最难十个雅思议论文写作题难题
一、审题难
1、 There are social, medical and technical problems associated with the use of mobile phones. What forms do they take? Do you agree that the problems outweigh the benefits of mobile phones?
这个题目属于优缺点讨论,但很多考生看到第一问就觉得这题目和常规的讨论类分析的题目问题模式有所不同。我们在审题的时候会发现第二问就是常规的优缺点讨论,可以得出用双边论证来写。再回头看第一问中有个they,指代的是第一句中的social, medical and technical problems, 所以我们必须在论证的时候要回答这个问题,即要写三个方面的缺点。所以此类问题的应对策略为问什么答什么。下面再看一题,也属于此种类型。
2、 The development of technology changes the way people connect with each other. In which way does the development of technology change the types of relationships among people? Does it have positive or negative effects on the relationships?
上题第二问也是优缺点讨论,而第一问问科技的进步对人们交往的影响,那我们在论证中也要回答这个问题。可以两问相结合,即先回答科技进步都交往的影响,如手机、互联网等的发展,然后分别论证其两者的优缺点。下面一题也是属于这种两问相结合的问题模式,这是一个多选题,考生可以双边论证,正文分别列举最重要和最不重要的两至三门课程进行论证。
3、 Most countries spend much money on education, as they start to realize the important of education. In your opinion which two subjects are the most important for young people and which one is the least important?
Subjects: Literature Sports
Mathematics Economy
Physics History
Music Geography
Philosophy Foreign languages
二、论证结构难
反观雅思考试的议论文题目,我们会发现其问题模式无非可以总结为两类:讨论类和分析解决型。但是仔细分析的考生会发现还有一类问题模式并不完全属于其中的某一类。请看下面的几个题目:
As most people spend a major part of their adult life at work, job satisfaction is an important element of individual well-being. What are the factors that contribute to job satisfaction? How realistic is the expectation of job satisfaction for all workers?
The unlimited use of cars may cause many problems. What are those problems? In order to reduce the problems, should we discourage people from using cars?
In many places shopping is becoming a free-time activity, replacing the traditional hobbies of the past. Discuss the reasons for this development. Is this development positive or negative?
In the past, people used to travel to see the difference from their home country. However, the sceneries in places around the world seem similar nowadays. What are the causes of these similarities? Do you think that the advantages of this similarity outweigh the disadvantages?
上述三个题目都有两问。第一问是要求讨论分析原因和问题, 如factors, problems, reasons。如若是分析解决型,那么很显然第二问就是要求提出解决方法等。可是这三个题目并非如此发展,而是问考生是否同意某个观点或者认为此现象是积极或消极的影响,属于常见的讨论类问题模式。所以我们发现上述三个题目是所谓的分析解决型和讨论类的综合题型。那么这类题目所对应的文章结构和单一的讨论和分析解决都不一样。我们遵守一个原则,问什么答什么。正文一段写原因或问题,一段直接发表自己的观点,然后提出一些理由来支持。可参考下面的结构:
Introduction Background + Topic (Problems)
Body Causes / Problems
Topic Sentence
cause one / problem one + supporting sentences
cause two / problem two + supporting sentences
cause three / problem three + supporting sentences
Discussion
My Opinion (Topic Sentence)
reason one + supporting sentences
reason two + supporting sentences
reason three + supporting sentences
Conclusion Restate my opinion
所以上面的第一题参考这个结构就可以得出这样的提纲:
Introduction People spend most of their adult life in their jobs, so job satisfaction is the most essential element for people to be well-being.
Body Several factors are thought to be critical to lead to job satisfaction
well paid
the opportunities to get promoted
suited to the job
However, it is different to ensure everyone to be satisfied with their jobs.
Different people have different definitions about job satisfaction
The employers are in the wild chase of higher and quicker profits.
Conclusion The employees have to stay positive and find a right job.
