李福健


《普通高中英語課程標準(2017年版)》要求,所有語言學習活動都要在主題語境下進行,基于不同的語篇類型,獲取、梳理、整合語言知識和文化知識,重視對語篇的賞析,比較探索文化內涵,汲取文化精華。同時,嘗試運用所學知識,創造性地表達個人意圖、觀點和態度,通過運用各種學習策略,提高理解和表達的效果。
為了培養學生的綜合語言運用能力,2017年始,讀后續寫題型被用于高考綜合改革試點省份的高考試題當中,隨后逐步推廣到全國高考改革省份。該題型多以敘事性文本形式呈現,給出敘事的前半部分(350個字左右),要求學生根據已知文本,續寫后半部分(續寫兩段,共150詞左右,每段首句已給出)。讀后續寫是理解與表達能力的綜合考查,要求考生能準確把握短文關鍵信息、語言特點和上下文邏輯關系,續寫出內容較為豐富的短文。
然而,筆者在日常教學中發現學生欠缺對文章內容的把控,缺乏文學敘事的相關知識,導致沒有情節或者情節設計不合理,偏離故事主線等問題。鑒于此,筆者引入戲劇故事的矛盾沖突理論,訓練學生的發散思維,續寫故事內容,從而實現故事內容的豐富和連貫。
一、梳理語篇大意,探究主題意義
新課標倡導主題意義探究的課程理念,并提出了探究語篇主題的三個維度:語篇的主要內容,語篇的深層含義(情感態度或價值取向),語篇的文本結構特征和語言特點。這就為讀后續寫的教學提供了很好的思路。接下來以高三的一次模擬考試中的讀后續寫講評課為例進行分析說明。
原題:閱讀下面短文,根據所給情節進行續寫,使之構成一個完整的故事。
Patrick and the little elf
Patrick never did homework.“Too boring,”he said. He played football and basketball and tennis instead. His teachers told him,“Patrick! Do your homework or you won’t learn a thing.”And it’s true. Sometimes he did feel like a fool. But what could he do? He hated homework.
Then one day he found his cat playing with a little toy and he grabbed it away. To his surprise it wasn’t a toy at all, but a man of the tiniest size. He had a little wool shirt and a high tall hat much like a witch’s. He shouted,“Save me!Don’t give me back to that cat. I’ll promise you a wish. I promise you that.”
Patrick couldn’t believe how lucky he was!Here was the answer to all of his problems. So, he said,“Only if you do all my homework till the end of the term, that’s 35 days. If you do a good enough job, I could even get As.”
And true to his word, that little elf began to do Patrick’s homework. Except there was one small problem. The elf didn’t always know what to do and he needed help.“Help me! Help me!”he’d say. And Patrick would have to help—in whatever way.
“I don’t know this word,”the elf cried while reading Patrick’s homework. “Get me a dictionary. No, what’s even better, look up the word and sound it out by each letter.”
When it came to math, Patrick was out of luck.“What are times tables?”the elf screamed.“We elves never need that. And addition and subtraction and division and fractions? Here, sit down beside me, you simply must guide me. Elves know nothing of human history. To them it’s a mystery.”So, the little elf, already a shouter, just got louder.“Go to the library, I need books. More and more books. And you can help me read them too.”
Paragraph 1: As a matter of fact, every day in every way that little elf was a nag(喋喋不休的人)!? ? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________-
Paragraph 2: Patrick got his As.? ?______________________________________________________________
本文屬于“人與社會”的主題情境。講述了一個不愛做作業的小男孩,從自家貓爪下救下了一只小精靈,小精靈為了報答他,說可以幫做作業。在幫忙的過程中,因為小精靈不懂人類知識,還是需要小男孩的不斷幫忙。最終在小精靈的督促下,小男孩完成了本學期的所有作業。
基于敘事性文體的特點,筆者把文章脈絡設計成表格,讓學生讀后梳理文章大意,并探討文章的主題意義。表格包括幾個部分:characters,exposition,rising action,climax,falling action,resolution,theme.
