英文说明文写作方法总纲

英文说明文写作方法总纲

分类法

分类就是按照事物的不同特点将它们划成多个类别。事物可以按照不同的标准进行分类，标准则取决于分类的成因。例如，在分析某系学生的构成情况时，如果想了解他们的学习情况，可以将他们根据考试成绩划分为若干组；如果想研究是否有可能组织一场足球比赛或是篮球比赛，可以根据对足球和篮球的爱好程度把学生划分成若干组。 不管分类的目的是什么，分类的标准必须具有普适性和排他性，也就是说分类标准必须覆盖分类样本集中的所有样本元素，而且样本集中的任一元素只能隶属于分类标准项次中的唯一一项。例如，把学生分成男生、女生和运动员是不合适的，这一标准违反了排他性原则，因为某个学生可能是男生的同时又是运动员，他占据了两个分类项次。再如，把学生分成中学生和大学生在有些情况下也不一定合适，该标准违反了普适性原则，即有些学生既不是中学生也不是大学生（如小学生）。

表示分类的名词：

种：kind, sort, type

类：group, classification, category

组成成员：member

分部/分支：division/branch

纲：class 目：order 科：family属：genus种：species

表示分类的动词和动词短语：

将 ?? 按??分类（排序）：class, classify, divide, categorize, group, place, arrange 属于某一类：belong to, fall into, be classed with

包括若干类：there be, contain, consist of, comprise, include, be composed of, be comprised of

组成 ?? 类：make up, constitute, compose ? Exercises

1. Read the following passages and discuss whether they follow the classification criterion of exclusiveness and inclusiveness.

Passage 1:

generation of electricity to meet the power and light needs of cities and industries. The other covers the application of small amounts of power for communication and various other purposes.

Passage 2:

We usually think of bees as being sociable insects which live in communities, but this is not always true. One way of classifying bees is by “social” and “solitary” species, and there are many of the latter. Bumble bees（野蜂）and honey bees are social species. Among solitary bees there are primitive wasplike bees, medium-sized solitary mining bees, so-called sweat bees, carpenter bees and cuckoo bees.

2. Read the following passage, and fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

In Britain, state schools can be classified according to the age range of the pupils and the type of education provided. Basically, there are two types of schools: primary and secondary. Primary schools cater to（满足需要）children age 5-11 and secondary schools ages 11-16 (and up to 19). Primary schools can be sub-divided into infant schools (for age 5-7) and junior schools (for age 7-11). Secondary schools may be one type for all abilities, viz.（即）comprehensive schools; most secondary schools are of this kind. Alternatively, pupils may be grouped according to their ability and selected by means of an examination at age 11 (known as the“11-plus exam”). Thus, grammar schools cater to those with academic ability; modern schools for those with less academic ability; and technical schools for those with more practical skills.

1) Schools _________________________________________ the pupils’ ages and the types of education.

2) There are ________________________________________ schools: primary and secondary.

3) Primary schools ___________________________________________ into infant and junior schools.

4) Secondary schools pupils ______________________________ their ability.

5) The criterion（标准）for classifying secondary schools is whether or not there is ______________________________.

2. There are thousands of languages in the world. Languages are classified into

different families according to their common attributes. Do you know which family English belongs to? Below is a language tree proposed by German linguistic August Schleicher (1821-1868). Please describe it using the classification method:

Proto-Indo-European

Old High German Old SaxonOld Low Fraconian Anglo-Frisian

High German Low German Dutch Old English Old Frisian

描述法（二）

过程的描述

既然有过程就必然有次序，关键在于搞清楚全过程的每一个步骤，再利用表示列举的衔接短语，按照过程的前后次序描述每一个步骤。过程的描述往往按照时间顺序或过程的发展顺序进行描述。

1. 按照过程的发展顺序描述

如果某个描述涉及到多个步骤，应该按照过程的发展顺序把这些步骤交代清楚。既然完整的过程分为多个步骤，那么这些步骤的顺序则显得至关重要。成功地按过程描述实际上告诉了读者如何去完成具体任务。

