一. 感想
一篇文章的開頭和結尾，是通篇最重要的兩個部分。
The most important sentence in any article is the first one... Therefore your lead must capture the reader immediately and force him to keep reading.
文章的伊始，往往是最考驗作者功力的。從零開始，要在最短的時間內吸引住人，讓讀者了解主題和行文方向，并產生讀下去的欲望，便是開頭的作用。Eric早晨說到的新概念4的第18課《海豚》，就是nonfiction類中的一個極好的例子。前三句話，既激發了讀者的好奇心，吸引人讀下去，又隨即引入了權威的觀點，快速切入主題。
此外，我想來說說小說或故事的開頭。在我的傳統觀念里，小說或故事（即便是四大名著）一上來通常都不會特別精彩，往往需要用一定的篇幅來交代人物關系或逐漸進入情節。我們常常需要“耐著性子看進去”，然后，引人入勝的情節才會逐漸出現，吸引著我們如饑似渴地讀下去。直到前幾年，我看了一本當代小說《遙遠的救世主》，一下子改變了我的這一觀點。它的第一頁是這樣的：
我記得特別清楚，在一個慵懶的周末下午，我隨意翻開了這本書（我媽借的）的第一頁，然后便一口氣看了數章，這個開頭一下子就把我帶入了整個故事。因為它的人物出場和情節展開從一開始就生動自然、引人入勝。
結尾的作用不言而喻，收尾是否得當，直接決定了整個作品的成功與否。
The last sentence of each paragraph is the crucial springboard to the next paragraph... A good last sentence - or last paragraph - is a joy in itself. It gives the reader a lift, and it lingers when the article is over.
Zinsser說文章的結尾部分應該給讀者一種升華和令人留戀的感覺。是呀，不虎頭蛇尾只是最基本的要求，而如果能利用結尾讓整個作品上升一個層面，亦或讓讀者意猶未盡、陷入深思，那將令整個作品大放異彩。Zinsser提到了“恰到好處”和“令人驚喜”兩個行之有效的方法：
When you're ready to stop, stop. If you have presented all the facts and made the point you want to make, look for the nearest exit.
Surprise is the most refreshing element in nonfiction writing. ..., especially as you conclude your story and send them on their way.
當然，nonfiction類作品的結尾，通常擔負了總結概括、提煉重點、再次強調等任務，其重要程度不言自明，無須贅述。
我還是來說說故事，其實很多故事的開頭和主架構都很不錯，就是結尾讓人有種不解渴的感覺，有點遺憾。而《黎明之前》（一個國產諜戰劇，我一直覺得它比《潛伏》好看）的結尾在我心目中堪稱經典。前面的一切謎團在結尾全部解開時，不禁令人在驚嘆中陷入了無盡地思考。最后一個鏡頭中，“兄弟”倆分道揚鑣的那一時刻，我的內心感動而震撼，有種深深地意猶未盡之感。
二. 字詞
1. leisurely
(1) 原文：They will stick with those writers for the pleasure of wondering where they will emerge as they move in leisurely circles toward the eventual point.
(2) 解釋：relaxed and unhurried
(3) 造句：I read the novel in a leisurely way.
2.?count on
(1) 原文：But I urge you not to count on the reader to stick around.
(2) 字典解釋：
① If you count on something or count upon it, you expect it to happen and include it your plans.
② If you count on someone or count upon them, you rely on them to support you or help you.
(3) 造句：Don't count on others being in your shoes.
3. cajole / coax
(1) 原文：
① It must cajole him with freshness, or novelty, or paradox, or humor, or surprise, or with an unusual idea, or an interesting fact, or a question.
②?Coax the reader a little more; keep him inquisitive.
(2) 字典解釋：
① cajole:?to gradually persuade someone to do something by being nice to them, or making promises to them? ? （以甜言蜜語）哄騙
② coax:?to persuade someone to do something that they do not want to do by talking to them in a kind, gentle, and patient way
(3) 造句：She cajoled / coaxed her son into going to?kindergarten.
4. dwell on / upon sth.
(1) 原文：But don't dwell on the reason.
(2) 字典解釋：to think or talk for too long about something, especially something unpleasant
(3) 造句：Don't dwell on those mistakes you've made.
5. arresting
(1) 原文：The five short sentences send the reader on his way quickly and with an arresting thought to take along.
(2) 解釋：very attractive? ? 引人注意的
(3) 造句：He wears an arresting suit.
