构建主题引领下的高中英语续写文体教学模式
2021-06-09曹建明
摘 要 读后续写属于高层次的英语语言水平检测项目。其优点在于革除了传统作文教学中机械套用模版的弊端,反向推动基础教育阶段英语教学必须重视学习能力、阅读积累习惯的培养,把发展创新思维确立为高阶素养目标。强调在续写文体教学模式中,提倡“主题引领”建构、设计指向主题的情境片段,在串联中兼顾语言前后风格协同、刻画展现主题意义的细节描写以及选句适宜多样等几个维度,着力培养学生的文本主题概括能力、思维创新能力,以及完整的语言表达运用能力。
关键词 高中英语 续写文体 主题引领 教学模式
自浙江、山东两省率先开启新高考模式以来,读后续写题型成为近几年基础教育阶段英语学科教学研究的热点。随着江苏、湖北、辽宁等八省在2021年高考跟进采用这一题型,它的受关注程度和研究价值将进一步放大。
一、题型解读
续写试题由两个部分构成:一是给出带有主题情节的前文材料内容;二是指示需要续写的两个自然段的要求,包括首句提示、字数(150词左右)、是否运用下划线词汇等。其中,续写两小段给出的首句,既有思维诱导作用,也兼具限制作用。纵观新高考的英语科命题,续写文体多是记叙文,具有一定的故事性、延展性,利于考生发挥和想象。常规的解题思路就是:时间-地点-人物-事情过程-结局-影响或启示等环节。
该题型的半开放性质赋予了考生很大的想象空间和发挥能力,必然会产生“一个故事,多种结尾”的版本。但也极容易导致无厘头、偏离主题的拼凑。为此特别需要构建以“主题引领”为导向的续写文体课堂教学基本模式。
二、主题引领
文本语境都是自带主题(theme)的,主题可能是明的(explicit),也可能是暗的(implicit)。首先要仔细阅读题干已给的文本内容,从人物的语言、动作、神态来分析把握原作者的写作意图,理清文本脉络要点,准确提炼出文本的主题。在主题的引领下,自然地融入故事的环境和背景中,顺着给出的首句,运用原作者的思维,模仿其写作风格,创作出合情合理的情节发展、高潮和结局。这种还原作者试图表达的情境或揭示某种社会现象的设计过程就是在主题语境下搭设写作框架,就是谋篇布局。
三、教学模式
(一)确立主题
主题就是一种思想,一种认识,甚至是对一种共识的重新阐述。在当下立德树人的教育背景之下,培养学习者的核心素养,尤其是科学人文素养显得格外重要。于是,文本立意应该体现当代社会的主流价值取向,像宽容、善良、和谐、爱岗敬业、集体至上、励志、博爱、爱护自然、节约资源、拼搏精神等都是国家与时代倡导的主旋律。这些充满正能量的词汇恰恰是命题文本中所蕴含的主题。
例1:请阅读下面材料,根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段,使之构成一篇完整的短文。
Twenty years ago I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 a.m. When I arrived, I found the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. I knocked on the door. A weak, elderly voice asked me to wait a moment.
After a long pause, the door opened. A little woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase. I took the suitcase to the car, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the car. She kept thanking me. “Its nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.”
“Oh, youre such a good man.” She said. When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?” “Its not the shortest way,” I answered quickly. “Oh, Im in no hurry,” she said. “Im on my way to a hospice. I dont have any family left. The doctor says I dont have long time.”
注意: 1.續写短文词数为 150 左右; 2.续写分为两段,每段的开头语已写好。
Upon hearing her remarks, _____________________________
At dawn, she suddenly said she was tired and wanted to go off. ___________________
主题导引点拨:文中主要有两个人物——司机和老太太。老太太孤身一人,她出现的背景就是准备前往临终医院。反映司机生活不易的信息是他凌晨两点多钟还接单出行;反映司机人品的关键信息包括took the suitcase, returned to help, 特别是他对老太太说“I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.” 读来让人感动,可见司机是一个内心善良的人。这个信息很重要。“善良”就是全文的唯一主题,应作为贯穿下文续写的主线。
請看例1的续写文:
Upon hearing her remarks, I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. For the next two hours, I drove her through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes shed ask me to slow down in front of a particular building and would stare into the darkness, saying nothing.
At dawn, she suddenly said she was tired and wanted to go off. We drove in silence to the address she had told me. When she asked me how much she owed me. I simply told her to pay nothing. “You have to make a living,” said the old. “There are other passengers,” I answered. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. Our hug ended with her remark, “You me a little moment of joy.”
