来自世界不同地方的六位学生在美国相遇。他们都是交换学生,到美国大学就读一个学期,学习英语,了解美国文化,同时修专业课程。英语“日常会话” (Everyday Conversations)系列围绕这六位学生在美国的经历展开。这套材料适于中级或中级以上英语水平的学生使用。
今天他们当中的两个人(Akinyi和Ajay) 在谈如何写好申请大学所需要的作文。
Akinyi: Hi, Ajay. Thanks for meeting me to talk about your college essay writing experience. Jana and Lucía told me you wrote a fantastic college essay.
Ajay: Well, it wasn’t that great. Is this for your cousin who’s applying to college in the U.S?
Akinyi: Yes, it is. Is there any advice you can give my cousin about writing her college essay?
Ajay: Sure. The first thing is to start early. She should plan on revising the essay many times. And that takes time. Her essay won’t be a masterpiece the first time. And if she pressures herself to write perfectly the first time, she might end up with bad writer’s block.
Akinyi: I think that may have happened to me when I tried to write my essay.
Ajay: It’s not uncommon, especially if you put pressure on yourself. Another great tip is to be concise. Her essay shouldn’t ramble on. She should avoid purple prose.
Akinyi: Only a writer would use the phrase “purple prose.” I haven’t heard that in a while.
Ajay: Well, journalists like being succinct!
Akinyi: It’s a great skill to have as a writer. We have to write succinct memos in my business classes. It can be really hard. So, any other advice for my cousin?
Ajay: I think it’s really important for her to be genuine and write about herself and show her personality in her essay.
Akinyi: That’s good advice. Thank you! I’m going to call her now and tell her all of your advice.
让我们来学习一些词语(也可阅读英文解释):
To revise:修改(文字/文章)
A masterpiece :杰作
To end up with:落得……结果
Writer’s block是指写作过程中思路受阻,一时写不出或不知如何继续写的状态。
When you put pressure on yourself的意思是,当你给自己带来压力的时候。比如,期待做到出类拔萃或者把某事做得既快又好。由于压力,你会感到紧张和焦虑。
Concise :简明的,即不要包含多余和非必需的信息,而是用不多的字句说明事情。
To ramble on :谈话或写文章漫无边际,主题涣散
Purple prose::华丽空洞的文章
用succinct来形容某事被表述得非常简练或一个人说话言简意赅。
To be genuine :真诚,诚恳
有兴趣听更多英语对话吗?请浏览“英语学习”专题网页。
American English 网站提供可供英语学生和教师免费使用的多种英语资源。American English Facebook网页提供每天更新的英语学习资料。
“日常会话”由美国国务院教育与文化事务局英语语言项目处(Office of English Language Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs)资深项目官员海蒂·豪兰(Heidi Howland)编写。