一個月ACT寫作成績全美前2%不是夢，詳細攻略你也可以是大神

ACT考試方面的經驗文一向來說比較稀缺。那麼今天就和大家分享一篇關於ACT寫作的文章。Cecilia N分享的ACT寫作經驗直接地點出了大家平常容易犯的錯誤，強調了批判性思維和邏輯的重要性，並手把手地帶著大家完成了一篇例文的寫作。

本文乾貨略多，思辨性較強，閱讀的時候需要跟著作者的思路來走。但所謂「攻書莫畏難」，認真讀完並勤加練習的同學一定能夠有所收穫。

有些學校現在不要求寫作成績，然而寫作就不重要了嗎？

寫作成績與文書水平不符合會導致招生官質疑整份申請材料的真實性，並且會上了大學以後paper得不了A， GPA跪。更重要的是，寫作是對觀點的表達，學術寫作是基於現有文獻與其他學者進行對話的途徑。

如果把ACT的三個perspective理解成文獻的話，考官需要看到的是你對他人觀點邏輯清晰的反駁與支持， 以及對你自己觀點完整的論述。

本文略讀大約花費10分鐘，精讀加練習大約花費一個月。

審題

題目

題目毫無疑問是需要貫穿整篇文章的key word，所有的論述和觀點都要圍繞著題目展開。而在審題過程中，題目類型分成兩組

單一題設的題目可以簡單理解為只有一個關鍵詞或片語， 沒有and。 對於這樣的題在拿到試卷的時候圍繞這一個中心詞思考，列提綱即可。

複合題設的題目有兩個關鍵詞或片語，有and連接。複合題設又分為兩類：

意思相近的（比如latest and greatest; the best and the most expansive）--對於這樣的題需要分清楚它們定義的範圍，重合點和區分點 ；

意思相反的（比如：public health and individual freedom; imitation and creativity）要分析這兩個相反概念各自的定義，誰先誰後的區間，分類討論。（下文會有分析）

Brainstorming

看完題目請先不要看perspective！為什麼？我們來舉個例子：

亞洲地區9/10的題： compare yourself with others

這道題的關鍵詞是： 和別人比

perspective1 ：和別人比會增加我們的動力。

perspective2 ：你並不知道別人經歷了什麼才達到這個成就，也不知道他們的成就是否對你就好，所以不要和別人比。

perspective3 : 每個個體都是獨特的，不要忘記你的初心，先接受你是誰吧。

在看過三個perspective以後，大家就會不由自主的跟著perspective的論點去寫，然後各位淳樸的同學就掉進了出題人的陷阱里——跑題。

總結一下大家都是這麼跑題的??：

關鍵詞是：和別人比

1. 被p2迷惑，在關鍵詞前面直接加否定詞：?－（不和別人比）好

2. 被p3迷惑，替換關鍵詞：（和自己比）好?

正確的打開方式：（和別人比）好／（和別人比）不好

ACT作文跑題的後果就是上不了8分！

比如我4月作文被perspective迷惑，跑題只給了7分，論證再好也無濟於事。比如上面錯誤打開題目的同學九月得分都不好看。

唯一避免被perspective迷惑導致跑題的辦法： 拿到題目，用手捂住perspective，對著題目問自己對這個詞／片語的想法在腦袋中或草稿紙上列出分論點。然後再看perspective。

行文過程中題目關鍵詞不可以替換！比如intelligent machine不要替換成machine或者artificial intelligent。再比如如果題目是Is the Latest the Greatest？ (改編北美6月)： 那麼論述只可以是Latest is / isn』t the greatest, 不可以是The greatest isn』t/ is the latest?

Perspective里替換了關鍵詞請在分析中指出。（下文會分析和舉例）

對perspective的思考

在自己brainstorming以後就要確定自己支持／反對哪個perspective了，這裡給一個讀perspective通用的步驟。

用不同的標記畫出reasons & conclusion

比如(北美6月):the latest and the greatest

P1: As a culture, we value innovation. We encourage and support new and improved product because they make our personal lives better and keep our society from stagnating.

Reasons: The latest make our our personal lives better and keep our society from stagnating.

Conclusion: We should value the latest and it stands for the greatest.

思考定義不確定的詞(considering ambiguity)和定義變換了的詞（the confusing flexibility of the word）

舉個栗子??：xdf模擬題Is the Most Expensive The Best？

P1: People value things which is the most expensive, because it provides us with the best quality. However, the most expensive things must offer the best guarantees or after-sales service.

P2 : For many people, the most expensive is a luxury things they can』t afford. The basic necessities are the best for our life, and we don』t need to pay a lot of money.

在這兩個perspective里the most expensive的定義都是價格最高的

而the best被分別定義為：「the best quality」&」the basic necessities」（見下劃線）:此處就可以就著兩個定義分類討論了。

作者價值觀站隊( Value Assumption)

e.g.價值觀衝突： order& freedom; equality & individualism; generosity & material success; tradition & novelty.

比如public health and individual freedom就是一個典型的價值觀站隊問題。

Descriptive Assumption:

The author』s viewpoint of what the world is.

consider with the opposition- whether there is a gap between the conclusion and the reasons. Is there another possibility?

題目關鍵詞是否出現（Whether Key Word appears）

e.g.2015年12月亞太真題：Mastery P1: Dedication to goal gives purpose and order to life. The determination and persistence required shape us into strong people and are rewards to themselves.

關鍵詞是mastery， 然而這個perspective沒提關鍵詞怎麼破？

請在分析這個perspective的時候指出題目關鍵詞的替換（substitution）：dedication to goal＝mastery

邏輯謬誤(Fallacies in Reasoning)：

這一點的確是能加分的項， 從長遠考慮的確對閱讀學術文獻有幫助，因此在這裡列出幾個考試最常見的邏輯謬誤(標粗的希望大家記一下)，限於篇幅不舉例子了。欲知更多請移步 http://www.fallacyfiles.org：

1. Slipping Slope: Making the assumption that a proposed step will set off an uncontrollable chain of undesirable events, when procedures exist to prevent such a chain of events.

