短文写作步骤（Writing Process of Essays）
写作是一种复杂的心理认知过程和语言交际过程。英语短文写作要遵循科学的写作步骤，条理分明、逻辑推理严谨。
写作大致有5个步骤，分别是：审题；理顺要点；构成框架，列提纲；打草稿（即组织句子，串句成篇）；检查修正。
一、审题
审题是要作者仔细阅读题目，看清题目的意思，确定题目的主题思想。如果是一幅画，要观察图画中的人物身份、语言、表情；如果是图表，要分清每一条项目的意义、数值的变化、年代的推移，思考图画和图表所要传递的信息，从信息中提炼自己要写的主题。主题的提炼是一个信息加工过程，在这个加工过程中要有作者平时积累的知识，并调动这些知识与信息产生共鸣，从而表达中心思想。而这个表达需要作者锤炼语言，要用准确的语言进行表达以便之后段落的顺畅展开。另外，作者确定主题时，切不可思想偏激，如果思想偏激，立论就不准确，影响后面段落的发展，写出来的文章也不会让读者信服。
二、理顺要点
确定主题思想后，在后面段落的展开要思考先说哪个，后说哪个，是按事件先后的顺序，还是把各要点之间的内在联系排序，或者按照要点的重要性排序，这些都需要思考。如果是命题作文，作者在确定主题思想后要收集资料，并根据所收集的资料，选择需要的素材。认真阅读素材，挑选出能够支持文中主题思想观点的材料。材料必须为主题服务，与主题思想保持一致。一个观点一种材料，不要这个观点用这个材料，下一个观点也用这个材料，要避免材料使用重复。理顺要点，分出层次。无论哪种体裁的文章都需要层次分明，观点清晰。议论文的材料选择要有说服力。
三、列框架，写提纲
框架是表达作者思维写作的一种手段，也是作者逻辑思维的体现。为使自己在写作中思绪缜密，列框架、写提纲是最好的办法。将理顺的要点加以连贯，构成写作的整体框架，再确定时态语态、顺序、段落、开头结尾。大致的框架是：引言段（主题段），正文段（展开段1、展开段2、展开段3……），结尾段（结论段）。（如表3-1）
表3-1 短文的框架
例：
根据题目“The Benefits of Television”，列提纲：
Television can provide relaxation，entertainment，and education if television is watched in moderation.（主题句）
正文
展开段1：watching TV has the value of sheer relaxation.
展开段2：television is entertaining.
展开段3：television is educational.
整篇文章如下：
The Benefits of Television
We hear a lot about the negative effects of television on the viewers.Obviously，television can be harmful if it is watched constantly to the exclusion of other activities.It would be just as harmful to listen to records or to eat constantly.However，when television is watched in moderation，it is extremely valuable，as it provides relaxation，entertainment，and education.
First of all，watching TV has the value of sheer relaxation.Watching TV can be soothing and restful after an eight-hour day of pressure，challenges，or concentration.After working hard all day.people look forward to a new episode of a favorite show or another showing of Casablanca or Red River.This period of relaxation leaves viewers refreshed and ready to take on the world again.Watching TV also seems to reduce stress in some people.This benefit of TV is just beginning to be recognized.One doctor advises his patients with high blood pressure to relax in the evening with a few hours d television.
In addition to being relaxing，television is entertaining.Along with the standard comedies，dramas and game shows that provide enjoyment to viewers，television offers a variety of movies and sports events.Moreover，in many areas，viewers can pay a monthly fee and receive special cable programming.With this service，viewers can watch first-run movies，rock and classical music，concerts，a specialized sports events，like European soccer and grand Prix racing.Viewers can also buy or rent movies to show on their television sets through videodisc players or videocassette players.Still another growing area of TV entertainment is video games.Cartridges are available for everything from electronic baseball to Pac-man，allowing the owner to have a video game arcade in the living room.
Most important，television is educational.Preschoolers learn colors，numbers，and letters from public television program，like Sesame Street， that use animation and puppets to make learning fun.Science shows for older children，like 1-2-3Contact，is also rewarding.Adults，too，can get an education from courses given on television.Also，television widens our knowledge by covering important events and current news.Viewers can see and hear presidents’speeches，state funerals，natural disasters.and election results as they are happening.Finally，a television set hooked up to a home computer can help its owner learn how to manage the household budget，invest in the stock market or master a foreign language.
