第三節(jié) 議論文的素材

一、確定素材的三種方法

拿到題目后，考生要迅速審題并確定素材，下面向大家介紹確定素材的三種最常用的方法：分類法、反證法、擴(kuò)展法。

1. 分類法

當(dāng)題目的討論范圍過(guò)于寬泛或者抽象的時(shí)候，我們可以把討論對(duì)象具體化，對(duì)其加以分類，那么素材就比原來(lái)增加了一倍或幾倍，這樣我們發(fā)現(xiàn)可以寫的內(nèi)容也成倍地增加了。需要強(qiáng)調(diào)的是，分類要盡可能科學(xué)、準(zhǔn)確，否則有可能出現(xiàn)邏輯上的問(wèn)題。

下面請(qǐng)看2011年4月28日雅思寫作學(xué)術(shù)類議論文的題目：

真題： Too much money has been spent in looking after and repairing old buildings; 

            therefore, we should knock down old buildings and build modern ones instead.

            To what extent do you agree or disagree?

譯文：我們已經(jīng)在維護(hù)和修復(fù)老建筑方面花了太多的錢，因此，我們應(yīng)該拆除老建筑，而

           建設(shè)現(xiàn)代建筑。你在何種程度上同意或不同意這個(gè)觀點(diǎn)？

分析：老房子包含的范圍非常廣泛，但僅從題目中所說(shuō)的拆或者不拆的角度看，老房子明

           顯可以分成兩大類：應(yīng)該拆的和不應(yīng)該拆的。

這樣分類之后，我們就可以按照下面的結(jié)構(gòu)和內(nèi)容來(lái)寫了：

第一段： 介紹背景：現(xiàn)在城市里老房子很多，維護(hù)和修復(fù)費(fèi)用很高；轉(zhuǎn)述題目：人們主張

               拆掉舊建筑，代之以新建筑；我的觀點(diǎn)：不能一概而論，要區(qū)別對(duì)待。

第二段： 提出一些老房子確實(shí)應(yīng)該拆，分論點(diǎn)可以寫兩點(diǎn)：比如老房子不安全，或者沒(méi)有

               文化和歷史價(jià)值。

第三段： 另外一些老房子不能拆。這段可以寫三個(gè)分論點(diǎn)：比如有特殊歷史意義的老房子

               （如故宮、天壇） 、特殊的民居（如老北京四合院） 、設(shè)計(jì)得非常漂亮的房子（對(duì)

                現(xiàn)代建筑有參考價(jià)值的房子）等。

第四段： 結(jié)論：有些老房子由于自身的原因和城市發(fā)展的需要必須拆掉，但是有特殊歷史

               意義和現(xiàn)實(shí)價(jià)值的老房子不僅不能拆，而且應(yīng)該受到保護(hù)。

我們可以看出，把題目中的老房子分成應(yīng)該拆的和不應(yīng)該拆的兩大類之后，在第二段又用分類法把應(yīng)該拆的分為兩類，在第三段又把不應(yīng)該拆的分為三類。可見，分類法可以幫助我們快速準(zhǔn)確地確定寫作的素材，希望大家結(jié)合本書第二部分中的真題和考官范文掌握并熟練運(yùn)用。

2. 反證法

當(dāng)我們發(fā)現(xiàn)題目中出現(xiàn)only（唯一的） 、all（所有的）或者-est（形容詞最高級(jí)）這類詞匯的時(shí)候，就可以用反證法。這三類詞匯的共同點(diǎn)是它們的語(yǔ)氣都很絕對(duì)，這樣的命題在邏輯上多半站不住腳。因?yàn)樗鼈兲^對(duì)，所以想證明它們是對(duì)的就會(huì)很困難，而如果想證明它們是錯(cuò)誤的，就很簡(jiǎn)單，舉出幾個(gè)反例就行了。

下面請(qǐng)看2011年2月20日雅思寫作學(xué)術(shù)類議論文的題目。

真題： Some people argue that the purpose of zoos is only to entertain people. What do

            you think? What are the other purposes of zoos?

