《ETS的作文评分标准.doc》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《ETS的作文评分标准.doc（11页珍藏版）》请在taowenge.com淘文阁网|工程机械CAD图纸|机械工程制图|CAD装配图下载|SolidWorks_CaTia_CAD_UG_PROE_设计图分享下载上搜索。
1、在ETS 用“雷同探测器”向全球考生，尤其是中国考生，念起紧箍咒，规定了这样那样的百般“禁忌”之后，如何才能写出能给自己带来满意成绩的文章，便成为考生们的当务之急。 实际上，如果中国考生能摈弃某些好高骛远、不切实际的目标，那么，研究一下ETS的作文评分标准以及对应于各分数段的作文样品，我们就会发现，要达到4.0的平均分，其实并不过分困难。当然，能获得5.0或6.0分的成绩无疑会使人欣喜若狂，但这一成绩在目前的中国考生中，仅限于英语专业研究生中训练有素（well-trained）的中等学生，英语专业本科生中的佼佼者以及非英语专业本科、研究生中具备英文写作特长的学生。如果考生愿意将分数底线设定在4
2、.0分并全力以赴朝着这一目标努力的话，则不失为一种明智、务实之举。考虑到一般考生在Argument类文章上得分较高而在Issue类文章上得分较低这一实际情况，考生可力争在Argument类文章上获得5.0分，在Issue类文章上获得3.0分；或者，如果在Argument类文章上获得4.5分，但在Issue类文章上则必须获得3.5分，从而达到总平均分4.0分的目标。那么，只有在写出怎样的文章之后才有可能在Issue类文章上获得3.0及以上的分数呢？相信看了下述ETS公布的3.0分标准的作文样本后，考生们都会信心倍增。Samples of Scored Issue Essays with Read
3、ers Commentaries Sample Issue Topic：In our time, specialists of all kinds are highly over-rated. We need more generalists people who can provide broad perspectives.Benchmark 3 LimitedGeneralists have the ideas and beliefs of what America is made of. Americas wealth of knowledge can be related to the
4、 generalists of the past generations and the original leaders of our Constitution Period that helped shape our great nation. If our former leaders would have not been generalists when creating our countrys Constitution in the late 1770s, American generations of would have been burdened with the cons
5、tant understanding that they are doomed to failure.The fact that our past leaders were not specialists gave the creation of the Constitution the ability to be changed through amendments passed by our represented leaders of today. The Constitution was created with the ability to adapt to the countrie
6、s needs and demands in running our society as it changes over time. The generalists approach to this creation of a non-specialized Constitution shows the need for todays generations to continue with the beliefs that a specialist would not follow.Americahas learned from its past and has done what it
7、can to make the changes through adaption. Americas greatness has been from the generalist leaders of the past, thinking for the Americans of the future. Americans with a broad perspective is what will continue to lead our great nation into the twenty-first century. 全文总共209个英文单词。对于中国考生而言，其写作能力无论糟糕到何种
8、地步，在考场上规定时间内写出209个英文单词应在情理之中。纵观上述作文样本，原文作者主要是较好地组织了三个层次的论点，清晰地表述出来，所援引的例子仅有一个，即美国宪法这一例子。在国内很多TOEFL/GRE培训班上，作文老师告诫学生应该尽可能将文章的篇幅写得长一些。但这种“多多益善，以长取胜”的做法至少在这里已不适用。因此，中国考生以其漫无边际地贪图写得多，在语言文字上冒错误连篇、又臭又长之风险，还不如尽量使内容简洁有力，将结构加以精心组织为好。撇开上述这篇作文样本语言文字上的各种错误姑且不谈，如果作者能将每个论点稍加扩充，议论更加深入一点（再多写100个左右的英文单词），并且，论点再稍加平衡一
9、点（原文作者对题目全盘肯定，一点都没有考虑特殊、例外的情形），则分数有望达到3.5或4.0分。我们不妨看一下ETS评阅人对该文的评语：Reader Comment on 3 This response displays some competence but is flawed by imprecise use of language and limited analysis of the issue.The writer supports the claim that generalists are preferable to specialists, offering as evidenc
10、e the historical example of the generalists who created the U.S. Constitution. The example, while relevant, is not adequately developed. The middle paragraph traces the flexibility of the U.S. Constitution to the generalist orientation of 18th century leaders, but the ideas in the first paragraph ar
11、e too vaguely expressed to contribute to this discussion, and the final paragraph consists of unsubstantiated generalities.Frequent minor errors in punctuation, pronoun use, and verb tense, as well as imprecise syntax and phrasing (e.g., Generalists have the ideas and beliefs of what America is made
12、 of. and .gave the creation of the Constitution the ability to.) contribute to the overall inadequacy of this response. 在看完了3.0分的Issue类的作文样本之后，我们不妨再来研读一篇得分为4.0分的Issue类文章。Sample Issue Topic: In our time, specialists of all kinds are highly over-rated. We need more generalists people who can provide b
