如何为作文考试备战

很多人，面对多少考试都不紧张，可一对作文考试就傻眼了，两眼一抹黑，一片空白。我也碰到过这种情况，不知如何下笔，下笔了，也是一团乱麻，思维混乱，整体框架没有逻辑可言。

那我们如何为作文考试做准备呢？我这里说的不是单纯的英文命题作文，而是考试里要求500字-1000字答案长度的题目。除了英文的写作，很多文科学生都会碰到essay questions，那我们该如何为essay questions做充分的准备呢？最重要的一点是我们不能做一个被动的学生，上课的时候要积极主动，好好做课堂笔记，那样才能准确把握课程的重点，因而推测出老师可能考你的题目。作文考试不像你平时的写作，你有时间限制，所以需要掌握一些技巧性的东西。

Relax. Never begin writing immediately. Instead, take a deep breath and let it out slowly to relax and focus your thoughts.
放轻松，不要马上开始提笔写。深吸一口气，专心一致地思考题目。
Read. Read the test from beginning to end without skimming, so that you understand the questions completely. If you have a choice among topics, and equal credit is given to each, select the topics you know the most about.
读懂问题。不要目扫问题，要把问题读懂，读透。如果你有几个问题供你选择，选择你最有把握的。
Plan your time. If the instructor indicates what percentage of your grade each question will affect, allot your time to your greatest advantage。
计划好时间。如果你的老师告诉你每个问题的分值，选择对你最有利的，分配好时间。
Underline cue words. These words tell you what you must do in your essay. Look for words such as analyze, classify, and criticize. An essay question might read like this:
注意提示性单词。这些单词告诉你怎么写你的essay. 注意一些单词类似analyze, classify, criticize. （列表总结在最后）Essay question示例如下：
Analyze Socrates' discussion of "good life" and "good death." 分析苏格拉底的"美好的生活”以及“美好的死亡”。
[separate the concepts of "good life" and "good death" into parts and discuss each part.]
分开来讨论“美好的生活”以及“美好的死亡”。
Circle key content words. Look for keywords or major terms in a statement or question. An essay question might ask:
圈出重点实意词。
Justify the existence of labor unions in the Canadian economy.证实加拿大经济中工会的存在性。
[The key content words are labor unions and Canadian economy.]
Use the time fully. The best writers use every second available to write and polish. 一分一秒也不要放过，检查，检查，再检查。润色，润色，再润色。

CUE WORD    MEANING
ANALYZE                                 Separate into parts and discuss each[分成几个部分讨论]
CLASSIFY                              Arrange in groups based on shared
characteristics or functions[ 以特性和功能分类]
COMPARE                               Show similarities and differences[比较相似和不同之处]
CRITICIZE                              Give your opinion and explain why you approve or         Disapprove of something[给出你的观点，解释你为什么赞同，为什么反对]
DEFINE                                   Tell what something is to differentiate it from similar
things[区分开来什么东西与别的不同]
DISCUSS                                   Consider in an organized way the various issues or                                                   elements involved[系统性的考虑不同的因素和问题]
EXPLAIN                                Make clear a complex thing or process that needs to be
illuminated or interpreted[弄清楚一件复杂的事情或过程]
INTERPRET                         Explain the meaning of something[解释某物的意思]
REVIEW                                 Evaluate or summarize critically[评估或辩证的总结]
SUPPORT                              Argue in favor of something[因支持某事而辩论]