描述过程的常用衔接词和短语：

1) Firstly … Secondly … Thirdly … Finally …

2) First, Then, Next, After this, Lastly

3) Afterward, Furthermore, Moreover, In addition to …

2. 按照时间顺序描述

在讲述故事或描述事件的时候，最简单同时也最清楚的方法是按照时间的顺序描述，也就是按照事情发生先后顺序，较早发生的事情在前面描述，较晚发生的事情在后面描述。时间作为一个主线条可以为读者提供非常清楚的思路。

常用衔接词和短语：

首环节：first, firstly, at first, first of all, in the first place, to begin with, one

中间环节：second, secon(转载于:www.cNBotHwin.cOm 博 威 范文网:英语说明文写作方法)dly, in the second place, next, afterwards, after that, then, later,

another, third, thirdly, still another, in addition, besides, furthermore

末环节：lastly, at last, finally, eventually, in the end ? Exercises

How a New Road is Built

__ (a) Though I had been on the train for more than thirty hours and spent a sleepless night, I

didn’t feel tired at all, and I believed my days in Beijing would be as sunny as the skies. __ (b) Like other passengers, I began to collect my things, and put my mug, towel, atlas（地图

册）, apples, and other things into my bag.

__ (c) 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.

__ (d) My heart gave a leap when I heard the announcement that our train would soon arrive at

its destination --- Beijing.

__ (e) As I stepped out of the station, I was dazzled（眩目）by the bright autumn skies of

Beijing.

__ (f) To the tune of a beautiful song the train pulled into the station and gently stopped by a

platform.

1. Please organize the following instructions into a coherent paragraph, and discuss the questions in the brackets.

How to Deal with Snakebites in the Field

1) Tie a handkerchief, necktie, or belt on your victim above the bite to prevent the blood

from flowing to the heart

2) Decide whether to take the victim to the doctor or call for a doctor (How will you make a

decision?)

3) Remove the venom

a. make cuts in a crisscross（十字）fashion on the bitten area, cutting about one fourth inch deep;

b. suck out the blood and spit it out [Will you die if you swallow the blood?]

4) Don’t give whiskey [Do you know why?]; you can give coffee or some other beverage to

the victim.

5) Reassure the victim

举例法

一般来讲，概括性太宽泛的句子不具有太强的说服力，往往需要一点具体内容加以支持。这个时候我们就要求助于例子了。本单元课文反复使用举例法，使原先抽象的概念（如 “space”, “privacy”）变得具体，如果没有这些例子，读者很难理解什么是空间，什么是隐私。

对处于英文写作基础阶段的学习者来讲，一般要借助衔接词来引导例子，举例法中常用的衔接词有：

1) 介词短语：for example, for instance, in illustration of, by way of examples

2) 形容词短语：such as, such .. as …

3) 副词：as

4) 动词短语：be an example of , be a case in point, take an example, provide an example, use an example, bring forward a case, draw an example ?

Exercises 1. Read the following two paragraphs, and find the examples cited and cohesion words used. 1) Mexico has long been a popular country for tourists from all over the world. It offers

英语说明文的写作方法

1.罗列法（listing）

在文章开始时提出需要说明的东西和观点，然后常用first，second，…and finally加以罗列说明。罗列法广泛地使用于各类指导性的说明文之中。

罗列法经常用下列句式展开段落，我们可以注意模仿学习

There are several good reasons why we should learn a foreign language. First of all， …Secondly， …And finally， …

We should try our best to plant more trees for several good reasons First of all， …Secondly， …And finally， 必须指出的是，有时罗列法并不一定有明确的first， second…等词，但文章还是以罗列论据展开的。

2.举例法（examples）

举例法是用具体的例子来说明我们要表达的意思，常用for example， for instance， still another example is…等词语引出

举例法和罗列法有时可以结合使用：即用罗列法来列出例子，用例子充实罗列的说明。

3.比较法（comparison and contrast）

比较法是对两个对象进行比较，从而进行说明的写作手法。比较法又可细分为比较相同点（comparison）和比较不同点（contrast）两种方法

在比较相同点的时候，常用到similarly，also，too，in the same case，in spite of the difference等这样的词语。 however，on the other hand，in contrast，but，nevertheless等表示转折的词语常用来引导对不同点的比较。

4.定义法（definition）

定义法也是英语说明文中常用的写作手法，特别是在对具体事物概念进行说明时经常使用。定义法的基本要素是定义句。英语中常见定义句的模式是

被定义对象is所属类别+限制性定语 比如

A bat is a small mouse-like animal that flies at night and feeds on（以…为食品）fruit and insects but is not a bird.

