我们知道,
An essay at this level largely accomplishes all of the following:
1) Addresses the topic and task well, though some points may not be fully elaborated
2) Is generally well organized and well developed, using appropriate and sufficient explanations, exemplifications, and/or details
3) Displays unity, progression, and coherence, though it may contain occasional redundancy, digression, or unclear connections
4) Displays facility in the use of language, demonstrating syntactic variety and range of vocabulary, though it will probably have occasional noticeable minor errors in structure, word form, or use of idiomatic language that do not interfere with meaning
以上是OG中独立写作原始分4分的评分标准。达不到以上几条,就只能落在FAIR这档了。我们先来看前3点,概括来说,就是文章切题,论证充分,结构清楚。说实话,稍加培训练习的学生,做到前3点都不难。一般学生考场作文能写到350+甚至400+的字数,说明论证是充分具体的;另外,考题可能中机经,意味着原题是写过的,至少也是见过的分析过的,那也不存在跑题。那为什么还是FAIR呢?关键是第4点。在这里,occasional noticeable minor errors意味着只能偶尔犯可以察觉的小错误。这点达不到,就只能在FAIR这档徘徊了。
另外,OG第3版第340页也有如下一番话:
Additionally, even discounting typographical mistakes, the various errors clearly reveal weakness in command of language. Meaning is also sometimes obscured. Though slightly stronger than the average essay with a score of 3, this essay fails to earn a score of 4 mainly because of errors that obscure meaning.
总而言之,独立写作总是FAIR的主要原因就是语言错误多,甚至影响阅读理解。
那语言错误多的原因又是什么呢?大多数人马上会说,语法基础不好呗。那为什么同一种句型,昨天写对的,今天就写错了呢?发挥不稳呗。
针对语法基础薄弱的学生,除了讲解基本的语法点以及句子练习之外,更重要的是掌握常见的几大句型,上考场反复用。考场作文讲究精准稳妥,所以不需要“推陈出新”。记住考场作文的原则:宁可写一个正确的简单句,不要写一个错误的复杂句。
针对时而对时而错、发挥不稳的学生,需要知道以下要点:写句子就像打拳,一招一式、一板一眼,切忌随性发挥,想怎么写就怎么写。在时间宽裕、心情舒畅的情况下,可以把每句话都写对;那么在时间所剩不多、极度烦躁的情况下,也该如此。