在大學(xué)的考G考T的經(jīng)驗(yàn)以及兩年寒假在北京新東方的刻苦培訓(xùn)，加上半年來在上海新東方作文教學(xué)，使我更加深刻地明白了作文的寫作的確存在短期突破的可能性與必要性。
記得在大學(xué)時(shí)代，各個(gè)大學(xué)的BBS上包括我們?nèi)A工就廣為流傳著“作文魔板”這個(gè)名詞，沒有自己體會過用套路寫作的人其實(shí)根本不可能理解到這其中的奧秘，因?yàn)橛械娜苏f背“魔板”是不可能得到高分的，而另一些人卻說不背“魔板”得到的高分是沒有“性價(jià)比”的。實(shí)際上，就我個(gè)人而言，我認(rèn)為魔板的背誦是非常必要的，但絕對不是能是盲目的!
大家都知道，我們中國人其實(shí)在英語的聽說讀寫四個(gè)環(huán)節(jié)上最薄弱的就是輸出的兩個(gè)能力：說和寫;而最強(qiáng)的就是輸入的兩個(gè)能力：讀和聽。而如果我們想在出國的道路上成為佼佼者，那么在保持傳統(tǒng)強(qiáng)項(xiàng)的同時(shí)是否應(yīng)該特別加強(qiáng)一下我們的口語和寫作能力呢?
而根據(jù)我考TSE(TEST OF SPOKEN ENGLISH)的經(jīng)驗(yàn)，其實(shí)口語考試分?jǐn)?shù)的高低(注意這里僅僅是指考試分?jǐn)?shù))幾乎完全取決于你到底背了多少段落。因?yàn)榭谡Z的TOPIC是覆蓋面非常廣泛的：教育、文化、歷史、生物、科技、藝術(shù)等等，所以這就從客觀上決定了考生必須背大量的段落，而實(shí)際上背的過程中也就是把不涉及過于具體內(nèi)容的話背下來，到考試的時(shí)候再把聽到或看到題目要求的具體內(nèi)容往里面加。一定要注意是從背具體的段落到提煉抽象的魔板最后再回到具體的段落：
·具體
·抽象
·具體
下面我就分別以新TOFEL的綜合部分和GRE/GMAT作文的“阿狗”部分為例分別給大家分享一下我個(gè)人對于滿分的一些理解。
TOEFL
其實(shí)新托福加了綜合部分以后，我個(gè)人認(rèn)為是降低了難度。因?yàn)樵瓉砝贤懈５淖魑淖鳛樾峦懈Ｗ魑牡莫?dú)立部分并沒有什么太大的改變，而且大家都知道作文水平的提高不是一朝一夕的事情，那么我剛才說的不能盲目就是指大家不能在這個(gè)需要體現(xiàn)真正寫作水平的部分去背段落，因?yàn)檫@個(gè)是會被認(rèn)為是舞弊行為的。那么在綜合、獨(dú)立各占15 分的時(shí)候，我們?nèi)绻馨盐兆∪魏我粋€(gè)部分的高分實(shí)際上平均下來的分?jǐn)?shù)就不會低。而綜合部分由于是先讀一篇文章，再聽一段錄音，然后讓我們談文章與錄音的相互關(guān)系，而不用發(fā)表自己的觀點(diǎn)這一題目本身的客觀要求就決定了它是可以背由固定標(biāo)準(zhǔn)語句組成的“魔板”的。這正如研究生入學(xué)考試英語寫作的小作文和雅思寫作的小作文一樣是有固定套路的。比如錄音講座要么就是質(zhì)疑或者反駁了閱讀段落;要么就是支持或者加強(qiáng)了閱讀段落，所以只需要把相關(guān)描述質(zhì)疑或者反駁與描述支持或者加強(qiáng)的固定語句背下來就可以得到一個(gè)相對較高的分?jǐn)?shù)，如果考生同時(shí)又把相關(guān)要點(diǎn)表達(dá)準(zhǔn)確和清楚了的話，那么滿分是完全可能的。當(dāng)綜合部分有15分在手的時(shí)候，獨(dú)立部分只要及格那么就能至少獲得24分的作文高分!
