教學內容：英文寫作
適合人群：英語教師、英語專業學生、初高中生等
一、 統一性
統一性是一個句子有效與否的第一個標準。一個統一協調的句子表達了一個獨立的統一的意思。如果意思不緊密聯絡，則就不是一個有效地句子。如：
非統一句：Born in a small town in South China in the early 50s, he grew up to be a famous musician.
統一句：He was born in a small town in South China in the early 50s. In his childhood he liked to sing songs. Later he entered a conservatory. In the 70s he became a famous musician.
我們可以看出，非統一句雖然語法上沒有問題，但並不符合邏輯。因為出生在南方並不能導致他成為一個著名的音樂家，也就是說兩個句子之間沒有任何的語義聯絡。而改後的統一句則說明了這個人是如何一步一步成為音樂家的，句子之間有邏輯。
非統一句：Du Fu was one of the greatest poets.
統一句：Du Fu was one of the greatest poets of the Tang period.
我們可以看出，非統一句在資訊上是不完整的，因為它沒有提到任何的國家和時間概念。而改後的統一句就是資訊很完善。
總之：一個統一的句子能夠使表達更符合邏輯，更有層次，意思更順暢。而非統一句雖然在語法角度是正確的，但沒有邏輯。主要表現是句子的不同部分沒有任何的聯絡，讀者在讀了非統一句後往往不知道作者想要表達的意思，有一種模稜兩可，似是而非的感覺。
二、連貫性
連貫主要是指句子的不同部分之間是否連貫一致，是否有清楚的合理的聯絡。如果有如下四方面的問題，則句子就是不連貫的。1 錯誤的平行結構；2 含糊的代詞；3 懸垂或不合適的修飾詞；4人稱，數，語態，時態的模糊使用。
1、錯誤的平行結構錯誤句子：
A man is judged not only by what he says but also by his deeds.
改正句子：
A man is judged not only by what he says but also by what he does.
A man is judged not only by his words but also by his deeds.
錯誤句子：
We thought she was charming, intelligent, and a very capable young woman.
改正句子：
We thought she was charming, intelligent and very capable.
We thought she was a charming, intelligent, and very capable young woman.
2、含糊的代詞錯誤句子：
She told my sister that she was wrong.
改正句子：
”I’m wrong,” she said to my sister.
“You’re wrong,” she said to my sister.
My sister was told that she was wrong.
錯誤句子：
He was knocked down by a bicycle, but it was not serious.
改正句子：
He was knocked down by a bicycle, but was not badly hurt.
3、懸垂或不合適的修飾詞錯誤句子：
I read an interesting story in a magazine about sportsmen.
改正句子：I read in a magazine an interesting story about sportsmen.
分析：about sportsmen位置不同，修飾的詞就不同。在錯誤句子中，about sportsmen修飾magazine，意思是一本關於運動員的雜誌。改正的句子表達的意思才是在雜誌裡讀到了一個關於運動員的故事。
錯誤句子：
She bought several picture books and put them into her bag, which she intended to give to her children.
改正句子：
She put into her bag the picture books she had bought for her children.
分析：在錯誤句子中，which指代bag，把bag送給了孩子。在正確句子中，明確是把圖畫書給孩子。
錯誤句子：
The idea he mentioned at first sounded good.
改正句子：
The idea he first mentioned sounded good.
The idea he mentioned sounded good at first.
分析：錯誤句子的意思可能是“起初聽起來還不錯，後來不咋地”，或者“首先提到的想法挺好”。改正的句子表達更精準。
4、人稱，數，語態，時態的模糊使用錯誤句子：
An important thing for the student to remember is that when writing a paper, you should not plagiarize.
改正句子：
An important thing for the student to remember is that when writing a paper, he should not plagiarize.
錯誤句子：
Those who wish to take Linguistics are expected to sign his name on this sheet of paper.
改正句子：
Those who wish to take Linguistics are expected to sign their name on this sheet of paper.
三、簡潔性
大多數語言都要求簡潔，簡單明瞭，儘量不要包含非必須的詞彙。英語也不例外，如果在寫作中一味的為了湊字而新增許多不必要的資訊或詞彙短語等，是不會拿到很高的分數的。在一句話中，如果一個意思在完全表達清楚地基礎上，單詞越少越好。如：
囉嗦：
It was blue in color.
It was small in size.
Mary is a quiet and careful woman.
He returned in the early part of the month of August.
The man, who was her teacher, decided to flunk her
簡潔：
It was blue.
It was small.
Mary is quiet and careful.
He returned in the early August.
Her teacher decided to flunk her
必要的反覆能夠加強語氣，使句子表達強烈。但並不是所有的詞彙就是反覆，如果使用不好就會造成句子不簡潔。如：
囉嗦：
In my opinion, I think your plan is feasible.
簡潔：
In my opinion, your plan is feasible./ I think your plan is feasible.
囉嗦：
Mr. Smith usually likes to drink all kinds of wines that are produced in France.
簡潔：
Mr. Smith prefers wines produced in France.
Mr. Smith prefers French wines.
