楊定生

江蘇高考英語的書面表達，連續(xù)三年采取讀寫作文的形式。由于多年的磨煉，學(xué)生對于一般性的作文常感覺毫不費力。然而，仍有不少學(xué)生似乎對讀寫任務(wù)型作文中的概括部分充滿憂慮和膽怯，其核心的問題是30個詞的概括該怎么寫？

任務(wù)型作文的概括， 就其表面上來看，它僅僅是整篇作文中的一小部分，但它卻關(guān)系到整篇文章的寫作 （開頭）和全文的得分， 不可疏忽。

本文試圖就如何寫好概括與讀者做膚淺的探討。

筆者以為：概括的寫作要精煉。精煉是概括之靈魂。

一、概括寫作的總體要求

筆者以為：概括的寫作要盡量做到 “四要四不要 ”。

1.要抓住主要信息不要面面俱到

在內(nèi)容上，我們要抓住文章的主要信息點，剔除細(xì)節(jié)和無用信息是寫概括的基本要求。

2.要有限度不要有突破

在長度上：概括只需30詞左右，即用兩到三個句子就足以表述。

3.要自創(chuàng)不要抄襲原文原句

在語言上：一定要自行創(chuàng)作不要抄襲。

4.要有銜接不要上下文斷裂

在行文上：做好與下文的銜接，既要寫概括，還要考慮與下文的銜接。

二、寫作探討

1.要抓住主要信息不要面面俱到

書面表達的具體寫作要求明確指出是“概要”，因此，在內(nèi)容上，抓住文章的主要信息點，剔除細(xì)節(jié)和無用信息是寫概括 “必須的”。

1）主題句是全文的核心 關(guān)鍵詞關(guān)系到信息的濃度。

① 找準(zhǔn)主題句 一篇文章都是圍繞某個主題而展開的。絕大多數(shù)文章的主題句，通常置于段首，有時也有可能在文章的其他部分，需仔細(xì)甄別。

② 把握關(guān)鍵詞 通過分析主題句意義，確定關(guān)鍵詞，關(guān)鍵詞都是為主題句服務(wù)的。

2）提煉和重組概括句

由于概括的要求，切忌運用原文中的原句且由于概括的詞數(shù)限制，需重新組織概括的句子。對主題句精心的提煉和重新組織。主題句邏輯是統(tǒng)領(lǐng)后面所有的支撐句，可以從作者的寫作目的去推理，從其結(jié)果加以分析。

3）可以根據(jù)所提供短文的內(nèi)容和不同的文體的特點下筆。

議論文、記敘文等文體常見于各種考卷， 故本文僅以議論文和記敘文為例：

議論文文體的文章的主要信息點： 議論文的內(nèi)容包括 “論點（或話題）、論據(jù)、結(jié)論” 三個方面，所以議論文的概括就是圍繞這三個方面，找出主題句和結(jié)論句。（主題句和結(jié)論句往往在文章的開頭和結(jié)尾）

特別要注意：議論文的主體部分是論證的過程，論據(jù)占有很大的部分，但在寫概括的時候，不需要詳細(xì)寫論證的過程，會有很多細(xì)節(jié)信息，而細(xì)節(jié)信息正是概括原文時所必須剔除的。

例1 閱讀下面的短文，然后按照要求寫一篇150詞左右的英語短文。

There is a growing debate about the most effective way for students to study. Traditionally studying alone was thought to be the best way to ensure good exam results.

When studying alone，you can focus your mind better than when you are with others. You also have the freedom to choose what topic to study and when， as you dont need file agreement of others. Students that prefer to study alone often say that when they study with their classmates they waste a lot of time because the discussion is often about nonstudy topics such as television or holidays.

In the last few years， however， more and more students have started studying in groups. There are several reasons many students prefer this method. First， they find that studying in groups is more fun as they can share the experience with others rather than staying in their rooms. In groups， they can discuss the subject together and when something is not understood they can ask each other questions. They can use the knowledge of their classmates to help improve their own knowledge. Finally by discussing the topic they are able to both understand and remember it better.