比如以下兩個(gè)“魔板“是分別描述質(zhì)疑或者反駁以及支持或者加強(qiáng)的：
Integrated Writing Task
How the Integrated Writing Task is phrased:
If the lecture challenges the information in the reading passage, the writing task will usually be phrased in one of the following ways:
ØSummarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they cast doubt on specific points made in the reading passage.
ØSummarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they challenge specific claims/arguments made in the reading passage.
ØSummarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to specifically explain how they answer the problems raised in the reading passage.
Showing Challenge
In the lecture, the professor made several points about______________. The professor argues that__________________.
However, the reading contends that________________.
The professor’s lecture casts doubts on the reading by using a number of points that are contrary to___________________________.
The first point that the professor uses to cast doubt on the reading is that_________________.
According to the professor,________________________________.
_______________ differs from the reading in that the reading states _______________________________.
The point made by the professor casts doubt on the reading because_______________________.
Another point that the professor uses to casts doubt on the reading is ___________________________________.
The professor claims that______________________________________.
However, the reading states _____________________________________.
This point is contradicted by_____________________________________.
Finally, the professor stated that, on the contrary of the reading, _____________________________________.
In other words,______________________________________.
This directly contradicts what the reading passage indicates, because___________________________.
In conclusion, the points made in the lecture contradict the reading.
_________________and_______________ demonstrate that ___________is in doubt.
If the lecture supports or strengthens the information in the reading passage, the writing task will usually be phrased in one of the following ways:
ØSummarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to specifically explain how they support the explanations in the reading passage.
ØSummarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to specifically explain how they strengthen specific points made in the reading passage.
Showing support
In the lecture, the professor made several points about_______________.
The professor argues that______________________________.
The points made by the professor agree with________________.
In fact, the examples used by the professor support_________________.
The first point that the professor uses to support the reading is that_______________________.
According to the professor,_____________________________.
_______________________supports the reading, which holds that_______________________.
The point made by the professor supports the reading because_____________________.
Furthermore, the professor bolsters the reading by stating that_______________.
The professor claims that_________________________________.
This point agrees with the reading, which contends that______________.
__________________ shows the truth of the reading because___________.
Finally, the professor stated that, in support of the reading, ______________________________.
Specifically,__________________________________________.
This perfectly reinforced what the reading passage indicates, because___________________________.
In conclusion, the points made in the lecture support the reading.
________________ and ________________________demonstrate that ________________________is invalid.
接下來，我將以如下例子來告訴大家如果提煉“魔板”：
Getting the Templates
The first point the professor makes that casts doubt on the reading is his point about the behavior of stags. The professor shows how the actions of animal can be interpreted in different ways. For example, some people interpret the stag’s actions as being for the “good of the species,” but the professor shows that the stag is actually acting in self-interest. This casts doubt on the reading because it appears that the crickets’ behavior can be interpreted as helping only individual crickets and not the group as a whole. The professor then talks about the results of the experiment, which seems to indicate the crickets are acting only in self-interest.
Another point the professor makes that casts doubt on the reading is his point about the intelligence of animals and insects. As he states, it would seem to require a lot of intelligence to evaluate how a behavior will affect an entire species. This makes the explanation in the reading seem less likely; a cricket is probably unable to think of the consequences of its actions. It is more likely that the cricket is only acting out of self-preservation, as the professor indicates.
The first point the professor makes that casts doubt on the reading is his point about__________________________________.
The professor shows that_____________________________________.
For example, ______________________________, but the professor shows that_______________________________________.
This casts doubt on the reading because it appears that_________________________________.
The professor then talks about_________________________, which seems to indicate that___________________________.
Another point the professor makes that casts doubt on the reading is his point about__________________________________.
As he states, it would seem to___________________________.
This makes the explanation in the reading seem less likely;_____________________________________.
