(1) example. Give practical examples to explain things, make the things to be explained specific and make readers understand. This interpretation method is called example method. For example:
Most people always think that when they are old, their memory ability must be poor. Actually, it's not. Please look at the experimental results. The International Linguistic Society made a comparison between young people aged 9 to 18 and adults over 35 in learning Esperanto, and found that the former was inferior to the latter in memory. This is because adults are rich in knowledge and experience, and it is easy to establish extensive contacts on the basis of existing knowledge. Psychologically, it is called "association". People's memory is based on association. The richer their knowledge and experience, the easier it is for them to establish associations and their memory will be improved accordingly. When Marx was in his fifties, he began to learn Russian. After half a year, he has been able to read the original works of famous poets and writers Pushkin, Nikolai Gogol and Schederin with relish. This is because he has rich language knowledge and can be familiar with many modern and ancient languages.
The point of this article is that memory is not necessarily bad when you are old. To illustrate this point, the author first provides the experimental results and analyzes the reasons. So far, it's not bad, but it's not specific enough and convincing. So, let's take another example: when Marx was in his fifties, it took only six months to master Russian. This way, the content is specific and the persuasion is enhanced.
Illustration in expository writing and illustration in argumentative writing can make the content concrete and enhance persuasiveness, but there are differences between them. Examples in argumentative essays are used to prove points, while examples in expository essays are used to introduce knowledge.
To illustrate things or things through examples, we should pay attention to the representativeness and appropriateness of examples.
(2) classification. According to certain standards, the interpreted objects are divided into different categories and explained one by one. This method of explanation is called classification.
Classification is an important way to clarify complex things.
When using classification methods, we should pay attention to the classification standards, and only one standard can be used at a time to avoid overlapping. For example, "the books in the library are China's, classical, foreign, scientific, literary, modern and political and economic." There is more than one standard used here, so it is unclear. The correct statement should be:
The collection of books in the library is divided into Chinese and foreign countries by country; According to the times, there are classical and modern; By nature, there are science and technology, literature and political economy.
In this way, only one standard is used for each classification, and the eyes are clear.
The characteristics and essence of some things need to be divided into several points or aspects, which also belongs to classification.
Please note that by using the classification method, there should be no omissions in the listed categories.
(3) Column data. In order to make the things to be explained concrete, you can also use the method of column data to make readers understand. It should be noted that the quoted figures must be accurate, and inaccurate figures must never be used. Even the estimated figures should have reliable basis and try to be approximate.
(4) comparison. Explain that some abstract or unfamiliar things can be compared with concrete or familiar things, so that readers can get a concrete and vivid impression through comparison. The characteristics of things are often revealed in comparison.
When comparing, we can compare the same kind, different kinds, horizontally or vertically.
(5) draw a chart. In order to make the complicated things clear, we can also use charts to make up for the lack of words and explain some things more directly and concretely.
(6) definition. Defining the essential characteristics of a concept in concise language is called definition. Definition can accurately reveal the essence of things and is a common method in scientific and technological discussion.
When defining, we can consider it from different angles according to the purpose of interpretation. Some emphasize characteristics, such as the definition of "person"; Some emphasize functions, such as the definition of "fertilizer"; Some explain the characteristics and functions, such as the definitions of "comprehensive method" and "applied science"
Man is an advanced animal, who can make tools and use them for labor.
Fertilizer is a substance that can supply nutrients and make plants grow.
Overall planning method is a mathematical method to arrange the work process.
Engineering technology, called applied science, is the knowledge of applying the basic theories of natural science to solve problems in production practice.
No matter from what angle or in what way, as long as it is defined, it is necessary to reveal the essence of things. Only such a definition is scientific. For example, someone said, "Man is an upright animal with two feet." This definition is unscientific because it does not reveal the essence of things. "Man is an advanced animal, who can make tools and work with them." This is a scientific definition, because it reveals the essence of man.
(7) interpretation. Explain a certain feature of things from one side. This method is called explanation.
Definition and interpretation often adopt the language form of "what is so-and-so". The form is the same, how to distinguish it? Generally speaking, the words on both sides of the word "yes" are interchangeable, which is the definition; If it is not interchangeable, it is interpretation.
For example, the sentence "Man is an advanced animal that can make tools and work with them" is changed to "An advanced animal that can make tools and work with tools is a man", and the meaning remains unchanged. The sentence "Snow is solid precipitation formed in clouds" is not changed to "Snow is solid precipitation formed in clouds". Therefore, it can be distinguished that the former sentence is a definition and the latter sentence is an explanation.
(8) metaphor. Comparing two different things to highlight the characteristics of things and enhance the vividness and vividness of explanation is called analogy.
The explanation method of analogy in explanatory text is the same as that in rhetoric. The difference is that there are similes, metaphors and metonymies in figurative rhetoric, while similes and metaphors are commonly used in interpretation, while metonymy is not applicable.
(9) imitation. In order to make the explained object more vivid and concrete, we can imitate the appearance, which is called imitation.
