GRE,Issue題目全解析 數(shù)獨(dú)入門(mén)題目
發(fā)布時(shí)間:2018-10-01 來(lái)源: 散文精選 點(diǎn)擊:
“Every individual in a society has a responsibility to obey just laws and to disobey and resist unjust laws.
Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim. In developing and supporting your position, be sure to address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challenge your position.”
照理說(shuō),這道題目不算太難。舊版GRE作文題庫(kù)中就有一道和它極其類似的題目:"There are two types of laws: just and unjust. Every individual in a society has a responsibility to obey just laws and, even more importantly, to disobey and resist unjust laws."一些考生感到萬(wàn)般糾結(jié)的是如何理解這道新G作文的寫(xiě)作指引(Instruction),也就是這句話:“In developing and supporting your position, be sure to address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challenge your position”,尤其是如何滿足“be sure to address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challenge your position”的要求,這的確是個(gè)問(wèn)題。這句話最為明確的信息是:考生的這篇作文必須要采用兩面兼顧的寫(xiě)法,也就是一貫倡導(dǎo)的Issue作文的“兩面寫(xiě)”的策略。這是因?yàn),這條寫(xiě)作指引講得非常明白:考生在對(duì)這道Issue題目提出自己的立場(chǎng)后,還必須(Be sure to)對(duì)可能被用來(lái)反駁(challenge)自己立場(chǎng)的最有說(shuō)服力的理由和(或)例證做出回應(yīng)。這實(shí)際是要求考生在作文中一定要論及反方立場(chǎng),所以,必須兩面寫(xiě)。
如果考生這時(shí)在寫(xiě)作中采用俗稱的“一邊倒”的寫(xiě)法,就完全不符合該指引的要求了。在其官方網(wǎng)站上,ETS同樣清楚地強(qiáng)調(diào),寫(xiě)作指引是考題的一部分,考生必須要依照寫(xiě)作指引的要求完成寫(xiě)作。所以,對(duì)于“be sure to address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challenge your position”的要求,只能“兩面寫(xiě)”。
在新版GRE的Issue寫(xiě)作六條寫(xiě)作指引中,是不是只有這一條是必須要兩面寫(xiě)的呢?——不是的。
除了上面提到的帶有“be sure to address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challenge your position”的這個(gè)寫(xiě)作指引外,其它五個(gè)寫(xiě)作指引分別如下:
A: Write a response in which you discuss which view more closely aligns with your own position and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should address both of the views presented.
B: Write a response in which you discuss your views on the policy and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider the possible consequences of implementing the policy and explain how these consequences shape your position.
C: Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the recommendation and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, describe specific circumstances in which adopting the recommendation would or would not be advantageous and explain how these examples shape your position.D: Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.
E: Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim and the reason on which that claim is based.
可以看出,這六個(gè)寫(xiě)作指引基本上每一個(gè)都由兩句話組成。前一句實(shí)質(zhì)意義都不大,都是在問(wèn)考生在多大程度上同意或者不同意題目中的判斷而后立場(chǎng)。關(guān)鍵的“指引”意圖在后一句。A首先看指引A:這個(gè)指引非常有特色。帶有這個(gè)指引的Issue題目一般都會(huì)提到兩個(gè)相互對(duì)立或矛盾的立場(chǎng),比如類似這樣的表述 - “Some people believe that government funding of the arts is necessary to ensure that the arts can flourish and be available to all people. Others believe that government funding of the arts threatens the integrity of the arts”。正是由于題目中這兩個(gè)相互對(duì)立的立場(chǎng),該指引的前一句話才會(huì)要求考生討論“which view more closely aligns with your own position and explain your reasoning for the position you take”;然后,它的后一句便提出要求:“you should address both of the views presented”。顯然,這已經(jīng)是直白地要求考生一定要論及題目中兩個(gè)彼此不同或矛盾的立場(chǎng),即是說(shuō),必須要“兩面寫(xiě)”。
