You have probably heard it before, most likely from your English teacher. If you want to become a good writer, read good writing. Unluckily, you may not have understood what did good to you and even what you were supposed to get from that experience.

As you start reading a book, poem, or story, do so with no thought at all and the experience will improve your writing. Just read for pleasure to begin with, or to learn. As you progress through the work, think about whether it is “easy” reading or not. Do you become so interested in the subject and flow of the writing that you completely forget the person who wrote it, or does the composition sometimes call too much attention to itself through words and phrases that seem out of place or unexpected? The second situation is a chance to learn from the writer’s mistakes. In fact, the reader should not have to worry about how a writer does “his thing” ... he should be able to just enjoy and learn. Every time a word strikes you as poorly chosen, stop to consider why it has this effect. Also, do not spend a lot of time analyzing (分析) the passage but put more efforts in enjoying it from the whole.

Another thing I do, particularly with nonfiction (非小说) books, is to select a part to read as if it is a completely separate work. Once again, read as a common reader rather than a critic (批评家). For learning how words and phrases work together on the most basic level, however, nothing is more suitable than devoting yourself to reading poems. A poet is often trying to put a book’s worth of meaning and feelings into lines, and every side of the work shows a very close attention to craft (工艺).

As you can see, there is no simple way of reading to improve your writing. The key is not to make it boring. Select writers you admire or like most, and enjoy their works as anyone else would. As long as you are reading, you are improving yourself as a writer.

Improving Your Writing by Reading
Facts	Ø  Reading good writing  1.   you become a good writer. Ø  You don’t understand the   2.   of reading and what to get from reading.
Ways	Ø  Read not to learn but for   3.  . 1) Develop a great   4.   in the subject and flow of the writing. 2) Learn from the writer’s   5.   if possible. 3)   6.   shouldn’t be spent in analyzing the passage but in enjoying the passage from the whole.
Ø  Read as a common consumer rather than a critic. Ø   7.   yourself to reading poems and enjoy the lines.
Conclusions	Ø  Don’t make yourself   8.   with reading. Ø  Select your   9.   writers and enjoy their works. Ø  You are sure to make  10.   during reading.

 

    --Could you please ______ so much noise?

A. not making      B. don’t make     C.not to make      D. not make

 

Don’t make so much noise. The children    an English lesson.

A. have             B. are having          C. were having

 

Don’t make the old people live_______ if possible. They will feel_______.

A．alone; lonely

B．alone; along

C．lonely; alone

D．lonely; along