作者：孟慶偉英文寫作
鏈接：https://www.zhihu.com/question/21116333/answer/551345804
這場歷時 11 年的《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》閱讀馬拉松教會了我什么？
回到題主的問題，如何看《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》，我從兩點(diǎn)來說：
1、首先，明確自己的目的，找到最適合自己的板塊；
2、加大輸入量，刻意練習(xí)，提高輸出質(zhì)量。
1、明確目的，找到最適合自己的板塊
在來認(rèn)領(lǐng)《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》最精彩的 7 個版塊?這篇文章中，我列舉了在我心中最值得閱讀的7個板塊。
①如果正在準(zhǔn)備雅思考試，Graphic Detail 一定不能錯過
這一版塊是《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》9 月新增加的版塊，非常適合準(zhǔn)備雅思 A 類考試小作文和日常有數(shù)據(jù)分析寫作需求的讀者。
如何閱讀 Graphic Detail？
學(xué)習(xí)如何組織數(shù)據(jù)；如何設(shè)計數(shù)據(jù)可視化；如何更好地利用圖表來解釋清楚一個現(xiàn)象。
②如果你正在準(zhǔn)備GRE，那么 Essay 絕對適合你
Essay 的文章會特別深入地講一個話題，字?jǐn)?shù)為上萬字。這一版塊不定期會有，歷史文章只能通過 Google 來檢索。
如何閱讀 Essay？
學(xué)習(xí)作者組織長文結(jié)構(gòu)的方式，看段落之間是如何進(jìn)行自然過渡和銜接的；研究作者是如何進(jìn)行說理的，如何利用可視化數(shù)據(jù)增強(qiáng)文章論證的。
經(jīng)典 Essay文章推薦：
The slumps that shaped modern finance
③如果你有嚴(yán)肅寫作需求，閱讀 Special Report
Special report 一般針對一個國家或一個主題進(jìn)行多角度報道和分析。比如過去幾個月涉及到的國家和地區(qū)有澳大利亞、西班牙、海灣地區(qū)、德國等，主題涵蓋了市場競爭、醫(yī)療制度、人工智能、經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退、美國民主黨人。
記者在寫 Special Report 時會引用多本專著、期刊，也會參考國際組織、投行、咨詢公司的報告，采訪多名學(xué)者、分析師、相關(guān)行業(yè)從業(yè)者，所以這一版塊寫作周期較長。
如何閱讀 Special report？
按興趣選擇主題，用幾個小時完成閱讀；在閱讀過程中重點(diǎn)學(xué)習(xí)《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》是如何選擇、引用、概括相關(guān)參考資料來報道事件并佐證自己的觀點(diǎn)。
推薦閱讀：
Special report: Competition
Special report: Australia
④想要了解世界局勢，學(xué)習(xí)如何概括、總結(jié)、分析事件，一定要讀 Leaders
Leaders 是《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》社論，也是它的鎮(zhèn)刊之寶，一般由 5 篇文章組成，篇幅為一頁左右，封面右上角一般會顯示這部分的 3 篇文章。
每周一上午《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》會開選題會（pitching meeting），每個版塊負(fù)責(zé)人提議 Leaders 主題，討論后確定 5 個主題。 Leaders 部分的文章不能單獨(dú)存在，必須在其他版塊（如 Briefing、區(qū)域版塊等）有至少一篇文章來加強(qiáng)它的論證。加上 Leaders 的籌劃和寫作在整個《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》中會占比較多的時間，所以這部分非常值得閱讀。
如何閱讀 Leaders？
在閱讀中學(xué)習(xí)如何具體解釋一個事件的背景；研究總結(jié)作者是怎樣做分析的；如何給出解決方案。
經(jīng)典 Leaders 文章推薦：
The right to die
Let them wed
⑤學(xué)習(xí)如何描寫人物，Obituary 了解一下
我接觸過的四五個《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》記者和編輯都一致認(rèn)為這個版塊是最有分量、最值得閱讀的版塊。
《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》的 obituary 和中文語境里的“訃告”意思不完全對等，應(yīng)理解為人物傳記或人物趣聞，用《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》自己的話來說是“the world's most captivating people”。關(guān)于訃告專欄，《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》如此介紹道：
The obituaries that appear in The Economist are remarkable because of the unpredictable selection of people to be written about, the surprising lives they lead - but also for the style in which the obituary is written.
