實用英語寫作技巧之二十 推展段落方法

20.1 混郃方法（Mixed Patterns）

　　到目前爲止，我們討論了九種推展段落方法——1）事實數據法（facts and statistics）；2）敘述法（narration）；3）描述法（description）；4）過程分析法（process analysis）；5）定義法（definition）；6）擧例法（examples）；7）比較對比法（comparison and contrast）；8）分類法（division and classification）；9）因果法（cause and effect）。我們還討論了四種組織段落的方法：1）時間順序法（time order）；2）空間順序法（space order）；3）重要性順序法（order of importance）；4）熟悉度順序法（order of familiarity）。此外，我們還談及一個好的段落的三個特征：1）完整性（completeness）；2）統一性（unity）；3）連貫性（coherence）。

　　我們在前麪各單元的示範段落中已經發現，極少段落是僅用一種推展方法的。作者常常在段落中使用一種方法作爲支配方法（dominant method），另外一種或數種作爲輔助方法（supporting method）。

　　示範段落20-1

　　Man's knowledge of the past has sometimes been gained in odd ways.One of the oddest incidents occurred on January 16，1900.An angry workman broke a crocodile mummy into pieces.He wassurprised to find that the mummy had been wrapped in sheets of papyrus，the reed paper of ancient Egypt.And on the papyrus there was writing.

　　20.2示範段落分析

　　主題句：Man's knowledge of the past has sometimes been gained in odd ways.

　　組織段落順序：Time order

　　支配推展方法：Example

　　輔助推展方法：Narration

　　示範段落20-2

　　There are two kinds of memory：short-term and long-term.Information stored in the long-term memory can be recalled at a later time when it is needed.The information may be kept for days or weeks.In contrast，information stored in the short-term memory is kept for only a few minutes，usually by repeating the in formation over and over.

　　20.3示範段落分析

　　主題句：There are two kinds of memory：short-term and long-term.

　　組織段落方法：Order of Familiarity

　　支配推展方法：Division and Classification

　　輔助推展方法：Description，Contrast

　　Exercise 20-1

　　Directions：Write a paragraph on population increase，using cause and effect as the dominant method，and examples，facts or statistics as the supporting methods.

　　Why has the world population been increasing so rapidly in the last decades？_____________________________________________________ <

　　Exercise 20-2

　　Directions：Write a paragraph on why you chose your specialty，combining the various methods you have learned.

　　Exercise 20-3

　　Directions：Write a paragraph about whether weekend homework should be abolished.

　　Exercise 20-4

　　Directions：Write a paragraph about your favourite season.