一个北语的教授给我的关于写作的信，大家可以看看

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发信人: tubamqx (土巴马~~1.18拍拖~~坚决不买韩货), 信区: EnglishTest
标  题: 一个北语的教授给我的关于写作的信，大家可以看看
发信站: BBS 水木清华站 (Thu Jan  2 21:15:40 2003), 转信
  
Hello Mitchell,
  
I am doing testing all this week and will not have a chance to read your
essay or respond until at least Sunday.  As for using templates, I think
this is not the correct way to write.  Yes, you can and should look at model
essays and even try the style, but a template is not writing and it looks to
the marker like 'not writing' so I suggest you do not do it.  It is far
better to just learn how to write differnt kinds of essays - then if they
throw you a funny kind of question, you will be able to respond.  Besides,
you have to ask yourself the purpose for learning to write.. what is going
to happen in your study abroad programme when there is no template and no
one to hold your hand?
  
Finding examples is not too difficult if your thinking that goes into
writing, a the pre-writing stage activity, has been done effectively.  The
examples come as a result of what you want to say - this is the essance of
writing - writers write often to learn what they think - once you figure out
what you think then it is not difficult to find the proofs or examples to
support your point of view.
  
Now, finding out what you think is, or at least can be a painful process.
There may be clusters, brainstorms, drafts, edits, re-drafts until u clarify
what is in your mind.  Creating an outline or making a working cluster is a
good way to see your thinking - these are the writer's tools as much as a
carpenter uses a hammer or a screw driver.  To learn to use these tools,
like any tools, you have to practice.  I think if you are going to spend
time writing you might as well spend it learning to write well and
developing your personal competence so that you not only pass your TWE but
will also become an independent writer when you reach the US.
  
As an scientist you are used to logical thinking.  You exist in a world of
proofs.  Writing logically is the same process of finding proofs except you
can give your proofs in a much wider way than you can in science.  For
example, an opinion of a qualified person ( a quote) can be considered an
adequate proof if used sparingly.  You do not want to hide behind another's
thinking so you can not follow the Chinese example of quote after quote.
Facts are better proofs than opinion so you will want to use these.  It
might be worth your while to pick up a book on logical thinking and work
through it if you have time.
  
In the end, Mitchell, you are not writing a thesis - you will be asked to write
a simple essay - not even a long one - so you are quite capable of learning
the skills you need for this in the short time you have.
  
As for responding to your writing, it is much better for you and for me as
well, to work together on this.  This means that I would like you to come to
my home once or twice a week and we will work over your essays together.
Yes, write everyday for sure..we will just look at two or three of them at a
time and analyze them together. Oh, and Mitchell, there will be plenty of time
for play after you finish your exam.
  
What do you think?
  
My best regards and Xin Nian Kuai Le,