【寫作內(nèi)容】 1. 以約30個詞概括短文的要點； 2. ……

【寫作要求】 1. 標(biāo)題： The Best Way to Learn 2. ……

【分析】 該文就有效的學(xué)習(xí)方法而提出了討論。其論點（或話題）就是文章的首句debate about the most effective way for students to study。短文圍繞studying alone與studying in groups各自的benefits（關(guān)鍵詞）展開。因此，概括就應(yīng)該據(jù)此而寫。由于字?jǐn)?shù)的限制，studying alone與studying in groups的各自長處，仁者見仁智者見智，只能點到為止切不可展開。

【參考答案】

The article compares the benefits of studying alone with those of studying in groups. Studying alone allows students to remain focused and avoid interruption， while group study creates a more enjoyable learning environment. （33 words）

【點評】 概括僅用一短語compare...with...就將短文的論點benefits of studying alone與studying in groups 挑明，并用while將兩者 studying alone與studying in groups的benefits即各自的利弊合并為一并立長句，尤為顯得簡潔明了。

記敘文，是記人或敘事的文體?！皐ho / what / when / where / how / why”是記敘文寫作六大要素；并通過六大要素來敘述某人或某事，是文章的主要情節(jié)，是為文章的主題、主旨服務(wù)的，文章的主要信息點應(yīng)是 “主題或主旨、情節(jié)和結(jié)局（結(jié)果）”。因此，在寫作記敘文的概括時，應(yīng)突出“主題” 或 “主旨”，及結(jié)果；萬不能詳細(xì)地描寫情節(jié)?！爸黝}”或“主旨”（或“目的”）有時可直接獲得但有時又隱藏于閱讀之后的體會和品味中。

例2 閱讀下面的短文，然后按照要求寫一篇150詞左右的英語短文

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper， he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks， as he learned to control his anger， the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didnt lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said， “You have done well， my son， but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger， they leave scars just like these. And no matter how many times you say youre sorry， the wounds will still be there.”

【寫作內(nèi)容】 1. 以 “Anger management”為題用30詞左右概括上文的主要內(nèi)容。 2. ……

【寫作要求】 ……

【分析】 短文的主題（主旨）為一兒子遵照父親囑咐要改變其易發(fā)怒的壞毛病，通過釘釘子的經(jīng)歷后對其有所認(rèn)識和理解。短文的主旨隱藏在全文中的一些關(guān)鍵句及詞中，如 ...manage his temper；... to hold his temper，其結(jié)果是The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. 在記敘文的概括中是切忌不能具體描寫故事情節(jié)的，而要突出“主題” 或 “主旨”，同時要涉及其產(chǎn)生的結(jié)果。

【參考答案】

A badtempered boy finally learned to properly manage his anger following his fathers advice—hammering nails into the fence. And he realized that ones anger can do great harm to others. （31 words）

【點評】 記敘文的概括最為重要的就是主旨要突出。該段僅用learned to properly manage his anger following his fathers advice 等就把全文的主旨和結(jié)果交代的很清楚。同時用 realized that ones anger can do great harm to others來展開論述，為下文打下伏筆。

2.要有限度，字?jǐn)?shù)不要有太大突破

在長度（詞數(shù)）上：概括只需 30個左右詞，假設(shè)每個句子平均10個詞，那么30個詞也就僅需用兩到三個句子就足以表述；切切不要洋洋灑灑而超出字?jǐn)?shù)的限度。如果我們能做到抓住了文章的主題句和關(guān)鍵詞，是完全足以寫好的。萬一因句子的結(jié)構(gòu)和表述完整的需要而字?jǐn)?shù)可能要突破時，也應(yīng)控制在3～5詞左右。

例3 閱讀下面的短文，然后按照要求寫一篇150詞左右的英語短文。

Once upon a time in a land far away， there was a wonderful old man who loved everything， animals， spiders， insects...

One day while walking through the woods the nice old man found a cocoon （繭） of a butterfly. He took it home.

A few days later， a small opening appeared； he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther.

Then the man decided to help the butterfly， so he took a pair of scissors and cut off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then came out easily.

But it had a swollen body and small， shriveled （萎縮的） wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that， at any moment， the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body. Neither happened！ In fact， the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were Natures way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were allowed to go through our life without any obstacles， it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. And we could never fly.

【寫作內(nèi)容】 1. 以約30詞概括短文內(nèi)容要點； 2. ……

【寫作要求】 1. ……； 2. ……

【分析】 全文的最后一節(jié)Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were allowed to go through our life without any obstacles， it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. And we could never fly.可謂是對全文的最好總結(jié)，也是全文的主旨和結(jié)果所在。短文的概括應(yīng)據(jù)此而作。

【參考答案】

A kind man cut a cocoon open to let the butterfly out when he saw it struggling in the cocoon， only to find that it could never fly because of his help. （32 words）

【點評】 作為記敘文，切不要重述故事情節(jié)，而是通過主題或主旨引出結(jié)果，上面的概括就處理得比較好。為了to let the butterfly out，這位好心人 cut a cocoon open，其結(jié)果是it could never fly。特別是運用only to find that...的句式來表示其結(jié)果是出乎意料之外。言簡意賅，準(zhǔn)確到位。

3.要自創(chuàng)不要抄襲

在語言上：一定要自行創(chuàng)作不要抄襲。 寫概括不是縮寫，不能引用原文的語句；寫概括也不是改寫，不能把原句加以變形就完事；寫概括主要是把具體的信息用一些具有高度概括功能的詞和句表述出來。所以，寫概括要自己重新組織語句。

例4 閱讀下面短文，然后按照要求寫一篇150詞左右的英語短文

An elderly carpenter（木匠）was ready to retire. He told his employers of his plans to leave the housebuilding business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and children. His employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes， but it was obvious that his heart was already not in his work. He built it impatiently and used poor materials. It was unfortunate for a wonderful career to end like that.

