第十一天：大小寫作 得分多多---小作文格式 （持續更新，敬請關注）
作文與閱讀一樣極為重要。在兩篇作文中，小作文，就是套用文滿分為10分，得高分比大作文容易一些，因為它更加套路化，對語言的要求也不如大作文那么高。可是考生的實際得分卻不是很理想，XX年的平均分不到6分。出現這種問題的主要原因在於寫作的格式、語言和要點等方面注意不夠。我準備用三天的文章來闡述這幾個問題。今天介紹的是小作文的格式問題。下面以XX年的小作文考題為例說明這一問題。
directions:
two months ago you got a job as an editor for the magazine designs & fashions. but now you find that the work is not what you expected. you decide to quit. write a letter to your boss, mr. wang, telling him your decision, stating your reason(s), and making an apology.
write your letter with no less than 100 words. write it neatly on answer sheet 2. do not sign your own name at the end of the letter; use “li ming” instead. you do not need to write the address. (10 points)
範文（選自胡敏編著的《XX年考研英語高分作文》）：
dear mr. wang,
i am writing to inform you about my decision to resign from my current position. there are a few factors involved that i find intolerable.
first of all, the salary has proven to be much lower than you originally promised, and i have a large family to support. in addition, the office is located in the downtown area, yet i live in the suburbs, so it is exhausting for me to spend over three hours commuting every day. most importantly, i feel rather disappointed and left out on the job itself, as in the past two months i was never given any really important responsibility.
i sincerely hope that you approve of my resignation. i am sorry for any inconvenience caused.
yours sincerely,
li ming
由上面XX年小作文考題以及範文可以了解小作文格式主要涉及稱呼、正文與落款。
一、稱呼
1．dear sir or madam
這是對於不認識的團體或組織的負責人的稱呼。
2．dear mr. xx/ms.xx
這是對於認識但是關係很正式的團體或組織的負責人的稱呼，也可用來稱呼認識但是關係較正式的個人。上面的小作文中的稱呼就屬於這一情況。
3．dear john/mary(or any other name)
這是對關係較親密的人的稱呼：直呼其名。
二、正文
正文格式傳統上採用縮進式，即每段開頭空四個字母，段落之間不空行。現在流行的格式，尤其是列印檔案的格式，一般採用齊頭式，即每段開頭不空格，但是各段之間空一行。上面的範文就屬於齊頭式。考試時可以根據自己的習慣選擇一種，但要給人留下格式清晰的印象，為自己爭取同情分。
三、落款
由於考試時不要求使用真實姓名，落款時可以使用下列萬能格式：
yours sincerely,
li ming
上面的範文就使用了這一格式。
綜上所述，注意格式是小作文得高分的第一步。