写作

Chapter1 (P1)

Every word of the title (including words following hyphens in compound words) should be capitalized, except articles, prepositions, coordinating, conjunctions (and,or ,but, nor, and for)and to in infinitives. But if one of these words is the first or last word of the title, it should be capitalized. Topics are generally noun phrases (nouns with their modifiers), though other forms are possible.

No full stop should be used at the end of a title. A question mark is needed if the topic is a direct question.

The title of a book within the topic should be underlined (italicized in printing).

The first line of every paragraph should be indented (started after a space of four or five letters).

Capitalized words are used mainly in three places: proper names, key words in titles, and the first words of sentences. All sentences, including sentence fragments treated as sentences, should begin with capital letters.

A comma is used to join coordinate clauses. It is put before the conjunction (and, but , or, for, so , nor, or yet).

Coordinate clauses have to be joined with a comma and a conjunction. Using comma to link two clauses is a common mistake which has a name: the comma fault and the comma splice. But we can use a semicolon (分号), a dash (破折号), or a colon (冒号)between two coordinate clauses.

Conjunctions adverbs like therefore, however, nonetheless, hence, otherwise, besides, moreover, etc., should not be used as conjunctions to link twocoordinate clauses. Before them there should be a semicolon, not a comma.

Chapter 2 (P17)

Three types of words: common words, fomal (technical ) words and nonstanard (colloquial) words. Words are gerernal or specific by comparison.

Both general and specific words are useful in writting. When we describe or explain things, or when we give details, we should try to use specific or concrete words wherever possible, for the are

vivid,exact and interesting;

when we summarize or generalize, we may find general or abstract words useful.

Chapter 3 (P60)

Effective sentences have some or all of the following qualities: unity, coherence, conciseness (简洁), and variety.

Unity refers to two qualities: there is only one main idea in a sentence, and that idea is complete. Chapter 4 (P94)

An effective paragraph generally has three fundamental features: a central idea, supporting evidence, and the close connection between the sentence. Ways of developing a paragraph: development by time, development by process, develpment by space, development by example, development by comparison and contrast, development by cause and effect, development by classificaton (大方面) and division (细分).

Chapter5 (P121)

The procedure of summary-writting: reading, writting, revision.

Chapter 6 (P131)

Types of outline: sentence outline, topic outline.

Three main parts of composition: the beginning (the introduction) and the end (the conclusion), but for the middle (the body), often more paragraphs are needed. (议论、说明/ 记叙、描写)

Types of writting: narration (记叙文) and exposition. (P146)

Ways of writing exposition: illustration, comparison and contrast, cause and effect, classification and division. Chapter 7

Notes include appointments, apologies, informal invitations, requests, thanks, messages. (P205) P.S. stands for Postscript, is like the Chinese “又及”. A resume usually consists of personal details, including name, address, telephone numbers, data of birth and sex; education, and work experience. (P236)