It is more likely that________________________, ad the professor indicates.
實(shí)際上，大家從上面這個(gè)例子就可以發(fā)現(xiàn)“魔板”的提取過程就是這樣的：
·先認(rèn)真讀完一篇滿分范文
·再用筆劃掉其中涉及題目具體內(nèi)容的部分
·最后把余下來的部分抄寫下來即可
但“魔板”做出來后只是做了一小半工作，大家還必須學(xué)會如何往里面填空，實(shí)際上最簡單的方法就是看著題目把具體內(nèi)容自己填進(jìn)去，然后跟范文對比，找出填空的精華技巧所在，因?yàn)樵诤蟀氩糠值腉RE/GMAT中我還會詳細(xì)講解，所以這里只是先告訴大家這樣一個(gè)簡單方法。
大家如果想在今后新托福的考試中作文部分有所突破，那么就應(yīng)該按照我這個(gè)提煉“魔板”的方法，去至少提煉20篇左右的滿分范文，再加以有機(jī)排列組合成自己獨(dú)特的考試“魔板”，最后進(jìn)行集中填空，那么新托福作文25分將不再是神話。
GRE/GMAT
下面，我將再用GRE/GMAT的作文填空法來幫大家強(qiáng)化“魔板”的方法以及填空的概念。
其實(shí)跟新托福一樣，GRE/GMAT中作文也分為兩個(gè)部分：“一休”和“阿狗”。那么這兩個(gè)部分也是同等重要，而且一個(gè)難以短期突破，一個(gè)只能短期突破，所以“魔板”的作用就在這里顯示出來了。“阿狗”由于是駁論文，不需要發(fā)表考生自己的觀點(diǎn)，只需要考生指出段落的邏輯錯(cuò)誤即可，那么專門用來寫駁論文的反駁式段落就顯得非常重要，而我們大家都沒有學(xué)過如何去寫駁論文，所以可以說不背“魔板”基本就不可能及格。而背“魔板”也分高手和水手，所以我個(gè)人認(rèn)為有以下三重境界：
·知道如何提煉“魔板”
·知道需要將提煉的“魔板”排列組合成自己的考試“魔板”
·知道怎么往“魔板”里正確、恰當(dāng)?shù)靥羁?/strong>
只有達(dá)到這三重境界的全部才可能獲得滿分。下面我將以幾個(gè)例子來鞏固“魔板”的提煉方法以及重點(diǎn)介紹如何填空，而排列組合由于非常簡單而且因人而異，這里就不再介紹，有問題可以發(fā)郵件跟我交流。
1. 開頭段
In this argument, the arguer concludes that sending the mechanics of GAA to a two-week QCS on proper maintenance procedures will automatically lead to improved maintenance and to greater customer satisfaction along with greater profits for the airline. To support the conclusion, the arguer points out that the performance of the maintenance crews in the automobile racing industry improved markedly after their crews had attended the seminar. In addition, the arguer reasons that since the maintenance crews of the automobile racing industry and the mechanics of GAA perform many of the same functions, the airlines will gain similar benefits from the training program. This argument suffers from several critical fallacies.
In this argument, the arguer recommends that C should advise its citizens to install both air conditioners and fans for cooling in order to reduce the cost of electricity. To justify this claim, the arguer provides the evidence that many citizens of C suffer from the rising costs of electricity. In addition, he cites the result of a recent study that using fans alone costs more than using air conditioners alone, and that using both fans and air conditioners costs less than either using fans or air conditioners alone. A careful examination of this argument would reveal how groundless the conclusion is.
In this analysis, the arguer claims that P University should offer employment to the spouse of each new faculty member that they hire. To substantiate the conclusion, the arguer cites the example of B College where professors prefer to have their spouse employed in the same geographical area. In addition, the arguer assumes that this offer of possible job for their spouse on the campus, no matter whether it will be accepted, is the only factor that new professors consider in deciding whether to accept a university position. This argument is unconvincing for several critical flaws.
