如何擴展英語段落寫作的方法

段落的擴展，就是在一個段落中如何根據主題句中的主導思想(controlling idea)來闡述問題的方法。換句話說，段落的擴展是指選用一些有關的細節來引申、說明、論證主題句。

以下介紹幾種有效的段落擴展方法：

　　1 舉例法(examples)

舉例就是用具體生動的事例來闡述作者的觀點和見解的一種最簡捷、最有效的方法。也就是說，它用具體的事例來闡述主題句中的主導思想。用具體的事例來擴展主題句是最常用的寫作方法之一。它不僅使文章通俗易懂，而且還給讀者留下深刻印象，使文章更具有說服力。在選擇例證時要選擇最能支持你的觀點，最有說服力的句子。例子的多少主要由文章的長短而定。

[例]

Sports and games do a lot of good to our health. They can make usstrong, prevent us from getting too fat, and keep us healthy. Especiallythey can be of great value to people who work with their brains Most ofthe day, for sports and games give people valuable practice in exercisingthe body.

例子中的第一句是主題句，即sports and games do a lot of good toour health.在此主題句中的主導思想是a lot of good.以下事例都是來進一步闡述主題中的主導思想的，即用具體事實來支持主題句中的觀點。

　　2 定義法(definition)

這了避免混亂和誤解，寫作時應對讀者不熟悉或有多種解釋的單詞、術語、概念下定義;所以定義法是文章寫作中常見的一種方法。定義法主要以下幾種方法：

2.1 運用同義詞或詞組來解釋某一術語或新詞。例如：

To mend means to repair.

2.2 用含有定語從句的句子爲術語下定義。以定語從句下定義是最普遍的手段。這種手段一般包括三個組成部分：A 術語(term);B 術語所屬的類別(class);C 該術語與同類別其它事物的區別(difference).這種句子定義法的句型如下：

Term(術語)=its general class(基本屬類)+ how it is different 例如：

A generator is an apparatus which produces electricity.

2.3 擴展式定義：有時一個術語或概念比較複雜或比較重要，用同義詞定義或用句子定義還不能夠明確解釋清楚，或容易與其它同類詞混淆時，則有必要使用擴展式定義。擴展式定義的特點是先寫被定義的術語，然後再用具體實例證明，並使之與易混的概念區別開來。例如：

Poetry is a branch of literature which explores ideas, emotions, andexperiences in a distinctive form and style. Poetry, sometimes called“verse”, depends greatly on the natural rhythms and sounds of languagefor its special effects. Poetry, even more than prose (all other writings)，depends on precise and suggestive wording. In other words, a poem saysmuch in little space. Poetry differs from prose in obvious way, also. Mostoften the first word of every line begins with a capital letter, even in themiddle of sentence. Poems sometimes contain rhyme, and often they havea particular rhythm, like music.

　　3 因果法(development by cause and effect)

論述因果關係應首先闡明事物發生的原因， 然後再論述其結果。但在有些情況下可能只說明事情的成因，或者只陳述其結果。在學術研究的各個領域裏，因果關係的寫作是必不可少的。

We all know that cigarette smoking is a dangerous habit because itcauses health problems. Doctors say it can be a direct cause of cancer ofthe lungs and throats and can also contribute to cancer to other des, it can bring about other health problems such as heart lungdiseases…It is clearly identified as one of the chief causes of death inour society.

因果法常用詞彙有：

3.1 動詞： 引述原因的有：to result from; to be the result of; to be dueto; to be a consequence of…引述結果的有：to lead to; to contribute to; to result in; to be thecause of, cause…

3.2 常用有介詞和介詞短語有：because of, owing to, on account of.

3.3 常用來表示原因的連詞有：because, as, since. For, in that, nowthat, seeing that, considering that,

3.4 常用來表示結果的語言素材有：so that, so…that, such…that,therefore, as a result, consequently, according ly, thus 等。

　　4 程序法

程序法是段落擴展的一種重要手段。表示程序的段落擴展是按時間順序展開的。它有兩種形式，即過程描述和過程指導。前者用於介紹某種事的發生過程，目的在於向人們提供信息知識;後者來告訴人們怎麼做，目的是就某項工作向人們傳授實際操作方法。在程序描述中，我們根據事情發生的前後或者遵循程序或步驟，逐步描述。這各種段落擴展法常爲科技文章所採用，並且動詞常用被動語態。例，

Do you know how paper is made? First, the logs are put in theshredder. Then they are cut into small chips and mixed with water andacid. Next they are heated and crushed to a heavy pulp to be cleaned. Itis also chemically bleached to whiten it. After this, it is passed throughrollers to flatten it. Then, sheets of wet paper are produced. Finally, thewater is removed from the sheets which are pressed dried and refineduntil the finished paper is produced.

這是描述造紙的程序，一道工序接一道工序，否則就生產不出來。本段運用了大量被動語態。這種段落髮展———程序描述———常爲科技文章所採用。

　　5 時間順序法( time order)

時間順序常用來敘述一個故事，回顧歷史事件以及講解一個過程等。按時間順序安排組織的段落或文章應該先發生的先說，後發生的後說。所以組織用這種方法的擴展段落時，應注意選用時序信號詞，如first, second, third, at first, then finally 等。例，

There are three steps involved in making a woodcut(木刻，木刻畫) first step is to cut a pattern on a flat block of wood. Second, spreadprinter’s ink over the surface of the wood block. Third, press the inkedblock against a sheet of paper. When the ink has bride on the paper, yourwoodcut is finished.

　　6 空間順序法(development by space)

按空間關係擴展的段落，它一定依照素材中所提到的位置以及相互關係加以說明。表示空間位置是指事物或人在空間所處的位置排列。如：從上到下，從左到右，由近及遠，從外到裏等。總之，在描寫時，應選擇一個合適的起點開始，然後按照一定的順序描寫。使讀者能夠跟着作者的思路去順利地理解。表示空間關係(spacial relation) 常用的一些方位詞或表方位的詞組有：above, across from, also, around, up, under, below, beyond, down, here, inthe distance, nearby, next to, close to, on the left, on the right, oppositeto, on top of, beneath, over, vertical horizontal, parallel to 等， 這類表示上下左右，前後四方的詞或詞組常用來在表示空間段落的擴展中充當連接紐帶。這類文章可大至一個國家，小至一個房間。當然所描述的地方範圍越小，就越容易着手寫。例如：

My house consists of two floors: the ground floor and the first the ground floor there’s the dinning-room, sitting-room, the kitchenand the hall. In the hall we keep a stand for hats, coats and umbrellas. Astaircase leads from the hall to the landing on the first floor. On this floorthere are four bedrooms, a bathroom and lavatory. On top of the roof thereare three chimneys. In front of the house we have a small garden, inwhich we grow flowers. At the back of the house there’s a much largergarden with a lawn and some fruit trees. At the side of the house is agarage, where I keep my car. The garden is enclosed by a fence, with agate in it.

當然，段落擴展的方法決不僅僅限於這些內容，而是多種多樣的。但是，如能細心領會並掌握了以上所述的十種段落擴展方法，這將對學生的寫作起到一定的幫助作用，從而，使學生的寫作水平得到穩步提高。