【SAT寫作批改】#16-2017年12月亞太SAT寫作範文

zhuanlan.zhihu.com

Most people nowadays prefer to donate second-hand clothes because they believe it』s a 「win-win」 situation. However, Tansy E Hoskins in the article 「The Trouble with Second-Hand Clothes」 reveals the problems that second-hand clothes have to both the recipient』s and the donor』s markets. Hoskins persuades the audiences to stop donating second-hand clothes by using examples, concession, metaphor, and rhetorical question.

First, with the use of examples, Hoskins provides specific evidences to reveal the harms of second-hand clothes. In paragraph five, Hoskins employs an example of the second-hand clothes market in sub-Sahara Africa, where these clothes were sold to the recipient country as a 「lucrative affair」 for $25000, with a profit of $23000. In addition, Hoskins uses an example of the UK shows the problems second-hand clothes created for the donor』s market. He points out that people are dumping their clothes through 「charity」. While these charities of second-hand clothes instead aggravate the unsustainable consume of clothes in the developed countries. By using these specific examples, Hoskins reveals his concern that second-hand clothes did not benefit the recipient』s market because the profits are not earned by the poor countries, and the low price of the second-hand clothes will hurt clothes market in these countries. Readers will feel guilty because their dispose of clothes did not go into 「charities」 while also caused environmental problems. The examples are supportive and help Hoskins to present his point that we should stop donating second-hand clothes.

Secondly, Hoskins employs a concession to bolster his point. Hoskins uses a misconception that people often hold in paragraph two. It states the common believe of a 「win-win」 situation that used clothes can be donated to solve the problem of waste as well as benefit the poor countries. Hoskins, by acknowledging the other side, gives his audiences an opportunity to perceive the issue from multiple perspectives. Readers will be more willing to believe his opinion because they recognize Hoskins as a writer who can acknowledge both sides. Moreover, using a concession can help Hoskins develop his rebuttal in his article later. Compared to the articles that only show the writer』s own thoughts, this article can persuade readers in both sides and can emphasize Hoskins point that second-hand clothes should not be donated.

Lastly, Hoskins』 uses of stylistic elements further persuade his audience towards his point. In paragraph seven and nine, Hoskins uses and employs metaphors. For example, he uses 「tackles the symptom not the cause」 to reveal the truth that second-hand clothes donation only reduces the amount of used clothes but does not change consumers』 consumption habit. While the citation of the phrase 「mini-landfill」 connected between the waste of clothes and the dirty trash. Hoskins uses metaphors to present an ironic tone towards the donations of second-hand clothes. The metaphors also create images in his readers』 minds, and draw them deeper into his mindset. In addition, Hoskins writes an rhetorical question in the last paragraph of his article to further persuade his readers of the harms of second-hand clothes. Compared with assertive sentences, the rhetorical question strengthens the tone. The question also invoke the readers to reflect among the article. Readers will find out they are being persuaded by Hoskins』 call. Hoskins use of figurative language and rhetorical question help him convince his readers to stop donating second-hand clothes.

With his successful manipulation of examples, concession, metaphors, and rhetorical question, Hoskins manages to convince his readers to stop donating second-hand clothes.

沒啥毛病的一篇文章，但是銜接結構有點少，中文裡不重視銜接，所以大家在寫英語作文要時常刻意提醒自己增添一些銜接結構。

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