大学英语修辞学Chapter 5.ppt

 1. What is a general / specific / abstract / concrete word? 2. What is the advantage of using general / specific words? 3. Exercises ii,vii--x. Chapter 5 Choice of Sentence 5.1 Types of sentences Classification: grammatical, functional, rhetorical. Grammatical: how many and what types of clauses it contains Simple sentence Compound sentence Complex sentence Compound-complex sentence Functional: whether it makes a statement, ask a question, issue a command, or express an exclamation Declarative sentences Interrogative sentence Imperative sentences Exclamatory sentence Rhetorical: where in the sentence the main idea is located. Loose sentence Periodic sentence Balanced sentence 5.1.1 Loose sentence Loose sentence or cumulative sentence—the most common sentence pattern in English: The main idea is at the beginning of the sentence, followed by supportive or qualifying information. The woman came into the room, followed by a small, timid boy. Cumulative: almost no limit to the amount of information. The woman stopped in front of our house, looking tired and hungry, a dirty cloth-bag on the shoulder, a poor small boy by her side, eyeing us timidly, . . . The only restriction: consideration of the meaning, the clarity, and the effectiveness. Function of loose sentence Loose sentence denotes a loose or relaxed ordering of thought. Once the main idea is stated, the rest of the sentence can go for as long as necessary. The reader could skip or ignore the supporting details if he thinks they are not significant. 5.1.2 Periodic sentence Periodic sentence postpones the main idea until the very end of the sentence. Not grammatically complete until the end is reached. Function: Periodic sentences can be used to create suspense and tension, to build up a climax, or to make a surprise ending. Example: In the last few years, as the preeminent military and economic power in the world, the United States faced a fundamental choice. (Walter F. Mondale) I