比对上文可见,续写出的两段文字与原文是连贯、协同、自然的,发展动态没有丝毫的突兀感。关掉计价器、满足老人的愿望、开车途经老人曾经有过美好记忆的许多地方、给老人拥抱等情境设计就非常饱满地刻画出司机的善良。还有老太太坚持要付费,对他说“你也要谋生”,也展示了老人善良的一面,她完全没有利用自己的同情点来占取司机的便宜。人物形象的设计成功地揭示了人性向善的价值取向。
(二)设计情节
情节相当于服务于主题的小情境,彼此之间有着连贯、承接的关联。以例1的材料为例。在“善良”这个主题的指引下,设计出司机在接下来的时间里为一个垂暮老人做些服务。只要能体现司机“善举”的情境都是符合主题的设计。譬如:1.满足老人提出的所有要求;2.安排尽可能多的时间陪老人;3.不收取行车服务费;4.带她回自己的家;5.留在临终医院陪老人走完最后的时光;6.帮她料理身后事等。当然,设计务必做到情节发展自然,符合人之常情和生活常态。过于突兀的想象也不可取,一些有悖常理的想象,切不可写入习作。
需要指出的是,在情节设计时,首先要充分解读好续写两段段首的已给句。这些句子是情节发展的暗示或铺垫。其次,要利用好原文中的“信息沟(generation gap)”,比如,例1的原文中老太太说过Im in no hurry. 这样的一句话。这就为续写文中司机带着老太太把城市里熟悉的地方再看一遍的情节埋下伏笔。准确捕捉到前文暗示信息,就等于找到了情节自然发展的通道。
当然,情节精彩的作品一定是思维创新的结果。培养思维是英语学科的核心素养之一。续写文体教学正是落实该素养的手段。因此,教学不应只停留在传承已有知识的层面,而应培养更多的思维想象力。而培养思维创造力没有现成的思维方法和程序可循,所以它的方式、方法、程序、途径等都没有固定的框架。进行创造性思维活动的人在考虑问题时可以迅速地从一个思路转向另一个思路,从一种意境进入另一种意境,多方位地试探解决问题的办法。在平时的续写教学过程中,要摒弃用参考(标准)答案束缚学生,更不能强制要求学生死背范文,而应鼓励创造更多的合乎情理紧扣主题的样本,要细心爱护守护学生积极思维的火花,允许有不同的观点。
例2:请阅读下面材料,根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段,使之构成一篇完整的短文。
One day a little monkey was playing in a tall tree by the river. A hungry crocodile was swimming slowly near the bank with her baby. Suddenly she caught sight of the monkey in the tree. She then turned to her son and asked if he loved her.
The baby crocodile said yes. Then the mother required her son to catch that monkey and give her its heart to eat. “But how can I? I cant climb trees.” the baby crocodile asked. “You neednt climb the tree.” His mother said. “Use your head, then youll find a way.”
The baby crocodile thought hard. Then he had an idea. He swam near the tree and asked the monkey if he would like some bananas.
“I love them, but where are they?” said the monkey. “On the banana trees on the other side of the river. Ill take you there on my back.” “Good,” the monkey came down and jumped onto the crocodiles back.
注意: 1.续写短文词数为 150 左右; 2.续写分为两段,每段的开头语已写好。
Soon they were in the middle of the river. ______________________________
The crocodile turned and swam back to the bank. _______________________
传统意义上,猴子是机灵的化身,鳄鱼是凶残的代表,二者水火不相容,当它俩凑到一块儿,会上演怎样的故事?从小接受爱憎分明教育的考生,多会运用常规思维,确立“正义战胜邪恶”的写作主题,故而对猴子产生同理心,自然地就站在猴子的立场,从而为后续情节设计定了基调。由此出发自然会出现下文中猴子运用智慧, “化险为夷”的版本。
Soon they were in the middle of the river. Suddenly the crocodile went under the water. When he came up again, the monkey was all wet. The monkey cried and begged the crocodile not to do that. “I have to as Mom wants to eat your heart.” The little monkey was clever. “Why didnt you tell me earlier? My heart is left in that tree on the bank.” “Then lets go back for it. Mother doesnt want you without your heart.”
The crocodile turned and swam back to the bank. Upon arrival the monkey jumped off the crocodile instantly, picked up a big stone and climbed up the tree. The crocodile kept waiting in the water. After a long time, he suddenly heard a voice from above: “Hey, Crocodile!” The crocodile looked up. The monkey was laughing. “Heres my heart. Come up and get it. Dont keep your mother waiting ...You cant come up? Well, catch!” With these words, he threw the big stone at the crocodile.
