7 Ways to Improve English Writing Skills | IELTS | EXAM | ESSAY | ACADEMIC

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- Hello, everyone, and welcome back to English with Lucy.

大家好！欢迎来到English with Lucy。

Today, I've got a video that I've never really done before.

今天，我制作了一个我以前从没真正完成过的视频。

I've never really spoken about writing, as far as I know.

据我所知，我从没真正讲过有关写作方面

So, this one has been highly requested.

因此，这被大家强烈要求

I know a lot of you are doing your IELTS exams,

我知道，你们许多人正在准备雅思考试

so I have got seven top tips

所以，我有7个很棒的小贴士

that are going to help you improve your writing.

将帮助你提高英语写作水平。

Quickly, before we get started, I'd just like to thank

在我们开始之前，我想要感谢

the sponsor of today's video, Lingoda.

今天的视频赞助商-Lingoda。

Lingoda is an amazing online language academy.

Lingoda是一个很好的虚拟语言社区。

They don't just teach English;

在这里你不仅可以学习英语

they also teach Spanish, German, and French.

还可以学西班牙语，德语和法语。

You can subscribe to Lingoda on a monthly package basis,

你能订阅Lingoda 一个月的学习套餐

and you will gain access to a combination

然后可以参加小班课程或一对一学习

of both group and private video lessons

课程，并收看相关的视频资料

with real, qualified, native teachers.

所有老师都是专业的母语教师

It's actually highly relevant to this video,

这其实和接下来的video息息相关

because you really, ideally want somebody

因为理想情况下，提高英文写作能力需要

to check through your writing.

英语是母语的人帮你审查

So, in your private lessons on Lingoda,

所以，你在Lingoda的私人课上

you can mention that you'd like them

可以说你想让他们帮你

to look at your writing,

看一下你的写作

and that's what you can focus on for that lesson.

那样你就能专注于那堂课。

Lingoda has given all English with Lucy subscribers

Lingoda给所有关注过我的人

a special discount; you can get $50 or €50

一个特别的折扣；在你的第一个月，你能得到

off your first month at Lingoda.

$50 或 €50的优惠。

All you have to do is click on the link

你所要做的就是点击小面的描述栏

in the description box and apply this code at checkout.

并且在结算的时候输入优惠码。

Let's get started with the lesson.

让我们开始本次课程

So, my first tip for improving your writing

好，我第一个提高你英语写作的技巧就是

is keep it simple.

保持简化单纯原则

Now, I know this seems really, really obvious,

我知道这看起了真的非常非常平淡

but I always say to my students simple done accurately

但是我经常对我的学生说，准确而简洁

is better than complicated done inaccurately.

比复杂且不准确的要好很多

In other words, it's better to keep things simple

换句话说，保持事情的简单

and do it well, rather than over-complicate everything

并且做好，比把每件事弄得过于复杂

and do it badly.

并且做的很糟要好。

So, in English writing exams,

在英语习作考试中，

you want to show off your English,

你想展示自己的英语，

but you want to show off your accurate English,

并且展示准确的英语，

not all this English that you don't know

但，不是所有的英语你都不知道

or haven't learnt yet.

或者没学过。

Now, that leads me on to point number two.

现在，它让我想说出第二点，

In order to avoid making mistakes in your writing,

为了避免在英语写作中犯错误，

it's a really, really good idea

收集固定词组，和

to have a collection of set phrases and keywords

你能在考试中使用的关键字

that you can use in that exam.

是一个非常非常好的主意。

So, my tip number two is prepare key phrases.

因此，我的第二个技巧就是准备关键词组。

Now, you do have to be careful with this.

现在，你必须要注意了。

You don't want to rehearse what you're going to write,

你真的不想写你将要写的

but you do want to have a nice selection of things

但是你真的想有一个很好的选择

that you could possible say if the time arises.

你可能会说如果时间足够。

Now, especially on the IELTS exam,

尤其是在雅思考试，

and I know a lot of you are studying for this

并且我知道你们许多人都在为了这个，

but this really goes for any academic writing exam,

但是，这个真的适用于任何考试，

you want to have linking words and key phrases prepared.

你想有一系列单词和关键词被准备。

Now I'm going to give you a list

现在，我将给你一个有两个例子，

with two examples for each point.

可用于任何话题的清单。

It doesn't cover everything that you need to know,

它不包含一切，

but if you study everything in the list,

但是，你学了清单里的每一个，

you will be much, much more prepared

你将变得非常非常有准备的

for your English writing exam.

对于你的英语考试。

So, pay attention, and if there's any point that you think,

所以，集中注意，如果这儿的所有的观点你都认为，

"I really could expand on that,"

“我都能叙述那些了。”

go and do your research, and prepare yourself.