因此其他的三个题目也可以依照这个结构得出相应的提纲。此类题目的难度在于考生见到此类陌生的问题模式,会觉得考前准备的结构,如模板等无处可用。朗阁海外考试研究中心的专家建议考生要做好各手准备,虽然此类题目出现机率很低,但还是在考前也列一个此类模板,以便随机应变。
三、论据扩展难
雅思大作文的考察形式是议论文,既是议论文,势必设计一些话题。在近几年的考试中,经过朗阁海外考试研究中心的研究分析发现,雅思议论文最关注的是教育类的话题,此外科技类,媒体类,文化类,政府类,交通类等都有牵涉。但是面对那么多的话题和题目,能够做到在几分钟之内就想出充足合理有说服力的理由是很困难的一个任务。况且有时考题所出的题目非常偏,考生根本无法想到任何相关的理由。所以所谓的论据扩展难,就是指考生在面对有些议论文的难题时,毫无头绪,无法扩展出论据,因为雅思写作的考题有个特点是题目出的很细节,有些具体抽象的话题也涵盖其中,所以没有一定的积累的考生在面对这些问题的时候很难找到合理的理由来进行支持,继而使文章内容浅显没达到要求而导致拿了低分。
下面列举几题来熟悉一下此类题目:
1. Nowadays, some universities offer students skills that assist them to find employment, but some people believe that the main function of a university should be to provide students with access to knowledge for its sake. What is your opinion?
2. In many countries the number of elderly people is increasing fast. Does this trend have more positive or negative effects on the society?
3. One long-distance flight consumes fuel which a cars uses in several years’ time, but they cause the same amount of pollution. So some people think that we should discourage non-essential flights, such as tourist travel, rather than to limit the use of cars. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
上面三个题目难点在于如何扩展文章。一般考生拿到此类题目都有些不知所措,不知如何扩展正文的论据,觉得此类话题不熟悉,或者过于理论,没有支持的理由,比如第一题,通过审题,是关于大学传授知识和大学传授找工作的技能的双边论证,很多考生认为大学本来就是传授知识的地方,要找到合理的论据进行扩展非常困难。朗阁海外考试研究中心的专家认为应对此类题目,就是要以具体对付抽象和理论,考生可以列举一些例子,如通过大学的知识传授为将来的就业、生活的改变以及心理上的成熟等都起了重要的作用,而大学传授技能也是由于就业的严峻形势所迫。我们可以将提纲列举如下:
It is believed that the basic mission of universities is to conduct research and provide education based on it.
First, a good command of basic knowledge lays a solid foundation for other courses.
Second, through basic and theoretical courses, students can learn to improve their self-study as well as problem-solving ability.
On the other hand, university education should also prepare students for their future employment.
As the employment competition is growing fierce, graduates have to learn skills to adjust themselves to the requirement.
Moreover, university provides the students with environment where they can deal with some problems that they will meet in their future career.
考生面对第二题的时候,同样也有一个疑问,即人口老龄化对社会的积极影响。没错,老年人数量急剧上升,对社会来说并没有什么好处,所以这个扩展非常困难。但如果我们能够转变一下思维,这个题目就不见得难了。朗阁海外考试研究中心的专家认为,此题可先让步写到老年人对社会、家庭等所带来的好处,如帮忙家务,社区志愿者等。然后提出虽然有这些好处,但随着他们数量的急剧增加,必定会带来很多问题,对社会家庭等,如成为政府的经济负担,政府需拨更多的钱支持养老金,而对家庭也是负担,小辈要花时间和精力还有金钱来全方位照顾老年人。
提纲如下:
Admittedly, older people often have time to offer for the benefit of family and community.
However, population ageing bring about serious economic and social problems for both family and government.
通过上面两题的讲解,第三题也可以举一反三来进行扩展。在平时上课讲解时,朗阁海外考试研究中心的专家建议各位培训师要注重培养学生brainstorming的能力以及段落扩展的方法,通过一些固定的方面来培养考生扩展论据的能力,特别是能通过一些具体的例子、数据、比较等论证方法,扩展更加容易,效果也更有说服力。
在这一系列中,我们列举了以上三个难点和10个题目,希望大家明确雅思议论文的确是有规律可循的,但是我们不能忽略一些特殊情况和难点的存在,希望以上所提出的对策能切实帮助到应考的学生。