英文寫作終極建議：主題句＋支持句

Writing is refined thinking.

點開英文新聞網站，或一則Instagram po文好了，我們很容易看出段落的基本結構：

主題句 + 支持主題的論點和敘述

這個結構幫助作者組織想法，也避免偏題。雖然在不那麼正式的文章裡，文字有些偏離不是大問題，甚至是不可或缺的，但需要以較正式形式處理嚴肅的主題時，偏題就是很糟的習慣。"Writing is refined thinking." 寫作應是精緻的思考。

基本結構其實不難，這是紐約時報裡，關於Netflix訂戶數下降的兩段報導：

1. 第一句

The number of those subscribers dropped during a time when the price for Netflix went up. In January, the company announced that it was raising its rates by anywhere from 13 to 18 percent, depending on the subscription plan, with the increases hitting existing subscribers in March.

可以拆解成：

主題句[The number of those subscribers dropped during a time when the price for Netflix went up.]

支持論述[ In January, the company announced that it was raising its rates by anywhere from 13 to 18 percent, depending on the subscription plan, with the increases hitting existing subscribers in March.]

當Netflix提高價格，訂戶的數量下降了。 今年1月，該公司宣布依訂閱方案，將費率提高13％至18％。

2. 再看另一句：

The second quarter is typically Netflix’s weakest time of year, but its performance this time was unusually poor. In its letter to shareholders on Wednesday, the company acknowledged that the higher subscription cost had something to do with its failure to meet second-quarter expectations.

可以拆解成：

主題句[The second quarter is typically Netflix’s weakest time of year, but its performance this time was unusually poor.]

支持論述[In its letter to shareholders on Wednesday, the company acknowledged that the higher subscription cost had something to do with its failure to meet second-quarter expectations.]

每年第二季通常是Netflix最疲軟的時期，但這回的表現異常糟糕。該公司在周三給股東的信中承認，未能達到第二季預估，與較高的訂閱費用有關。

創造節奏

小說的重點則在創造的節奏。一句話可能就是一個段落，以營造真實的對話感，或是轉向下一個場景。一個段落也可能延續好幾頁，端看要營造的感受。

史蒂芬金認為，寫作的基本單位是段落，而不是句子。段落開啟連貫性，使單詞有機會不僅是單詞。文章要活起來，取決於段落的水準。

大師建議：多讀多寫，沒有捷徑

工具箱裡是寫作的基礎，史蒂芬金強調的另一個原則是實踐。 

閱讀的重要性在於，它能讓寫作過程變得輕鬆熟悉，也幫助你了解別人寫過什麼、沒寫過什麼，什麼是好、什麼是壞。

寫作的環境越簡樸越好，但要能關上門，進入寫作的世界，並且設定每天的字數。

"...you need the room, you need the door, and you need the determination to shut the door. You need a concrete goal, as well."

「你需要房間，也需要門，但你更需要關門的勇氣和決心，以及堅定的目標。」 

大多數人的目標不是成為專業作家，要達到史蒂芬金建議的每天一千字目標不容易，但如果你希望自己有基本的商用寫作或論文水準，可以從一天練習寫一個段落開始。

文/Nikki Lu

本文收錄於英語島English Island 2019年8月號
訂閱雜誌

加入Line好友