(10) Reference materials. In order to make the explanation more substantial and specific, you can quote materials. The quoted materials range from classic works, famous sayings, formulas and rules, allusions and proverbs.
An explanatory text list rarely uses one explanation method, and often uses a variety of explanation methods. On the one hand, the interpretation method is subject to the needs of the content, on the other hand, the author has the freedom to choose. Whether to adopt one interpretation method or multiple interpretation methods, one interpretation method or another, can be flexible, not fixed.
Structure of explanatory text:
1. The structure of the explanatory text includes: total score, juxtaposition, progression and comparison (including paragraphs). A complete explanatory text is often a combination of several structures.
2. Grasp the meaning of the structure.
Description order
1. The order of interpretation is: spatial order, chronological order (including development order), logical order, etc.
2. Understand the meaning of order.
means of interpretation
1. Interpretation methods include: example, list, analogy, comparison, classification, definition (including interpretation), quoted materials, list, etc.
2. Understand the role of various methods.
3. Sometimes explanatory texts use other rhetorical devices to help explain, and the analysis of the functions of these devices should closely focus on the object of explanation and follow the requirements of explanatory texts.
Language of expository writing
1. The basic requirements of explanatory language are scientific, accurate, concise and clear; Literary discourse also requires vividness and vividness.
2. Analyze the basic requirements of descriptive language: first, explain the characteristics and essential functions of things; Secondly, it is rigorous and scientific; Third, it is vivid and vivid.
Problem solving thinking and skills
(1) clearly explain the object: when reading an article explaining things, whether it is the whole article or the whole paragraph, we must first grasp what the article explains, that is, what the object is; When reading an explanatory article, you should find out what it explains.
How to find a suitable explanation object?
1. Look at the topic, many of them are the objects of explanation, such as (China Stone Arch Bridge).
2. Grasp the first enclosing sentence and the central sentence. A good expository often uses this sentence to highlight the things and characteristics to be explained.
(2) Grasp the characteristics of things: the characteristics of things are mainly manifested in the aspects of structure (inside and outside), shape (size, length, etc. ), properties (hard, soft, cold, hot, etc. ), change (dynamic, static, fast and slow), reason (simple and complex), function (broad sense, narrow sense, positive and negative) and so on. Generally speaking, yes. From what angles? For example, the article Immortality of the Dead Sea expounds the characteristics of the Dead Sea from three angles: first, the "death" of the Dead Sea (phenomenal characteristics), then the "immortality" (essential characteristics), and finally the "immortality" and "death" of the Dead Sea (current situation and future development characteristics). Therefore, the comprehensive characteristics of the Dead Sea will be the cooperation of rockeries and ponds; Against the flowers and trees; Close-up level; And the carving and color of doors and windows. This paper summarizes and analyzes the characteristics of Suzhou gardens from different aspects.
(3) Inductive interpretation methods: When reading the explanatory text, mark the interpretation methods used in the article at the same time, then summarize the main methods used, and then analyze the role of these interpretation methods in accurately explaining the characteristics of things.
(4) Summarize the main points paragraph by paragraph, and clarify the order of explanation: When summarizing the main points, pay attention to the function of the first closed sentence, the last concluding sentence or interrogative sentence, and the function of the statement that defines or explains the concept. These statements can be sketched when reading. It is best to use complete sentences when summarizing the main points, and the meaning should be concise. On the basis of summarizing the main points paragraph by paragraph, the full text is divided into relatively independent parts by the method of "similarity merging" and summarized. If the main ideas of each part are connected in turn, the interpretation order of the full text can be clearly displayed. What order of interpretation is used depends on the object of interpretation. Generally speaking, time sequence is used to explain the evolution and development of things; Spatial order is used to describe architecture; Introduce high-tech products or explain the relationship between things in logical order.
(5) overall perception, grasping the center: on the basis of clear explanation order, it is easy to see the basic structure of the article by analyzing the relationship between paragraphs and parts. If it is a total score structure, it is also necessary to analyze according to what principle each part of the "score" is combined, whether it is parallel, progressive or contains the total score relationship. Progressive structure should focus on how the meaning of each layer is gradually deepened, from phenomenon to essence. Or from the result to the cause and so on. After mastering the structure, it is best to draw a schematic diagram of the structure. The explanation center is to summarize what features or reasons an explanation article explains. It is not difficult to summarize the interpretation center by sorting out the interpretation order and grasping the structure of the article.
(6) Accuracy of understanding language: Accuracy is the characteristic of interpreting language. Analyzing the language of interpretation is to see how words and sentences accurately explain the characteristics of things to be explained. Pay attention to the role of keywords. For example, in the article March to the Desert, "the desert is one of the most tenacious natural enemies of mankind", and removing "most" is not enough to explain the seriousness of desert harm; The nature of removing "nature" and "enemy" is unclear; Removing "one" is absolute. Of course, we should also pay full attention to the vividness of words.