Perhaps because television is such a powerful force，we like to criticize it and search for its flaws.However，the benefits of television should not be ignored.We can use television to relax，to have fun，and to make ourselves smart.This electronic wonder is a servant，not a master.[14]
在此篇中，引言段（主题段）的最后一句“However，when television is watched in moderation，it is extremely valuable，as it provides relaxation，entertainment，and education.”中的controlling ideas，即“relaxation，entertainment，and education”。在正文中，每一段都是分别围绕这三个点展开说明的，也是每一个段落的主题。正文第一段主题句为“First of all，watching TV has the value of sheer relaxation.”；第二句主题句为“In addition to being relaxing，television is entertaining.”；第三句主题句为“Most important，television is educational.”。
如何编写提纲呢？编写提纲属于构思的部分，提纲的写法大致分两种，一种是题目式，另一种句子式。列提纲可以厘清作者的思路，以免其在写作中跑偏；列提纲还可以厘清所搜集的材料，写作时不会没有头绪。
例：
Topic：How Working Holiday Changed Me
Introduction：...becoming a sociable girl，loving working in the country I visited，loving travelling，like living the expat life again
Body paragraph：
A.Growing up like a beanstalk
B.Fun at work
C.Travelling
D.Liking to live the expat live again
Conclusion：a better version of myself
例：
Topic：How Working Holiday Changed Me
Introduction：The working holiday helps me become a sociable girl，love working in the country I visited，love travelling and like to live the expat life again
Body paragraph：
A.I grew up like a beanstalk
B.I had fun at work
C.I travelled
D.I liked to live the expat live again
Conclusion：The working holiday made me become a better version of myself.
以上提纲根据中国学生的写作特点，结合英文提纲的写法进行了修订和改编。
有的英文提纲式写作，只是写要点，引言段和结论段都不写，序号为要点，如下所示：
Topic：Common Problems College Freshmen Might Face[15]
Introduction：
a） Roommate Issues
b） Staying Healthy
c） Time Management
d） Stress
Conclusion
英文提纲写作的序号，写法如下：
Topic：...
Thesis statement：
I.（大写的罗马数字）Major points or division
A.First point belonging to this division
1.Example
2.Example
B.Second point belonging to this division
II.Major points or division
A.First point belonging to this division
1.Example
2.Example
B.Second point belonging to this division
III.Conclusion
四、打草稿（即组织句子，串句成篇）
题目确定了，材料也收集并选定了，就要着手写文章。根据拟定的提纲进行写作，用自己最熟悉的短语或句型将理顺的要点逐句表达出来。语言表达要注意句子合乎语法，主语谓语要一致，时态语态要正确，句子要有所变化。简单句、并列句、复合句都要有。适当地加一些警句格言，给文章增色。修辞手法也要多种。串句成篇时，要注意上下句的逻辑关系，注意连词的用法。段与段的衔接要从篇章的角度去看，正确地使用连接性状语，表示列举和顺序的连接性状语，如：first（ly），second（y），third（ly）...；on one hand...on the other hand；for one thing...（and） for another thing；next，then；finally，last，lastly；to conclude等。表示义补和引申的状语，如：also，besides，furthermore，moreover，then，in addition，above all，what is more等。表示同系的状语，如：namely，for example，for instance，that is，that is to say等。表示结果的连接性状，如：consequently，hence，so，therefore，thus，as a result等。表示意义等同的连接性状语，如：likewise，similarly，in the same way等。表示推论的连接性状语，如：（or） else，otherwise，therefore，then，in that case等。表示换个说法的连接性状语，如：alternatively，rather，in other words等。表示意义转折的连接性状语，如：instead，on the contrary，in contrast，by comparison，（on the one hand...on the other hand）等。
打草稿也要注意词语的丰富性，不要一个意思总是一个词来表达，比如，表示“击败”，除了使用beat外，还可以使用best、top、get the better of、fall等。
五、检查修正
文章草稿写完后，要从头到尾默读1～2遍进行检查修正。因为学生在进行写作时很难完全撇开中文的思维，因此可能会出现表达上或者逻辑思维上的错误。检查修正主要从如下几个方面展开：
●语篇检查
检查语篇水平，也就是从全局进行检查。主要检查文章的主题是否明确，是否有模棱两可或是偏激的观点。正文（也就是发展段）是否自然衔接了引言段的主题思想，是否把主题思想说清说透了，论据是否贴切、合情合理，阐述是否充分，描述是否具体，是否避免了雷同现象。结论段是否扣住了主题，是否避免了另一个观点的出现。
●段落检查
段落检查是局部检查。主要检查段落是否完整，有没有主题句，段落发展是否流畅，是否依据主题句而发展，是否论说充分，是否有逻辑性，扩展句是否起到了说明和解释主题句的作用，举例是否恰当，支撑材料安排是否得当，段内各句衔接是否自然合理，语义是否连贯等。
●句子检查
句子检查，涉及句子形式多样性和句子结构的完整性。句子形式多样性要求一篇短文里最好有各种类型的句子，如简单句、并列句和复合句，还有带虚拟语气的句子，如含有现在分词、动名词的句子，以及独立主格结构的句子等。一篇短文里都是简单句，或者都是“人”做主语的句子，缺少被动与主动的交替使用，都会使短文行文呆板。句子结构方面，要检查句子是否完整，有没有出现无主句、黏着句、双动词做谓语的情况，有无重大语法错误，如主谓一致性问题、时态问题、语态问题、语气问题、倒装等。最后检查标点符号的使用、移行、大小写是否符合写作规范等。
●遣词检查
遣词检查，即检査词语的运用是否恰当，名词与动词的搭配、形容词对名词的修饰，副词对谓语动词的修饰，以及介词短语的位置，副词的位置、名词的数、代词的格和性是否正确，是否有词性混淆或词语误用，拼写是否正确等。
Exercise
1.Write an outline based on the essays.
