權威解析：ETS托福专员关于托福寫作的权威回答

开心青年

    新托福写作是中国考生的弱项，其中语法、用词以及逻辑思维是写作的问题所在，目前对新托福考试的很多理解和看法基本定形。本文通过综合多个权威信息渠道的本文分为三个部分：其中IndependentWritingTask9个问A:"NoneofthetopicsrequiresspecializeA:"Itdoesnotmatterwhetheryouagreeord"Ithinktesttakershadbettersimplypick"Ifyourlanguageishardtofollow,yourse而且从例子的选择上讲，并不要求使用庞大、复杂的例子，尽管这些例子可能论证A:那要看你怎么定义"模板"这个词。如果"模板"指的是段落结构和文章结构Donot"memorize"longintroductoryandco"Theimportanceoftheissueraisedbythep"Inconclusion,althoughIhaveacceptthaLikewise,raterswillnotlookfavorablyo"Attheheartofanydiscussionregardingatowriteanessaycharacterizedby(1)goodA:"Thosethatreceiveascoreof4alsohave"Raterswillalsojudgeyouressaybasedon就词汇而言，关键是表达的准确性。请参看OG第287页的满分范文1，评语中就句式而言，关键是表意准确、流畅且能够变化。但为了达到变化或者准确表达复A:不是。IndependentWritingTask并不偏好formaA:Therearethreekindsofconnectionsbetb.Thelisteningpassagethatpresentsthe目前考的都是Contrast题目(只有一次考到了Solution，但也和A:"RememberthatyouareNOTbeingaskedfo"InEnglish-speakingcountries,youmustA:"Aresponsethatscoresatlevel4hasman"Responsegenerallycannotreceiveascor"Responsesthatearnascoreof3respondto"Ingeneral,responsesshouldbescoredatA:关于这一点，我们要一分为二来看。一方面，我们没必要吹毛求疵;阅卷人知把"dependence"写成"dependency"没太大问题;偶尔把"Occasionallanguageerrorswillnotcoun"Ifyouressayincludesafewminorlexical其次，目前字数会比以前更有意义，因为考试有计数器专门动态显示字数，为的是"Suggestedlengthisbetween150to225wor"Aneffectiveresponseistypicallyabout



新托福写作是中国考生的弱項，其中语法、用词以及逻輯思维是寫作的問題所在，只有在日常生活中多读些范文，了解新托福写作中的逻辑思维，从哪方面考慮问题，句型难度，才可更好的進行鍛炼。以下我们整理了一些關于写作評断的权威信息。

　　目前对新托福考試的很多理解和看法基本定形。本文通过综合多个權威信息渠道的信息(Official Guide，Teacher's Guide，Propell Workshop Manual，以及ETS高级专员Susan Hines的讲解等)，試圖为大家揭開新托福写作众多关鍵问題的答案。

　　本文分为三个部分：其中Independent Writing Task 9個問题，Integrated Writing Task 6個问题，以及牵涉全局写作的3个问题。

　　Independent Task

　　Q: Independent Writing Task有沒有题庫?

　　A: 没有，但是可以借鑒TWE的题库。

　　"You will see topics very similar to these [TWE Topics] on the TOEFL iBT." [OG, P267]

　　Q: 准備Independent Writing Task需不需要专业知识?

　　A: "None of the topics requires specialized knowledge. Most topics are general and are based on the common experience of people in general and students in particular." [OG, P267]

　　Q: 寫作的時候，观点重不重要?

　　A: "It does not matter whether you agree or disagree with the topic; the raters are trained to accept all varieties of opinions." [OG, P267]

　　"I think test takers had better simply pick one side rather than straddle the fence." [Susan Hines, Dec. 2006]

　　"Creativity is not necessary." [Susan Hines, Dec. 2006]

　　Q: 是否可以通过增加深刻的逻辑和复杂的例子来掩盖或者彌补语言能力的不足?

　　A: 不可以。

　　"If your language is hard to follow, your sentences are overly simple, and your vocabulary is limited, you may score no higher than 3 no matter how impressive your ideas may be." [OG, P260]

　　而且从例子的选择上讲，并不要求使用庞大、复杂的例子，盡管这些例子可能论证力更強。个人經歷就是一种很好写的例子。阅卷人并不依據论据的复雜性来看文章。

　　"Personal experiences are common." [Susan Hines, Dec. 2006]

　　Q: 可不可以使用前人的模板(templates)來写作?