5.顺序法（sequence of time，space and process）

顺序法是指按时间、空间或过程的顺序进行说明的一种写作手法。比如按照时间顺序介绍一个科学家的生平，用空间顺序阐述逐渐开发西部的重要意义，用过程顺序法解释葡萄酒的生产过程等等。

6.分类法（classification）分类法是将写作对象进行分类说明的一种写作手法

Some books are to be tasted， others to be swallowed， and some few to be chewed and digested， that is， some books are to be read only in parts， others to be read， but not curiously，and some f ew to be read wholly， and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy，

and extracts made of them by others； but that would be only in the less important arguments，

and the meaner sort of books…

高考说明文写作指导

说明文是今年来高考英语书面表达比较常见的一种体裁，其特点是对事物或做事情的方法进行客观地介绍。有些书面表达题虽是以应用文的形式出现的，但其主要内容也属于说明

分析上表可以看出，近两年高考英语说明文多以图画形式出现，内容集中在反映社会现象、介绍方位地点和指导如何做事情，要求学生能够按照一定的说明顺序进行介绍和说明，以达到实际应用和交际的目的。

写说明文宜采用三段式：第一段主要介绍要说明的对象及说明的目的；第二段说明事物的主要特征或做事情的方法步骤；第三段进行总结概括。时态通常用一般现在时。写作时应遵循以下几个步骤：

一、仔细审题，明确说明对象，抓住要说明的事物或事理的主要特征。

二、选择合理的说明顺序（时间顺序、空间顺序或逻辑顺序）分层次进行说明，注意条理清晰。

三、选择恰当的说明方法，比如定义法、举例法、比较法和细节描述法等，不要遗漏主要内容。

四、根据说明顺序及内容确定过渡词和恰当的"句型结构。文字应客观、简洁、明了，不要追求华丽和加入太多个人观点。

以下将就高考中常见的三种说明文类型进行具体的写作指导。

【如何进行方位说明】

写作要点

在介绍一个地点时，首先要抓住该地点的特征，在第一段中进行简要介绍：要说明的是工厂还是学校？是农村还是城市？是图书馆还是公园？它们各自有什么区别于其他地点的特征？第二段中要按照一定的顺序对该地点进行具体说明。说明的顺序可从外到内，从上到下，从前到后，由远及近，也可按顺时针方向或逆时针方向等来介绍。这样可以避免文章杂乱无章。通常建议考生采用以下两种说明顺序：1、选择中心坐标进行说明：在介绍规则排列的方位或有多个建筑物时，先选定中心坐标，然后再就其前后左右的其他建筑物进行说明。这样写作可以突出重点，语言也会非常紧凑。2、按照参观的顺序进行说明：介绍不规则排列的方位时，可以按照参观的顺序，选择好起点，然后逐一进行介绍。这种写作方法条理清晰，符合人们认识事物、欣赏事物的习惯，让人读起来很舒服。但无论选择以上哪种方法进行说明都要注意in front of, behind, on the left, on the right, in the east, to the west等方位词的

使用。在句型结构方面建议学生多使用倒装句、定语从句和with短语。介绍方位的文章最容易写得呆板单调，缺乏生气，让人读起来感到乏味。所以可适当地运用描写，增加文章的文采，使所写内容打动读者，达到最佳的表达效果。例如在介绍学校时，可以这样写：On the west of the teaching building lies a small garden, which is very beautiful in spring with all kinds of flowers bursting into blossom.