那就继续做你的研究或自己准备自己的吧

You want to make sure that you have a variety

你想确保你有多样的

of different ways to ...

方法去....

compare: "in the same way," "at the same time,"

相比较： "in the same way," "at the same time,"

contrast: "on the contrary," "however,"

比较对照: "on the contrary," "however,"

give examples: "for instance," "to illustrate,"

举例: "for instance," "to illustrate,"

give your opinion: "from my perspective,"

提出你都观点: "from my perspective,"

"from my point of view,"

"from my point of view,"

generalise: "overall," "all things considered,"

概括: "overall," "all things considered,"

to express certainty: "undoubtedly," "of course,"

表达肯定: "undoubtedly," "of course,"

to express partial agreement: "in a way," "to some extent,"

表达部分观点: "in a way," "to some extent,"

to show cause: "owing to," "due to,"

表示原因: "owing to," "due to,"

to show effect: "for this reason," "consequently,"

展现影响: "for this reason," "consequently,"

to mark time: "to begin with," "following this,"

标出时间: "to begin with," "following this,"

to add information: "furthermore," "moreover,"

进一步解释: "furthermore," "moreover,"

to express condition: "unless," "provided that,"

表达条件: "unless," "provided that,"

and to conclude: "in summary," "in short."

表达结论: "in summary," "in short."

So that's just a very brief list

所以，这只是一个很简单的清单

showing you exactly what you need to study

准确地记下你学习所需要的

to be fully prepared for any English writing exam.

充分准备任何英语考试写作。

Now, point number three, and definitely,

现在，第三点，非常

definitely, definitely for academic writing,

非常确切地是为了论文写作、

i.e. English tests or university pieces,

i.e.英语测试或者大学部分，

do not use contractions.

一定不要使用缩写形式。

Or is that don't use contractions?

或者哪些不用缩写形式呢？

So, cannot to can't,

比如：cannot 写为 can't，

do not to don't,

do not写为 don't,

shall not to shan't,

shall not 写为 shan't

I am to I'm, these are all examples of contractions,

I am 写为 I'm，这些是所有的缩写例子

and in your writing exams you want to avoid these.

在你的写作中你要避开这些

I know that you guys really, really, really

我知道你们真的真的

want to keep your word count down

想让保持你的单词数目少

because you are restricted,

因为你们被限制了

and you want to show off as much as you possibly can,

同时，你们也想尽可能展示

but I've got lots of tips for reducing your word count

但是我已经提供了许多技巧来降低你的单词数量了

coming up, so make sure that you do not feel tempted

所以，确保你不会心动

to include contractions in your academic writing.

去写缩写形式到你的论文写作中。

So, tip number four, reduce your word count.

所以，第四个技巧，减少单词数目

Use as few words as possible.

尽可能的少用单词。

Completely contradictory, because I've just told you

完全矛盾了，因为我刚才说了

that you should not use contractions.

你们不该使用缩写。

But I've got some really, really good mini tips

但是我知道一些非常非常小的技巧

within this big tip to help you keep your word count down

里面包含大道理来使你的单词数量减少

and your English level up.

并且英语水平提高。

The first one is avoid these dead weight words

第一点就是避开这些完全不好的单词

like "very," "so," "a lot," "really."

像 "very," "so," "a lot," "really."

I have mentioned this before in a video,

我曾经在我的视频中提到过，

but if you want to show off your English,

如果你想展示你的英语，

avoid these; they're pointless.

避开这些词；它们不得要领。

They are empty calories in English.

它们在英语中没有含量。

Replace them, instead, with a strong word.

相反，用强有力的单词代替它们。

So instead of saying "really happy,"

代替"really happy,"

I would say, "I am elated."

我要说， "I am elated."

Instead of saying "so scared," I would say "terrified."

代替 "so scared,"我要说"terrified."

Okay?

好了？

So, by using strong words and avoiding these boring words,

通过使用强烈的单词，避免那些无聊的单词，

you can reduce your word count by a fair bit.

你能一定量的减少你的单词数

Now, another way to really reduce your word count

现在，另一种能减少你单词数量

but really improve the quality of your writing

并且能提高你写作质量的方法

is avoiding "there is" and "there are."

是避开 "there is" 和 "there are."

We want everything to be as clear as possible,

我们想让一切都尽可能的清晰，

and sometimes "there is" and "there are"

有时，"there is" 和 "there are"

can act as fillers; they add extra words to our sentences.

只充当一个填充剂；在我们句子中增加额外的单词。

So, I'm going to give you an example

所以，我将给你举个例子

so you can see this and bear it in mind

你可以看到这一点，并把它记住

next time you're doing an academic piece of writing.

接下来，你将做一个试卷的写作部分

Sentence one: there are many problems that we may encounter.

