写段落的方法 (二)

(3) 举例法（Examples）：

在中文写作时，我们很多时会看见题目中要求作答者"举例说明之"，而英文写作也一样。例证可以帮助阐述或澄清主题，使陈述句 Statement 有说服力，试看以下例子：

The English word for many things is not the same as the American one. For example, curtains are "drapes", a holiday is a "vacation", a cinema is "the movies", a cookery book is a "cook-book", a label is a "tag" and a lift is an "elevator." The pavement is the "sidewalk", petrol is "gasoline." Biscuits, if sweet, are "cookies", if plain, are "crackers." Sweets are "candy", a tin is a "can", the underground (railway) is the "subway", and the Englishman's trousers and waistcoat are the American's "pants" and "vest."

上述段落主题是首句，跟着有 supporting details 表示例证，说明了英式英语和美式英语用字上的差异。如果觉得用for example, for instance, to illustrate 等连接词用得太多，不妨参考上述段落，改用其它词句。

表示顺序: first,second, next, then, last, finally, above all, first of all.

表示补充: in addition, moreover, similarly, likewise, and, again, also, besides, further, furthermore.

(4) 过程陈述法（Process）： 

如果要说明一件事件发生的经过，我们大多以时间的先后次序来表达，由第一个程序／步骤开始，直到最后的程序／步骤，例如怎样写一篇论文，如何做纸，如何做化学实验等。

How do you make a telephone call? First,you lift the telephone receiver. Then,you listen for the dial tone. Next, you dial the number you want. After that, you carry on a conversation. Finally, when finished, you put the receiver back on the telephone base.

上述例子主题句是如何拨电话，跟着是 step-by-step说明整个程序，当中运用了许多连接词来表明先后次序。

(5) 叙述详情法（Detail）：   

这方法最常用于叙述个人的经验或一些历史事件，例如：我目击一宗交通意外或我的第一份暑期工，通常我们会以发生时间，地点，经过，与事件有关人物作内容，就像报导新闻一样。

I went on a short visit to my hometown during the summer vacation. I haven't been there for seven years and the changes that have taken place nearly took my breath away. The streets are much broader and flanked by new modern buildings. The old village shops where the villagers used to sell their eggs and rice for exchange of vegetable and oil were gone. They were replaced by a new department store, which offers for sale almost everything that the villagers need, including electrical appliances and household products. Near the motorcycle store, there also appear some small stores for businesses. In some of them fashionable clothes can be made or bought. In others you can get a decent meal or drink. My old neighbor also runs a small shop for repairing bicycles and cars. Crowds of people are shopping every day. The school where I studied has also been replaced by a bigger one with a school library. During the evening the villagers go there to read books and magazines. I was fascinated by all this.

以上叙述作者返回故乡时所目睹的转变，从街道，店铺，旧邻居，以至学校都跟昔日不同了，作者把今天的家乡风貌详细地呈现出来，令读者如同身历其境。

Exercises:

I) Start with a topic sentence and develop it by detail:

1. I saw a very funny film yesterday.

2. The idea of marriage as a way of life has changed recently.

II) Start with a topic sentence and develop it by examples:

1. Several useful and interesting courses have been offered this term.

2. There are many kinds of programs on television that young people like to watch.

III) Start with a topic sentence and develop it by process:

1. Wind is simply moving air.

2. How do you make a sandwich?