13、road perspectives.Benchmark 4 AdequateThe need for generalists is undeniable but one can not underestimate the need and importance of specialists. The medical profession is a good example of an area that requires both generalists and specialists. If there were no generalists in the profession there
14、would be no one to help patients determine when a specialist was needed. There are certain problems that a general practitioner can take care of and there are other problems that are out of his or her league. The general practitioner is the an appropriate place to start when a patient develops a pro
15、blem. Many times the general practitioner is more than capable of handling problems that arise and other times he or she is unable to fully take control of the patients care. It isnt a fault with the general practitioners. There is just too much to know for any one person to be an expert on all topi
16、cs. It takes people years to become experts on a single topic, never mind being an expert on everything in the medical profession.I am currently working in a large teaching hospital where the need for both general practitioners and specialists is obvious. When a patient is admitted to a general medi
17、cine floor, the general medicine physicians are not always able to deal with every problem the patient has without some help from the specialists. It would be unrealistic, not to mention unfair to the general practitioners, to expect the general practitioners to know everything about everything. The
18、 key is to know where everyones knowledge and area of expertise lie and use their strengths to optimize patient care.On the general medicine team in which I worked, the team would constantly be requesting consults from specialists. Whether it be a renal, psychiatric, orthopedic, rehabilitation, spee
19、ch, gastroenterologist, or any other specialist, their input was constantly needed and used to get the patient well as quickly as possible. The list of specialists can go on longer than one would think and it is just impossible for one person to know everything about each one of them.Although the ne
20、ed for generalists is apparent, it would be hard to survive without specialists, also. When a person acts as a generalist, they know little bit about everything, but certainly not a totally inclusive knowledge of everything. The specialist is there to help add the expertise and inclusive knowledge t
21、hat the generalist may be lacking. The most important thing to remember with specialists and generalists is to recognize boths strengths and weaknesses and capitalize on the strengths to achieve whatever goal may be desired.（430 words） 如果我们将上述两篇Issue类文章稍加对比的话，那么，被评为”limited” 的3.0分文章在所提出的论点、所展开的论述以及所
22、列举的事例这三方面仿佛是话仅说出了一半，显得意犹未尽，且由于仅持一面之辞而似显片面。而纵观这篇被评为”adequate”的4.0分的文章，作者的观点是平衡的。从结构上来说，其综合的论点在第一段得到了全面的表述。如果我们将第一段视作议论的话，则第二、第三段则是在进行举例说明（illustration）。与我们有些考生爱用“举世闻名”的事例相反，该文作者所引用的是其工作中的亲身感受，因此决不会落入俗套而与人人熟知的事例相雷同。此外，所举例子确实能有力地论证文章的论点。ETS评阅人认为，该文的主要缺点是第二段的例证有“掉链子”的迹象，而最后一段的结论仅仅是在复述第一段的主题，没能“推陈出新”地深化和
23、发展主题。这篇4.0分的文章全文共430个英文单词，是它前面那篇3.0分文章的一倍多。对中国考生来说，在实际考试的时间限制内，可能只有一半的考生能写出400个至450个英文单词。如果考生虽能写出450个至500个单词，但仍然没能得到4.0分，除去文字和语言上的问题，原因主要在于立论、论证和例证三方面缺乏条理和深度。下面是ETS评阅人对4.0分作文的评语。Reader Comment on 4 Overall, this is a competent response to the topic. The writer disputes the claim that specialists are
24、 over-rated and argues from the position that both specialists and generalists are needed. The single extended example clearly supports the premise of the argument as the writer compares the roles and responsibilities of generalists and specialists in the medical profession. By paragraph 3, however,