　　A: 那要看你怎么定義"模板"这个词。如果"模板"指的是段落结构和文章結构，那没有任何問题，比如"五段式结构"可能会一直是TOEFL文章最好的寫法。但如果"模板"是指背下来的，可以不加思考就可以套到任何题目上的段落内容，那就千萬不要这样做。

　　Do not "memorize" long introductory and concluding paragraphs just to add words to your essay. Raters will not look favorably on wordy introductory and concluding paragraphs such as the following:

　　"The importance of the issue raised by the posed statement, namely creating a new holiday for people, cannot be underestimated as it concerns the very fabric of society. As it stands, the issue of creating a new holiday raises profound implications for the future. However, although the subject matter in general cannot be dismissed lightheartedly, the perspective of the issue as presented by the statement raises certain qualms regarding practical application."

　　"In conclusion, although I have accept that it is imperative that something be done about creating a new holiday for people and find the underlying thrust of the implied proposal utterly convincing, I cannot help but feel wary of taking such irrevocable steps and personally feel that a more measured approach would be more rewarding."

　　Likewise, raters will not look favorably on paragraphs like the following, which uses a lot of words but fail to develop any real ideas:

　　"At the heart of any discussion regarding an issue pertaining to creating a new holiday, it has to borne in mind that a delicate line has to be trod when dealing with such matters. The human resources involved in such matters cannot be guaranteed regardless of all the good intentions that may be lavished. While it is true that creating a new holiday might be a viable and laudable remedy, it is transparently clear that applied wrongly such a course of action could be calamitous and compound the problem rather than provide a solution." [OG, P259]

　　"I think you could use it as long as it is on topic." [Susan Hines, Dec. 2006]

　　Q: 閱卷人最主要看重文章的哪些方面?

　　A: Your ability

　　to respond directly to the question;

　　to take a clear position; and

　　to write an essay characterized by (1) good organization, (2) proper use of supporting examples, (3) sentence variety, and (4) correct sentence structures.

　　[Workshop Manual, P26]

　　Q: 5分和4分最大的区别在哪里?

　　A: "Those that receive a score of 4 also have clear, well-written essays, but there are more flaws and the ideas are less developed." [Teacher's Manual]

　　Q: 词汇和句式是不是越复杂越好?

　　A: 词匯和句式需要一定的复杂性。

　　"Raters will also judge your essay based on the complexity of sentence structures and on the quality and complexity of your vocabulary. If you use very simple sentences and very basic vocabulary, you will probably not be able to express very complex ideas." [OG, P260]

　　但是，不是越复杂越好。

　　就词汇而言，關鍵是表达的準確性。请參看OG第287页的满分范文1，评语中有这样一句话：The writer does not use high-level vocabulary, but word choice is correct throughout.同时请参看Workbook第57页的范文，同样没有big words，也是满分。

　　就句式而言，關键是表意准确、流畅且能够变化。但为了达到變化或者准确表達复杂意思的目标，出现一些复雜的句式是很正常的。但一味追求复雜是没有意義的。

　　Q: 文字是不是越正式(formal)越好?

　　A: 不是。Independent Writing Task并不偏好formal expressions.只要能把意思表达清楚，并把問题回答好了，就行了。参见OG第288页滿分范文2，评语中这样写道：the writer consistently demonstrates command of language and English idioms, especially by using various informal expressions ("Let's assume," "we would all agree," "can make or beak," "come in very handy").

　　Integrated Task

　　Q: 閱讀文章和听力文章中共有几种可能的關系?

　　A: There are three kinds of connections between the reading passage and the listening passage.

　　a. The listening passage that challenges the points made in the reading.

　　b. The listening passage that presents the reasons/ways the problem described in the reading passage is solvable or really not a problem at all.

　　c. The listening passage that supports the points made in the reading.

　　[OG, P252] [Workshop Manual, P41]

　　目前考的都是Contrast題目(只有一次考到了Solution，但也和Contrast差不多)，預计在不久的将来也不會有太大變化。根據ETS高级專员(Assessment Specialist II)Susan Hines [Dec, 2006]的說法，目前題库中还没有出过关于support的题目("Comparison is not available now.")，所以建议大家主要针對contrast題目进行训练，偶尔也可以用朗文的光盘训练一下solution的写法。

　　Q: 阅读文章和听力文章之間一般会有几点相关聯?