句子一： there are many problems that we may encounter.

There are many problems that we may encounter.

there are many problems that we may encounter.

Sentence two: We may encounter many problems.

句子二：We may encounter many problems.

We may encounter many problems.

We may encounter many problems.

The first sentence has eight words.

第一句有八个单词。

The second sentence has five words.

第二句有五个单词。

You have reduced your word count, and you have increased

你已经减少了你的单词数量，并增加了

the quality and the clarity of your writing.

你写作的质量和简洁度。

So, make sure you apply this in your next exam.

所以，下一次考试一定要运用此方法。

Number five, read ...

第五，读...

the right documents.

正确的文本。

Read the right pieces of writing.

阅读写作需要的文本。

I know many of you like to read in your spare time,

我知道你们许多人喜欢在你们的闲暇时间阅读，

you like to do it for fun,

你喜欢读，是为了乐趣，

and a lot of you will read books in English,

你们很多人都会读英文书，

which is amazing for improving you spelling

它能很好地提高你的拼写能力

and improving your vocabulary as well.

同时提高你的词汇量。

But if you're trying to get a good score

但是，如果你想在写作考试中

in an academic writing exam,

获得好成绩，

you might not be reading the right kind of thing.

你可能没有读到正确的种类。

Look at the potential pieces of writing

思考写作的潜在部分

that they're going to ask you to do.

它们会回答你怎样读。

Are they asking you to write article, reports, essays?

它们是否要求你写文章，报告，短文？

Maybe they're asking you to write all three.

也许它们会叫你这三种都写。

If they are, read all three.

如果这样，三种都读吧！

You need to go online or go to your library

你需要到网上去或去图书馆

and read articles, read reports,

阅读文章，阅读的报告，

read essays, read reviews.

阅读短文，阅读评论。

Do everything you can to familiarise yourselves

尽你所能了解自己

with all the styles of writing.

所有的写作风格。

Number six is one that you will have heard in school

第六，就是你会在学校里听到

so many times; but, I've worked as a teacher

很多次的;但是，作为一名当了很多

for many, many years, and I get so frustrated

很多年的老师，我感到很挫败

with silly, stupid mistakes

对于这个非常愚蠢的错误

that I know that my students know.

我知道，我的学生也都知道。

They don't make these mistakes when they're speaking,

他们不会在说话的时候犯这个错，

so why do they make them when they're writing?

那么，为什么会在写作的时候犯呢？

So many times I've gone and I've prepared a lesson

很多次我已做完了， 已经备好了课，

because I've seen that there were some very clear mistakes

我看到有些非常明显的错误

in my students' writing.

在我学生的写作中。

And I prepare a lesson to correct this mistake,

我准备上课去纠正这个错误，

and when I go to teach it they say,

当我去教他时，他们说，

"But teacher, we already know this; this is baby stuff."

“可是老师，我们已经知道这个了， 这是个失误“。

And it's because they don't check their work.

而这是因为他们不检查他们的写作。

I have a clear example of this.

我有一个明显的例子。

I used to work as a proofreader.

我以前做校对员。

I used to check through documents

我通常在他们送去出版商之前

before they got sent off to publishers

去检查那些文档

to make sure that they were all correct,

以确保他们都是对的，

that there was no spelling mistakes,

有没有拼写错误，

there were no grammar mistakes,

有没有语法错误，

there was nothing, nothing wrong, they were all perfect.

什么都没有，没什么错，这样一切都很完美。

And I was amazing at doing this.

我很惊奇我那时能胜任这份工作。

I could get every single mistake.

我能找到的每一个错误。

Just by looking at a document from a distance

仅仅从远处看这些文档

I could pick out those errors.

我就能找出这些错误。

However, if you follow me on Instagram,

然而，如果你关注了我的Instagram，

you will see that I make spelling and grammar mistakes

你会看到，我经常拼写错误、

all the time.

语法错误。

Why?

为什么？

Because I don't check; I don't check my writing.

因为我不做检查; 不检查我写的。

I am a native English speaker, and I make spelling mistakes.

我的母语是英语，我拼写错误。

Granted, many of them are due to auto-correct on my phone,

当然，有许多都是我手机自动校正的，

which I am battling with.

那就是我正斗争的。

But a lot of them are my fault.

但是，有很多都是我的错。

And I don't check them, so I don't see them.

我不检查它们，所以我没有看到它们。

I know when you finish an exam, you're like,

我知道，当你完成考试时，你就像，

"Ugh, I'm done; I want to move on to the next question,"

“额，我已经做好了，我要看下一个问题。”

but you can avoid so many point deductions

但你可以避免很多扣分

just by checking through your work,

只是通过检查你写的。

so please, please, please, make it your absolute priority.

