A few points to bear in mind:
Drop a coin and choose whichever side the coin suggests
Don’t keep pondering over it. You don’t have the time to ponder, and the result of pondering will be no better than a random choice.
Use the three-part and five-paragraph format
First tell people what you want to say, then say it, and finally tell people what you have just said.
Give each of the main paragraphs a topic sentence.
The topic sentence tells the reader pointedly what you think. Remember that a topic sentence embodies a debatable statement that calls for support, development or elaboration. It expresses some sort of judgment rather than states hard facts.
Put each option through both of the tests
The basic structure of the facts is as follows:
Test1Test2Additional factor
Option 1
Option 2
Indent your paragraphs clearly to show neat organization
The first impression is the last impression.
Be clear but not categorical
Support your document, but don’t try to prove it.
Anticipate opposition
Give ground where the other side has a valid point. Remember how you play Ping-Pong
写作范例:
Topic
The English department at a university must choose a text for its first-year composition course. Write an argument in favor of 0selection either of the following texts with these. Considerations in mind:
The department has a strong commitment to teaching basic writing skills, such as grammar and essay organization
The department wants to increase the students’ enthusiasm for and interest in writing.
During the three years that the department has used The Standard Textbook of English, instructors in other departments have reported significant improvement in students’ writing skills. Nicknamed "The Best and the Dullest" the text contains classic essays from both ancient and modern authors and is organized to illustrate the various forms of the essay- such as narration, exposition, and persuasion. The essay average more than 10 pages and almost all are written in a formal style. While students find some of the subjects foreign, they feel the materials covered are often useful in their other coursework.
A new text, The Modern Writer, contains both an introductions describing the basics of grammar and a number of journalistic essays by contemporary authors. The pieces are typically short (only 2 to 3 pages) and explore topics of interest to most college students, such as popular music and career planning. The style of the essays tends to be informal, even colloquial. Each chapter contains several essays on a given topic and exercises designed to aid students in developing essays of their own. Although the introduction provides an adequate overview of basic grammar, the text does not discuss the essay form.
范例:
English writing textbook
I would urge the English Department to change its English composition textbook from The Standard Textbook of English to The Modern Writer. By helping to make the students more enthusiastic about writing, the new textbook should ultimately boost the students’ writing skills in general.