四、強調性
對於一定意思的強調會使語言更生動，更形象。比如，在演講當中，如果要強調某句話或某個意思，通常會透過大聲，慢速，短句子，或某個動作來完成。在寫作中，我們也可以採用一些方式，來達到使某個句子或某個意思被強調的功能。這樣，說出來的句子才會靈活而有力。
在一篇文章當中，通常會有一些句子是比別的句子更重要的，因為他們會傳達更重要。此時，這些句子就應該被強調一下。通常我們可以透過短句子，句子片段，倒裝，排比，圓周句，祈使句，感嘆句，反問句等等方式來實現。
1、短句子：短句子比長句子更有力量，短促而有力，特別是在開頭或結尾部分。短句子更適合表達重要的事實和觀點，而長句子更適合解釋觀點和理論，或描述一些細節。如：
如上的短句提出了一些重要的建議，如果把這些短句改成長句子，就不會有這樣的力量和清晰度。再如：
上面的很多短句生動形象地描繪了男人的快速動作，使讀者有一種感受這個男人的緊張感覺。相反，長句子往往出現在有關法律的，政治的，理論等的寫作。如：
從這段短文中我們可以看出，作者試圖對抽象的概念如“藝術”和“感覺”下定義，或作出解釋。因為“藝術”和“感覺”本身就是複雜的，所以一定要透過很多個單詞才能將其解釋清楚，進而防止誤解。
這三段文字是奧巴馬競選成功後在芝加哥的演講詞，這實際上是三句話，每句話自成一段。我們可以看出他想要解釋的詞很簡單，是the answer，（因為上文有tonight is your answer）但由於各種因素，包括歷史政治文化等，使得這樣一個answer帶有很多層面的意義，所以這樣的一個意義不能透過簡單句來表達，而只有透過長句子才能使整個講話更有水平，更能顯示歷史的複雜性，以及奧巴馬的決心。
2、句子片段：句子片段通常是不允許出現的，因為不符合句子的標準（參考五種簡單句）。但如果應用得當，會起到意想不到的強調效果，因為句子片段本身所含單詞不多，均為強調。如：
句子片段會起到強調效果，但不能盲目使用，如果使用多了，會給讀者一種很不正式的感覺。大家在寫作文的時候，只有偶爾使用一處到兩處的片段，當然還得是正確使用，才會起到強調或加強語氣的效果。
3、倒裝句：倒裝句因為其句式特殊，天然的就有強調句的作用。如：
In rushed the noisy children.
The poet was born poor, and poor he remained all his life.
So precious is time that we can not afford to waste it.
On no account can we ignore the value of knowledge.
At no time can we ignore the environmental protection.
By no means shall we cease to protect our environment.
Success teaches us something about ourselves. So does failure.
4、平行結構或排比結構：相似的結構會產生一種強調的效果，是語言蒼勁有力。
The school bus skidded, turned sideways, and came to a stop.
I don't know why I married someone who is miserly, sloppy and boring.
I debated whether to give the beggar money or to offer him food.
They would lie on the battlefield for hours and sometimes for days.
This could be a problem for both the winners and losers.
Government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.
5、具有強調性的短語或單詞：This is the very dictionary I have been looking for.
The director himself told me this news.
Do tell us about your recent Antarctic expedition.
His latest novel is by far the best he has ever written.
This theatre is far better than the one we went to last time.
I am so hungry that I will eat whatever food I can find.
What on earth are the children doing in the next room?
I do not like the play at all.
You can buy everything under the sun in this department store.
Many peasants have motorcycles, not to mention TV sets and recorders.
等等強調方法
五、變化
英語的句子應該是多變的。試想，如果你讀了一篇文章，通篇都是相同的句式結構，句子長度都一樣，主語都是名詞或代詞，完全是五種簡單句，這樣的文章還會生動而有吸引力嗎？當然不會。相反，這樣的文章會很枯燥，無聊。
一般來說，如果多個長句中穿插短句，多個複雜句裡面穿插簡單句，多個鬆散句裡面穿插圓周句，偶然使用一下疑問句，倒裝句，感嘆句等等，都無疑會使文章很豐富多彩。不過也應該記得，多樣性也是為了文章思想而服務的，一篇文章思想內容永遠是第一位的。如果一味的追求句式的變化多樣，而導致語言不連貫，意思破碎不完整，那麼這是適得其反的。
如下一篇文章，是丘吉爾在希特勒襲擊蘇聯時發表的一片著名的演講，語言大氣磅礴，蒼勁有力，句式靈活多變，很有感染力和煽動力。
丘吉爾用了很多強有力的表達，下面我們簡單找出幾句來分析一下。
反問句：
Can you doubt what our policy will be?
重複：
Now at once, without a day’s delay; one aim and one single irrevocable purpose
排比：
We shall fight him by land; we shall fight him by see;
Any man or State who fights against Nazism will have our aid. Any man or State who marches with Hitler is our foe.
句子片段：Nothing!
透過這樣的一些句子結構，使得丘吉爾的演講慷概激昂，很能打動人心。一個好的演講家也應該是一個優秀的修辭學家或文體學家，因為他們透過改變句子的結構而是平實的句子大放異彩。我們雖然在平時寫作中達不到這一點，但努力向其學習還是很有必要和好處的！
（完）