所以，不像大多數(shù)媒體一樣只報道名人，《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》關(guān)注的更有“complete unknowns”；它的選擇標(biāo)準(zhǔn)是這些人的生活是不是精彩，是不是值得寫，是不是通過這些人可以看到共通的人性，亦或還能反映一個時代。
主筆人 Ann Wroe 對于訃告這種文體有自己的“訃告觀”。她不關(guān)心她的寫作對象是怎么死的，只關(guān)心他這一生是怎樣過的。如果你讀 Ann Wroe 的文字感覺像是在看電影的話，那是因為她的寫作過程和導(dǎo)演的拍攝過程是一樣的，他們都想把一個人的表情、形態(tài)、動作、語言、心理和個性表現(xiàn)出來；不同的是一種用攝像機(jī)，一種用筆頭。
如何閱讀 Obituary？
感受詩一般的語言；研究文章結(jié)構(gòu)，學(xué)習(xí)開頭、結(jié)尾的寫法；學(xué)習(xí)如何篩選人物經(jīng)歷和細(xì)節(jié)，如何利用這些細(xì)節(jié)刻畫人物、講故事；學(xué)習(xí)如何使用精準(zhǔn)的動詞和名詞。
2、加大輸入量，刻意練習(xí)，提高輸出質(zhì)量
找到合適的打開方式，那么下一步就要利用好手里的材料，開始刻意練習(xí)。
①提高輸入質(zhì)量，背誦高質(zhì)量內(nèi)容
我們要注重輸入的質(zhì)量，保證高質(zhì)量、高準(zhǔn)確度地輸入。
最好的辦法、最短的路徑是背誦，背誦含有最高頻、最靈活、最地道、最實用的句型的句子，或是充分展開了某個觀點(diǎn)、連貫性強(qiáng)、有極強(qiáng)說服力的段落。
比如，選自《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》的這兩個句子就值得背：
1. China has long seen education as a passport to success, which helps explain why the middle class is now focusing on foreign schools and universities.?
2. The hunger for degrees is understandable: these days they are a requirement for a decent job and an entry ticket to the middle class.
一旦背下，在寫教育類、社會類、文化類作文時就能直接用這兩個句子了。
②刻意臨摹句子
臨摹句子，即找到好的句子，剔除里面的具象名詞，填入自己想表達(dá)的新的意思的詞。
這樣做的好處是：
通過臨摹給自己更多體會和內(nèi)化的機(jī)會；
可以確保句型（包括語法）是正確的，替換名詞出錯的可能性很小，這樣就能確保自己的輸出是正確的。
也就是說，在沒有權(quán)威、及時、可靠的反饋的情況下，可以通過控制可能出錯的因素來最大程度上減少出錯的可能性。
那么，怎樣的句子算好呢？
如果一個句子或句型滿足以下任何一種感嘆，那么就值得學(xué)習(xí)：
我靠，原來這種意思是這么表達(dá)啊？
我靠，原來這種意思還能這么表達(dá)啊？
哇，這么表達(dá)真漂亮（簡潔、妙等）！
為什么是這樣的？
因為學(xué)習(xí)的過程就是認(rèn)知的過程，而高效的認(rèn)知一定是遵循認(rèn)知原則和規(guī)律的。
就句子的學(xué)習(xí)來說，我們最感興趣的、最容易掌握的是和我們最相關(guān)的，在生活、工作、交際中最可能使用的句子和句型。
我一直認(rèn)為，從單詞書里學(xué)來的單詞不如從閱讀和生活中積累的單詞令人印象深刻。真正的語言學(xué)習(xí)（認(rèn)知）需要一個具體的語境。閱讀中的句子提供了最基本的“有效認(rèn)知單位”（自造概念），即句子。
因此，和常識相悖的是，最基本的、最高效的英語學(xué)習(xí)目標(biāo)不是字詞，而是句子，具體的句子，有血有肉的句子，有具體場景的句子，讓你有 WOW 的感覺的句子。找到這些句子，去臨摹。
下面是從《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》一篇關(guān)于拉丁裔美國人的文章中隨手選出的“有感覺”的句子：
原句?: Hispanics are transforming the definition of what it means to be a mainstream American.
句型提煉：X is transforming the definition of what it means to be a Y.
臨摹造句：
Migrant workers（農(nóng)民工）in China are transforming the definition of what it means to be an urbanite（城里人）.
Ever- and fast-changing technology is transforming the definition of what it means to be tech-savvy（科技通）.
