如何写好文章开头？丨英语作文丨外刊写作句型

这篇文章的主要目的就是教大家怎么写好作文开头，但是我不太会写开头，咱们就直接开头吧（我一般比较擅长写主体内容）：

1

直抒“胸臆”型

2022年10月15日的《jingji学人》中有篇文章分析了当前的金融市场，文章开头是这么写的：

The prospect of rising interest rates in America has long stoked anxiety as far away as Mexico City, Delhi and Jakarta — with good reason.

美国利率上升的前景长期以来一直引发人们的焦虑，其影响范围远至墨西哥城、德里和雅加达——理由充分。

我们从中可以提炼出一个开头模板：

XX has long stoked anxiety+地点 — with good reason.

这类句型直接挑明情绪，如 anxiety, concern, controversy，我们称之为“直抒‘胸臆’”型，类似的句型还有：

1）In recent years, the problem of XX has aroused/caused public concern.

2）Recently, the problem of XX was giving serious cause for concern.

我们仿写一段话，今年极端天气频发，引发人们的担忧，在“环保类”文章开头，我们可以写：

Environmental problems, including extreme heat, droughts, flooding, ozone hole and major gas leaks, have aroused public concern for the sustainability of environments.

环境问题，包括极端高温、干旱、洪水、臭氧空洞和大型天然气泄漏，引发了公众对环境可持续性的担忧。

2

开门见山型

《jingji学人》有篇关于“人工智能利弊”的文章，这篇文章开头是这么说的：

Mention artificial intelligence (AI), and the term may bring to mind visions of rampaging killer robots, like those seen in the “Terminator” films, or worries about widespread job losses as machines displace humans. The reality, heading into 2019, is more prosaic: AI lets people dictate text messages instead of typing them, or call up music from a smart speaker on the kitchen counter. 

提到人工智能(AI)，这个词可能会让人联想到像《终结者》电影中那些横冲直撞的杀手机器人，或者让人想到机器取代人类而造成大规模失业的担忧。进入2019年，现实情况更加平淡无奇：人工智能可以让人们口述短信，无需打字；或者从放在厨房台面上的智能音箱中调出音乐。

这段话写得非常精彩，Mention artificial intelligence (AI) 开门见山，引出主题；然后通过 the term may bring to mind A and B 介绍了大家对人工智能的看法，作铺垫；接下来便用 The reality, heading into XX(年份), is more...引出真实情况，和上句形成转折，使文章多了一种回环曲折的节奏感。

我们在作文开头也可以套用本文句型：

Mention XX and the term/phrase may bring to mind... The reality, heading into 2022/23, however, is more...

还有一些类似的句型：

1）When asked about... most people would think of... But for me...

2）When it comes to..., some people hold the view that... but I believe that...

如果字数再多一点，可以说：

3）When it comes to..., some people hold the view that...; others argue the opposite (argue for the opposition). There is an element of truth in both arguments, but I believe that...

我们套用这个句型，把文中“人工智能”的段落改写一下：

When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), some people hold the view that it will ultimately evolve into rampaging killer robots, like those seen in the “Terminator” films; others argue it will cause worries about widespread job losses as machines displace humans. There is an element of truth in both arguments, but I believe that AI will benefit more than it hurts.

我们再仿写一段话，在介绍中国城市（比如成都）的作文中，我们可以这样开头：

Mention Chengdu, and the city may bring to mind spice-laden cuisine and hotpots. ‘Are you afraid of chilli heat?’ is the customary warning for travellers on their way to Sichuan.

提到成都，这座城市可能会让人想到麻辣十足的川菜和火锅。去四川的路上，很多旅行的人都会收到一句警告：“你怕不怕辣？”

3

有问有答型

2022年1月29日《jingji学人》中有篇文章讲到了“蛋黄酱中的管理哲学”，这篇文章开头是这么写的：

What is the meaning of mayonnaise? For Unilever, a consumer-goods giant whose products are all meant to stand for something, the purpose of its Hellmann’s brand is to reduce food waste by making leftovers tasty. For Terry Smith, a fund manager fed up with Unilever’s dipping share price, this is crazy.

