1It was the tail end of the Depression,and things were tough.Mum had a hard time raising us kids on her own in our small community.My dad had drowned in Pitt Lake five years earlier.We relied on our community assistance to keep us clothed,and although our clothes were second-hand,we thought they were beautiful.
2Looking back,I realize what Mum went through for sending us kids to school.Every morning she would put a new piece of cardboard in our shoes,because our shoes were worn out.Constant moving was typical for my family in these times.Rent was twenty-five dollars a month,but Mum couldn't pay it,and we knew we would be evicted right on the first of January.These were hard and sad years,but we never complained.
3New Year was approaching,and we were entitled to a twenty-five dollar fund for social services.Mum said that instead of buying food,she would use the money to pay back rent,assuring us all of a roof over our heads for a little while longer.She told us then there would be nothing for New Year.
4Unknown to Mum,I had been shoveling snow and doing odd jobs to earn enough money to buy a new pair of boots.I knew exactly which boots I wanted.They were ten-inch Top Genuine Pierre Paris and they had a price of twenty-three dollars.
5Well,the big day came on the last day of that year.I was very excited,as I hurried up to catch the bus.It was only a half-a-mile walk,but on the way I noticed a house with lights and decorations.It was then that I realized at our house,we had no lights,no decorations,nor any money for goodies.I knew then that we would have no delicious food for New Year,and I felt sad.
6As I continued walking,I began to feel bewildered.I was eleven years old,and I wasfeeling a strange sense of guilt.Here I was going to buy a new pair of boots while Mum was home in tears.She would be trying to explain to us why there were no presents.
Reading Check
閱讀上面的短文,根據所給情節進行續寫,使之構成一個完整的故事。注意:
1.所續寫短文的詞數應為150左右;
2.續寫部分分為兩段,每段的開頭語已為你寫好。Paragraph 1:
The bus drove off without me._______________________________
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Paragraph 2:
When Mum opened the door,she surprisingly found that some of the groceries fell inside onto the floor.______________________________________________________________
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Step 1語篇研讀
語篇概要
要想續寫內容與所給材料內容連貫且銜接緊密,就必須充分了解所給材料大意。本文是一篇記敘文,文章分析如下:

Characters Settings Plots Theme Mum and I When Where Beginning Development Climax Family love The tail end of the Depression In our small community Mum had a hard time raising us kids on her own and she couldn't pay the rent.We were entitled to a twenty-five dollar fund for social services,but Mum said that instead of buying food,she would use the money to pay back rent.Unknown to Mum,I had earned enough money to buy a new pair of boots.
Step 2情節構思
我們可以基于原文和續寫段落首句提供的信息,構思要續寫的故事情節。這一構思分為四步。
第一步,根據已給出的文本進行合理推斷,判斷文章的立意。
我們可以用“STAR原則”來進行分析,從而進行更加精準的預測。

Situation Target Action Result為了付房租,媽媽已經沒有錢買新年物品了。根據“Here I was going to buy a new pair of boots while Mum was home in tears.”和續寫第一段的段首句“The bus drove off without me.”可以推斷,作者經歷過思想斗爭后沒有去買靴子,他的目標改變為給家人買新年物品。要實現買新年物品的目標,采取的行動自然是去雜貨店買東西。(這部分要注意進行細節拓展)根據續寫第二段的段首句中的she surprisingly found that some of the groceries fell inside onto the floor,我們可以推斷結果是作者把新年物品帶回家,家人們都很驚訝和開心。
第二步,圍繞續寫第一段所給出的段首句“The bus drove off without me.”進行提問構思:
1.Why didn't I get on the bus?
2.If I didn't go to buy boots,what was I going to do?
3.What would happen if I did so?
第三步,根據續寫第二段所給出的段首句倒推續寫第一段一定要涉及的細節。
根據續寫第二段所給出的段首句“When Mum opened the door,she surprisingly found that some of the groceries fell inside onto the floor.”可以推斷,續寫第一段中“我”不僅買了新年物品,還把物品拿回了家。這樣可以確保兩段之間銜接合理,情節連貫、順暢。
第四步,圍繞續寫第二段所給出的段首句進行提問構思:
1.What would Mum and I say after that?
2.What would Mum and I do?
3.How would I feel?
Step 3語言打磨
一、語言特色
情感表達
1.We thought they were beautiful.
2.These were hard and sad years,but we never complained.
3.I was very excited.
4.I knew then that we would have no delicious food for New Year,and I felt sad.
5.I began to feel bewildered.
6.I was feeling a strange sense of guilt.
行為描寫
1.She would put a new piece of cardboard in our shoes.
2.I had been shoveling snow and doing odd jobs.
3.I hurried up to catch the bus.
4.I noticed a house with lights and decorations.
5.I continued walking.
二、重難點句型
1.Mum said that instead of buying food,she would use the money to pay back rent,assuring us all of a roof over our heads for a little while longer.媽媽說她不會用這些錢買食物,而是會用它償還租金以確保我們所有人可以更久地擁有一個容身之處。
【點石成金】本句中,instead of意為“而不是……”;assure意為“確保”,在句中作結果狀語,與邏輯主語she之間構成主動關系;a roof over our heads使用了借代的修辭手法,用頭頂的屋頂來指代“我們的一個容身之處”。
2.It was then that I realized at our house,we had no lights,no decorations,nor any money for goodies.正是在那時我意識到我們家里沒有燈、沒有裝飾品,也沒有錢買好吃的東西。
【點石成金】本句中,nor意為“也不”,和前面的no lights、no decorations組合在一起,增強了語氣,勾勒出作者家的艱難處境。