所以请，请，请，保证它的绝对优先权。

I personally think it's much better if you write less

我个人认为这非常好，如果你少写

and check more; fewer words, higher accuracy.

且多检查; 更少的单词，更高的准确性。

And I know normally I promote fluency over accuracy,

我知道，通常我提倡流畅性高于准确性

but not in writing exams.

但，那不是写作考试。

In writing exams, you want perfection.

在写作考试中，你要完美。

Now, number seven is perhaps the most relevant

现在，第七点 也许是最相关的

and the most difficult of all, especially if you're in

也是最困难的，尤其是如果你在

really remote parts of the world.

世界上很偏远的地区。

Number seven is write and get it checked.

第七点就是写，然后检查。

Write and get it checked.

写下来并且检查。

And unfortunately, the getting it checked thing

但不幸的是，检查它

is a lot harder than it seems.

比看起来要难得的。

You want to write as much as possible,

你想写就尽可能地多写，

checking it, of course.

当然，检查它。

It used to really annoy me when my students

它曾经让我很烦恼， 我当我的学生

would come in with five essays.

拿着五篇文章进来。

I was so happy that they'd done that,

我很高兴，他们做到这一点，

but then I saw that they'd made loads and loads

但是我看了他们写的，犯了很多很多

of stupid mistakes, and I just thought,

愚蠢的错误，我当时只是想，

"Ugh, why didn't you check it?

“哎，你为什么不自己检查？

"I'm just correcting the same thing over and over again."

“我只是一遍又一遍地纠正同样的错误。”

But write as much as you can, check it,

但写要作尽你所能，并且检查一下，

and then see if you can find somebody to correct it.

然后看看能不能 找人来纠正它。

Now, I'm not saying find a complete stranger.

我不是说找 一个完全陌生的人。

It's got to be in their interest to correct it as well.

也要用他们的兴趣来纠正它。

I personally think it's very unlikely

我个人认为，你在互联网上随便找一个老师

that you're going to find a random teacher on the internet

并且愿意免费且帮你

that will be willing to check your writing for free.

检查你的写作，是不太可能的

However, there are lots of services and pen pal sites

不过，也有很多服务和笔友网站

if it's like a mutual exchange.

它就像一个相互交换的网站。

If you find somebody who wants to learn your language

如果你发现有人想学你的语言

and they can help you with your English,

然后，他们能帮助你学习英语，

then you can do that.

那么，你就可以那样做了。

Or, like I mentioned, on services such as Lingoda,

或者，就像我提到的，像Lingoda的服务，

and you can just have a straight hour of analysing writing

如果你完成并提交了你的写作

that you've already done and already sent them.

就会有一个直接的时间来分析你的写作。

But I will say, especially to my younger viewers,

但我要说的，尤其是我的年轻观众，

really, really, really be careful when you're contacting

真的，真的，真的要 当心，当你在网上联系

people online to practise your English.

帮你练习英语人的时候。

Make sure it's a trustworthy person, because there are

确保他是一个值得信赖 人，因为有

so many predators that want to talk to you,

许多的居心叵测的人想和你聊天，

especially young girls, to "practise their English,"

尤其是年轻女孩，他们以“练习英语”为名

and it doesn't actually turn out to be a English practise.

但实际上并不是 以英语练习为目的。

It turns out to be something quite different,

他的目的是完全不同的，

so please, please, please be careful.

所以请，请，请注意。

If you've got the funds, and if you've got the time,

如果你有资金，如果你有时间，

get a proper teacher and pay them to help you.

找一个合适的老师，让他们帮你。

Is there any way that you're going to be guaranteed

这儿的任何东西都必须被保证，

the proper skills, and the proper qualifications,

有合适的技能，合法的资格证书，

and also the proper incentive.

而且有良好目的。

Why would a random stranger on the internet

为什么网上随便的一个人

want to help you with your writing?

就要帮你的写作呢？

What's in it for them?

他们有什么目的呢？

Always think about that.

总是多想一下。

Right, guys, that's it for today's lesson.

对了，伙计们，这就是今天的课程。

Don't forget to check out Lingoda.

不要忘记进入Lingoda。

You can take advantage of this voucher code

你可以得到一个优惠码

by clicking on the link in the description

通过单击说明里面的链接

and applying it at checkout

并在结帐时使用它

when purchasing your first month subscription.

当你在第一个月的订阅时。

Don't forget to connect with me on all of my social media.

不要忘了联系我所有的社交媒体。

I've got my Facebook, my Instagram, and my Twitter.

我有我的Facebook，Instagram，和我的Twitter。

And I'll se you soon for another lesson.

我们会很快在一堂课见面的。

Mwah!

(laid-back electronic music)

（轻松电子音乐）