譯文：一些人認(rèn)為動(dòng)物園的目的僅僅是娛樂(lè)人們。你怎么認(rèn)為？動(dòng)物園的其他目的是

           什么？

分析： 要想證明動(dòng)物園的目的僅僅是娛樂(lè)人們?cè)谶壿嬌鲜怯欣щy的，而要想證明它的目的

            不僅限于此，我們只需找出另一種或幾種更重要的目的就可以了。

用反證法的思路，我們就可以按照下面的結(jié)構(gòu)和內(nèi)容來(lái)寫了：

第一段：介紹背景：現(xiàn)在城市里有很多動(dòng)物園，里面有各種各樣的動(dòng)物；轉(zhuǎn)述題目：人們

              認(rèn)為動(dòng)物園的目的只是娛樂(lè)人們；我的觀點(diǎn)：反對(duì)這種觀點(diǎn)，因?yàn)閯?dòng)物園還有其

              他更重要的目的。

第二段：讓步段：先承認(rèn)動(dòng)物園確實(shí)為人們帶來(lái)很多娛樂(lè)。接下來(lái)舉兩個(gè)分論點(diǎn)支持就行，

              比如人們可以來(lái)這里欣賞動(dòng)物；另外，動(dòng)物園景色秀麗，空氣清新，也是人們休

              閑健身的好場(chǎng)所。

第三段：舉反例：證明動(dòng)物園的目的不僅是為人們提供娛樂(lè)，還有更重要的目的。接下來(lái)

              再舉三個(gè)分論點(diǎn)來(lái)支持：比如保護(hù)瀕臨滅絕的動(dòng)物，在自然環(huán)境惡化的情況下為

              動(dòng)物提供棲息地，促進(jìn)稀有動(dòng)物的繁殖和養(yǎng)育等。

第四段： 結(jié)論：動(dòng)物園不僅為人們提供娛樂(lè)，還有其他更重要的目的。

可見，用反證法，我們可以更客觀、更全面地對(duì)題目加以論述。請(qǐng)大家結(jié)合本書第二部分中的真題和范文掌握并熟練運(yùn)用這種方法。

3. 擴(kuò)展法

擴(kuò)展法就是要求考生從多個(gè)角度擴(kuò)展寫作思路。能夠多角度地?cái)U(kuò)展思路是雅思寫作高分的保證。那么我們?cè)撊绾螖U(kuò)展思路呢?下面以一個(gè)雅思高頻寫作題目：Do the benefits of tourism outweigh the drawbacks? 為例，來(lái)看一下擴(kuò)展法的應(yīng)用。

Positives of tourism:

（1）從個(gè)人角度思考。

Tourism is a popular leisure activity.

Tourists can relax, have fun, experience different customs and cultures (sight-seeing,visiting monuments, tasting new cuisine).

Travel opens our minds. It can broaden our horizons.

（2）從經(jīng)濟(jì)角度思考。

The tourist industry is vital for some countries.

People rely on tourism for their income.

Tourism attracts investment from governments and companies.

It creates employment due to demand for goods and services (hotels, entertainment etc.).

It helps to improve the standard of living. Negatives of tourism:

（1）從環(huán)境角度思考。

Tourism can have a negative impact on the environment.

Excessive building (roads, hotels etc.) destroys natural habitats and spoils the landscape.

Tourism creates pollution and waste.

It puts pressure on local resources such as food, water and energy.

（2）從文化角度思考。

Local traditions may be lost.

Traditional jobs and skills die out (e.g. farming, fishing).

Local people are forced to work in the tourist industry.

通過(guò)這幾個(gè)不同的角度，我們就對(duì)這個(gè)雅思寫作題目的思路進(jìn)行了擴(kuò)展，使大家在不同的角度得到了不同的觀點(diǎn)，進(jìn)而寫出不同的文章。

其實(shí)，絕大多數(shù)雅思寫作議論文的話題都可以通過(guò)以下幾個(gè)方面進(jìn)行擴(kuò)展：經(jīng)濟(jì)（economy） 、就業(yè)（employment） 、時(shí)間（time） 、空間（space） 、心理（psychology） 、生理（physiology） 、環(huán)境（environment） 、教育（education） 、文化（culture） 、科技（technology） 、情感（emotion）和個(gè)人權(quán)利（human right） 。

在此，我們通過(guò)下面的例題來(lái)印證擴(kuò)展法的實(shí)戰(zhàn)性。

真題： Some people think tobacco should be made illegal in the same way as other

            drugs because some products containing it are addictive. To what extent do you

            agree or disagree with this opinion?

