【托福培训-写作】综合写作的两大核心能力

在综合写作中，对综合写作阅读内容的总结和阐释不能照抄阅读文章原文，因此 概括能力（summarization skills）和 转述能力（paraphrasing skills）成为了综合写作的两大核心能力。

所谓 概括能力，是指将段落中的论据或细节通过递进、并列、转折、因果等关系进行组织。

我们来看下列的段落：

The online questionnaire is able to feature many online options to help a respondent complete the survey that normally he or she might not be able to receive. For example, there could be a glossary to explain an unknown word. Also, the questionnaire submission is much easier, done at the click of a button instead of wasting time and effort via mailing the forms.

这个段落的分论点是many online options（在线选项）可以帮助很多问卷调查者（respondents）更好地完成问卷。通过论据和细节的展开，我们知道这些 online options 既包括 glossary 对不熟悉的单词进行解释，又包括easy submission.

所以用一句话来概括这段话，应该为：

There are more online features that are helpful for questionnaire respondents, such as glossaries to explain unfamiliar words and easy submissions at the click of a button.

再如：Moreover, genetically modified trees promise to bring a number of economic benefits to those who grow them. Genetically modified trees tend to grow faster, give greater yields of food, fruit, or other products, and be hardier. This allows tree farmers to get faster and greater returns on their farming investment and save on pesticides as well.

这个段落的分论点是 genetically modified trees（转基因树木）带来许多经济利益。通过论据和细节的展开，我们知道这是因为 genetically modified trees 生长的更快、产量更大、更为耐寒；而这些特质使得树农投资回报更快、更多，并且节约了杀虫剂的开支。

用一句话来概括这段话，应该为：

Genetically modified trees bring tree farmers many economic benefits, including favorable returns on their investment and savings on pesticides.

所谓 转述能力，是指需要通过明显地改变原句表达方式或者浓缩、提炼核心意思去改写原文。

方法一：同义词转换法

Youngsters who watched educational children’s television for several hours a week had higher scores on academic tests three years later.

寻找youngsters, educational children’s television, several, higher scores等单词或短语的同义词，原句转述为：

Young children who watched a few hours of educational programs a week had better test scores three years later.

方法二：词性转换法

Telecommuting can bring numerous benefits to both employees and employers.

转化为benefit（动词）：

Both employees and employers can benefit from telecommuting.

转化为beneficial（形容词）：

Telecommuting is beneficial to both employees and employers.

beneficiaries（名词，表示人）：

Both employees and employers can be beneficiaries of telecommuting.

方法三：主动和被动语态转换法

For the price of one regular paperback novel, several book files could be purchased.

将原句的被动语态（could be purchased）转化为主动语态（people could purchase）：

For the same price as one paperback novel, people could purchase several book files.

方法四：句子结构转换法

句子结构转换法是最为常用的方法——通过将句子间结构的转换，进而对原有的句子进行转述。句子间结构的转换，即包括简单句、并列句和从句间的转换，也包括不同从句（包括宾语从句、定语从句、状语从句、同位语从句等）之间的相互转换，以及不同句型结构的使用（包括形式主语结构、强调结构、插入语结构、非谓语结构、虚拟语气结构等）。

（1）简单句和从句子间的转换

There has been an upsurge in the prevalence of electronic books due to rapid advancements in technology.（简单句）

Because there have been rapid advancements in technology, the prevalence of electronic books has experienced an upsurge.（原因状语从句）

（2）宾语从句和定语从句间的转换

The study suggests that television may have a positive influence on children’s intellectual development. （宾语从句）

According to the study, television may positively influence the way that children’s intelligence develops. （定语从句）

（3）非谓语结构的使用

If students can receive instructions at home on the television, they can save time, money, and fuel on transportation.（条件状语从句）

Receiving instructions from television at home, students can save time,money, and fuel on transportation. （非谓语结构）

The carbon dioxide leads to the worldwide greenhouse effect, which causes the sea level to rise and produces negative impacts on weather.（定语从句）

The carbon dioxide raises the sea level and negatively influences weather, leadingto the greenhouse effect worldwide.（非谓语结构）

在综合写作写作过程中，句子转述的四种方法很少“单独使用”，而往往“组合使用”。

作者简介：

姚建华

托福写作主讲

复旦大学法学学士、管理学硕士

第一位获得加拿大女王大学Queen's University

社会学博士学位的中国人

著有《托福写作一本通》一书

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