DSE Writing Skills 寫作應試技巧
進階計劃 + 大綱 + 寫 + 檢查。
- 時間表:5 分鐘計劃 + 1 分鐘大綱 + 50 分鐘寫 + 5 分鐘檢查。
- 腦震盪至少八個想法選三個:即場開寫的人會中途斷糧。
- 每段主題句後面必須有具體例子,沒有例子的論點要換。
文體小知識:Exam strategies.
§課文原文 Passage
1A strong DSE essay starts long before you write your first sentence. Begin by analysing the question: underline the task word, identify the audience and decide the required format. Then brainstorm at least eight ideas in two minutes and choose the best three. Weak candidates start writing immediately and run out of thoughts halfway, while strong candidates spend five minutes on a plan and never stare at a blank paragraph.
2Turn the plan into a brief outline with one clear topic sentence for each paragraph. Every topic sentence must be followed by supporting details and concrete examples, because an opinion without evidence is just noise. If your paragraph cannot name a specific example, such as a school event, a statistic or a personal anecdote, replace it with one that can. Keep each paragraph focused on a single point; mixing two arguments in one paragraph confuses the reader and costs marks.
3Link your paragraphs with linking words such as 'furthermore', 'in contrast' and 'as a result', but use them naturally rather than mechanically. Watch the word limit: 400 words means roughly five solid paragraphs, and writing 700 usually means repetition, not richness. Save the final five minutes to revise, hunting for tense errors, subject-verb agreement, spelling and missing articles.
4Remember: examiners cannot mark what they cannot understand, so clarity beats fancy vocabulary every time. A simple sentence used correctly earns more than an impressive sentence used wrongly, and clarity is a kindness to the reader as much as a strategy for the writer. Plan, outline, support, link, revise — these five habits turn a nervous candidate into a confident writer.
§逐句中文翻譯 Sentence-by-sentence translation
A strong DSE essay starts long before you write your first sentence.
一篇出色的文憑試作文,早在你寫下第一句之前已經開始。
Begin by analysing the question: underline the task word, identify the audience and decide the required format.
首先分析題目:圈出任務字眼,確認寫作對象,並決定所需的格式。
Then brainstorm at least eight ideas in two minutes and choose the best three.
然後在兩分鐘內想出至少八個意念,再選出最好的三個。
Weak candidates start writing immediately and run out of thoughts halfway, while strong candidates spend five minutes on a plan and never stare at a blank paragraph.
弱的考生立即動筆,寫到一半便詞窮;強的考生花五分鐘擬定計劃,永遠不會對着空白段落發呆。
Turn the plan into a brief outline with one clear topic sentence for each paragraph.
把計劃化成簡短大綱,每段配上一句清晰的主題句。
Every topic sentence must be followed by supporting details and concrete examples, because an opinion without evidence is just noise.
每句主題句之後必須有輔助細節和具體例子,因為沒有證據的意見只是噪音。
If your paragraph cannot name a specific example, such as a school event, a statistic or a personal anecdote, replace it with one that can.
若某段無法舉出具體例子——例如學校活動、統計數字或個人經歷——便換上一個能舉例的論點。
Keep each paragraph focused on a single point; mixing two arguments in one paragraph confuses the reader and costs marks.
每段只聚焦一個論點;一段混雜兩個論據會令讀者混淆,並且失分。
Link your paragraphs with linking words such as 'furthermore', 'in contrast' and 'as a result', but use them naturally rather than mechanically.
用「furthermore」、「in contrast」、「as a result」等連接詞串連段落,但要自然運用,不要機械式堆砌。
Watch the word limit: 400 words means roughly five solid paragraphs, and writing 700 usually means repetition, not richness.
留意字數限制:400字大約是五段紮實的內容,寫到700字通常代表重複,而非豐富。
Save the final five minutes to revise, hunting for tense errors, subject-verb agreement, spelling and missing articles.
預留最後五分鐘修訂,搜尋時態錯誤、主謂一致、串字和漏掉的冠詞。
Remember: examiners cannot mark what they cannot understand, so clarity beats fancy vocabulary every time.
謹記:閱卷員無法給看不懂的內容評分,所以清晰永遠勝過華麗詞彙。
A simple sentence used correctly earns more than an impressive sentence used wrongly, and clarity is a kindness to the reader as much as a strategy for the writer.
用得正確的簡單句子,比用錯的深奧句子得分更高;清晰既是對讀者的體貼,也是寫作者的策略。
Plan, outline, support, link, revise — these five habits turn a nervous candidate into a confident writer.