簡單來說，臨摹句子可以總結(jié)成以下 3 點(diǎn)：
確定有感覺的句子，感知、體會和內(nèi)化句子
提煉句子主干或句型
結(jié)合自己的知識和經(jīng)驗造句
③刻意練習(xí)句子改寫
句子臨摹是依樣畫葫蘆，而句子改寫則是通過改寫舉一反三，內(nèi)化自己積累到的語言點(diǎn)，提升表達(dá)力。
就練習(xí)改寫句子而言，目的不一定是“to achieve greater clarity”，而是有意識地去喚醒、激活、調(diào)動、揣摩、使用自己積累的語料，讓消極的積累變活。
也就是說，“句子改寫法”的最大好處是解決沒有機(jī)會練習(xí)輸出的問題。
那么什么樣的句子適合“句子改寫法”呢？
如果你讀到一個句子精辟、巧妙、簡潔、清晰、有感染力地表達(dá)了一個意思，就可以試著拿來改寫。
《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》里有很多句子都適合拿來改寫。
怎么改寫呢？
可以分改寫前、改寫和改寫后三步：
①改寫前解讀：
閱讀句子，理解句子的字面意思，深層次的意思，表達(dá)和強(qiáng)調(diào)的側(cè)重，體會句子的語氣和句式特點(diǎn)。
②改寫：
改寫時有意識強(qiáng)化積極詞匯、表達(dá)和句型，嘗試使用消極詞匯、表達(dá)和句型。
③改寫后體會：
我們經(jīng)常說“體會”和“內(nèi)化”，但真正怎樣去做呢？將自己改寫的句子和原句作比較的過程就是在體會和內(nèi)化。可以問問自己有什么區(qū)別，比如原句表達(dá)是不是更精煉，主要信息是不是強(qiáng)調(diào)得更好，給了你怎樣的感受，是不是留下了更深的印象。
以上是我閱讀《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》的一些心得體會，希望能夠幫到各位知友。
出處：我是如何閱讀《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》的？ - 孟慶偉英文寫作的文章 - 知乎https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/25564526
本文寫于2017年2月22日，最初發(fā)布于微信公眾號「孟慶偉英文寫作」（微信ID: justintheeconomist）。
How I Read The Economist
Experience from a veteran reader of The Economist
Considering?The Economist?has become the?de facto?bible for many English learners, especially intermediate to advanced enthusiasts seeking to improve their writing, it is fitting to share how I read the newspaper. I prefer to write in English because two other articles written in English with regard to?The Economist?seem well received. Plus, writing in English is ineffably enjoyable.
How the newspaper should be read depends on a few factors. There is no single right way to do it. Motivation, English proficiency, time budget, environment and mood all play a part. Each will determine how you read it. Sophisticated readers know these factors well, and normally have their own reading habits. Beginners can be overwhelmed, so some advice may be helpful.??
Nobody is born a sophisticated reader. The general guide would be to pick any?The Economistissue, print or digital, skim it page by page, and get a sense of how each section feels. Once done, you should find what interests you the most, what somewhat interests you, what challenges you and what bores you. Alternatively, Wiki?The Economist?and read the introduction of the newspaper. Hyperlinks on Wiki will direct you to learn more about your interested references. Stick to your favorite section(s) and allocate the bulk of your time. Whenever you have time, try the sections you find slightly interesting. Choose one challenging article once in a while and confront it. Forget about the boring parts, they are not for you, at least not now.?
Favorite sections can help you become a habitual reader. At first, for example, I mostly read articles on China. I was just exposed to?The Economist?and found I could easily relate to its perspectives on a country I lived in. Many concepts and ideas were familiar, and I was able to focus on its vocabulary, syntactic gymnastics, arguments and narrative skills. Gradually I familiarized with its writing style, a springboard to other sections. While the China section cannot be wrong for any newbie, you should discover what your favorite is. If you are a literature and humanities major, start from the back--Obituary and Books and Arts; those keen on current affairs should find Leaders a decent starting point; students specializing in business, sciences, economics and finance can find their respective enclaves. A watcher of a particular country or continent? Go gently into the regional sections.?
What fails to strike you as deserving at first may turn out to be the most delightful. In my case?Obituary?is such a gem. When I first read?The Economist?back in 2007, stories in Obituary were far beyond my grasp. Their vocabularies were too wide; sentence structures too intimidating; depictions too complicated; stories too esoteric; and writing style too unfamiliar. As my reading and overall knowledge of English bettered, Obituary started to make sense to me. Not only that, it is beautifully written and captivating and is nonfiction at its best. I cannot wait to take a look at Obituary every week after I download a new issue. So reexamine the sections as you read. You never know how and how much you will be amazed.
Some sections are better read at one sitting. Briefing, Special Report, Technology Quarterly and International all feature heavily referenced and meticulously written articles with considerable length. Charts, tables and pies fill them.?The Economist?correspondents very often collect data from multiple sources--universities, consultancies, think tanks and research institutes--and make visually appealing graphs, some of which can even be regarded as works of art. These sections are particularly useful if you are working on broad themes in preparation for an essay at school or GRE issue topics. Budget enough time, get a cup of Latte and enjoy.?
Bite-sized sections, in contrast, are perfect for elevators and waits. Nothing beats The World This Week (including Politics, Business and KAL's cartoon) and?Letters?if you want to kill time, be it taking an elevator or waiting in a not terribly long line.?
In terms of the actual reading methods, I take a whole-to-part approach. Each week I would download the new issue, read its cover and highlights, scroll down the contents, read titles and bylines (or one-sentence summaries) and identify a few must-reads. Then I would revisit the?The Economist?app throughout the week. Normally I would pick one of the must-reads, read the first paragraph, first sentences of each paragraph and the last paragraph. This way, I can get the gist of each piece within less than one minute. If I have lots of time and am interested in the topic, I will keep reading it from start to finish.?
Within a particular article, I focus on the parts that wow me. Some articles start with stunning sentences. Some stand out because of effectiveness or elegance of arguments. Some leave a lasting impression for they end in a witty or surprising note. Some make good points despite their lighthearted prose.?
Reading habits change as you change. One only becomes a mature reader by reading. For many people, starting to read matters more than how to read. Perhaps it's time to start to read now.?
