many transcripts studded with As that they regard a B as positively shameful.

The pressure is almost as heavy on students who just want to graduate and get a job. Long gone are the days of the “gentleman’s C.” when students journeyed through college with a certain relaxation, sampling a wide variety of courses-music, art, philosophy, classics, anthropology, poetry, religion—that would send them out as liberally educated men and women. If I were an employer I would rather employ graduates who have this range and curiosity than those who narrowly pursued safe subjects and high grades. I know countless students whose inquiring minds exhilarate me. I like to hear the play of their ideas. I do not know if they are getting As or Cs, and I do not care. I also like them as people. The country needs them, and they will find satisfying jobs. I tell them to relax. They cannot.

Nor can I blame them. They live in a brutal economy. Tuition, room, and board at most private colleges now come to at least $7,000, not counting books and fees. This might seem to suggest that the colleges are getting rich. But they are equally battered by inflation. Tuition covers only 60 percent of what it costs to educate a student, and ordinarily the remainder comes from what college receives in endowments, grants, and gifts. Now, the remainder keeps being swallowed by the cruel costs—higher every year—of just opening the doors. Heating oil is up. Insurance is up. Postage is up. Health-premium costs are up. Everything is up. Deficits are up. We are witnessing in American the creation of a brotherhood of paupers—colleges, parents, and students, joined by the common bond of debt.

Today it is not unusual for a student, even if he works part time at college and full time during the summer, to accrue $5,000 in loans after four years—loans that he must start to repay within one year after graduation. Exhorted at commencement to go forth into the world, he is already behind as he goes forth. How could he not feel under pressure throughout college to prepare for this day of reckoning? I have used “he,” incidentally, only for brevity. Women at Yale are under no less pressure to justify their expensive education to themselves, their parents, and society. In fact, they are probably under more pressure. For although they leave college superbly equipped to bring fresh leadership to traditionally male jobs, society has not yet caught up with this fact.

Along with economic pressure goes parental pressure. Inevitably, the two are deeply intertwined.

I see many students taking pre-medical courses with joyless tenacity. They go off to their labs as if they were going to the dentist. It saddens me because I know tem in other corners of their life as cheerful people.

“Do you want to medical school?” I asked them.

“I guess so,” they say, without conviction, or “Not really.”

“Then why are you going?”

“Well, my parents want me to be a doctor. They are paying all this money and …”

Poor students, poor parents, they are caught in one of the oldest webs of love and duty and guilt. The parents mean will; they are trying to steer their sons and draughts toward a secure future. But the sons and daughter want to major in history or classics or philosophy—subjects with no “practical” value. Where’s the payoff on the humanities? It’s not easy to persuade such loving parents that the humanities do indeed pay off. The intellectual faculties developed by studying subjects like history and classics—an ability to synthesize and relate, to weigh cause and effect, to see events in perspective—are just the faculties that make creative leaders in business or almost any general field. Still, many fathers would rather put their money on courses that point toward specific profession—courses that are pre-law, pre-medical, pre-business, or, as I sometimes heard it put, “pre-rich.”

But the pressure on students is severe. They are truly torn. One part of them feels obliged to fulfill their parents’ expectations; after all, their parents are older and presumably wiser. Another part tells them that the expectations that are right for their parents are not right for them.

I know a student who wants to be an artist. She is very obviously an artist and will be a good one—she has already had several modest local exhibits. Meanwhile she is growing as a well-round person and taking humanistic subjects that will enrich the inner resources out of which her art will grow. But her father is strongly opposed. He thinks that an artist is a “dumb” thing to be. The student vacillates and tries to please everybody. She keeps up with her art somewhat furtively and takes some of the “dumb” courses her father wants her to take—at least they are dumb courses for her. She is a free spirit on a campus of tense students—no small achievement in it—and she deserves to follow her muse.

Peer pressure and self-induced pressure are also intertwined, and they begin almost at the beginning of freshman year.

“I had a freshman student I’ll call Linda,” one dean told me, “who came in and said she was under terrible pressure because her roommate, Barbara, was much brighter and studied all the time. I could not tell her that Barbara had come in two hours earlier to say the same thing about Linda.”