25、 the discussion falters, and the concluding paragraph does little more than repeat ideas presented in the first two paragraphs.This essay displays generally adequate control over syntax and usage, and the word choice, while appropriate, lacks precision.在扼要分析了Issue类文章的评分标准及相应样本之后，我们不妨接下来审视一下Argument
26、类的作文样本及其评分标准。 记得在第一次读到ETS公布的Argument 6.0分的作文样本（参见附录一）时，我在读完最后一句时曾确实情不自禁地为之拍案称奇，深深感慨于其鞭辟入里之深邃，丝丝入扣之细腻，实有一种令多数考生无可企及的感觉。但是，如果我们不以Argument作文6.0分作为终极目标，并且，当我们对5.0分的Argument类文章作一番分析之后，信心和成功的希望在我们内心深处又会油然而生。Samples of Scored Argument Essays with Readers CommentariesSample Argument TopicHospital statistics
27、 regarding people who go to the emergency room after rollerskating accidents indicate the need for more protective equipment. Within this group of people, 75 percent of those who had accidents in streets or parking lots were not wearing any protective clothing (helmets, knee pads, etc.) or any light
28、-reflecting material (clip-on lights, glow-in-the-dark wrist pads, etc.). Clearly, these statistics indicate that by investing in high-quality protective gear and reflective equipment, roller skaters will greatly reduce their risk of being severely injured in an accident.Benchmark 5 Strong The argum
29、ent presented is limited but useful. It indicates a possible relationship between a high percentage of accidents and a lack of protective equipment. The statistics cited compel a further investigation of the usefulness of protective gear in preventing or mitigating roller-skating related injuries. H
30、owever, the conclusion that protective gear and reflective equipment would greatly reduce.risk of being severely injured is premature. Data is lacking with reference to the total population of skaters and the relative levels of experience, skill and physical coordination of that population. It is en
31、tirely possible that further research would indicate that most serious injury is averted by the skaters ability to react quickly and skillfully in emergency situations.Another area of investigation necessary before conclusions can be reached is identification of the types of injuries that occur and
32、the various causes of those injuries. The article fails to identify the most prevalent types of roller-skating related injuries. It also fails to correlate the absence of protective gear and reflective equipment to those injuries. For example, if the majority of injuries are skin abrasions and close
33、d-head injuries, then a case can be made for the usefulness of protective clothing mentioned. Likewise, if injuries are caused by collision with vehicles (e.g. bicycles, cars) or pedestrians, then light-reflective equipment might mitigate the occurences. However, if the primary types of injuries are
34、 soft-tissue injuries such as torn ligaments and muscles, back injuries and the like, then a greater case could be made for training and experience as preventative measures. (250 words)纵观这篇5.0分及后面4.0分的两篇Argument类文章，我们发现它们的篇幅分别仅为250和262个英文单词。这似乎再次证明了这样一个道理，文章篇幅写得长并非是取胜之关键。有的放矢地写，有组织地写，用规范的语言写，简洁明了地写，
35、这些因素才是关键所在。 众所周知，所有Argument的论题都是“似是而非的”，在立论、论据和结论之间貌似合理，但细加推敲必漏洞叠出。考生写作此类文章的任务，就是探讨所给出的论题在哪些方面是合理（justified）和有效（valid）的，在另外哪些方面存在缺陷（flawed）。总之一句话，就是“Discuss how well reasoned you find the argument.” 在ETS评阅人为这篇5.0分的文章所写下的评语中，我们可以敏锐地捕捉到一个关键词汇critique。Critique非全然是负面的反应，而是主要由summary（要点归纳），evaluation(评价)
36、及criticism（批评）构成。虽然critique与criticism词根相同，并也常常被译作“批评”尤其是在哲学领域，如德国哲学家Immanuel Kant（康德）的两部著名论著Critique of Pure Reason及Critique of Judgment普遍被译为纯粹理性批判和判断力批判（商务印书馆），但英汉大词典（上海译文出版社，陆谷孙主编）的注释却是“评论”。实质上，无论是“批评”还是“评论”，对某一作品、文章或论点进行critique就是对其得失进行剖析，肯定其合理有效之处，指出谬误失败之处，提出尚待改进和完善的意见。 具体到GRE作文中的任何一个特定的Argument
37、，其“似是”的程度约为1/3甚至更少。“而非”的程度约为2/3或更多。因此，在写Argument类文章时，一味地对所给出的论题（argument）进行负面评述，进行全盘否定，这是不可取的。这样做本身就是片面的，而片面性即是逻辑推理之大忌。毕竟，Argument类作文的写作要求是：“Discuss how well reasoned you find the argument”。它意味着，考生应将所给出的argument比照逻辑推理的尺度来进行衡量，揭示出该argument在何种程度和哪些方面是合理的，又在何种程度和哪些方面是不合理的，并给出理由。 如果我们将这篇5.0分的Argument文章样