譯文： 一些人認(rèn)為煙草應(yīng)該被認(rèn)定為非法，就像其他毒品一樣，因?yàn)槟承┖袩煵莸漠a(chǎn)品

            會(huì)使人上癮。你在多大程度上同意或不同意這種觀點(diǎn)？

分析： 通過(guò)審題，我們得知此題問(wèn)的是是否同意認(rèn)定煙草為非法。同意則要列舉煙草的一

            系列缺點(diǎn)，反之不同意，則要列舉其優(yōu)點(diǎn)。我們馬上用擴(kuò)展法來(lái)準(zhǔn)備素材，當(dāng)然不

            是每一項(xiàng)都應(yīng)用，但是大多數(shù)都是適用的。

Advantages:

經(jīng)濟(jì)：revenue-rising for the country and businessmen concerning this arena

就業(yè)： offering the opportunities of employment in various fronts, including

            manufacturing, transporting, selling, governing

時(shí)間：killing the time

心理：relieving one’s pressure

文化：forming / shaping cigar culture

Disadvantages:

經(jīng)濟(jì)： money-consuming for smokers

生理： addictive to it, harmful to smokers’ health, leading to lung cancer

環(huán)境： air pollution, potential hazard of fire

空間： passive smoking / second-hand smoking

情感： overly-dependent on smoking

可見，用上述辦法進(jìn)行擴(kuò)展，得出來(lái)的論據(jù)就很全面而且有條理。

下面我們?cè)儆?009年7月23日雅思寫作學(xué)術(shù)類議論文的題目來(lái)做 brainstorming。

真題： Many people are optimistic about the 21st century and see it as an opportunity to

            make positive changes to the world. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

譯文： 許多人對(duì)21世紀(jì)非常樂(lè)觀，認(rèn)為這是對(duì)世界做出積極改變的一個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)。你在何種

            程度上同意或不同意這個(gè)觀點(diǎn)？

分析： 通過(guò)審題，此題無(wú)非就是問(wèn)我們 21世紀(jì)是利大于弊還是弊大于利，所以只要列

            舉 21 世紀(jì)發(fā)展的優(yōu)缺點(diǎn)就可以了。下面我們還通過(guò)之前介紹的擴(kuò)展法來(lái)準(zhǔn)備

            素材。

Advantages:

經(jīng)濟(jì)： economy being promoted, efficiency being increased

科技： advanced technology facilitating people’s life

時(shí)間： time-saving when conducting various kinds of activities

個(gè)人權(quán)利：human rights being laid more emphasis on

心理： an increasing number of recreational activities to help people relieve from pressure

Disadvantages:

就業(yè)： growing population, fierce competition

心理： pressure coming from a range of aspects

環(huán)境： environmental pollution continuing getting worse

以上兩個(gè)題目在確定素材時(shí)都運(yùn)用了擴(kuò)展法，可見其具有很強(qiáng)的適用性，能夠幫助考生在短時(shí)間內(nèi)擴(kuò)展話題的素材，而且比較全面。請(qǐng)考生一定要進(jìn)行大量的練習(xí)，考試時(shí)才能夠做到信手拈來(lái)。

二、實(shí)戰(zhàn)演練

在確定素材的三種方法中，分類法和反證法相對(duì)容易理解和快速掌握，請(qǐng)大家結(jié)合第二部分的議論文歷次考試真題和范文熟練運(yùn)用這兩種方法。擴(kuò)展法有一定的難度，但應(yīng)用廣泛，為了幫助大家熟練運(yùn)用這一方法，下面為大家提供了12個(gè)熱門的雅思議論文題目的正反兩方面的觀點(diǎn)，幫助大家訓(xùn)練擴(kuò)展答題思路。

1. Smoking

For (means agree or advantages)

（1）It is pleasurable and relaxing.

（2）It is one’s right.

（3）It is difficult to stop smoking.

（4）It is an important source of tax revenue.

Against (means disagree or disadvantages)

（1）It is harmful to one’s health (e.g., heart disease, bronchial trouble, lung cancer ).

（2）It is harmful to those nearby.

（3）It is addictive (i.e., nicotine).

