第四章 段落發展的技巧
段落發展的寫法要看段落開頭的主題句而定，有些主題句是根據個人的判斷或意見的陳 述，有些則是根據事實的陳述，請見下面的句子：
Mr. Brown is a strong leader.
The real estate company sold over 10,000 houses last season.
第一句是一種個人的判斷或意見，它有可能是真實的，也有可能是假的，要證實比較困難，
所以需要提出強有力的細節來說服讀者。而第二句是一個可以查證的事實，可以用數字來支持 論
點。因此，發展句要用哪一種方法來呈現細節就要看主題句的寫法而定。
以下要討論一些常用的方法。
4-1 舉例說明 (Example)
為了要讓讀者了解你的意思，可以用舉例來說明比較清楚，請注意作者用什麼信號來寫支 持句，請看以下的範例：
【範例一】
1Many students have difficulty understanding idioms, whose meanings cannot be derived from their component words. 2For example, the meaning of under the weather, which we often hear in conversation, is not feeling well. 3The individual word in the phrase is not related to physical conditions. 4It can be inferred that somebody may have a little cold due to the effects of
the weather. 5Another instance is pull one’s leg, meaning to tease somebody. 6Its accurate meaning can only be understood in word groups, not by the individual words. 7Further example
can be seen in kick the bucket, which means die, whose meaning cannot be figured out literally because it doesn’t have anything to do with kick or bucket. 8If a student has never heard of the expression before, it is very easy for him/her to misinterpret the meaning of the phrase ； therefore, be very careful when you encounter idioms.
【段落中譯】
許多學生有困難瞭解成語，它們的意思不可能從他們的組成的字而理解。例如，我們 在
談話中常聽到的“under the weather” 的意思是身體不適。這片語中個別的詞與身體狀況無 關。
它可以推論某人也許由於天氣的影響而有一點感冒。另一個例子是“pull one’s leg”， 意 味戲
弄某人。它的準確意思只能由字群中瞭解，而不是由個別的字可以了解的。另一個例子是 “kick the bucket” ，意思是死亡，它的意思是不能以字面的意思來推測出，因為它跟 kick 或
是 bucket 沒有什麼關係。如果一個學生從未聽過這個詞，他或她是非常容易曲解這個詞 組
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的意思；因此，當您遇到成語時，要非常小心。
【分析】這一段的主題句是：
Topic sentence: Many students have difficulty understanding idioms, whose meaning cannot be derived from their component words.
它的限制觀點是difficulty understanding idioms 。
這一段中是以舉例的方式來支持主題句，從 for example 及another instance 和further example 可知道是以舉例的方法來發展支持句的。共舉三個例子來支持主題句。
(1) 第二句For example, the meaning of under the weather…
(2) 第五句 Another instance is pull one’s leg, meaning to tease somebody.
(3) 第七句Further example can be seen in kick the bucket…
第三句和第四句是支持第二句的，第六句用來支持第五句，最後一句是結尾，對主題 的評語。
但是在舉例的段落裡，像 for example 或 for instance 之類的信號語不一定需要，你仍 然
要能辨認出這是在舉例，請看下面範例：
【範例二】
Many children join different kinds of activities after school. They may go swimming, play basketball, play chess, go to a drawing class, go to a karate class, or go to the choir. These
activities make their school life more interesting and meaningful.