B我們?cè)賮?lái)看指引B:這條指引一般出現(xiàn)在屬于“建議類”的ISSUE題目中,比如這道Issue題庫(kù)第72題:“Governments should not fund any scientific research whose consequences are unclear”。這個(gè)指引的后一句“consider the possible consequences of implementing the policy”是要求考生必須要考慮到題目中一項(xiàng)政策或建議的可能后果。
常識(shí)告訴我們,當(dāng)一項(xiàng)政策建議提了出來(lái),然后眾人被要求考慮該項(xiàng)政策建議的可能后果時(shí),要考慮的內(nèi)容的重點(diǎn)只能是實(shí)施那項(xiàng)政策建議所可能導(dǎo)致的不良后果。所以,這樣的題如果只單純地談“implementing the policy”的好處或者弊端,從邏輯上就講不通了。因此,又必須“兩面寫(xiě)”。
C指引C所蘊(yùn)含的要求同指引B是一樣的:指引C也幾乎總是出現(xiàn)在“建議類ISSUE題目”中,比如類似這道Issue題庫(kù)第80題:“Nations should suspend government funding for the arts when significant numbers of their citizens are hungry or unemployed”。這個(gè)指引的后一句“describe specific circumstances in which adopting the recommendation would or would not be advantageous”要求考生在作文中一定要論及題目中的建議“會(huì)導(dǎo)致有利或不利的結(jié)果的具體情形”。初看上去,這條寫(xiě)作指引好像可以讓我們?cè)谀稠?xiàng)建議所導(dǎo)致的有利或不利的結(jié)果中選擇一個(gè)進(jìn)行討論。但大家試想一下,如果別人給了你一個(gè)建議,你怎么可能只考慮該建議的一個(gè)方面呢?我們的理性以及本能都會(huì)要求我們“利·弊”權(quán)衡的。所以說(shuō),這本質(zhì)上又要求我們只能采取一個(gè)“兩面寫(xiě)”的行文思路。
好了,至此,新版GRE考試的Issue作文六條寫(xiě)作指引中,四條已經(jīng)直接或間接地要求我們必須要“兩面寫(xiě)”了。
DE最后再來(lái)看指引D和E。這兩條指引似乎沒(méi)有要求“兩面寫(xiě)”的意味。指引D說(shuō):“you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true”,言下之意是,考生既可以考慮題目中的觀點(diǎn)成立的情形,也可以考慮其不成立的情形。至于指引E,這是一條最為普通的指引,其字面意思就是“討論在多大程度上同意或者不同意題目中的立場(chǎng)極其理由”。既然如此,考生當(dāng)然可以選擇任意一邊。1但問(wèn)題是,假如對(duì)帶有這兩條寫(xiě)作指引的題目我們同樣采用“兩面寫(xiě)”的策略,至少是完全符合ETS的寫(xiě)作要求的;而且,從最一般意義上講,“兩面寫(xiě)”的行文策略還有如下優(yōu)勢(shì):第一, 兩面兼顧,本身即是看到了問(wèn)題的復(fù)雜性(complexities)這是ETS樂(lè)意看到的思路。GRE的Issue作文對(duì)考生的思辨能力以及對(duì)復(fù)雜問(wèn)題的解析能力都有很高要求,這也是為什么GRE的寫(xiě)作被稱之為“Analytical Writing (分析性寫(xiě)作) ”的原因。ETS在其GRE官網(wǎng)上明白無(wú)誤地告訴我們,GRE寫(xiě)作要想得5.5~6分,考生必須“Sustains insightful, in-depth analysis of complex ideas; develops and supports main points with logically compelling reasons and/or highly persuasive examples”。也就說(shuō),考生的作文必須對(duì)復(fù)雜(complex)的觀點(diǎn)做獨(dú)到(insightful)、深刻(in-depth)的分析,并且用符合邏輯的推理(logically compelling reasons)和極富有說(shuō)服力的實(shí)例(highly persuasive examples)展開(kāi)論證。照此要求,簡(jiǎn)單地“一邊倒”的寫(xiě)法無(wú)疑顯得幼稚些了。第二, 兩面寫(xiě),左右逢源,文章容易展開(kāi)、容易寫(xiě)長(zhǎng)這解決多數(shù)同學(xué)的字?jǐn)?shù)難題。這是個(gè)很實(shí)際的好處。第三, 兩面寫(xiě)的文章結(jié)構(gòu)極好控制,若再配合得當(dāng)?shù)恼撟C方法行文思路清晰、結(jié)構(gòu)一目了然。常用的“兩面寫(xiě)”的行文結(jié)構(gòu)有下列三種,即:
正、反、合(即:支持、反對(duì)、然后再將前面正反兩方面的分析綜合闡述)
正、反、反(即:支持、反對(duì)、再反對(duì))
正、反、散(即:支持、反對(duì)、然后從一個(gè)更深、更廣的角度將問(wèn)題的闡述加以散發(fā))
具體在文章中用哪一種結(jié)構(gòu),當(dāng)然要視考生自己對(duì)題目的駕馭能力和題目本身的特點(diǎn)而定了。
第四, 文章緊緊圍繞著題目展開(kāi),思路集中,不易跑題對(duì)于這一點(diǎn),部分同學(xué)可能不以為然:這種小兒科的錯(cuò)誤,怎么會(huì)在GRE考生中出現(xiàn)呢?但如果考生對(duì)題目的中心觀點(diǎn)、分析的側(cè)重點(diǎn)的把握出現(xiàn)了偏差,他就會(huì)在不知不覺(jué)中離題萬(wàn)里。筆者所批改的學(xué)生作文中,少部分同學(xué)的確如此。一旦我們“兩面寫(xiě)”,我們的行文邏輯和結(jié)構(gòu)就自動(dòng)符合了Issue題目的全部六大寫(xiě)作指引的要求了。這就如同掌握了類似張無(wú)忌的“乾坤大挪移”大法,可以化解任何門(mén)派的招數(shù)(比如Issue的六大指引)于無(wú)形。豈不快哉!