In this argument, the arguer advocates that the C Corporation should hire DF, a family owned local company that offers varied menu of fish and poultry, instead of GT Company, the present supplier of food in C’s employee cafeteria. The recommendation is based on the observation that the GT is expensive, that its prices have kept rising, that it does not serve special diets, and that three employees complained about it. Meanwhile, the arguer assumes D to be a better choice for C because a sample lunch of this company that the arguer happened to taste was delicious. This argument is problematic for two reasons.
The conclusion in this argument is that F College can expect to increase enrollment by promising to find jobs for students after graduation. In support of this prediction, the arguer claims that college-bound students are increasingly concerned about job prospects after graduation. Moreover, the arguer assumes that this attempt has three benefits: (1) to enable F to compete with more famous schools; (2) to encourage students to start career preparation early; (3) to encourage students to complete their coursework. This argument is fraught with vague, oversimplified and unwarranted assumptions.
2. 中間段
First, the argument is based on a false analogy. The arguer simply assumes that airplane mechanics and automobile maintenance crews perform many similar functions, but he does not provide any evidence that their functions are indeed comparable. As we know, the structure, operation and function of airplanes and those of automobiles differ conspicuously. It is true that both the airplane and the automobile need refueling and engine maintenance, but even here there exist fundamental differences: the structure and the building materials of each other’s engines are different, so is the oil they use. Therefore, even though the two-week Quality-Care Seminar proved effective in improving the performance of the maintenance crews in the automobile racing industry, there is no guarantee that it will work just as well for airplane mechanics
Second, the arguer commits a fallacy of hasty generalization. Even if the maintenance of the airline has been improved as a result of sending its mechanics to the Seminar, which is, of course , unwarranted assumption, it does not follow that there will be greater profits as well as greater customer satisfaction for airline. As we know, customer satisfaction depends on several major factors other than good maintenance of the airplane. For instance, customers are generally concerned about the punctuality, the on-board service, the ticket price, the luggage handling procedure and even the discount, all of which are ignored by the arguer. Besides, the arguer does not provide any solid information concerning how the airplane can improve its profits. Unless Get-Away Airlines can significantly increase its customers or passengers and at the same time cut down its costs, both of which are unknown from this argument, there is no guarantee that it will “inevitably” harvest greater profits. Actually, the arguer’s recommendation of investing in this training program a the only way to increase customer satisfaction an profits would most probably turn out to be ineffective and misleading.
In the first place, the arguer fails to take into account the geographical factors in the analysis. While we informed that there are wide geographical differences in the nation of Claria, and that many citizens are experiencing rising costs of electricity, the arguer fails to make clear the exact number of those citizens or their percentage in the national population, as well as the geographical distribution of these citizens. If only a small portion of the whole population are experiencing the rising costs of electricity while most familiars do not have similar experience, then the reason might be that the former do not use electricity sparingly. In this case, the rising costs of those families have nothing to do with what kind of electric appliance they use to cool their house. Or if only families living in hot areas are spending more money on cooling, then it is unwise to require citizens living in temperate and frigid zones to install both fans and air conditioners, in the absence of all this information, it is impossible for us to install both fans and air conditioners. In the absence of all this information, it is impossible for us to evaluate the recommended policy that is intended to help every household nationwide to reduce their electricity cost.
In the second place , the comparison in this argument is incomplete and selective, the arguer discovers that using fans alone is more cost effective than using air conditions alone, and that using both fans and air conditioners are the least expensive way of cooling. However, the arguer fails to provide any information regarding the actual amount of time for using, respectively, fans alone, air conditioners alone, and both fans and air conditioners in those three groups of surveyed families. It is very likely that these three groups of families are located in three very different climatic regions of Claria, and hence the amount of days of the year during which they need to cool their houses varies significantly. Families living in cooler areas of the nation certainly cool their houses for fewer hours and hence use less electricity than families living in hot areas, no matter what cooling appliance they use. Unless we are certain that the surveyed families ling in the same climatic region, or that they need to cool their houses for the same amount of hours in the same year although they live in different regions, which is very unlikely, we have every reason to doubt the trustworthiness of this comparative study. Furthermore on electricity may be using more electricity for purposes other than cooling. Unless the arguer also takes this factor into consideration, the comparison is unconvincing.