The story is almost funny—except that it is not. It is symptomatic of all the pressure put together. When every student thinks every other student is working harder and doing better, the only solution is to study harder still. I see students going off to the library every night after dinner and coming back when it closes at midnight. I wish they would sometimes forget about their peers and go to a movie. I hear the clacking of typewriters in the hours before dawn. I see the tension in their eyes when exams are approaching and papers are due: “Will I get everything done?”

Probably they won’t. They will get blocked. They will sleep. They will oversleep. They will bug out.

Part of the problem is that they are expected to do. A professor will assign five page papers. Several students will start writing ten page papers to impress him. Then more students will write ten page papers, and a few will raise the ante to fifteen. Pity the poor student who is still just doing the assignment.

“Once you have twenty or thirty percent of the student population deliberately overexerting,” one dean points out, “It’s bad for everybody. When a teacher gets more and more effort from his class, the student who is doing normal work can be perceived as not doing well. The tactic work, psychologically.”

Why cannot the professor just cut back and not accept longer papers? He can, and he probably will. But by then the term will be half over and the damage done. Grade fever is highly contagious and not easily reversed. Besides, the professor’s main concern is with his course. He knows his students only in relation to the course and does not know that they are also overexerting in their other courses. Nor is it really his business. He did not sign up for dealing with the student as a whole person and with all the emotional baggage the student brought along from home. That’s what deans, masters, chaplains, and psychiatrists are for.

To some extent this is nothing new: a certain number of professors have always been self-contained islands of scholarship and shyness, more comfortable with books than with people. But the new pauperism has widened the gap still further, for professors who actually like to spend time with students do not have as much time to spend. They are also overexerting. If they are young, they are busy trying to publish in order not to perish, hanging by their figure nails onto a shrinking profession.

If they are old and tenured, they are buried under the duties of administering departments—as departmental chairmen or members of committees—that have been thinned out by the budgetary axe.

Ultimately it will be the students’ own business to break the circles in which they are trapped. They are too young to be prisoners of their parents’ dreams and their classmates’ fears. They must be jolted into believing into themselves as unique men and women who have the power to shape their own future.

“Violence is being done to the undergraduate experience,” says Carlos Hortas. “College should be open-ended: at the end it should open many, many roads. Instead, students are choosing their goal in advance, and their choices narrow as they go along. It’s almost as if they think that the country has been codified in the type of jobs that exist-that they’ve got to fit into certain slots. Therefore, fit into the best paying slot.”

“They ought to take chances. Not taking chances will lead to life of colorless mediocrity. They’ll be comfortable. But something in the spirit will be missing.”

I have painted too drab a portrait of today’s students, making them seem a solemn lot. That is only half of their story; if they were so dreary I wouldn’t so thoroughly enjoy their company. The other half is that they are easy to like. They are quick to laugh and to offer friendship. They are not introverts. They are usually kind and are more considerate of one another than any student generation I have known.

Nor are they so obsessed with their studies that they avoid sports and extracurricular activities. On the contrary, they juggle their crowded hours to play on a variety of teams, perform with musical and dramatic groups, and write for campus publications. But this in turn is one more cause of anxiety. There are too many choices. Academically, they have 1,300 courses to select from; outside class they have to decide how much spare time they can spare and how to spend it.

This means that they engage in fewer extracurricular pursuits than their predecessors did. If they want to row on the crew and play in the symphony they will eliminate one; in the ‘60s they would have done both. They also tend to choose activities that are self-limiting. Drama, for instance, is flourishing in all twelve of Yale’s residential colleges, as it never has before. Students hurl themselves into these productions—as actors, directors, carpenters, and technicians—with a dedication to create the best possible play, knowing that the day will come when the run will end and they can get back to their studies.

They also cannot afford to be the willing slave of organizations like the Yale Daily News. Last spring at the one-hundredth anniversary banquet of that paper—who’s past chairmen include such once and future kings as Potter Stewart, Kingman Brewster, and William F. Buckley, Jr.—much was made of the fact that the editorial staff used to be small and totally committed and that “newsies” routinely worked fifty hours a week. In effect they belonged to a club; Newsies is how they defined themselves at Yale. Today’s students will one or two articles a week, when he can, and he defines himself as a student. I’ve never heard the word Newsie except at the banquet.