當(dāng)然,具體如何兩面寫(xiě),還有一個(gè)如何對(duì)題目進(jìn)行分析的問(wèn)題。比如,就上面提到那道題而言,它就是一道“建議類”的題目,也就是說(shuō),題目是給出了一個(gè)建議“Every individual in a society has a responsibility to obey just laws and to disobey and resist unjust laws”,需要我們對(duì)這個(gè)建議進(jìn)行分析(Analyze)。
對(duì)建議類題目,分析切入點(diǎn)有三點(diǎn):(1)題目中的建議可行性如何?(2)如果實(shí)施題目中的建議,是否會(huì)導(dǎo)致同初始目的相矛盾或其它荒謬的結(jié)果?(3)有無(wú)替代或折衷方案?依照這三個(gè)分析切入點(diǎn),我們可以對(duì)這道建議類題目分析如下:(1)題目中的建議可行性如何?題目中的建議不可行,因?yàn)檎撜咭呀?jīng)將問(wèn)題過(guò)于簡(jiǎn)單化了。在沒(méi)有搞清楚什么是正義和不正義,以及該采取何種程序來(lái)捍衛(wèi)正義、消除不正義之前,題目中的建議很可能會(huì)導(dǎo)致這樣的結(jié)果:堅(jiān)持了不正義的法律、破壞了正義的法律。(2)如果實(shí)施題目中的建議,是否會(huì)導(dǎo)致同初始目的相矛盾或其它荒謬的結(jié)果?簡(jiǎn)單地說(shuō)“Every individual in a society has a responsibility to obey just laws and to disobey and resist unjust laws”只能導(dǎo)致無(wú)政府狀態(tài)(anarchy)。(3)有無(wú)替代或折衷方案?正義的實(shí)現(xiàn)以及非正義的消除,都有賴于:其一,人們對(duì)正義含義的共識(shí);其二,實(shí)現(xiàn)正義和消除非正義的程序。否則,不可能有真正的正義。然后,在按照“正、反、合”的框架把分析內(nèi)容組織起來(lái),我們就得到了一個(gè)完美的寫(xiě)作題綱:論點(diǎn):正義的實(shí)現(xiàn)有賴于人們對(duì)正義的共識(shí),以及一個(gè)可靠的法律程序
正:理論上或者觀念上講,題目中的建議是合理的。畢竟,行動(dòng)上的正義開(kāi)始于理念中的正義(Justice in action starts from justice in conception)。任何事實(shí)上和行動(dòng)上的正義和非正義,首先在于人們對(duì)之于觀念上的認(rèn)同。要消除非正義,人們必先在觀念上確認(rèn)其屬于非正義;同理,若要人們?nèi)?shí)施某種所謂的“正義”,必先要人們?cè)谟^念上高度認(rèn)同其正義性。所以,在觀念層面上,人人都有服從正義、抵制和反對(duì)非正義的必要和自由。
反:但是,在行為和操作層面,簡(jiǎn)單地說(shuō)“Every individual in a society has a responsibility to obey just laws and to disobey and resist unjust laws” 實(shí)際已經(jīng)將問(wèn)題簡(jiǎn)單化了。在沒(méi)有搞清楚什么是正義和不正義,以及該采取何種程序來(lái)消除不正義之前,題目中的建議很可能會(huì)導(dǎo)致這樣的結(jié)果:堅(jiān)持了不正義的法律、破壞了正義的法律。這只能是無(wú)政府狀態(tài)。例如,到底集體的利益是否永遠(yuǎn)高于個(gè)體的利益?是否任何時(shí)候都可以讓個(gè)體為所謂集體的利益做出犧牲?在城市建設(shè)中搞強(qiáng)制拆遷都是以“公共利益”為動(dòng)因,那么,所有那些強(qiáng)制拆遷就因此都是正義的了嗎?如果不是,該怎樣消除非正義呢?暴力抵制,還是訴諸法律或行政程序?那么,又該怎樣保證那些法律和行政程序是正義的呢?那些程序又該以怎樣合乎正義的方式產(chǎn)生呢?等等這些處理不好,當(dāng)然就是動(dòng)蕩和無(wú)政府狀態(tài)(anarchic)了。
合:正義的實(shí)現(xiàn)以及非正義的消除,都有賴于:其一,人們對(duì)正義含義的共識(shí);其二,實(shí)現(xiàn)正義和消除非正義的法律程序。否則,不可能有真正的正義。
相關(guān)熱詞搜索:GRE Issue題目全解析 gre issue gre issue 模板
熱點(diǎn)文章閱讀