另外，方位说明类的文章出题常以图画形式出现。这类文章在写作时考生最常犯的两种

错误一是未能抓住主题进行说明，二是遗漏画面中主要要点。解决第一种问题，要求考生仔细观察画面，结合提示中的文字信息搞清几幅画间的内在联系，然后进行抽象概括，找出主要的说明对象。然后对图中所给信息进行筛选：哪些是与主题有关的需要加以说明？哪些与主题无关可以忽略？为避免遗漏要点，建议考生把与文章主题有关的事物先在图上圈出，再逐条以文字形式列出。说明时也要按照一定的顺序合理安排这些要点，使文章条理清晰。通常先说明完一幅画再去说明另一幅画，不要穿插着进行说明，否则会显得杂乱无章。

好词好句推荐：

1．过渡词

above, in front of, in the center of, on the left, across, below, in the distance, on the right, beyond, nearby, opposite to, over, further, next to, on top of, up, down, close to, beneath, under, around, near to, along

2．常用句式：

1）It is located / situated in…

2）It lies between …and …

3）In front of it is…, with …on its left and …on its right.

4）Turning to the left, you will see …, behind which is …

5）Walking past …, the building that appears in front of you is …

6）Along the road are lines of trees, from which students can find shade from the hot sun.

7）A walk around ?is a feast for the mind as well as the eye.

8）Opposite to the …stands …

9）The door on your left leads you to ….

10) Next to the door against the wall there is a …, in which we sit to watch TV every evening.

11) On your left lies a …, with all kinds of… in it.

实战演练

2006高考英语作文全国卷I

假定你是李华。应英国朋友Bob的要求， 写一封短信介绍你校图书馆的基本情况。内容须包括下面两幅图中的相关信息。注意：

1、 字数100左右

2、 可以适当增减细节，以使行文连贯

3、 开头语已为你写好

Dear Bob,

Thank you for your last letter asking about our library.______________________

Best wishes

Li Hua

注：上面的小字是：借阅须知：每人每次5本，借期10天。下面的小字是：开放时间：周一至周五，早9：00至晚7：00，周末闭馆。）

【例文1】

Dear Bob,

Thank you for your last letter asking about our library. Here is some information about it. Located between the garden and the teaching building, our school library situates in the center of the school and has beautiful surroundings. It has all kinds of books, magazines and newspapers providing us with all kinds of knowledge and the latest information. According to the rules, each student can borrow no more than 5 books at a time for at most 10 days, and it is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m every day except weekends, which makes it convenient for us students to read in it or to borrow books from it.

The school library is our favorite place after class. We enjoy reading in it.

点评：该生作文属于第五档（23分）。考生充分理解了题目要求，带着一种自豪的语气但又很客观准确地介绍了学校图书馆。写作内容覆盖了两幅图中所有要点，在说明第一幅图时采用了选择中心坐标法，在说明第二幅图时将图书馆规则和便于学生使用结合起来，逻辑非常清晰，全文结构紧凑。该考生对倒装句、定语从句使用熟练恰当，行文流畅。完全达到了预期的写作目的。

【例文2】

Dear Bob,

Thank you for your last latter asking about our library.

Our library, which is surrounded by green trees, ①in the middle of our school, just behind the garden and in front of the teaching building. Even though it has not ②there are quantities of books for us to read or to borrow. We can borrow books from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on ③are available too, but we can’t take them away.

I love my school library. Welcome to our school to visit it!

点评：该生作文属于第四档(18分) 该文基本覆盖了所有主要内容，也应用了一些高级表达

法和词汇，语言基本准确，但也出现了一些错误（文中①②③处）。第一幅图说明较好，采用了中心坐标法，但第二幅图在说明过程中缺乏一定的顺序和逻辑，只运用了简单的连接词and。总的说来完成了试题规定的任务，达到了预期的写作目的。

模拟练习

假如你叫李华，你的一位外籍朋友John要来你所在的城市工作，请你帮忙租一套公寓。请你根据下面两幅图中所提供的信息给他发电子邮件，向他介绍公寓情况。

字数：100字左右。开头结尾已为你写好，不计入总字数。

Hi John,

I have found a suitable flat for you to stay in when you are working in my city. ___________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Yours,

Li Hua

参考答案

Hi John,

I have found a suitable flat for you to stay in when you are working in my city.