計劃、擬綱、佐證、銜接、修訂——這五個習慣能將緊張的考生變成自信的寫作者。
1重點摘要 Summary
計劃 + 大綱 + 寫 + 檢查。
2生字卡 Vocabulary
計劃。
大綱。
主題句。
支持小節。
連接詞。
段落。
修改。
字數限制。
3逐步講解 Steps
- 計劃計劃的考點是寫作卷第一個失分源頭是即場開寫,中段斷糧。方法是開考首五分鐘只做計劃:兩分鐘審題,底線圈出 task word,確認受眾與格式(書信、文章還是演講);再兩分鐘腦震盪至少八個想法,從中選出最好的三個。以本課為例,題目若要求寫給校長的建議信,審題時已鎖定正式語氣與建議格式。易錯位在於考生見題即寫,寫到第二段已無話可說,被迫重複;五分鐘計劃換來五十分鐘順暢,是寫作卷最划算的投資。
- 大綱大綱的考點是大綱決定文章骨架,論點站不住的段落會拖垮全文。方法是用一分鐘列大綱:每段一句 topic sentence,旁邊寫實一個具體例子(學校活動、統計數字、親身經歷);凡叫不出例子的論點立即更換,不要心軟。以本課為例,論點 homework trains self-discipline 可配大學無人點名、全靠自律管理死線的情境。易錯位在於考生的大綱只有口號式論點,落筆才發現無例可舉;謹記 an opinion without evidence is just noise,無證據的意見只是噪音。
- 寫寫正文的考點是一段一點與自然銜接。方法是用約五十分鐘寫四百字,大約五段,每段只論一點;段與段之間用 furthermore、in contrast、as a result 等連接詞自然過渡,連接詞必須用在真正的邏輯關係上。以本課為例,讓步反駁之處用 in contrast 引出對立觀點,銜接乾淨利落。易錯位在於考生一段塞兩個論點,讀者混亂失焦;或者機械式堆砌連接詞,每句都 firstly、secondly,反而暴露結構薄弱。
- 檢查檢查的考點是最後五分鐘直接挽回文法分。方法是按四項清單掃一次全文:時態前後一致、主謂一致(subject-verb agreement)、串法、有否漏掉冠詞 a、an、the;逐項檢查比通讀全文更有效率。以本課為例,全文若講過去事件,須檢查是否夾雜了現在式。易錯位在於考生把最後五分鐘用來多寫兩句,結果小錯滿篇;謹記 examiners cannot mark what they cannot understand,清晰永遠勝過華麗,檢查是給讀者的基本禮貌。
- 字數控制字數控制的考點是字數失控是內容重複的訊號,四百字是恰到好處的界線。方法是以四百字為目標:五段、每段約八十字;每段收筆前自問:這段是否只論證了一點?寫到七百字通常是重複而不是豐富。以本課為例,示範文章五段共四百字,每段一個論點,沒有多餘內容。易錯位在於考生誤以為字越多分越高,結果同一論點正反講了兩次,內容分被扣;謹記 writing 700 usually means repetition, not richness,精煉才是上策。
- 例子規則例子規則的考點是每個論點都必須配有具體例子,這是可以檢驗的硬標準。方法是檢驗方法極簡單:每個論點旁邊能否叫出一件具體的事,a school event、a statistic、a personal anecdote;叫得出就留,叫不出就換論點,不要猶豫。以本課為例,論點功課訓練自律配上大學生活無人督促的具體情境,便能成立。易錯位在於考生用 everyone knows、many people think 一類空泛語言冒充論證;具體的人、事、數字才是證據,空話永遠不是。
- 五習慣連環五習慣的考點是五個習慣要連成一條流程,次次作文照跑,才能穩定發揮。方法是把 plan、outline、support、link、revise 排成固定時間表:五分鐘計劃、一分鐘大綱、約五十分鐘寫作、五分鐘檢查;每次練習都按同一流程執行,令它成為肌肉記憶。以本課為例,平時操卷時計時跑完五步流程,考試時自然進入狀態。易錯位在於考生考試時放棄流程,憑感覺即場發揮,表現忽高忽低;these five habits turn a nervous candidate into a confident writer,流程就是穩定分數的錨。
4圖解 Diagrams
5例題示範 Example
DSE 寫作卷兩小時。用文中五個習慣(Plan, outline, support, link, revise)設計一個完整答題時間表。
- 第一步:審題(2 分鐘):底線 task word、確認受眾和格式——信?文章?演講?
- 第二步:腦震盪(2 分鐘):至少八個想法,選最好三個——即場開寫的人會中途斷糧。
- 第三步:大綱(1 分鐘):每段一句 topic sentence,旁邊寫出一個具體例子(學校活動、數據、親身經歷);沒有例子就換論點。
- 第四步:寫(約 50 分鐘):400 字大約五段,一段一個論點,用 furthermore / in contrast / as a result 自然連接。
- 第五步:檢查(5 分鐘):時態、主謂一致、串法、漏冠詞;記住 clarity beats fancy vocabulary。
- 答案:將文中五個習慣變成時間表:首五分鐘計劃——審題圈 task word、確認格式受眾;兩分鐘腦震盪八個想法選三個,因為即場開寫的人中段才發現沒有內容。接著排大綱:每段一句主題句,論點旁邊寫出一個具體例子——學校活動、統計數字或者親身故事;沒有例子就換論點,因為沒有證據的意見只是噪音。中段約五十分鐘開寫:400 字即五段,一段一點,用 furthermore、in contrast、as a result 自然銜接;不要寫到七百字,那多數是重複。最後五分鐘檢查時態、主謂一致、串法、冠詞。清晰永遠勝過炫技:簡單而正確的句子,好過華麗但錯的句子。
6常見錯誤 Mistakes
76 題快測 Quick check
Q1DSE 寫作時間?
Q2先做什麼?
Q3大綱?
Q4段落?
Q5連接詞?
Q6檢查?
8重點回顧 Recap
- 時間表:5 分鐘計劃 + 1 分鐘大綱 + 50 分鐘寫 + 5 分鐘檢查。
- 腦震盪至少八個想法選三個:即場開寫的人會中途斷糧。
- 每段主題句後面必須有具體例子,沒有例子的論點要換。
- 400 字大約五段;一段塞兩個論點會令讀者混亂扣分。
- 檢查四樣:時態、主謂一致、串法、冠詞;清晰勝過華麗。