《 普通高中英語課程標準( 實驗)》在實施建議中指出:“教師在教學中要注意發展學生的批判性思維能力和創新精神。課堂教學活動的設計應有利于發揮學生的創造力和想象力。”[1] 2011年高考英語江蘇卷的書面表達試題由半開放性轉入開放性,這個轉變,更好地落實了《 新課程標準 》的要求,也對學生的語言能力提出了更高的要求。書面表達的這種轉變,有利于擺脫限制性作文對學生想象力和表達能力的束縛,培養學生豐富的想象能力,從而促進英語寫作水平的提高。
一、2011年高考英語江蘇卷書面表達寫作思路
開放性作文多以議論文的形式出現。下面以2011年高考英語江蘇卷為例,談談圖文式開放性作文的寫作思路。
下面這幅照片展現了女兒為回家的媽媽拿包的情景。請根據你對這幅照片的理解用英語寫一篇短文。
你的短文應包含以下內容:
1.描述照片內容,如情景、人物、動作等;
2.結合自身實際,談談你的感想;
3.舉例說明你能為家長減負做些什么。
綜觀圖文,其寫作思路可分為以下四個步驟:描述圖→談感想→提建議→作總結。
描述圖。這是寫圖文式開放性作文的第一步。在下筆之前,應仔細觀察畫面的內容(包括文字),展開想象,挖掘內涵,明確立意,行文應一氣呵成,令讀者一目了然。參考范文:
The picture shows us a touching moment when a little girl comes to greet her working mom. Realizing her mom must be very tired after a day?蒺s work,the girl helps to remove the bag from her shoulder. In response,the mom kneels down to show how happy and thankful she feels.
寥寥數語,將照片中的情景、人物、動作、情感描繪得淋漓盡致。
談感想。這個部分需要結合實際,談自己的真情實感。要將平時生活中的實踐與感悟變為寫作素材,“觸物生情”并“情發于筆端”。參考范文:
All these remind me of my mother who has been doing whatever she could to let me have the best. But,totally engaged in my own study,I seldom pay attention to what she needs and feels,and always think studying well is the only thing I could do in return.
通過自然的過渡、真情的流露、鮮明的對比,為下文做了很好的鋪墊。
提建議。在談感想中以自己的真實體驗提出了問題,因此在這部分要清晰地闡明自己的觀點,提出解決問題的辦法。如:
Now I know I can do my bit to help with the everyday washing,bedroom cleaning,or at least prepare breakfast myself,so as to share mother?蒺s daily burden.
樸實無華的一句,道出了實際中肯的解決方法。
作總結。一篇好的文章,不僅需要“鳳頭”,還需要“豹尾”。開放式作文的結尾要與主題相關,切忌無病呻吟、畫蛇添足。參考范文:
The picture convinces me that it is even more important to be a good daughter than a good student.
以“畫”開頭,以“畫”結尾,首尾呼應,總結全文,深化主題。
從這道高考作文題的寫作思路分析可以看出,要寫好圖文式開放性作文,學生除了要具備扎實的語言知識外,還需要具備開放性的思維。筆者認為,開放性思維在圖文式開放性作文中主要體現在四個方面:豐富的想象力、真切的體驗、多向的思維和科學的思辨。
具體地說,在寫圖文式開放性作文時要做到:描述圖時,運用想象,使語言鮮活;談感想時,用真情實感打動人;提建議、作總結時,以多向的思維和科學的思辨,使文章有內涵。學生將其靈活運用,才能寫出有文化、有思想、有真摯情感的作文來。
二、如何在教學中培養學生的開放性思維能力
1.充分利用教材資源,豐富學生的想象力
想象力是人類特有的,是把已有的知識和新的信息在頭腦中重新組合的能力。[2] 我們的日常教學要扭轉學生“見山是山,見水是水”的思維惰性,引導他們進行聯想與想象,激發出創造性的火花。
教學中,教師可在導入部分利用腦力激蕩法(brainstorming)激勵學生聯想和想象;在講解重要的語言知識后,可以鼓勵學生仿造句式,利用教材資源,進行文章擴寫、續寫、改寫和評論;也可以讓學生根據文章知識點編寫對話或小故事,這樣既鞏固了語言知識,也發展了學生的想象力。
筆者在教授“Boy missing,police puzzled”一課時,設計了續寫任務:Can you imagine what happened to Justin Foster?學生可以發揮想象,自設結局。之后鼓勵學生以自己的續文為基礎,通過不同的方式展示成果,或個人口頭報告(oral report),或學生合作角色扮演(role play)。組織角色扮演,學生要模擬情境,與自己相似的情感、熟悉的生活、原有的知識儲備結合起來。它實際上又是另一個想象的過程,讓學生的創見得以充分展現。
2.組織豐富多彩的活動,豐富學生的生活體驗
開放性作文是一種對生活的真實反映和超越。它使學生走向社會,貼近生活,為學生提供可觸可摸、可感可知的開放生活情境,讓學生在情境中自由徜徉,然后情動而辭發,情動而意流。在教學過程中,我們應把作文教學與社會人生聯系起來,使之生成互動,努力開拓生活源泉,豐富學生體驗,使之“厚積而薄發”。體驗,是指由身體性活動與直接經驗而產生的感情和意識。體驗使學習進入生命領域。[3] 要豐富學生的生活體驗,教師可協調家庭力量,盡可能多地創造讓學生深入生活的機會,精心組織社會實踐活動,讓學生積極參與,親身體驗,獲取直接經驗,深化對客觀世界的認識。
學生的親身體驗就是源頭活水,是下筆的好素材。今年我市爭創全國文明衛生城市,政府投入了大量的人力物力,學校也多次組織了大掃除。筆者以此布置了寫作任務:圍繞爭創全國文明衛生城市(establishing a national civilized city)的主題寫一篇短文。題目自擬,文體不限,形式不拘,可寫所見、所聞、所思、所感、所為,講求有感而發。以下是筆者整理的學生習作:
As we go around the city,we can still see some uncivilized behaviors such as spitting everywhere,jumping the red light,jostling with one another for the seats on buses and so on.
