写一篇英语文章如同设计一座建筑,既要讲究外形结构风格,又要注重其内部设施的实际功能。建筑设计师要根据周围的环境和房子的用途、目的确定设计原则与风格,写文章也要根据情景和目的来立意、构思、选材。
本书根据大学英语写作教学内容与教学目标,以及一般英语文章的写作目的与体式,将一般英语写作任务粗略地分为六大类型或模式,对学生的写作能力进行分类集中训练。
本书强调信息交流能力的培养,强调篇章层面上的教学,强调培养学生的语言得体意识。为此,每单元内容的设计遵照从输入到产出的学习规律,首先分析、欣赏从英语原版期刊中挑选的、代表典型写作模式的文章,然后让学生举一反三,模仿其写作手法,就一定的对象、话题,为了一定的目的进行写作练习。
本书的编写还充分体现了学生的主体性原则,表现在教师指导与学生完成任务的教学模式上。任务的设计采用自上而下的方略,即从把握文章的主旨和宏观结构入手,然后理解细节和语言特点,了解特定的语言形式是如何为表达意义服务的。
每单元的*后一项内容是Adapting your writing for oral presentation,为学生提供了一系列口头表达技巧,有助

Block A: Descriptions
Unit 1 Describing a Person
Nicolas Copernicus
Unit 2 Describing an Organization
UKCOSA: The Council for International Education,
Unit 3 Describing a Place,
Hyde Park
Block B: Explanations
Unit 4 Offering a Suggestion
Power Phrases: The Key to Winning Respect
Unit 5 Giving Instructions
Controlling Weeds in Your Lawn and Garden
Unit 6 Giving a Definition
Epidemics: A Historical Perspective
Block C: Analyses
Unit 7 Analyzing a Common Phenomenon
You Are Welcome
Unit 8 Analyzing a Serious Problem
School Violence: What Police Should/Could Do
Unit 9 Analyzing Research Findings
The Threat of Small Households
Block D: Evaluations
Unit 10 Evaluating a Book
Secrets of the Tomb
Unit 11 Evaluating a Product,
Easy Solution to Hard Water Problem
Unit 12 Evaluating a Solution to a Problem
Two Bad Remedies and One Good Solution
Block E:Reports(Ⅰ)
Unit 13 Reporting News
Fear of Human Pandemic Grows as Bird Flu Sweeps Through Asia
Unit 14 Reporting Views
The Great Oil Hunt
Unit 15 Reporting an Interview with an Important Person
Interview: The Numbers Game
Block F: Reports(Ⅱ)
Unit 16 Reporting a Problem
Internet Privacy
Unit 17 Proposing a Solution to a Problem
Can Mr. Bill Clean Up Your In-Box?
Unit 18 Reporting Research Findings,
No Truth to the Fountain of Youth
Answers
Tips for daptingy0ur writing for oral presentation
1. Speak rather than read the speech
2. Pace your speech
3. Relieve your tension
4. Use simple and precise language
5. Establish the speaker-audience connection
6. Define unfamiliar words/terms/concepts when speaking
7. Use visual aids to express statistics
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