【段落中譯】
許多孩子在課後加入不同種類的活動。他們可能去游泳，打籃球，玩下棋，去繪畫班，
去空手道班或者去唱詩班。這些活動使他們的學校生活更加有趣和有意義。
【分析】在第二句的前面雖然沒有信號語，但是從所列的一連串的運動，我們仍然很清楚這 是
舉例說明。第三句是結論句。
4-2 事實描述 (Facts)
應用實際狀況或事證等資料加以說明敘述。
【範例】
Great white sharks are skillful hunters. All fish, even the smallest ones, produce small amounts of electricity. Great whites find their prey by feeling this electricity. It’s impossible to hide
from a great white shark. (Lin Lougheed,”Great White Sharks” People, Places, and Things 2)
【段落中譯】
大白鯊魚是純熟的獵人。所有魚，甚至是最小的魚，都會產生少量的電。巨大的白鯊 經
由感覺這種電來發現他們的獵物。要躲過一隻大白鯊魚不可能的。
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【分析】這一段的題目是Great white sharks 。
它的主題句是 Great white sharks are skillful hunters. 第二句和第三句 All fish produce
small amounts of electricity. Great whites find their prey by feeling this electricity. 說明 大
白鯊獵食的方法。第二句、第三句和第四句提供事實 ( 所有的魚都會放電，大白鯊
只
要去感覺這種電源就可以找到魚 ) 來支持主題句。第二句到第四句都是在談獵取食
物
的技巧所以都是跟主題句有關。這一段所提供的資訊足以讓讀者了解主題句。
請再看另一個範例：
Galileo Galilei was one of the first modern scientists. He was born in Pisa, Italy, in 1564. At first he studied philosophy, but later he studied mathematics and astronomy. He was interested in the way the earth and other planets move around the sun. He found out several important facts about our world. He also started a new way of working in science. Before Galileo, scientists did not
do experiments. They just guessed about how something happened. Galileo was different. He did not just make guesses. He did experiments and watched to see what happened.
(Beatrice S. Mikulecky/Linda Jeffries, Reading Power, Addison Wesley Longman, Inc. 1998, p.92)
【段落中譯】
伽利略是現代早期科學家中之一位。他在1564年出生在比薩，意大利。 他起初學哲 學，
但是後來他學數學和天文。他對月球和其它行星繞的太陽運行的方法感興趣。他對我們的 世
界有些重要的發現。他利用新方法來研究科學。他跟他以前的科學家不一樣，因為他用實 驗
的方法，而以前的科學家是用猜的。他做實驗並觀察結果如何。
【分析】這一段是以事實來發展段落，關於Galileo這位現代科學家的故事是用可以證實的資 料寫出來的。
Topic sentence: Galileo Galilei was one of the first modern scientists.
細節包括：
1.his birth place and year 2.his fields of study
3.his interest 4.his finding
5.his new way of working in science (1)before Galileo—guess
(2)he did experiments
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這些支持細節都是可以查證的。句子的安排是從他的出生介紹起，一直到他的科學 發
現，是按照時間的順序安排的，句子的連接都是以代名詞來達成連貫性。
4-3 統計數字 (Statistics)
應用各種調查或研究的統計加以補充或證實。
【範例】
ABC Optronics Corp, the nation’s No. 3 panel maker, reported an increase of NT$8.13 billion in the first quarter of this year---its highest since 2008. In the same period last year, it had a
loss of 15.91 billion. But in the final quarter of last year, its income amounted to NT$1.9 billion.
This result indicates the recovery of economy since its recession in 2008.
【段落中譯】
ABC 光電公司，是全國的第三大面板製造商，據報告今年度的第一季增加了新台幣 八十億一千三百萬元---是自2008年以來最高的。在去年同一期，它虧損新台幣一百五十億 九千一百萬元。但是在去年度最後一季，它的收入達到新台幣十一億九千萬元。這個結果 顯
示自二○○八年以來的經濟蕭條已經恢復了。
【分析】
1.這一句的主題句是ABC Optronics Corp, the nation’s No. 3 panel maker, reported an increase of NT$8.13 billion in the first quarter of this year---its highest since 2008.
2.是以統計數字來支持主題句。
3.第一句主題句中提到去年同一季仍然是虧損的狀態，第二句提到去年最後一季已經轉變 為獲利了，第三句提到今年第一季的收入更高了。
4.從動詞 reported 以後的部分是限制觀點。
5.最後一句結論句是 This result indicates the recovery of economy since its recession in 2008.
4-4 個人經驗 (Personal experience)
個人的經驗往往是段落發展最有效的方法，利用親身的經驗來支持主題句，讀者比較容易 了解，請看以下的範例：
【範例】
Eric Lin doesn’t like cheese, because he had a bad experience with it. He told me about his experience with cheese. He attended an international meeting in Canada about ten years ago. At that time, he had never tasted western food before, especially cheese. At the reception, he was
really hungry. He saw a big plate of cheese and it was beautifully decorated. It looked delicious.
