概要写作(Summary writing),被称为“小作文”。概要写作分值占据15分,考查的就是考生阅读与写作的综合能力。
概要写作所给定的语篇一般在200-250字,内容丰富多样,包含故事、时政、科普等,体裁以记叙文、说明文为主,字数一般要求在50-60字,答案尽量符合“Key points of a summary”的要求。
一.正确认识概要写作
1、Definition of summary writing(概要写作的定义)
By summary, we mean a brief restatement, in your own words, of the content of a passage, an article, a chapter or a book、
2、Key points of a summary(概要写作的要点)
Conciseness(简要性):Omit unnecessary details like examples, explanations and other unimportant information、
Length: 1/4-1/3 of the original text、
Completeness(完整性):To include all the main and supporting points delivered in you own words in a condensed manner、
Accuracy(准确性):To give the same attention and stress to the points as the author does、
Coherence(连贯性):Rather than an outline listed as key words and phrases, a summary is a paragraph with necessary transitions and function structures to make it flow、
Objectivity(客观性):Do not include your own ideas or emotions on the topic、The summary should reflect the content of the original passage only、
3、Steps to write a summary(概要写作的步骤)
1)Skim the text to find out the general theme、
2)Analyze the text’s structure to divide it into several sections, find out the main idea of each section and write it out briefly with your own words、(one sentence)
3)Write down the key supporting points for each main idea without involving minor details、
4)Organize the main and related supporting points in a logical order with necessary transitions to achieve coherence、
5)Proofread for grammatical, spelling and punctuation mistakes、
4、Beginning of a summary(概要写作的开头)
Begin your summary with:
*The author’s name
*The article’s or chapter’s name
*The author’s thesis statement—a general overview(survey) of the article、
The Body:
First of all, the author describes……
He then points out that……
In addition, the author talks about……
Finally, the author suggests……
Some other introductory phrases:
*(The author) states in (this article) that…
*(The author), in (this article) shows that…
*In (this article), (the author) writes that…
*As (the author) says in (this article),…
*The main idea of (the author’s article) is…
*The author believes (holds; maintains; claims; argues; points out; suggests; proposes) that + clause…
*The author talks about (explains; describes; reveals; discusses; focuses on) + n、
二.记叙文概要写作
记叙文体的阅读材料,相比其她文体而言,写概要相对容易。在写概要前,除明确文章主题外,还应抓住六个要素:when, where, who, what, why, how。在这六个要素中,所占内容比重最大的就是what。一般来说,记叙文的故事概要可以用这样的模板来表示:
Who did what by…because…