If I have described the modern undergraduate primarily as a driven creature who is largely ignoring the blithe spirit inside who keeps trying to come out and play, it’s because that’s where the crunch is, not only at Yale but throughout American education. It’s why I think we should all be worried about the values that are nurturing a generation so fearful of risk and so goal-obsessed at such an early age.

I tell students that there is no one “right” way to get ahead—that each of them is a different person, starting from a different point and bound for a different destination. I tell neither them that change is a tonic and that all the slots are not codified nor the frontiers closed. One of my ways of telling them is to invite men and women who have achieved success outside the academic world to come and talk informally with my students during the year. They are heads of companies or ad agencies, editors of magazines, politicians, public officials, television magnates, labor leaders, business executives, Broadway products, artists, writers, economists, photographers, scientists, historians—a mixed bag of achievers.

I asked them to say a few words about how they got started. The students assume that they started in their present profession and knew all along that it was what they wanted to do. Luckily for me, most of them got into their field by a circuitous route, to their surprise, after many detours. The students are startled. They can hardly conceive of a career that was not pre-planned. They can hardly imagine allowing the hand of God or chance to nudge them down some unforeseen trail.

11. To Err Is Wrong

In the summer of 1979, Boston Red Sox first baseman Carl Yastrzemski became the fifteenth player in baseball history to reach the three thousand hit plateaus. This event drew a lot of media attention, and for about a week prior to the attainment of this goal, hundreds of reports covered Yaz’s every more. Finally, one reporter asked, “Hey Yaz, aren’t you afraid all of this attention will go to your head?” Yastrzemski replied, “I look at this way: in my career I’ve been up to bat over ten thousand times. That means I’ve been unsuccessful at the plate over seven thousand times. That fact alone keeps me from getting a swollen head.”?

Most people consider success and failure as opposites, but they are actually both products of the same process. As Yaz suggest, an activity that produces a hit may also produce a miss. It is the same with creative thinking; the same energy that generates good creative ideas also produces errors.

Many people, however, are not comfortable with errors. Our educational system, based on “the right answer” belief, cultivates our thinking in another, more conservative way. From an early age, we are taught that right answers are good and incorrect answers are bad. This value is deeply embedded in the incentive system used in most schools:

Right over 90% of the time = “A”

Right over 80% of the time = “B~”

Right over 70% of the time = “C~” Right over 60% of the time = “D~” Less than 60% correct, you fail.

From this we learn to be right as often as possible and to keep our mistakes to a minimum. We learn, in other words, that “to err is wrong.

Playing It Safe

With this kind of attitude, you aren’t going to be taking too many chances. If you learn that failing even a litter penalizes you (e.g., being wrong only 15% of the time garners you only a “B” performance), you learn not to make mistakes. And more important, you learn not to put yourself to situation where you might fall. This leads to conservative thought pattern designed to avoid the stigma our society puts on “failure”.

I have a friend who recently graduated from college with a Master’s degree in Journalism. For the last six month, she has been trying to find a job, but to no avail. I talked with her about situation, and realized that her problem is that she doesn’t know how to fail. She went through eighteen years of schooling to try any approaches where she might fail. She has been conditioned to believe that failure is bad in and of itself, rather than a potential stepping-stone to new ideas.

Look around. How many middle managers, housewives, administrators, teachers, and other people do you see who are to try anything new because of this failure? Most of us have learned not to make mistakes in public. As a result, we remove ourselves from many learning experience except for those occurring in the most private of circumstances.

Different Logic

From a practical point of view, “to err is wrong” makes sense. Our survival in the everyday world requires us to perform thousand of small tasks without failure. Think about it: you wouldn’t last very long if you were to step out in front of traffic or stick your hand a pot of boiling water. In addition, engineers whose bridges collapse, stock brokers who lose money for their clients, and copywriters whose ad campaigns decrease sales won’t keep their jobs very long.

Nevertheless, too great an adherence to the belief “to err is wrong” can greatly undermine your attempts to generate new ideas. If you are more concerned with producing right answers than generating original ideas, you’ll probably make uncritical use of the rules, formulae, and procedures used to obtain these right answers. By doing this, you’ll by-pass the germinal phase of the creative process, and thus spend litter time testing assumptions, challenging the rules, asking what-if questions, or just playing around with the problem. All of these techniques will produce some incorrect answers, but in the germinal phase errors are viewed as a necessary by-product of creative thinking. As Yaz would put it, “if you want the hits, be prepared for the misses.” That’s the way the game of life goes.