蛋黄酱的含义是什么？作为一家消费品巨头，联合利华的产品都有一定的代表意义，对于联合利华来说，其好乐门品牌的目的是通过让剩菜变美味来减少食物浪费。对于厌倦了联合利华股价不断下跌的基金经理特里·史密斯来说，这太疯狂了。

我们可以从这段开头中总结出一个模板：

What.../Why.../Can...? For some...; for others... But for me...

我们再仿写一段话，数字化技术的发展给人们的生活带来了极大便利，但与此同时，很多老年人因远离数字技术而变得手足无措，几十年的生存技能无处安放。在“被数字技术遗忘的老人”“数字化鸿沟”等相关话题的作文中，我们可以这样开头：

What does "digitalisation" mean? For teenagers, it means colorful forms of entertainment and more convenient lives. For adult workers, it means efficiency and ample opportunities. But for senior citizens, it means being left flat-footed. How to help and empower the elderly in the digital era has become a heated debate nowadays.

flat-footed 指 not prepared for what is going to happen，无准备的。这段话通过青少年、成年人、老年人的对比，更加凸显出老年人在数字时代的茫然无措感，触发人们的恻隐之心。

4

由表及里型

《jingji学人》曾有篇文章讲到了“中国房价不算高”，文章第一段是这么写的：

Many believe that Chinese housing prices have soared well beyond the reach of ordinary people. There is some truth to that. But a closer look at the data reveals a more complex picture.

许多人认为，中国的房价飙升，已经远远超出了普通人的承受能力。这有一定的道理。但仔细看一下数据，就会发现一个更复杂的情况。

这句话最后的 picture 不是“图片”，而是熟词僻义，引申为“形势、情况”。

这段话先写表象：Chinese housing prices have soared well beyond the reach of ordinary people，然后对表象予以部分肯定：There is some truth to that，最后引出真实情况：But a closer look at the data reveals...

a closer look at the data reveals...是外刊中很常见的句型，用来表示转折，揭示深层事实，比如《纽约时报》中有这么一个句子：

But a closer look at the numbers says otherwise.

但仔细看一下数字，你会发现情况并非如此。

在作文开头中，我们也可以套用这一模板：

Many believe that... There is some truth to that. But a closer look at XX reveals a ... picture.

其中 reveal 也可以用 say/show/provide/expose 等词替换，但不能盲目替换，要考虑搭配是否恰当。

比如，在讨论“电子游戏的利与弊”的相关话题作文中，我们可以这样开头：

Many believe that games are a waste of time and corrupt the brain. There is some truth to that. But a closer look at scientific research reveals a more complex picture / says otherwise.

很多人认为游戏浪费时间、腐蚀大脑。这有一定道理。但仔细看一下科学研究，你会发现一个更复杂的情况/情况并非如此。

敲

黑

板

1

直抒“胸臆”型

1）XX has long stoked anxiety +地点 — with good reason.

2）In recent years, the problem of XX has aroused/caused public concern.

3）Recently, the problem of XX was giving serious cause for concern.

2

开门见山型

1）Mention XX and the term/phrase may bring to mind... The reality, heading into 2022/23, however, is more...

2）When asked about... most people would think of... But for me...

3）When it comes to..., some people hold the view that... but I believe that...

4）When it comes to..., some people hold the view that...; others argue the opposite (argue for the opposition). There is an element of truth in both arguments, but I believe that...

3

有问有答型

What.../Why.../Can...? For some...; for others... But for me...

4

由表及里型

1）Many believe that... There is some truth to that. But a closer look at XX reveals/shows/provides/exposes a ... picture.

2）Many believe that... There is some truth to that. But a closer look at XX says otherwise.

今天一共补充了4类10个作文开头模板，通过同义词语的替换，又可以衍生出更多句型。对于大学生来说，熟练掌握并灵活运用以上四种模板，足以应对各类英语考试作文。

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