First of all, the argument is based on a hasty generalization. According to the cited studies, professors at Bronston College are happier living in small towns when their spouses are also employed in the local area than when their spouses work in distant areas, which is understandable. This fact tells very little about what actual conditions the professors often consider as important when they choose where to work. Even if we accept the arguer’s assumption that whether their spouse can find a job in the local area Is the only important question that new professors consider when they decide whether to accept is it likely that the professor will consider accepting the university’s offer. Consequently, it is unwarranted to assume that new professors will accept Pierce’s offer whether their spouse can find satisfactory employment in the local area.
In addition, the arguer fails to consider several other relevant factors that may influence professors’ decision. For instance, since Pierce’s location is not ideal, the pay it offers should be high enough to be attractive. New gifted professors are also concerned about the position they can have and the courses they supposed to teach in the new university. What’s more, what researchers care most about might be the university’s research conditions such as laboratory equipments, adequate research funds, etc.
Finally, the arguer hints that the morale of Pierce’s entire staff is low, but he fails to analyze the causes. Is it because the management of the university is poor, or because the pay is too low, or because the local area stuffers from economic depression, or because the local environment is severely damaged by industrial pollution? Under these circumstances, offering employment to the spouse would be ineffective at all for the purpose of attracting more new professors. Furthermore, if these problems do exist, even if Pierce succeeds in hiring many of the most gifted teachers and researchers of the country, the general moral of the whole faculty would remain low.
The major problem with this argument is that the arguer fails to convince us that Cedar’s present supplier the Good-Taste should be fired. First, the fact that the Good-Taste is the second most expensive caterer in the city may be due to its better foods, quality service and high reputation in this industry. Second, the fact that it prices have been rising for the last three years may be due to nationwide inflation or the rising cost in the food industry. Third, the fact that Good- Taste refuses to serve special diets does not indicate that it cannot meet the needs of Cedar Corporation unless the arguer can demonstrate that Good-Taste served special diets at first and now it refuses to do so hence disappointing Cedar’s employees complained, which makes it impossible for us to e valuate the overall service of Good-Taste. Maybe these three people are those few on special diets. Even if they have every reason to complain about the foods or service of the supplier on a certain day, these three people’s opinion lacks the necessary representativeness based on which we can make any general judgment concerning the overall performance of Good-Taste.
Another point worth considering is the arguer’s hasty generalization. We are informed that Discount serves fish and poultry, but we do not know whether Cedar’s employee all prefer this limited menu. We can believe that one sample lunch that the arguer happened to taste was indeed delicious, but based on this slim information, we can never evaluate the overall performance of Discount.
One major assumption in short of legitimacy is the causal relationship claimed between college-bound students’ increasing concern abut job prospects after graduation and their expectation on the university to find jobs for them. Students’ increasing concern about job prospects may mean that when they choose which university to go to they prefer those universities that can offer the majors most likely to lead to more job opportunities and higher income after graduation. They may also be more interested in prestigious universities because their students are more competitive and more welcomed in the job market. As is known to everyone, in a market economy, promising to find jobs for students is impractical and hence rather doubtful. This strategy may prove misleading and counterproductive in the end. Instead of promising jobs to students, Foley College should devote its resources and efforts to offering more majors with good job prospects as well as attracting more prestigious professors to enhance its reputation.
In addition, the conclusion is based on a gratuitous assumption that promising students jobs will make students more conscious in their study. This, however, is unwarranted. When students do not have to worry about their employment after graduation, they feel no pressure in their study; as a result, they will become more passive and dependent and gradually lose the initiative to improve themselves. Although it is more likely that they will complete their coursework, but when they graduate, no company would like to employ them. By then the university’s promise will turn not to be meaningless.