It is on the third floor of a four-storeyed building in Nanhua Street. It lies to the north of a beautiful park, with a hospital, a school, a shop and a post office all within walking distance, which makes it convenient for life. Inside the flat, there is a sitting-room on the right hand side of the door, opposite to which is a dining-room and a kitchen. Two bed-rooms lie on the east of the sitting-room and the dining-room, with a bathroom in between.

It’s a nice flat with all furniture and appliances. I hope you’ll be satisfied with it.

Yours,

Li Hua

【如何说明一件事物的特点或优势】

写作要点

近两年高考英语书面表达中出现过要求学生介绍一个新开业的宾馆或一幅图画内容的说明文，这类说明文属于事物性说明文，其说明对象是具体事物，说明目的是使读者了解、认识这个事物的特点或优势。该类文章还可包括产品介绍、人物介绍、地点或景物介绍、图片说明、现象说明等。

事物类说明文多以提纲要点式和提纲表格式出现。考生在动笔前一定先要仔细审题，了解介绍和说明的目的。文章是写给什么人的？他关心的内容是什么？需要说明的主要对象是什么？应该以什么样的语气来写？头脑中有个大概认识之后再来看需要介绍的具体内容。

给文字提示的说明文，考生最容易写成逐句翻译，这样会严重影响得分。为避免这种现

象发生，考生需要将所给要点根据一定的中心重新分类，用“同类合并”的方法把全文划分为几个相对独立的部分，并进而概括出每部分的大意，再用过渡词把每部分的大意连缀起来，就能比较清楚地显示出全文的说明顺序。比如介绍一个地点时，可以从它的位置规模人口、气候植被、旅游景点特产、工农业及重要性四个方面进行概括；介绍一件产品时，可以从物体的形状、规格大小、颜色和功能几个方来介绍；介绍一个人物时，可以从他的外貌年龄、学习工作经历、性格特点、行为举止四方面来说明。

在明确各段说明要点之后，使用什么说明顺序，还要看说明的对象。一般来说，说明事物的演变发展的，用时间顺序；说明建筑物，用空间顺序；介绍高科技产品或说明事物间的联系的，用逻辑顺序。

事物类说明文适合以定义法开头。比如在介绍手提电脑的这种产品时，可以这样写：Laptop is a portable computer that can be carried easily and used conveniently whenever and wherever you are. 在说明的过程中，要借助举例法和细节描述法使被介绍的内容清晰丰满。在结尾段要突出题目要求，重申说明目的，使文章完整。

在语言使用方面，应尽量使语言显得客观公正，不要使用太多夸张的修饰词和表达个人观点的语句，因为你是在客观说明而不是发表议论。为达到这一效果，推荐考生多用被动句，句子不要太复杂，最好长短句结合，另外还要记住尽量使用第三人称。

好词好句推荐

1．过渡词

表顺序：first, second, third, in the first place, above all, at first, in the beginning, to begin with, besides, what’s more, in addition, furthermore, moreover, another, also, especially, in particular 表时间：first, then, next, after that, next, finally now, at present, recently, after, afterwards, after that, after a while, in a few days, form now on, from then on, at the same time, meanwhile, till, not…until, before, after, when, while, as during,

表示解释说明：for example, for instance, in this case, such as…, take… for example，in fact, actually

2. 常用句式：

1) …is a new kind of …produced by…, which is …

2) Made of …, it is light, small, and easy to carry.

3) …containing much top and new technique is famous for its excellent quality and reasonable

price.

4) China is a large country with rich history and much population.

5) …, the capital of …, lies in the middle of …

6) It has an area of 160,000 square kilometers with a population of over 90 million.

7) It is rich in natural sources such as coal and gold and has mild weather.

8) …is located at the foot of/ by the side of …, to the east of…and to the north of…

9) … is provided for the convenience of customers/ visitors.

10） Built in the16th century, the castle has witnessed too much coming and going in history.

实战演练

07 年全国卷

一家宾馆新开业，为吸引外国宾客，希望在互联网上进行宣传，请你用英语为其写一篇文字介绍。主要内容应包括：

1．地点：距白山入口处500米。

【英文说明文写作方法总纲】