2. Searching for Perfect Solution: Falsely assuming that because part of a problem would remain after a solution is tried, the solution should not be adopted.

3. Equivocation (也就是上文2.2強調的定義問題): A key word is used with 2 or more meanings in an argument such that the argument fails to make sense once the shift in meaning is recognized.

4. Appeal to popularity: An attempt to justify a claim by appealing to sentiment that a large group pf people have in common—falsely assumes that anything favored by a large group is desirable.

5. Confusion between Cause and Effect: Falsely assumes that A cause B is equivalent to B cause A.

6. Wishful Thinking: Making the faulty assumption that because we wish X were true or false then X is indeed true or false.

實（自）戰（虐）一下

Casual Dress（北美4月真題）: P1 : This trend reflects the fact that Americans value equality. Formal dress tends to separate people; casual dress says: 」We are the same.」

Step1: 分析conclusion和reasons

Reasons： People wear casual dress look the same by diminishing the separation caused by formal dress.

Conclusion: Casual dress reflects equality.

Step2: 思考定義不明確的詞(defining ambiguity)

如何定義equality？Equality refers to the evenly distribution of social resources and the similarity of each individual』s socioeconomic status and hierarchy.

Step3:作者價值觀站隊：

Equality> Hierarchy.

Step4: Descriptive Assumption:

The uniform dress code can reflect equality. A world value equality is justice. Casual dress is the same.這個假設是正確的嗎？

Step5: 邏輯謬誤：

Confusion between cause and effect.

那麼你要如何寫呢？（為了論證的完整以下給出一整個正文段，正文段詳細寫作後文會分析）

段首句：Casual dress is not a representative of equality.

Defining Ambiguity：equality refers to the evenly distribution of social resources and the similarity of each individual』s socioeconomic status and hierarchy.

According to evolutionary psychology, humans, in ancient times without clothes, have the realization of hierarchy. Based on prestige effect, even chimpanzee tend to follow the behaviors of privileged member, indicating that even without clothes we are intrinsically divided into different classes.

Therefore, the hierarchy is not neglected even with the same dress code, in this case, casual dress.

For example: 略

套路一：I disagree with Perspective One because it is based on the descriptive assumption that the uniform dress code is a prerequisite to equality which is potentially biased. It confuses with the effect and cause: equality can result in casual dress but the reverse effect doesn』t exist.（如果這樣說的話論述不需要調整）

套路二：I disagree with Perspective One because it is based on the assumption that casual dress are the same which is not. It has ignored that the brand of casual dress can also be a indicator to social class. （如果這樣說的話論述需要說明brand的問題）

套路三: This goes against Perspective One because its underpinning value on equality does not necessarily benefit our society. Equality isn』t equivalent to justice. (如果這樣說的話論述需要說明equality和justice的問題)

在實際考試中選擇一種角度就可以了要不你寫不完！

再舉個??栗子：Latest and Greatest P2: Our great desire for 「latest and greatest」 represents a dangerous cultural mindset: everything is disposable. Little is cherished or made to last.

如何挑刺：I disagree with Perspective Two which is declared the pursuit of the latest reflects we don』 t cherish. It is based on the assumption that we should generate emotions to all the products which is invalidated when it comes to products like electronic devices that need to update constantly.

當然，贊同一個perspective的時候，只需要論證後加上這個perspective說了啥，這和我不謀而合就好了。

開頭段寫作：

明確題目關鍵詞定義：

單一定義：給出討論範圍和你的態度。

不同定義：給出不同範圍和你的態度，暗示正文段分類討論。

對三個p的態度：

不提及三個p也不引用。僅僅對其conclusion做出回應

給出明確表達態度的詞：

注意區分事實和觀點（Fact and Opinion）需要你給出觀點而不是事實。

Globalization brings international trades. 是事實。

Globalization benefits the developed countries by bringing more trades是觀點。

主題段寫作

段首句

1. 寫觀點不要寫事實！

2. 最好不用it is important/ it is good…等形式主語，因為不夠強調關鍵詞。

3. 明確的價值判斷（感情正負向）

Reasoning (Aristotle 3 steps)

1. Prerequisite: Interpret 「Definition』s range/ domain; feature, and function」

2. Humans (Group or individual): common feature/unique feature.

3. Conclusion: attitude.

e.g. 校服是學校規定的統一的服裝。

研究表明， 鼓勵個性的發展對青少年的成長是有促進作用的。

所以校服泯滅了個性的表達，對於青少年成長是不利的。

例子??

與段首句和reasoning高度對應： 起因對應前提，經過對應人的屬性，結果對應結論。

perspective

1. 與自己觀點一致：部分引用／抽象概括。不要照抄

2. 與自己觀點不一致：p的前提和結論：局限性／邏輯錯誤／假設不正確

論證和結論之間的gap。

需要注意的是：

1. 寫完一段空一行寫下一段，萬一發現錯誤有改的餘地。

2. 寫完一段檢查一段的論證，不要等到全部寫完再檢查：因為那個時候你的情緒是滿的不容易看出錯誤，看出錯誤也可能不會改。

結尾段寫作

強調觀點＋美好設想，另外別忘了提key words！

要強調的是：正文段沒寫完也先寫結尾。結構不完整比論證不完整扣的分更多。

最後，我比較蠢：以至於寫了大約60張A4 ，看了好多的書成績才勉強到了top 3%。我的總結也許會減少你的彎路，但不能代替你的練習。

作者：Cecilia N

編輯：王導

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