2. School Uniforms

For

（1）They eliminate the need to choose what to wear every day.

（2）They allow students to better concentrate on their studies.

（3）They are popular with parents and administrators.

（4）They are inexpensive.

（5）They are attractive and neat.

Against

（1）They are disliked by students (students like to primp).

（2）They eliminate class differences.

（3） They are an infringement on our freedom (different strokes for different folks).

（4）They are ugly and childish.

3. Legalised Gambling

For

（1）It is a source of government revenue.

（2）It is an old practice dating back thousands of years.

（3）It is pleasurable (e.g., horse racing, casinos).

（4）Many people play poker and mahjong.

Against

（1）It can become addictive.

（2）It can destroy happy families.

（3）It can lead to suicide.

（4）It is easily controlled by the Mafia (e.g., bookmakers ).

4. City Life

For

（1）It is exciting.

（2）It offers the best schools, hospitals, and stores.

（3）It offers many entertainments (e.g., swimming pools, bowling alleys, and

         sports stadiums ).

（4）It offers many chances of employment.

（5）Cities have an efficient public transportation system.

Against

（1）It is unhealthy (e.g., water and air pollution in industry ).

（2）It is not a good environment for children.

（3）It is noisy and dangerous.

（4）It makes people nervous.

（5）Cities are overcrowded and the costs of living there are expensive.

5. Informing Patients of Cancer

For

（1）It is the patient’s right to know.

（2）It is wrong to hide the truth.

（3）It gives the patient a chance to plan his last days.

（4）Doctors must do it (in some country like the U. S.).

Against

（1）It is heartless and cruel.

（2）It may make the patient give up.

（3）It causes depression.

（4）It can lead to suicide.

6. Social Security

For

（1）The state should help the poor, aged, unemployed, and sick.

（2）The state should provide good health care for its citizens.

（3）There will always be social misfits that need help.

（4）All religions focus on charity.

（5）All advanced countries have some form of social security.

Against

（1）It costs too much.

（2）It encourages laziness and destroys work ethic.

（3）People should look after themselves.

（4）It results in heavy taxes.

7. Coeducation

For

（1）It is natural (i.e., adult society is not segregated ).

（2）It gives men and women a chance to better understand one another.

（3）It gives men and women a chance to compete with one another.

（4）It has many practical advantages (e.g., school plays, music groups).

Against

（1）Women do better academically in their own colleges.

（2）Women are in college to get an education, not a husband.

（3）It is still rare in some countries.

（4）It robs women of their self-confidence.

8. Corporal Punishment

For

（1）It works to control juvenile delinquency.

（2）It makes children respect discipline.

（3）It is a form of training.

（4）It builds real character.

Against

（1）It is not a civilised way.

（2）Love is better than physical punishment.

（3）It can cause psychological problems.

（4）there is the saying: Violence begets violence.

9. Organ Transplants

For

（1）They prolong life.

（2）They are supported by the medical profession.

（3）Some critical patients want transplants in order to live.

Against

（1）They are too expensive.

（2）They are unnatural as seen by the body’s rejection.

（3）They are often unsuccessful.

10. Compulsory Military Service

For

（1）It aims to strengthen national defense.

（2）It teaches young men discipline.

（3）It builds character and physical fitness.

（4）It teaches valuable skills.

（5）It nurtures a spirit of comradeship and equality.

（6）It offers opportunities for overseas travel.

（7）It exists in many countries (e.g., Switzerland, Singapore).

（8）It reduces unemployment.

（9）It instills a sense of patriotism.

Against

（1）It is unnecessary in view of today’s professional armies.

（2）It is a step away from peace.

（3）It is useless in today’s peaceful world.

（4）Today’s armies do not need unskilled manpower.

11. Voluntary Euthanasia

For

（1）It is a basic right—the right to die.

（2）It allows one to die with dignity.

（3）It allows one to choose the time and place of death.

（4）It is painless.

（5）It is the solution to a terminal illness with suffering.

Against

（1）It is murder or suicide.

（2）It is illegal in most countries.

（3）Most doctors oppose it.

12. Books

For

（1）It is an traditional medium.

（2）It is easy to carry.

（3）It is convenient to read.

Against

（1）It is not durable.

（2）It has a low rate of updating.

（3）It can’t be shared by people widely.