Errors as Stepping Stones

Whenever an error pops up, the usual response is “Jeez, another screw up, what went wrong this time?” the creative thinker, on the other hand, will realize the potential value of errors, and perhaps say something like, “Would you look at that! Where can it lead our thinking?” and then he or she will go on to use the error as a stepping stone to a new idea. As a matter of fact, the whole history of discovery is filed with people who used erroneous assumptions and failed ideas as stepping-stones to new ideas. Columbus thought he was finding a shorter route to India. Johannes Kepler stumbled on to the idea of interplanetary gravity because of assumptions that were right for the wrong reasons. And, Thomas Edison knew 1800 ways not to build a light bulb.

The following story about the automotive genius Charles Kettering exemplifies the spirit of working through erroneous assumptions to good ideas. In 1912, when the automobile industry was just beginning to grow, Kettering was interested in improving gasoline engine efficiency. The problem he faced was“knockthe phenomenon in which gasoline takes too long to burn in the cylinder-thereby reducing efficiency.

Kettering began searching for ways to eliminate the “knock.” He thought to him, “How can I get the gasoline to combust in the cylinder at an earlier time?” the key concept here is “early”. Searching for analogous situations, he looked around for models of “things that happen early.” He thought of historical models, physical models, and biological models. Finally, he remembered a particular plant, the trailing arbutus, which “happens early,” i.e., it blooms in the snow (“earlier” than other plants). One of this plant’s chief characteristics is its’ red leaves, which help the plant retain light at certain wavelengths. Kettering figured that it must be the red color, which made the trailing arbutus bloom earlier.

Now came the critical step in Kettering’s chain of thought. He asked himself, “How can I make the gasoline red?” perhaps I’ll put red dye in the gasoline—maybe that’ll make it combust earlier.” He looked around his workshop, and found that he didn’t have any red dye. But he did happen to have some iodine—perhaps that would do. He added the iodine to the gasoline and, lo and behold, the engine didn’t “knock”.

[英语作文写作的需要背诵的部分

Zhang Dong is my best friend. He is a boy. Both of us are good at English, so we often have a chat in English in our spare time. Besides,football is our favourite sport. We like watching football match. Zhang Dong works hard at his lessons. He often studies late into the night. No matter how tired he is, he insists on doing his homework. So he gets good marks in all his subjects. He loves popular songs and classical music, too.

There are three people in his family and he is the only child. His father is a doctor and his mother is a Beijing Opera actress. Though Zhang Dongs family is wealthy, he is usually simply dressed. He dreams of being a lawyer in the future.

Such is my friend, a clever and kind boy. I highly value the friendship with him.

张东是我最要好的朋友，他是个男孩。我们两个人都擅长英语，因此我们经常在课余时间用英语聊天。此外，我们两人都喜欢足球，爱看足球赛。张东学习很努力，他经常学习到深夜。不管他多么累，他都坚持完成他的功课，所以他各科功课都很好。他喜欢流行音乐，也喜欢古典音乐。

他家有三口人，他是独生子。父亲是个医生，母亲是个京剧演员。尽管张东家境比较富裕，但是他的穿着却十分朴素。他梦想将来当个律师。

这就是我的朋友，一个聪明、友好的男孩。我珍视同他之间的友谊。

1、先生们，女士们，请注意!

Ladies and gentlemen,attention please!

2、我有重要的事告诉你们。

I have something important to tell you.

3、今天下午3点在图书馆有一个讲座。

We are going to have a lecture in the library at 3:00 this afternoon.

4、演讲者是一个美国教授。

The speaker will bean American professor.

5、他将谈论空气污染的问题。

He will talk about air pollution.

6、请大家按时到场。

Please be there on time.

7、我要说的就这些，谢谢!

That’s all. Thank you!

8、你最近怎么样?

How have you been recently?

9、我写信是要告诉你一个好消息。

I am writing to tell you a piece of good news.

10、希望早日收到你的回复。

I am looking forward to your early reply.