3. 結(jié)尾段
In summary, the conclusion reached in this argument is in valid and misleading. To make the argument more convincing, the arguer would have to prove that college-bound students are most concerned about the promise of jobs after graduation and the F College can keep its promise in the end. Moreover, I would suspend my judgment about the credibility of the recommendation until the arguer can provide concrete evidence that promising students jobs can actually encourage them to work harder in their study. Otherwise, the arguer is simply begging the question throughout the argument.
To conclude, the argument is not persuasive as it stands. Before we accept the conclusion, the arguer must present more facts that GT has indeed to meet the requirements of C Corporation. To solidify the argument, the arguer would have to produce more evidence concerning the foods and service of D and how they can better meet the needs of C’s employees.
As it stands, the argument is not well reasoned. To make it logically acceptable, the arguer would have to demonstrate that an offer of employment to the spouse is the only condition that new professors consider on accepting P’s offer. Additionally, the arguer must provide evidence to rule out other possible causes of the low staff morale at the university.
To sum up, the conclusion lacks credibility because the evidence cited in the analysis does not lend strong support to what the arguer maintains. To strengthen the argument the arguer would have to provide more evidence concerning the percentage of the affected families and their geographical distribution. To better evaluate the argument, we would need more information regarding the electric expense relevant to the actual amount of time for cooling among, respectively, the three groups of households and the amount of electricity used for other purposes in all three groups of families under survey.
In conclusion, the arguer fails to establish a causal relationship between sending Get-Away’s mechanics to the Quality-Care Seminar and improved maintenance, greater customer satisfaction and greater profits for the airline. To strengthen the argument, the argument, the arguer would have to provide evidence that automobile maintenance and airplane maintenance are similar in every aspect. To better evaluate the argument, we would need more information about the relationship between improved maintenance and greater customer satisfaction along with greater profits.
由以上5篇文章我們可以提煉出以下“魔板”：
1. In this argument, the arguer concludes that .To support the conclusion, the arguer points out that .In addition, the arguer reasons that .This argument suffers from several critical fallacies.
First, the argument is based on a false analogy.
Second, the arguer commits a fallacy of hasty generalization.
In conclusion, the arguer fails to establish a causal relationship between and . To strengthen the argument, the arguer would have to provide evidence that . To better evaluate the argument, we would need more information about .
2. In this argument, the arguer recommends that . To justify this claim, the arguer provides the evidence that .In addition, he cites the result of recent study that . A careful examination of this argument would reveal how groundless the conclusion is.
In the first place, the arguer fails to take into account the geographical factors in the analysis.
In the second place, the comparison in this argument is incomplete and selective.
To sum up, the conclusion lacks credibility because the evidence cited in the analysis does not lend strong support what the arguer maintains. To strengthen the argument, the arguer have to provide more evidence concerning . To better evaluate the argument, we would need more information regarding .
3. In this analysis, the arguer claims that . To substantiate the conclusion, the arguer cites . In addition the arguer assumes that . This argument is unconvincing for several critical flaws.
First of all, the argument is base on a hasty generalization.
In addition, the arguer fails to consider several other relevant factors that may influence .
Finally, the arguer hints that , but he fails to analyze the causes.
As it stands, the argument is not well reasoned. To make it logically acceptable, the arguer would have to demonstrate that . Additionally, the arguer must provide evidence .
4. In this argument, the arguer advocates that . This recommendation is based on the observation that . Meanwhile, the arguer assumes . This argument is problematic for two reasons.
The major problem with this argument is that the arguer fails to convince us that .
Another point worth considering is the arguer’s hasty generalization.
To conclude, this argument is not persuasive as it stands. Before we accept the conclusion, the arguer must present more facts that . To solidify the argument, the arguer would have to produce more evidence concerning .
5. The conclusion in this argument is that . In support of this prediction, the arguer claims that . Moreover, the arguer assumes that . This argument is fraught with vague, oversimplified and unwarranted assumptions.
One major assumption in short of legitimacy is the causal relationship claimed between and .