Without hesitation, he took some and had a big bite. He almost threw out. What a strange taste! He turned around and walked to the corner of the room swiftly. He was afraid that somebody might see this embarrassing situation. From then on, he has never had cheese.
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【段落中譯】
埃里克・林不喜歡乳酪因為他有一個不好的經驗。他告訴我有關他對乳酪的經驗。大 約
十年前，他到加拿大參加了一次國際會議。那個時候以前，他未曾品嘗過西方食物，特别 是
乳酪。在招待會中，他真地很餓。他看見一大盤乳酪，並且它裝飾得很美。它看起來很可 口。
毫不猶豫地，他拿了一些，並且大口咬下去。他幾乎嘔吐出來。好奇怪的味道呀 ! 他轉身，
迅速地走了到房子的角落。他害怕別人會看到這個尷尬的情況。從那時起，他從未再嚐過 乳
酪。
【分析】
這一段的主題句是Eric Lin doesn’t like cheese because he had a bad experience with it. 限 制觀點是 bad experience. 支持細節是有關 Eric 的經驗從第二句開始到倒數第二句。這個經 驗
是在說明主題句他不喜歡乳酪的理由。這個經驗足以說明主題句的意思。
4-5 練習題
1. 決定以下的句子是事實還是意見，事實請在線上寫 F ，意見請寫 O 。 _____ (1)Honda Accord is a small car made in Japan.
_____ (2)Debbie is the most popular hair designer in this area.
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_____ (3)The metric system is better than using inches and feet.
_____ (4)Retired people like Florida for three reasons.
_____ (5)Washington, DC is the capital of the United States.
2. 請閱讀以下的段落，並回答下列的問題：
(A)
Agreed upon symbols are used to represent things, processes, ideas, or events in ways that make communication possible. For example, there’s no logical reason why the letters in the word
book should stand for the object you’re reading now. Spanish speakers call it libro; German call
ita Buch. Even in English, another term would work just as well as long as everyone agreed to use it
the same ways.
(W. Royce Adams, Reading Beyond Words, Harcourt College Publishers, 2000. P.4.) (1)What is the topic sentence of this paragraph?
(2)What technique does the writer use to develop this paragraph?
(3)What signal words are used in this paragraph?
(4)Are the supporting sentences in this paragraph unified? Please explain.
(5)Is this paragraph coherent? Please give examples.
(B)
There are two ways parents can teach children how to spend money wisely. First, when the children need to buy something, parents should only give them enough cash to buy the item they want. In that case, they can only spend the money within limit. Second, parents can establish an allowance system for the children to earn money from doing household jobs. They can tell the
children to save the money and buy what they want by using their own allowance. I think from these basic things, children should learn how to balance their budget.
(1)What is the topic sentence of this paragraph?
(2)What technique does the writer use to develop this paragraph?
(3)What signal words are used in this paragraph?
(4)Are the supporting sentences in this paragraph unified? Please explain.
(5)Is this paragraph coherent? Please give examples.
◆練習題詳解
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1 .
(1) F (2) O (3) F (4) O (5) F
2.
(A)
(1) Agreed upon symbols are used to represent things, processes, ideas, or events in ways that make communication possible.
(2) Example
(3) for example, even
(4) Yes. All the sentences in the paragraph support the topic sentence.
(5) Yes. In the example, the pronoun “it” is used to refer to book.
【段落中譯】
大家都同意的標誌以某種方式被用來代表事物、過程、想法或者事件，而使溝通成為 可
能。例如，沒有合理的理由說明為什麼在book這個字裡的字母應該用來代表您現在所讀的 東西。說西班牙語的人稱它為libro；德國人稱它為 Buch 。即使用英語，其他的名詞也一 樣
的表達只要大家同意使用它。
(B)
(1) There are two ways parents can teach children how to spend money wisely.
(2) Listing (3) First, Second
(4) Yes. They are about how to save money.
(5) Yes. The key words are repeated in this paragraph.
【段落中譯】
父母親如何能教孩子明智地花錢的二種方法。首先，當孩子需要買某種東西時，父母 親
應該只給他們足夠的現金買他們要的項目。在那個情況下，他們只能在限制範圍内花錢。
應該只給他們足夠的現金買他們要的項目。在那個情況下，他們只能在限制範圍内花錢。