To establish a national civilized city,the government should take measures to improve the situation. It should make people well aware of the true meaning of a civilized city by distributing leaflets and giving lectures so that people are willing to behave themselves. On the other hand,strict laws should be made to punish those who break the rules as a warning to others.
As students,we can also make contributions to our hometown. We should try to keep our school clean instead of littering around. Moreover,we should obey the traffic rules to avoid risking our own lives as well as the lives of others. Besides,we should be polite to others and willing to help those in need. Keep in mind that doing a little bit can make a big difference.
3.精心設計課堂提問,培養學生的發散思維
發散思維,是指沿著不同的方向思考、探究,找出多種可能的解決問題的方法。開放式作文能激發學生的獨立思考,構建出創新思維的活躍環境。教師應多設計開放性問題,讓學生發揮思維的活力,從正反、上下、內外、前后等多方面去思考問題,尋求解答問題的答案,發散出眾多新穎獨特的信息來。
在教學中,教師要多問“why”和“how”,少問“what”,促使學生探究、發現、創新。如在“Witnessing time”一課的授課中,筆者設置了兩個問題進行課堂討論:Why should we protect historic sites? How can we protect historic sites?布置了課后寫作任務:Do you think it is a good idea to rebuild historic sites that have been damaged or destroyed?Why or why not? 課堂上的問題討論是課后作文的鋪墊,學生在討論時各抒己見,行文時可學習借鑒,亦可各顯神通。教師在批閱中,可搜集學生在寫作中的獨特視角和精彩表達,整理成文,分發給全班分享,以拓寬學生的思路。例如:
Some students hold the view that historic sites should be rebuilt,saying that historic sites are the treasure of all mankind,so we all have the responsibility to protect them. What?蒺s more,reflecting the history and culture of a particular period,historic sites help to educate the younger generations. Besides,rebuilding historic sites may promote local tourism.
On the contrary,other students are against the idea because it takes much money and energy to rebuild historic sites. Meanwhile,chances are great that improper restoration will cause more damage to the sites. What?蒺s worse,too many tourists are drawn to historic sites,resulting in traffic jams.
In my opinion,it is really a good idea to rebuild the historic sites that have been damaged or destroyed. In this way people will keep in mind what happened in the past and learn a lesson from them. They can also have a better knowledge of ancient culture by visiting the sites. Therefore,I strongly recommend historic sites be rebuilt.
4. 對熱點話題進行辯論,培養學生的思辨能力
開放性作文,不是求異的形式主義,也不是放“羊”的自由主義,而是嚴謹的科學思辨,應避免盲目性和隨意性,講求科學性。在認識上破舊立新,糾正一些空洞雜亂的想法和觀念。
在日常教學中經常穿插辯論的形式,有助于培養學生的科學思辨。辯論的話題可以是學生的身邊事,可以是社會的熱點話題,也可以是教材中的話題,例如該不該帶手機入校,要不要穿校服,是否必須在校上晚自習,日本地震我國是否有必要援助,等等。筆者在教授“The effects of the internet on our lives”時設計了辯論活動,讓學生以課文為依據,通過查閱資料,對因特網的影響進行辯論;之后讓學生整理成文,進行思維整理。例如:
The Internet is playing an increasingly important role in our life,but opinions are divided on its effects on our lives.
Some people hold the view that the Internet has a positive effect on our lives. It is of great value to people in need of information. With the click of a mouse, people can acquire knowledge on all sorts of topics. Moreover,the Internet enables people to build groups online and form lifelong friendships,for Internet friendships are based on common interests,rather than appearance, age or popularity.
However,others argue that it has negative effects on our lives. Although it can provide people with plenty of information,it?蒺s hard to judge whether the information is accurate or not. Worse still,as the Internet has gained popularity,there has been a change in the way people spend their time. Some children spend too much time chatting and playing games instead of focusing on their school work. Some people have become addicted to computer games so that they feel disconnected from the outside world.
Since it has advantages as well as disadvantages, we can make wise use of it. It is also important either to limit its use or to learn how to handle the problems it has caused.
(作者單位:常州市前黃高級中學,江蘇 常州,213161)
參考文獻:
[1]中華人民共和國教育部.普通高中英語課程標準(實驗)[M].北京:人民教育出版社,2003.
[2]張大均.教育心理學[M].北京:人民教育出版社,2003.
[3]余文森.有效教學十講[M].上海:華東師范大學出版社,2009.