In addition, the conclusion is based on a gratuitous assumption that .
In summary, the conclusion reached in this argument is invalid and misleading. To make the argument more convincing, the arguer would have to prove that . Moreover, I would suspend my judgment about the credibility of the recommendation until the arguer can provide concrete evidence that .
文章最后我就用這2道ARGUMENT真題來讓大家體會一下如何填空，由于篇幅有限，所以我直接給出了答案，希望大家在自己練習(xí)“滿分魔板填空法”的時(shí)候先自己按照這兩道真題題目本身進(jìn)行填空，再對照我的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)答案，只有這樣才能夠體會到“滿分魔板填空法”的精髓所在。
例題一：The following appeared in a memo from the mayor of the town of Hopewell.
“Two years ago, the town of Ocean View built a new municipal golf course and restore hotel. During the past two years, tourism in Ocean View has increased, new businesses have opened there, and Ocean View’s tax revenues have risen by 30 percent. The best way to improve Hopewell’s economy, and generate additional tax revenues, is to build a golf course and restore hotel similar to those in Ocean View.
題目結(jié)論：末句。
1. 在兩個(gè)事物之間進(jìn)行的弱類比——錯(cuò)誤類比(False analogy)/不全面比較或有選擇比較(incomplete comparison or selected comparison)
題目通過與類似事物的比較得出關(guān)于某一事物的結(jié)論(城市、學(xué)校、公司)但表層的共性并不能否定更深層次的差異。/比較兩個(gè)事物時(shí)， 只比較少數(shù)幾個(gè)方面，或只比較對自己的觀點(diǎn)有利的方面，同時(shí)忽略或壓制其他重要方面。
關(guān)鍵判斷詞：Similar
改錯(cuò)模板：The argument relies on what might be a false analogy between OV and H. In order for a new municipal golf course and restore hotel in OV to serve as models which H should emulate, the major must assume that all the relevant circumstances involving the general and initial economy are essentially the same. However this assumption is unwarranted. For example, the argument overlooks the possibility that the increase of OV’s tax revenues was motivated by other factors/concerns besides the new building in OV. Perhaps those in power changed some policies regarding OV’s tax revenues. As for 30 percent, perhaps the starting point is very low. Or perhaps the improvement of OV’s tax revenues is only because a dominant geographical location in OV.
2.混淆因果關(guān)系和相關(guān)性(兩個(gè)現(xiàn)象一起發(fā)生)和時(shí)間的先后次序(一個(gè)現(xiàn)象在另一個(gè)現(xiàn)象之后發(fā)生)。
關(guān)鍵判斷詞：Two years ago/during the past two years
改錯(cuò)模板：The argument is based on a known correlation between building a new municipal golf course accompanied by a restore hotel and the enhancement of OV’s tax revenues, that the latter is attributable, at least partly, to the former. Yet the correlation alone amounts to scant evidence of the claimed cause-and–effect relationship. Perhaps the growth of OV’s tax revenues can be caused by other factors as well, which are absent in these particular states but present in all the others. Moreover, the argument overlooks the fact that two years doesn’t mean forever. The arguer has not accounted for the possibility that the geographical and demographic differences might even lead to opposite result. If this is the case, then the conclusion that H should follow the example of OV would lack any merits whatsoever.
3.認(rèn)為所有事物是恒定的
關(guān)鍵判斷詞：Two years ago/during the past two years
改錯(cuò)模板：The arguer’s claim unfairly infers form OV’s comparatively promotion of tax revenues in the past that H should copy/indiscriminately imitate. Absent evidence to support this inference, it is just as likely that the global economy had been gliding. For that matter, perhaps the OV’s experience would contribute less to H or even nothing. Any of these assumptions, if true, would serve to undermine the claim that H should do the same thing as OV.
例題二：Now is the time to invest in a PLG franchise so that you can profit from opening one of our gyms in your town. Consider the current trend: PLG is already popular among customers in 500 locations, and national surveys indicate increasing concern with weight loss and physical fitness. Furthermore, last year’s sales of books and magazines on personal health totaled more than $50 million and purchases of home exercise equipment almost doubled. Investing now in a PLG franchise will guarantee a quick profit.
