本教材是北京外国语大学英语系的专家们根据当代语言教学的研究成果和多年的教学经验,精心编写的供高等院校英语专业本科学生使用的“现代大掌英语”系列中的写作敦材。本教材有以下特点:
强调语言是人类交流思想的工具,强调写作在几种交际手段中具有的特殊意义,强调技巧为内容服务。
与本系列的其他教材在题材方面有机结合,深化学生对某一话题的认识,同时使学生认识到讨论同一话题时口语与书面语的区别。吸收国内外当前**写作教材的长处并结合我国的国情以及新世纪对英语人才写作能力的要求,采用全新格局,体现了前沿的教学思想。
强调实践,主张理论从简,主要通过分析范文教授写作技巧。强调阅读对培养和提高学生写作能力的作用,选用大量难度适宜、语言规范、内容丰富的范文。

Plan of the Book
Unit One Spend and Save
Argumentation: The Basics
The Use of Language: Level of Formality
Unit Two Campus Love -- Pros and Cons
Argumentation: The Claim
The Use of Language: Abstract Words vs. Concrete Words
Unit Three Pop Icons and Heroes
Argumentation: The Support
The Use of Language: Conciseness
Unit Four Examinations: For and Against
Argumentation: The Refutation
The Use of Language: Exact Words
Unit Five Cheating, Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
Argumentation: Common Fallacies
The Use of Language: English Idioms and Figures of Speech
Unit Six Beauty, from Heart or Face?
Argumentation: Emotional Appeals
The Use of Language: What Language to Avoid
Unit Seven What Should Students Learn in School?
Argumentation- Induction and Deduction
The Use of Language: Using the Dictionary
Unit Eight Advertising Yourself
Resume
Letters of Application
Answers