When the carpenter finished his work， his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the frontdoor key to the carpenter and said， “This is your house. Its my gift to you.”

The carpenter was shocked！

What a shame！ If he had known he was building his own house， he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives， a day at a time， often putting less than our best into the building. Then， with a shock， we realize we have to live in the house we have built. Therefore， build it wisely！

【寫作內(nèi)容】 1. 請你以約30個詞概括上文的主要內(nèi)容。2. ……

【寫作要求】 你可以使用實例或其他論述方法支持你的論點，也可以參照閱讀材料的內(nèi)容，但不要抄襲閱讀材料中的句子。

【分析】 記敘文常在文章結(jié)尾時闡述作者的觀點或看法。這文章的主題或主旨是build our life wisely。這位木匠的regretful是為其the last house he had built impatiently 由此而聯(lián)想到“人生”應(yīng)build it wisely！

【參考答案】

A carpenter felt regretful when he knew the last house he had built impatiently was a gift for his retirement， which reminds us that we should build our life wisely. （30 words）

【點評】 從該短文的概括來看，沒有一句與原短文相同或相似，完全為自創(chuàng)。從一出乎意外的結(jié)局入手，說明他的后悔，用一非限制性定語從句更突出了要build our life wisely，即符合題意要求以“Build your life wisely！”為話題又為下文談?wù)勀愕南敕ù蛳路P。

4.要有銜接不要上下文斷裂

在行文上：做好與下文的銜接，要想使文章有整體性、連貫性，要考慮與下文的銜接。上下文的銜接，可通過某個句子的句意或某些過渡詞或過渡句為下面的表述做伏筆，并且過渡要自然。

如例1概括的最后一句Studying alone allows students to remain focused and avoid interruption， while group study creates a more enjoyable learning environment.就會使讀者產(chǎn)生想進一步知道作者對此看法的強烈愿望——作者看法如何？

如例2概括的最后一句And he realized that ones anger can do great harm to others.就比較自然地提出作者自己對此的看法。

那么以上的這些句子就成為名副其實的過渡句，很自然地過渡到下面的表述。當(dāng)然，我們還可刻意運用一些常見的過渡句或短語。

如：（1） 表達自己的意見 In my opinion， ...； As far as I am concerned， ...； As for me， ...

（2） 表示贊同 I agree with the statement that...； I fully support the statement above because I am very sure...

（3） 表示不贊同 I feel such an attitude is negative， and that it can bring...； Some people argue as if it is a general truth that...； But to be frank， I cannot agree with them.

（4） 其他過渡詞或短語

表示羅列增加 first， second， third，... / then / next / finally / for one thing... for another...， on （the） one hand... on the other hand / besides / whats more / in addition

表示時間順序 now / at present / recently / afterwards / after a while / in a few days / at first / in the beginning / to begin with / later / next / finally / suddenly / all of a sudden / at that moment / as soon as / at the same time / not... until

表示解釋說明 for example / in this case / moreover / furthermore / actually

表示轉(zhuǎn)折關(guān)系 however / while / though / otherwise / on the contrary / in contrast / despite / in spite of / even though / except （for） / instead / of course / after all

表示并列關(guān)系 or / and / also / too / not only... but also / as well as / either... or

表示因果關(guān)系 because of / since / now that / as / thanks to... / due to... / as a result （of） / so... that / such... that

表示條件關(guān)系 as （so） long as / on condition that / if / unless

表示讓步關(guān)系 though / as / even if / whether... or... / however / whoever， whatever， whichever， wherever， whenever， no matter how （who / what / which / where / when / whom）

表示比較 be similar to / similarly / the same as / in contrast / compared with （to） / just like

表示目的 for this reason / for this purpose / so that / in order to / so as to

表示強調(diào) in fact / surely / certainly / no doubt / without any doubt / truly / obviously / above all

表示概括歸納 in a word / in short / in brief / on the whole / generally speaking / in my opinion / as far as I know / as has been stated / in summary / in conclusion

有言道：Practice makes perfect. 要寫好讀寫作文的“概括”部分，還是要多讀多寫多比較為妥。