1. It is generally believed that some people are born with certain talents, for instance for sport or music, and others are not. However, it is sometimes claimed that any child can be taught to become a good sports person or musician.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
[范文]
The relative importance of natural talent and training is a frequent topic of discussion when people try to explain different levels of ability in, for example, sports and music. I personally think that, as with all questions of nature versus nurture, they are of the same importance for a person's success.
Obviously, education systems are based on the belief that all children can be effectively taught to acquire different skills, including those associated with sports and music. So from our own school experience, we can find plenty of evidence to support the view that a child can acquire these skills with continued teaching and guided practice.
However, some people believe that innate talent is what differentiates a person who has been trained to play a sport or an instrument, from those who become good players. In other words, there is more to the skill than a learned technique, and this extra talent cannot be taught, no matter how good the teacher or how frequently a child practices.
I personally think that some people do have talents that are probably inherited via their genes. Such talents can give individuals a facility for certain skills that allow them to excel, while more hard-working students never manage to reach a comparable level. Nevertheless, nature and nurture are not mutually exclusive. Good musicians and exceptional sports stars have probably succeeded because of both good training and natural talent. Without the natural talent, continuous training would be neither attractive nor productive, and without the training, the child would not learn how to exploit and develop their talent.
In conclusion, I agree that any child can be taught particular skills, but to be really good in areas such as music and sport, then some natural talent is required and can help them succeed.
[解析] 1.语言表达
本文先从两种不同的看法切入,后综合双方观点强调作者自身的看法,使论证更加客观与全面。本文使用连接词,如:obviously, so, however, in other words, in conclusion,使文章更流畅连贯。
●Obviously, education systems are based on the belief that all children can be effectively taught to acquire different skills, including those associated with sports and music.
用obviously开启句子,连接上下文。
●In other words, there is more to the skill than a learned technique, and this extra talent cannot be taught, no matter how good the teacher or how frequently a child practices. In other words表明后文是对前文的解释,对论据进行更深的分析。
●Without the natural talent, continuous training would be neither attractive nor productive, and without the training, the child would not learn how to exploit and develop their talent.
句型without A, B...,and without B,A...表明二者紧密相关、不可分割,准确地表达了作者的观点。
2.逻辑结构
本文是总分总的结构。作者开篇先陈述事实并表达自己的观点,第二、三段分别就双方观点进行论述,第四段讲两方综合,强调天赋与训练同样重要。最后一段作者总结全文,重申自己的观点。