Learn to Write

1. Learn to Write Chapter Ⅲ: composition Lecture One: forms of composition

2. Difference between speech and writing

3. Forms of composition • 1. Narration（叙述文）: writing about events, actions, or incidents • In chronological order • The first person or the third person • Event: beginning, development and ending (past tenses for past events) • Clearly state time, place, people, event, cause and result. • Emphasize on the theme, leaving out unnecessary details.

4. Example: Life on a Farm (Narration) One day down on the farm, something funny happened. My cousin and I got into big trouble with his dad. It all had to do with pigs. It was one of those hot, peaceful days. We were harvesting fruit to sell. The pig pens were near the orchard. The pigs were always allowed to eat the window falls under the tree. But this time, when harvest was over, they escaped and got into the baskets.

5. This was serious business. Part of the family income depended on the sale of apples and papayas. Anyway, my uncle gave us orders to fix the pens, and then he left for market. My cousin was a know-it-all. He had to boss his job, so we put the pigs back in, patched up the big holes, and went swimming. The trouble began when my uncle got home. The pigs had been squeezing through the small holes. So, my cousin and I were really in hot water.

6. Forms of composition • 2. Description（描写文）: depicting people, objects, or scenery • Focus on what’s described • Order to describe (center around the typical characteristics and features) • Diction (vividness)

7. Example: Life on a Farm (Description) The still morning calm is broken by the rooster’s crow. Shortly after that all the creatures on the farm are hungrily awake. The birds are singing delightfully, flying from tree to tree. The little chicks hurry around with their mother hen looking for food.

8. The sun begins to warm the earth. Farmers begin to work hard in the fields, but my cousin is riding on his brown, furry water buffalo. He is playing his flute cheerfully. The cool evening is quiet and peaceful on the farm. The crickets chirp secret messages back and forth. The frogs croak deeply. The beauty of nature and these mysterious sounds gently lull me to sleep every night on the farm.

9. Forms of composition • 3. Exposition（说明文): to expose, or to present and explain information, ideas and opinions • Point to convey • Supporting details (facts): order of time, space, logic, etc. • Logical techniques: cause-and-effect, comparison-and-contrast, classification, definition, etc.

10. Examples: Life on a Farm（Exposition) Farm life can be fun, but it is very different from life in the city. I visit my uncle’s farm each summer and help him in the garden and with the livestock. Country life is so different from life in the city. The air is clean and fresh, It is quiet, and you can hear the birds sing. The vegetable garden and small orchard need lots of care. There are weeds to hoe and bugs to spray, but picking oranges is what I like best.

11. My uncle raises poultry and livestock. We have to feed the chickens, ducks and geese twice a day, but the pigs only once. Gathering hen’s eggs is easy. They are in the nest. The ducks lay theirs by the pond. I always enjoy country life. My cousin thinks there is too much work. He likes city life.

12. Forms of composition • Argumentation（议论文）：persuasive & convincing • An explicitly defined theme: The negative view and the author’s view (his argument) • Sufficient evidence: The supporting details (including much of the writer’s comment) • Sound logic • Well-woven organization • A friendly attitude

13. Example: Life on a Farm (Argument) When you talk about life on a farm, whether to raise chickens or ducks is the question. I think chickens are the best poultry to own, but my cousin preferred ducks. I had to convince my cousin that chickens were better, so I reasoned with him. If we got ducks, we would have to build a pond. For chickens we would only have to build nest boxes.

14. Also, more people eat chicken than ducks, so they will bring more at the market. Not only that, chicken manure makes good fertilizer for plants around the farm. You will just have to admit it: all things considered, chickens are better than ducks to make a pleasant life on the farm!

15. Forms of composition ( summary): • Narration: (2) Argumentation: • (3) Exposition: (4) Description: time, place, character, event argument (point), supporting facts point, supporting facts (details) order, diction

16. Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an eye-witness account of a traffic accident. You should write at least 120 words according to the outline given below in Chinese: 1）车祸发生的时间及地点 2）你所见到的车祸情况 3）你对车祸原因的分析 Cet-4, 2003.6 ——Narration ——Description ——Exposition