比较型作文

对比比较型结构的论说文是英语考试作文中一种常见的命题方式。即要求对两个或两个以上的事物、事件、观点作比较，通过它们相同或相异处的比较，看出它们各自的特点或优缺点。由于目的不同，写法也不同。一种是纯介绍性的，即通过比较或对比来客观地提供有关事物的信息，并不表明自己的看法和态度。另一种是论述性的，即通过比较或对比来表明对两个事物的态度和看法。考试中的命题作文主要属于这一种。 一、两种基本结构

这种论述性比较有如下两种写法：倾向性比较与平衡性比较。 1. 倾向性比较

通过对两事物（A、B）之间的不同特点和优缺点的比较，进行比较深入的论述。其

基本结构如下： 由于这种比较是有倾向性的，因此，对 两事物的特点及优缺点的叙述要有区I. Introduction 别。一般来说，对要否定的事物要少写、Thesis: Prefer A to B 略写其优点，在句子结构里，把优点置II. B’s advantages and disadvantages 于从句位置。而其缺点要充分暴露。相A’s disadvantages and advantages 反，对要肯定的事物，要充分显示其优III. Conclusion 点，要多写、详写。而对其缺点应轻描 淡写，甚至不写。这种有侧重的叙述能 保证观点鲜明。 例如比较两个朋友：

Friend A and Friend B

Part One (Introduction): Instead of the one who has similar personality as mine, I prefer to

have a friend whose personality is different.

Part two (Body): *A person of the similar personality is easier to get along with. But you

can learn few things from him / her.

* A person having a different personality may be difficult to deal with, but you can learn more new things from him / her.

*Through a friend with different personality, you can have new experiences and see yourself more clearly.

Part Three (Conclusion): To learn to get along with the persons with different personality will

benefit your career and personal life.

Radio and TV

The most obvious difference between radio and television is that you listen and look at the television, but just listen to the radio. In this way, radio is more imaginative because it forces you to form pictures in your own mind rather than providing you with visual information, which is what television does.

In addition, radio is more flexible than television, since you don’t have to be in the same room as the radio set in order to listen to the programs, but you do have to be in the same room as a television does.

A radio is also far more portable than a television. You can listen to the radio while driving in the car, jogging or even just walking around. Although portable television do exist, you can’t

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really watch one while you are jogging, for example.

One of the main advantages of radio, however, is that it offers the listener more immediate access to information. Most radio stations broadcast news reports at regular half-hour or hourly intervals, but television news is only broadcast a few times each day. Also, the variety of topics you get on the radio is much greater than that on television.

Radio is more personal than television. Many radio programs are interactive in a way that television can never be. Listeners can call the radio station they are listening to and express their thoughts and opinions live on air. You can’t ring up a television station and express your opinions, can you? 2. 平衡性比较

有些文章作者既不完全赞成一事物，也不完全赞成另一事物。因而在依次分析了这两个事物的优缺点后，可作出平衡性的结论。其基本结构为：

I. Introduction Thesis: Both A and B have advantages and disadvantages II. A’s advantages and disadvantages B’s advantages and disadvantages III. A balanced view of the subjects

例如比较两个教师：

Teacher A and Teacher B

Part One (Introduction): A serious teacher and a fun teacher have both strengths and

weaknesses.

Part Two (Body): * Students like a fun teacher for his teaching style is interesting and

colorful. But his weakness is that sometimes his class is not efficient, and students don’t learn many things.

* Although a serious teacher is not popular with students for his lecture is a little boring, the teacher is responsible and strict with students. One can expect to learn more things from him.

Part Three (Balanced conclusion): What needs is the strengths of both teachers.

How to Solve the Problems of Heavy Traffic

Nowadays heavy traffic has become the source of greatest complaint in many big cities. As it has greatly affected people’s daily life and economic development, the highest priority of governments has been given to the problem and many experts have been called in for advice.

A great number of solutions are being offered. Some people suggest that more streets and roads should be constructed. The advantage is obvious: it can reduce traffic density（密度）and hence speed up the flow（流动，流量）of buses and cars. But traffic flows constantly rise to fill whatever scale of roads and highways are provided for them. And in a city with booming（兴旺的，繁荣的） industry, land is precious and cannot be extravagantly used for traffic. So others argue that the number of bicycles and cars should be limited while more bus routes should be opened up because buses can accommodate more passengers. But the decrease in the number of bicycles and cars might give rise to another new set of problems, such as inconvenience to people.

Since neither of the suggestions can effectively solve the problem of heavy traffic, there is an increasing awareness that the two solutions may be combined with other possible solutions to produce the best effect.

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二、两种基本方法

1. 整体对比 (Subject by Subject)

以对比的事物为基础，先处理A 事物的全部相应对比点，然后再处理B 事物的全部相应对比点。其正文基本结构是：

A事物的情况： B事物的情况：

Point 1 Point 1

Point 2 Point 2

Point 3 Point 3

以对比乘火车旅行与乘飞机旅行为例：

Traveling by train Traveling by air

Speed Speed

Expense Expense

Safety Safety

comfort comfort

2. 分项对比 (Point by Point)

这种对比是以点对比点为基础。先讨论A和B事物之间在第一个相应点上的异同，然后再比较第二个相应点上的异同，直到所有点都比较完毕。基本结构如下：

Point 1 A 事物 Speed safety

*Traveling by train *Traveling by train Point 1 B 事物 Point 2 A事物 *Traveling by air *Traveling by air

Expense comfort Point 2 B事物 Point 3 A事物 *Traveling by train *Traveling by train

*Traveling by air *Traveling by air Point 3 B事物

三、比较型作文常用句型：

1. Personally, I am in favor of / like / prefer…

2. One / Another / The biggest advantage / benefit is that…

3. It has / They have both advantages / strengths and disadvantages / weaknesses. outweigh the benefit we gain from 4. The advantages of B carry more weight than those of A. are much more greater than those of

5. The effect of comparison / contrast is heightened by another advantage B enjoys.

6. A’ advantages sounds ridiculous / means nothing when B’s advantages are mentioned / considered / taken into consideration.

7. When the advantages and disadvantages of A and B are carefully compared, the most striking finding / conclusion is self-evident / obvious.

8. Although A has / enjoys / gains a / the distinct / enormous / considerable advantage of…, it

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can’t compete with B in …

9. By contrast, … / On the contrary, …

10. Despite these advantages, / Good as A is, it also has / brings its own disadvantages / problems / harmful effects.

11. Anyway both the methods have their merits / strengths and their faults / imperfections, but both must be improved in order to achieve the best possible result / effect (a combination of their merits might be a step in the right direction).

Reading Selectively or Extensively

How should we read? Should we read selectively or extensively? Everyone has his own view. Some people think we should read selectively. They argue that with the development of modern science and technology, more and more books are published every day. It is impossible for us to read all the books. What’s more, there are many bad books that are poisonous to our mind, and we shouldn’t read them. Since we can’t read all the books, and we shouldn’t read bad books, we must read selectively.

But others may not agree. They emphasize that today’s society is not what it used to be. If you want to be successful, you must read widely and acquire knowledge in both natural sciences and humanities. If a man knows much in one field but little in others, he may not be of great use to the society. Since we must have a wide range of knowledge, we must read extensively.

Who’s right? There is a lot to be said for both sides of the argument. However, I think we should read extensively first and then read selectively and dig into the subject we want to specialize in.

Assignment Write a composition on the topic “The Advantages of Buying and Renting a Home”. Try to employ the skill of comparison and contrast. You should write at least 200 words. Remember that your composition should include three parts: introduction, body and conclusion.

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