38、本逐句拆解开来并剖析一番的话，我们就能对一篇合格的Argument类文章所需包含的各项要素形成一个甚为清晰的洞悉。 全文共250个英文单词，每个句子都具有不可或缺的本质意义。全文首句“The argument presented is limited but useful.”具有两层功能，一是对所给出的argument一分为二地作出评价，二是构成全文的主题句（topic sentence）。以下所有内容都是在围绕这一主题句提供材料，藉以论述并证实这一主题。紧接下来的第二、第三句“It indicates a possible relationship between a high percen
39、tage of accidents and a lack of protective equipment. The statistics cited compel a further investigation of the usefulness of protective gear in preventing or mitigating roller-skating related injuries.”是在对原argument中的两个合理之处予以承认，同时也起到summary的作用。这种在以负面批评为主调的文章中对固有的优点予以认可，英文叫“conceding the strengths o
40、f the argument”。 但正如我在前面所指出的那样，conceding the strengths of the argument应控制在1/3以内的篇幅。第四句“However, the conclusion that protective gear and reflective equipment would greatly reduce.risk of being severely injured is premature.”开始转入全文的主体（body），即对原argument的批判。这一批判由两部分构成，第一部分由本句至第一自然段最后的内容构成，本句为第一部分内容的主题句，
41、指出原argument中的结论是 “premature”。 接下来的第五、第六句“Data is lacking with reference to the total population of skaters and the relative levels of experience, skill and physical coordination of that population. It is entirely possible that further research would indicate that most serious injury is averted by th
42、e skaters ability to react quickly and skillfully in emergency situations.”是论据，说明在两个具体的方面，原argument中的结论为何显得“premature”。第二个自然段构成了批判的另一个部分指出原argument从论据到结论之间的疏漏之处（omissions）。该段落的第一句“Another area of investigation necessary before conclusions can be reached is identification of the types of injuries tha
43、t occur and the various causes of those injuries.”是第二部分批判性内容的主题句。在接下来的第二、第三句“The article fails to identify the most prevalent types of roller-skating related injuries. It also fails to correlate the absence of protective gear and reflective equipment to those injuries.”中，作者以两个排比句式中的“fails to ”指出了原ar
44、gument中的二大欠缺（inadequacies）。在最后的例证部分（illustration），即“For example, if the majority of injuries are skin abrasions and closed-head injuries, then a case can be made for the usefulness of protective clothing mentioned. Likewise, if injuries are caused by collision with vehicles (e.g. bicycles, cars) or
45、pedestrians, then light-reflective equipment might mitigate the occurrences. However, if the primary types of injuries are soft-tissue injuries such as torn ligaments and muscles, back injuries and the like, then a greater case could be made for training and experience as preventative measures.”作者通过
46、三个“if”暗示，如果原arguer能在这三方面对injuries的种类进行细分（subdivide）并进一步明确其成因的话，则可改进原argument的推论，并使之站得住脚。该文的可贵之处在于立论开门见山，直击要害。主体部分精确地捕捉住了原argument两个方面的四处谬误（fallacies）并一针见血地逐一予以揭露（expose）。在对原argument合理之处进行必要认可（concede）的同时，指出通过更为细致的因果关系的确立（the establishment of causal relationship），原argument可得到改进的几个方面。ETS评阅人的下述评语无疑是十分中
47、肯的：Reader Comment on 5 This strong response gets right to the work of critiquing the argument, observing that it indicates a possible relationship but that its conclusion is premature. It raises three central questions that, if answered, might undermine the soundness of the argument:What are the cha
48、racteristics of the total population of skaters?What is the usefulness of protective or reflective gear in preventing or mitigating rollerskating-related injuries?What are the types of injuries sustained and their causes?The writer develops each of these questions by considering possible answers tha
49、t would either strengthen or weaken the argument. The paper does not analyze the argument as insightfully or develop the critique as fully as the typical 6 paper, but the clear organization, strong control of language, and substantial degree of development warrant more than a score of 4.虽然我们反对任何固定不变的写作模板，但这一篇合格的argument类文章若干个必要模块（module）还是可以归纳出来的。（一）对原argument正反两方面进行辩证评价，即evalu