当然,由于主题的确定多带有主观立场倾向性。对于上面的习作,有学生写出小鳄鱼不忍心伤害猴子,构造出“化敌为友”的版本,这就是培养创新思维所产生的可贵结晶。还有习作写成了在小鳄鱼难以下手之际,鳄鱼妈妈火速潜到河中心,猎杀了猴子。小鳄鱼很难过,但妈妈解释说,它们已经几天吃不到食物,放过猴子,它们就得饿死。中国人可能情感上无法认同这样的结尾,但至少也是符合自然生存法则的。
事实上,续写的创作过程中,不拘泥于一点或一条线索,不受固化的认知、规则等的约束,力求在合理的主题框架下尽可能多角度地扩展思维,从而产生常规的和非常规的多种情境设计。在续写教学效果评价环节,尤其需要客观公正、鼓励性地去评价学生运用创新思维写成的习作。
(三) 串联成文
以主题为线,把若干指向主题的情境串联起来就成了段落。在串联情境时,尽量兼顾与开头句的衔接,以及两个自然段的平衡。词语数量和高潮不能偏在某一段,尽量做到两段都很精彩。注意在语句间使用恰当的连接成分,使续写短文结构紧凑。除此之外,要实现融洽度高、语言优美,还必须在以下两个方面做好对接与训练提升。
1.语言风格协同。续写不仅是考虑情节的发展,还包括语言风格上的衔接。具体表现在体裁类型、人称时态、词汇选择、句式结构、语法类型、修辞手法等。在续写呈现上尽量沿用前文的语言风格,达到前后无痕衔接的效果。
体裁协同指续写的体裁与前文一致。如前文是记叙文体,续写不能写成议论文体、说明文体;如前文是议论文体,那续写必须是议论文体。人称协同指续写时的立场口吻与前文相一致。如前文以第一人称叙述,那续写部分也应该是第一人称为主;同时续写部分的情节如与前文是同时段发生的,时态也应和前文保持一致。除非必要,避免大篇幅对话文体,可适当运用凸显出人物性格与主题意义的对话。此外,语汇运用也应前后大抵协同,如风趣的幽默词汇,苦痛的悲情词汇等尤须合情应景,不能前后对冲产生突兀感。建议多使用前文出现的词汇,从而增强衔接感。如果前文句式短小精悍活泼,续写文就需避免冗长拖拉的表达,保证前后句式结构的统一。
2. 细节描写。在串联情境的过程中,若行文描述过于笼统单调,且缺乏细节描写的渲染,文字就缺乏感染力,很难唤起读者(阅卷老师)的共鸣。如能在写作中,恰当地加入起到烘托作用的诸如环境、人物动作、神态、语言、心理等某一方面的细节描写,产生强烈的画面感,则有助于主题升华。见下例:
(1)The woman was concerned about his son. His son had not yet come back. (概述)
(2)The woman walked back and forth in the room, anxiously looking out of the window from time to time. The clock had stuck eleven, but his son had not yet come back. (细节刻画)
同是表达“担忧”,方式迥然不同。第一句直接用concerned来概述一位母亲担心着还没有回来的儿子。第二句没有使用concerned,但通过 “来回走动”“焦虑的神色”“时不时望向窗外”“时钟敲打十一下”这些细节描写,把母亲的担忧刻画了出来。显然第二种表达方式更为高明。但也须谨记:写作中不可无病呻吟,应杜绝与主题无关、非情节发展需要的描写。
需要提醒的是,由于命题的词数要求限定在150词左右,篇幅不宜过长,不建议 “一波三折”的情节设计,有一个转折(高潮)即可,细节上尽可能丰润一些,在结尾部分最好有升华主题的点睛之句。此外,适当的“艺术留白”也是提倡的,这在不经意间营造出妙不可言的共情效果。
[参 考 文 献]
[1]中华人民共和国教育部.普通高中英语课程标准(2017年版)[S].北京:人民教育出版社,2018:107.
[2]教育部考試中心.普通高等学校招生全国统一考试英语科考试说明(高考综合改革试验省份试用)(第一版)[M].北京:高等教育出版社,2015:28-30.
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作者简介:曹建明(1969—),男,江苏如东人,江苏省如东高级中学高级教师,大学本科,研究方向:中学英语教学。