俗话说“千古文章意为高”高考作文最忌讳人云亦云，没有个性、没有特色。“删繁就简三秋树，领异标新二月花”写作怎么能想别人之所未想，发别人之所未发，让自己的作文在“繁花三千”中脱颖而出呢？怎么能独树一帜，赢得高分呢？

1、四好战略是前提

1）一个好的标题

题目是文章的眼睛。一个亮丽的题目，往往给人赏心悦目的感觉。简洁、清晰、生动、新颖是题目亮丽的要素。一个醒目鲜活的文题，往往是内容的高度概括。它可以总领全文，不但会照亮整篇作文，还会照亮阅卷者的心灵。而拟题的技巧多种多样，有修辞法、公式法、字母符号法等。而修辞法则是最能使题目异彩飞扬的一种。如《在我指头跳跃的阳光》、《人生若只如初见》、《流泪的紫水晶》、《海棠依旧？绿肥红瘦？》等，看到这样的文题。阅卷老师的眼睛怎不会为之一亮？心灵怎不会为之一震？

2）一个好的开头

一般来说，文章开头力求做到一简二美三有哲理。简，就是开篇语言简洁，直奔主题。使读者一目了然；美，就是开头的语言能给人以美感，或文采斐然，或意境深远，或情趣盎然，使读者心灵产生共振。哲理，是一种深度，一种高度，如果都做到了，那效果肯定错不了。开头的方法有很多如：趣事，引人人胜；引用名句，起点高远；排比句，气势磅礴；设问句，发人深思。高考作文，由于受时间字数的限制，最好是“开门见山”，直奔主题。

3）一个好的结尾

古人云，结句当如撞钟，清音有余，结尾是文章结构的有机组成部分，是文章的收笔处和落脚点，是全文的归宿。任何虎头蛇尾的文章，都很难引起读者的审美情感，很难获取高分。结尾的方法也很多：总结全文，以揭示主旨；展示未来，以鼓舞斗志；抒发情怀，以增强文章感染力，当然，最好要首尾呼应，整合一体。

4）一手好字

见字如见人，一手好字能给人一种很直观的美感，就算文章写的不错，主题鲜明，文字优美，意境深远，但是很难让人有读下去的欲望。要记得，书写是文章的服饰，标点是文章的呼吸，丑陋是永远打不赢的“官司”。我们要尽最大的努力展示出自己的书写水平：一要端正，二要清楚。三要美观。标点也是文章准确表情达意的工具。不要只是“一点到底”。不要只会单纯地使用逗号、句号，一篇文章，应该能够准确、灵活、生动地使用六七种标点符号。书写美观了，“感情分”也就上去了！

2、新鲜的素材，完善的知识储备是关键

同学们都想做到作文见解新颖，材料新鲜，给读者以耳目一新的冲击力和震憾力。这就要求同学们不断感知和体验。有意识地在生活实践和课外阅读中仔细观察自然、观察社会，尤其是多观察各种各样的人，深入细致地体验生活、体验“喜怒哀乐忧”等各种情感，并把自己拥有的新鲜材料激活。

从阅读和生活中尽可能开阔视野，拓展知识、增加积累、提高自身的素养和知识面的深度，深入体验，才可能做到临场发挥“左右逢源”、“为我所用”。作文，追求和表现自己的个性，有了新鲜的材料，还要下功夫联系自己思想实际和生活实际来立意，做到这一点，写出自己的真情实感和真知灼见就很容易了。

3、反复锤炼语言是重点

语言是为内容服务的，但是，运用的语言鲜活而富有个性风格，就会使文章大放异彩。写作训练中要学会反复锤炼，努力做到词语生动、句式灵活，修辞方法恰当。概念化的、抽象的、生涩的词语尽可能少用，多用富有色彩、动感和情绪体验，能诉诸人的感官，调动人的形象思维，撞击人的情感世界的词语，学会用近义词和反义词来体现事物细微的差异和鲜明的对比。学会灵活得体地交替使用长句和短句、主动句和被动句等。

锤炼语言，要学着恰当引用诗词佳句来增添文章的文字情趣，增添新意。可妙引经典句式，以此来优化文章语言，增强语言的表达效果。如“不必说……也不必说……单是……就……”、“没有……就没有……更没有……”等经典句式。还可以妙引流行词句，增添语言情趣。如广告词“没有最好的，只有更好的”、“快乐，你懂得”等。学着巧用修辞。多用排比、拟人、比喻等修辞方法，使句子生动形象，耐人咀嚼。如此一来，整篇文章也就有了生命力了！