本教程力求提高写作教材的可操作性。全书以篇章结构为主导，从英语作文的宏观结构入手，层层深入至作文的结构(开头部分、主体部分和结尾部分)及其写作策略。

本教程共分为9章，从汉英写作的差异(第l章)和英文作文的宏观结构(第2章)开始，让学生对英语作文有一个整体的概念，接下来讲授英语作文的各个部分的结构和写作技巧(第3章至第8章)，最后又回到整篇作文的写作技巧(第9章)。每一章中包含一部分句子写作的讲解和练i习。原则上，每一章讲授4课时，其中两课时为文章结构和写作技巧的讲解'另外两课时为句子写作训练。

Chapter 1 English Writing and Chinese Writing

1.1 Common Features of "Good Writing" 3

1.2 Cultural Differences in Writing 6

1.3 English Writing vs. Chinese Writing 7

1.4 Strategies in Learning English Writing 12

Chapter 2 English Essay: An Overview

2.1 What ls an Essay?  17

2.2 The Three-part Structure 18

2.3 English Paragraphs 20

2.4 The Five-paragraph Essay 21

2.5 Outlining (I): Scratch Outlines 26

2.6 The Written Language 28

Chapter 3 Thesis Statement

3.1 What Does the Thesis Statement Do?  41

3.2 What Is a Thesis Statement?  42

3.3 What Does the Thesis Statement Contain?  43

3.4 Two Types of Thesis Statement 45

3.5 Features that Make a Strong Thesis Statement 49

3.6 What Thesis Statements to Avoid?  52

3.7 Placement of the Thesis Statement 58

3.8 How to Write Effective Sentences (I) 60

Chapter 4 Introductory Paragraph

4.1 What Does the Introduction Do?  73

4.2 What Does the Introduction Contain?  76

4.3 The General-to-specific Pattern 80

4.4 How to Write Effective Sentences (Ⅱ) 82

Chapter 5 Lead-in and Transition

5.1 What Does the Lead-in Do?  93

5.2 The Length of Lead-in 94

5.3 Common Methods of Lead-in 94

5.4 Transition 102

5.5 Putting It All Together 104

5.6 Howto Write Effective Sentences (Ⅲ) 107

Chapter 6 Body Paragraph (I)

6.1 What Does the Body Paragraph Do?  119

6.2 What Does the Body Paragraph Contain?  120

6.3 Topic Sentence 122

6.4 Supporting Sentences 127

6.5 Concluding Sentence 131

6.6 Putting It All Together 133

6.7 How to Write Effective Sentences (Ⅳ) 136

Chapter 7 Body Paragraph (Ⅱ)

7.1 Paragraph Unity 149

7.2 Paragraph Coherence 152

7.3 Paragraph Development 157

7.4 How to Write Effective Sentences (V) 170

Chapter 8 Concluding Paragraph

8.1 What Does the Conclusion Do?  183

8.2 What Does the Conclusion Contain?  184

8.3 Specific-to-general Pattern 187

8.4 Common Methods of Conclusion 188

8.5 What Conclusions to Avoid 192

8.6 Howto Write Effective Sentences (Ⅵ) 195

Chapter 9 Five-paragraph Essays

9.1 Characteristics of Good Essays 203

9.2 Outlining (Ⅱ): Formal Outlines 204

9.3 Putting It All Together 207

9.4 Variation in Essay Structure 217

9.5 Revising Your Draft 222

Key to Exercises

Appendix I

Appendix Ⅱ

Appendix Ⅲ

References