　　A: "Typically the main idea will be developed with three points." [OG, P252]

　　Q: 文章中可不可以出现自己对所谈问题的看法?

　　A: "Remember that you are NOT being asked for your opinion. You ARE being asked to explain how the points in the listening relate to points in the reading." [OG, P253]

　　Q: 写作的时候可不可以照搬阅读和听力中的原话?

　　A: 总的来讲，照搬原文是不可以的。关键词可以不变，但是整体内容必须被paraphrase出來，特别是阅读材料里面的内容。

　　"In English-speaking countries, you must follow the rules for citing when you use the same words of the original speaker or author. If you do not do this, it is considered a form of intellectual stealing, called plagiarism. While this may be accepted in some cultures, it is not acceptable in most English-speaking academic settings. Therefore, paraphrasing skills are important to learn." [TOEFL iBT Tips, P29]

　　"Restatement and paraphrasing is, of course, needed." [Susan Hines, Dec., 2006]

　　Q: 5分和4分的區别在哪里?

　　A: "A response that scores at level 4 has many of the characteristics of a 5, but it does not reflect the content of the listening passage as accurately." [Workshop Manual, P45]

　　Q: 高分(5分、4分)和3分的区别在哪里?

　　A: "The response may omit one major key point made in the lecture." [Workbook, P7]

　　"Response generally cannot receive a score higher than 3 if they do not address all three points and usually need to address two of the points of contrast." [Workbook, P11]

　　"Responses that earn a score of 3 respond to the prompt, but they are vaguer than either 4 or 5 responses. Some details might be incorrect or altogether missing and inaccuracies increase. This combination may cause the reader to be slightly confused." [Workshop Manual, P46]

　　All Writing Tasks

　　Q: 高分(5分和4分)和低分(1~3分)在评分程序上有什么區别?

　　A: 總的来講，高分(4和5分)的文章要符合評分标准上的所有要求才能評为高分，但是低分文章(1到3分)只要符合评分標准的某一條就可以评为低分。

　　"In general, responses should be scored at the highest levels (4 or 5) if all the score descriptors fit the response. In contrast, a response should be scored at one of the lower levels (3, 2, or 1) if some or any of the score descriptors noticeably fit the response." [OG, P267]

　　Q: 拼写错误和语言问題要不要紧?

　　A: 关于这一点，我们要一分为二来看。一方面，我们没必要吹毛求疵;阅卷人知道這是first draft并且是under timed condition，只要看得懂，不構成理解障碍，就没太大问题(minor flaw)。另一方面，语法和拼写还是重要的，一旦这些小错誤导致阅卷人觉得难以理解，就会构成重大问题(major flaw)。

　　把"dependence"写成"dependency"没太大问题;偶尔把"becomes independent"写成了"becomes independency"是個可以看到的错误，但还是问題不大;偶尔寫出"They prefer to be depended on their parents."这样的奇怪句子也会得到阅卷人的宽恕。

　　"Occasional language errors will not count against you as long as they do not cause you to misrepresent the meaning of points from the reading and the lecture." [OG, P253]

　　"If your essay includes a few minor lexical and grammar errors, you can still get a high score. However, if you make a lot of grammar errors and if those errors make it hard to understand your meaning, you will get a lower score." [OG, P260]

　　Q: 字数是不是很重要?

　　A: 首先，字数没有上限。

　　其次，目前字数会比以前更有意义，因为考试有计數器专门動态显示字數，為的是让考生对自己的字数做到心里有数。而且两篇文章都有了推荐字數。所以，我的建议是超过这個建议字数，雖然不用超過太多。(Integrated Task超过150，Independent Task超过300)

　　最后，关键是內容，而不是数量。不要为了求字數而导致文章很啰嗦。

　　"Suggested length is between 150 to 225 words. You will not be penalized if you write more, so long as what you write answers the question." [OG, P253]

　　"An effective response is typically about 300 words long. If you write fewer than 300 words, you may still receive a top score, but experience has shown that shorter responses typically do not demonstrate the development of ideas needed to earn a score of 5. There is no maximun word limit. You may write as much as you wish in the time alloted." [OG, P258]

　　"The length is not considered."

　　以上對于新托福写作的一些见解，综合多個权威信息渠道的信息，以及ETS高级专员的講解希望对大家有所幫助。