Topic：Should the Government Give Priority to Health Care？
Introduction：
Body paragraph：
Conclusion：
No one can deny the fact that to improve health care is a key function and responsibility of the government，whose investment in it can not only relieve citizens’economic pressure，but also influence their future.However，some people contend that there exist many other important sectors that the government should place stress on，such as the construction of infrastructure，education and environmental protection.
I am an opponent of the belief that the government should give priority to health care，which is one of the s welfare benefits，but not the most important one.In the first place，to invest more in agriculture and economy so to keep their people fed and clothed should be the first priority of any government in poor countries.Furthermore among the myriad threats to continued economic expansion，education is always one of the most pressing matters.Therefore，great efforts should be made to enhance education when high priority is given to economic development.Last but not least，environment crisis has become a global issue.Apart from the implement of economic policies，the government’s participation is essential to solve environmental problems.
All in all，health care as an important livelihood issue should receive much more attention from the government，but there are many other livelihood projects which require a huge amount of funds.Hence，the capita allocation of the government should be more discreet to maximize the benefits
2.Write an essay based on the outline.
Topic：New Tuition Fee Policy
Introduction：New tuition fee policy—all pay for tuition
Body paragraph：the measures to lighten their family burden
（1）Parents pay for the tuition
（2）Students apply for scholarship
（3）Students apply for low-interest loans
（4）Students take more part-time jobs
Conclusion：The writer chooses one of the ways to demonstrate his opinions.
3.Write an outline based on the essay below.
Topic：On Contrasting Opinions of Cheap Air Travel
Introduction：
Body paragraph：
Conclusion：
Essay：
Low-cost air travel has encouraged ordinary people to travel beyond borders and broaden their horizons.I would agree with the view that highly affordable airline services are a blessing to the masses，despite the environmental impact.
People who travel to different countries can have a better understanding of these countries and explore more career opportunities.Budget airlines can carry passengers especially those who are previously deterred by prohibitive air prices-to different countries，where they can learn about the labour market and different ways of life.Some of them may find that they have skills and knowledge well sought after in local communities，thereby applying for a work visa to stay there to earn a living.One prime example is the mass movement of migrant workers from Southeast Asia to richer countries in search of jobs in the 1990s，which coincided with a substantial increase in discounted air services around the world.They would not have been able to explore the opportunity to maximise the value of their labour，if the cost of flights remained exorbitant and discouraged them from travelling abroad.
At the same time some people argue that raising airfares can help reduce the environmental impact of the airline industry.Air service regulators can pass laws to require passengers to pay fuel tax for each flight they take and force them to avoid non-essential travel.This is certain to reduce the demand for outbound flights meaning that greenhouse gas emissions attributed to avian fuel consumption will drop.This can help fight global warming，an environmental woe that is linked to the staggering accumulation of gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Personally，I do not think it is necessary to make air services expensive to potential passengers，as inbound and outbound flights can have an enormous impact on economy.
The arrival of visitors can bring in cash which is needed for businesses of either big countries or remote communities，ranging from hospitality，catering to shopping.Soaring air fares can arrest the development of the tourism sector and companies involved can suffer a drop in profit and even go bankrupt.Instead of curbing air travel，authorities may consider other methods，such as the improvement of fuel economy and the use of biofuel，to reduce the carbon footprint of each passenger.
Overall，the current state of the air transport industry is integral to life for many in this modern world.It would be harmful to impose restrictions on air travel，and above all，cheap airlines can benefit travellers and many business owners alike.Air companies can turn to technological innovations as part of the effort to reduce the impact of the whole industry on the environment.[16]
4.Write an essay based on the outline.
Topic：My View on Media’s Special Interest in the Privacy of Famous People
Introduction：All kinds of media’s coverage of celebrities
Body paragraph：problems caused by media’s coverage
Conclusion：solution to the problems
Essay：
With the growing numbers of websites，newspapers，and magazines available，there has been an increasing demand for photographs and inside stories about celebrities.
There are many problems associated with the intrusion of celebrity’s lives by journalists and photographers.Many celebrities become very concerned with the way they look on daily basis and do not go out without hours of preparation.In addition，there have been many accidents caused by the paparazzi chasing after celebrities，the most famous being that of Princess Diana a decade ago.
To prevent similar problems happening in the future.the paparazzi should be held accountable for accidents that they cause from chasing celebrities Furthermore，the media should not continue to print photographs or run stories about people without their permission.[17]