英語作文訓練的三個階段
訓練指導者方針的好壞是一個前提條件。合理地設定訓練程式，使英語習作從初級到高階沿著一條循序漸進，由簡到多的程序發展是成功訓練者必須具備的指導思想。本篇認為，在習作訓練的初期，應採納一條從有材料可依的習作方式過渡到脫離本本進行自由寫作方式的途徑。從有材可依到元材可依的訓練過程應包括三個階段：
一、短文縮寫(Summary)階段。
短文縮寫可以是就所學課文進行縮寫，也可以採用其它閱讀材料，但要求被縮寫的材料難易程度不超過所學課本。被用於進行縮寫的課文或其它材料必須觀點明確，層次分明，敘述有條理。縮寫時應做到簡明扼要，抓住重點，不要拖泥帶水，沒有主次。初學階段的被縮寫材料不宜太長，以不超一千詞為佳，縮寫文以不超過2m詞為佳。以下就一篇短文進行縮寫，限於篇幅，短文內容有所節略。
Most shops in Britain open at 9.00 a.m. and close at 5.00 or 5.30 in the evening. Small shopsusually close for an hour at lunchtime. On one or two days a week-usually Thursday and/or Friday-some large food shops stay until about 8.00 p.m. for late night shopping.
Many shops are closed in the afternoon on one day a week. The days is usually Wednesday orThursday and it is a different day in different towns. Nearly all shops are closed on Sunday. News-paper shops are open in the morning, and sell sweets and cigarettes as well. But there are legal restrictions on selling many things on Sundays. Many large food shops(supermarkets)are self-service. When you go into one of these shops you take a basket and you put the things you wish to buy into it. You queue up at the cash-desk and pay for everything just before you leave. If anyone tries to take things from a shop without paying they are almost certain to be caught. Most shops have store detectives who have the job of catching shoplifters. Shoplifting is considered a serious crime by the police and the courts. When you are waiting to be served in a shop, itis important to wait your turn. It is important not to try to be served before people who arrived before you. Many people from overseas are astonished at the British habit of queuing.
將短文縮寫如下：
This article tells us about British shops. British shops usually open at 9.00 a.m. and close at 5.00or 5.30 p.m. Many shops are closed in the afternoon one day a week. Nearly all shops are closed on Sundays. In Britain, many large food shops are self-service. And when you wait to be served in a shop, you have to wait patiently for your turn.
這是一篇不超過100詞的縮寫，句子基本上由原文各段落的主要內容構成。個別段落被完全刪除以保證縮寫重點突出，前後連貫。縮寫是一種“依材剪貼”的習作方式，基本上採用原材料中的詞語和句子，僅作了部分調整，是最初級的習作方式。
二、短文評論(Brief Comment)階段。
短評是就所學課文或閱讀材料進行評論。透過分析原文中的內容和觀點，提出一定的看法。短評可以是對原文觀點表示贊同，也可以提出異議或不同看法。如對前文便可作以下評論：
From the article we learned about British shops, about their opening and closing time and their service. But we find that there are something inconvenient with British shop service. First is the time. Shops in Britain open very late and close too early. Second is that there is almost no Sunday service. Where can people go if they suddenly need to buy something? The last is the habit of queuing. It will be a waste of time if the queue is too long.
初學階段，短文評論的字數一般也應在150字左右，不宜寫大多。短評是一種“一半依材一半發揮”的習作方式。在內容上，一部分取自原文，一部分靠自己的思考。在用詞上，可以部分地依賴原文，也需使用一些其它詞彙。此外，短評的行文佈局和用句也是一半模仿，一半創造。短評的這種特點使它非常適合承接短文縮寫階段，而又為後期階段打下一定的基礎。
三、引導寫作(Guided Writing)階段。
引導寫作可分為重新編排句子順序。規定情景。看圖作文。提綱作文。關鍵詞作文等形式。這些形式均可以用於訓練，但以提綱作文和關鍵詞作文多用為佳. 提綱作文是一種給出題目和段落提綱的習作方式，其段落寫作提綱可以採用段落主旨句的形式，也可以是短語。關鍵詞作文是一種給出作文題目和一些關鍵詞或片語的'命題作文形式。由於有段落寫作提綱或主旨句等，進行習作時，減少了審題環節，且寫作思路受到引導。在訓練初期，引導寫作的命題應儘量與所學英語書本的內容掛鉤，使學生能夠參照一部分課文所學的詞彙與結構，避免大多生詞。如針對上篇短文便可出一道相關命題引導學生習作：
題目：shops in China
提綱：(1)中國商店的作息時間 (2)中國商店的周未服務情況 (3)中國商店服務態度的好壞 以上是關於英語習作初級階段的訓練步驟。三個步驟的三種形式，相承相繼，循序漸進，為進入自由命題寫作打下了良好的基礎。既適合教師指導學生習作課使用，也適合學習者自我訓練。事實證明，這三個步驟是英語習作人門的有效做法。
英語作文拓展閱讀：