從句到段：段落的展開
基本句法掌握之后，接下來就要訓(xùn)練段落寫作，這是因為段落是文章的基本組成部分，要寫出好文章，必須在段落寫作上多下功夫。
段的基本組成是句子，好的段落應(yīng)該是該段中所有的句子都圍繞著一個主題展開，且句與句之間應(yīng)該是緊密相連，形成統(tǒng)一的整體即unified and coherent。那么怎樣將一個段落展開呢？下面介紹英語中幾種常用的方法。
(1)時間順序 按時間順序?qū)懽骶褪前凑帐挛锇l(fā)展在時間上的正常順序或先后順序展開段落。在講述故事或回憶事件時，先發(fā)生的先寫，后發(fā)生的后寫。請看下面的例子：
My heart gave a leap when I heard the announcement that our train would soon arrive at its destination-Beijing. Like other passengers, I began to collect my things and put my mug, towel, atlas, apples, and other things into my bag. To the tune of a beautiful song the train pulled into the station and gently stopped by a platform. I walked out of the train and was carried forward by the stream of people into an underground passage and then into a big hall. As I stepped out of the station, I was dazzled by the bright autumn skies of Beijing. Though I had been on the train for more the thirty hours and spent an sleepless night, I didn't feel tired at all, and I believed my days in this glorious city would be as sunny as the skies.
(2)空間順序 按空間順序組織材料通常用于描述一個地方、事情或人物外貌等。其文章內(nèi)容應(yīng)按照由近及遠、由遠及近、自下而上、自上而下、按順時針方向或逆時針方向排列，例如：
In the middle of the rectangular-shaped courtyard stood three magnolia trees(), all in full bloom. A little girl was hoping among them, now gazing at a bud, now collecting fallen petals. Under one of the trees stood her parents, who, while keeping an eye on her, were examining the snow white blossoms with great interest and admiration. In front of another tree a young couple, fresh and bright as the flowers, were posing for a picture. At the end of the courtyard a group of youngsters had gathered behind an artist painting a flourishing limb, which looked so charming and real that a boy stooped to sniff at a half-open flower. At the opposite end a few elderly men and women stood admiring the leafless flowering trees and the people looking at them.
(3)列舉法 通過列舉一系列的論據(jù) 對主題句中的論點進行廣泛、全面的陳述或解釋，列舉的順序可按照所列各點的內(nèi)容的相對重要性、時間、空間來排列，例如：
The Other Side of City Life
In the eyes of many people, city life is attractive with all its advantages and convenience, yet they don't see the other side of the picture. First, with the expansion of the city, housing has become a serious problem for city people. Then, there is the problem of pollution: harmful gases from vehicles and poisonous water from factories pollute our surroundings; noise continually disturbs your peace and rest and drives you mad. Thirdly, modern city life puts a high pressure upon people; you have to hurry to and from work; you have to dodge in so as to avoid bumping into the flood of people, bicycles, cars, buses…; all day long you are under great stress. Fourthly, big cities also cause some social problems. Of which high crime rate is the most serious one. People are justifiably in fear of becoming victims of burglary, robbery, murder and other crimes at any time. They should find some ways to cope with all these problems.
(4)舉例法 在主題句中簡要、概括地說明一個段落的主題思想之后，可以用具體的、生動的事例來支撐論證主題，向目標(biāo)讀者展示并使他們具體感受主題句中尚未展開的內(nèi)容和細節(jié)，例如：
This term several useful and interesting courses have been offered. An Introduction to European Culture, for instance, gives us a lot of background knowledge of the history of European philosophy, literature, and arts. From time to time we see slide shows of famous paintings and hear tapes of famous pieces of music, and they make the lectures all the more interesting. American Society and Culture is another course that attracts a large audience. The teacher, who visited the United States not long ago, discusses new trends and changes in American life as well as American history and traditions. We like these and other courses very much, because they help us not only to improve our English but also to broaden our vision.
