在上期我和同學們重溫narrative essays,提到narrative essay除了可以是純故事外,亦有其他的變化。例如,narration 可以combine with arguments;narration 亦常被combined with descriptive essay。今次想討論一下其他narration的寫法。
Narrative-cum-argumentative essay
簡單來說,這種文章與argumentative essay 在結構上是一樣的。例如,在introduction 裏要有thesis statement;每一段body paragraph亦應有topic sentence。唯一不同的地方就是作者將會以故事(narration) 去illustrate論點(thesis)。下面是一個例子:
Write on your blog describing a most embarrassing experience you have faced, including how you felt at that time and how you could have done better.
以上的題目,除了要求你講述一個embarrassing的經歷外,題目亦要求你reflect on your experience. 以下是一個scratch outline用以回應上面的題目。
Thesis statement: I have learnt the importance of working hard through a most embarrassing experience.
Argument 1 in Body Paragraph 1: Although I was a gifted child, I was also extremely lazy when I was young.
Examples used to support argument 1
a. I slept through most of the lessons.
b. I never did any homework assignment.
c. I was disruptive in class.
Argument 2 in Body Paragraph 2. When I was in Primary six, I faced a most embarrassing experience amid an English test.
A detailed example used to illustrate argument 2
a. My teacher caught me cheating in a test (When and where).
b. The teacher shamed me publicly.
c. I was deeply embarrassed by the incident.
Argument 3 in Body Paragraph 3. Later, at home, I had a strong reaction to the incident.
Examples used to support argument 3
a. Describe in details how I felt.
b. Describe my resolution of not to be lazy again.
最後,如果你想加插對話時,應留意以下兩點:
1. 請用引號" "去表示dialogue。
2. 在對話中,可以用slangs or ungrammatical phrases, such as "askin' " instead of "asking", "dis' " instead of "disrespect".
Exercise
Rephrase the following sentence by using slangy or more causal expressions.
1. "I am going to get married."
2. "Do you want to come over?"
Answers
1. "I'm gonna get married."
2. "You wanna come over?"
■Dr. A. Chan
作者簡介:哲學博士,哲學碩士,文學士,英語講師。熟悉公開考試之出題模式與評分準則,任教英語。
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