二、引入矛盾沖突概念,通過語篇加深理解
完成上一任務后,教師引出文學中的矛盾沖突理論,并指導學生進行歸類。
Identify the conflicts:man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. society, man vs. self
e.g. I have a cookie, and I want to eat it, but I also don’t want to gain weight by eating it.
e.g. I want your cookie, but you don’t want to give me your cookie.
e.g. I make cookies, and it’s against the law or the norms of society.
e.g. I make cookies and forget the oven on, and my house catches fire with I trapped inside.(I want to survive, but the fire is destroying my house and me.)
(注:劃線部分為要求學生填寫的內容。)
接著,引導學生回歸原文,找出每部分的矛盾沖突,理清這些矛盾沖突的內在聯系。
Conflict 1: Patrick wanted to learn a thing but hated homework.(Para.1)
Conflict 2: An elf was caught by his cat, and he wanted to be free.(Para. 2)
Conflict 3: The elf couldn’t do the homework without Patrick’s help.(Para. 4)
三、理順故事內在關系,通過開頭句子預測情節走向
提問:What can you get from the sentences?
Para.1: As a matter of fact, every day in every way that little elf was a nag!
Para. 2: Patrick got his As.
需要續寫的兩個段落的首句一般屬于中心句或過渡句,蘊含著很重要的信息,如故事的轉折、高潮或結局等。引導學生關注這兩個句子,有利于學生更好地把握文章的大意和情節走向,使創設的矛盾沖突不會偏離主線,同時也能培養學生的語篇連貫和銜接意識。
四、基于所預測的情節走向,初步應用矛盾沖突
提問:1. What is the conflict about?
2. Which type do you choose to use?(man vs. man/ nature/ self/ society?)
3. How is it solved?(coherent with the first sentence of Para.2)
學生回答后,教師繼續補充文學中矛盾沖突的表現形式??偟脑瓌t是動作和回應,回應的種類有動作、心理活動、感情變化和言語等。
在學生了解相關知識后,教師展示同伴的優秀習作,并要求學生通過小組合作,分析同學的優秀范文,進一步內化故事情節中的矛盾沖突意識,掌握拓展矛盾沖突的方法。(范文略)
最后,小組代表展示答案,教師給予及時反饋與指導,進一步鞏固學習成果。
五、基于情節走向,創設矛盾沖突
學習完同伴的優秀習作后,教師要求學生根據自己已寫的文段,進行改寫,注意運用本節課學到的矛盾沖突方法,最后還要點明文章的主題。內容包括:conflict,solution to the conflict,theme,responses to action,changes of emotion,coherence. 完成修改后,教師展示習作,供全班同學鑒賞,在展示的過程中,提醒學生注意觀察作品是否通過創設矛盾沖突來續寫,同時注意是否與上文有銜接,以及當中是否有比較出彩的語言表達。
學生習作展示:
Paragraph 2: Patrick got all his As. His teachers were all amazed, full of praise. Overwhelmed with joy, he couldn’t wait to go back home to share the good news and express thanks to the elf after school, who helped him achieve his goal. However, the moment he opened the door, he wasn’t greeted by the elf but a note on the desk written by the elf, reading “God helps those who help themselves. Your efforts will pay off.”It dawned on him that it was he himself that actually did all the homework. Inspired by the words, he made up his mind to work harder in the coming term.
讀后續寫的文章屬于敘事類文體,矛盾沖突在敘事類文體中尤為重要。矛盾沖突的解決能推動故事情節的發展。借助文學中的矛盾沖突理論可以幫助學生在基于篇章主題意義下更好地發散思維,做到有話可說,有事可寫。同時,在學生創設矛盾沖突進行續寫的過程中,可以聯系上文已有的故事沖突,提高故事的完整性和連貫性。學生掌握了文學中矛盾沖突的基本理論,也有利于在寫作創作中打開思路,提高語言的綜合運用能力。