題目結(jié)論：末句。
1.整體特征不一定適合于群體中的每個(gè)個(gè)體；同樣，局部特征也不能表明整體特征。
關(guān)鍵判斷詞：your town，500 locations
改錯(cuò)模板：The argument assumes that the general trend that PLG is already popular among customers infers the trend in specific regions upon which the argument relies. Yet, the brochure fails to offer any evidence to substantiate this crucial assumption. Absent such evidence, it is just likely that PLG may not be so popular in the proposed town as it in the 500 locations; for that matter, perhaps in the mentioned region the people’s hobbies are just on the contrary, in which event the arguer’s recommendation would amount to especially poor advice.
2.急于概括：在證據(jù)不足的情況下作出普遍的概括
/因果關(guān)系簡單化：忽略了因果關(guān)系的復(fù)雜性：一因到多果/多因合一果
/錯(cuò)誤的兩難處境：把復(fù)雜的問題簡化為非此即彼的兩種選擇
改錯(cuò)模板：The recommendation depends on the assumption that no alternative means of influencing people’s concern on personal health are available. Yet no evidence is offered to substantiate this assumption. Admittedly, the last year’s sales of books, magazines and home exercise equipment are some evidence that could ensure a quick profit in some sense. However, it is entirely possible that other relevant factors might result in no profit at all. Perhaps a much quicker profit should result from investing in another program. Without considering and ruling out these and other alternative means of reducing profit, the arguer cannot confidently conclude that PLG franchise is a wise investment.
3.數(shù)據(jù)類問題(survey/study/poll)
(1) What procedure is used?
調(diào)查的結(jié)果是否具有代表性(representative)，是否遵循了隨機(jī)性原則(the principal of random )：全體成員有同樣的機(jī)會(the same opportunity)被抽到不能事先把一部分成員排除在外。
(2) How large was the sample?
抽樣調(diào)查必須保證從調(diào)查對象的總體(the whole)中抽取足夠大(adequate/sufficient)的樣本，否則，調(diào)查的結(jié)果就缺少可信度(credibility)。
(3)Are the statistics misleadingly vague?
調(diào)查過程與結(jié)果的敘述應(yīng)該使用明確的數(shù)字，如：具體的數(shù)字、比例或百分比。而不要模糊如：many, majority,以及不知道底數(shù)的百分比。
(4)Are the statistics complete?
作者只提供了部分相關(guān)數(shù)據(jù)
(5)Are the statistics important?
數(shù)據(jù)與作者試圖證明的假設(shè)之間沒有必然的聯(lián)系
(6)When was the survey conducted?
調(diào)查的時(shí)間可能影響結(jié)果的代表性如：人們在選舉前對政治新聞的興趣可能變大，中國CCTV-5對NBA火箭隊(duì)的興趣等
關(guān)鍵判斷詞：National surveys
(樣本不具備代表性)改錯(cuò)模板：(1) One problem with the argument involves the cited statistics about sales of books and magazines. It is unreasonable to draw any conclusions about their sales in the future based on statistics regarding last year’s. Depending on the total number of books and magazines, it is entirely possible that those on personal health are not representative of the whole. For example, perhaps the sales regarding sports totaled more than $50 billion. If so, then the arguer’s recommendation might amount to poor advice for us.
(收集數(shù)據(jù)過程有誤)改錯(cuò)模板：(2)The survey methodology might be problematic in two aspects. First, we are not informed whether the survey required that respondents choose their concern between alternatives. If it did, then the results might distort the preferences of respondents, who might very well prefer a certain one not provided in the survey. Secondly, we are not informed whether survey responses were anonymous, or even confidential. If they were not, the respondents might have provided responses that they believed those in power would approve of, regardless of whether the responses were truthful. In either event, the survey results would be unreliable for the purpose of drawing any conclusions about people’s real increasing inclination.