图表作文要求考生用文字材料把图表中所提供的信息准确、完整地表达出来。在写作图表作文时，首先要仔细观察并分析图表，以及题中所给出的有关信息，比如，作文标题，英文提纲、英文提示、英语关键词等。在分析图表时，要抓住与主题有关的信息，要发现数据呈现的规律，要充分利用图表中的图形、数据等来说明主题。但是注意不要过多地引用数据，以免造成滥用数据的后果。另外，在写作图表作文时可以套用一些常用词汇或表达方式，这将有助于你写出较为地道的图表作文。例如：
①As can be seen from the table (graph, form)...
②From the above table it can be seen (concluded) that...
③A careful study of the table shows that...
④The number (percentage) is 3 times as much as that in 2000.
⑤It has decreased (fell, dropped) about twice, compared with (as compared with, as against) that of 2000.
⑥In 2001, it increased (went up, rose) from 5 to 15 percent of the total (to 15 percent, by 15 percent).
［例］Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition of no less than 100 words on Income Sources between Chinese and American Students. Study the following table carefully and your composition must be based on the information given in the table. Write three paragraphs to:
1. Describe the differences of the income sources between Chinese and American students.
2. Analyze possible reasons for these differences.
3. Predicate future tendency.
|
Source of Income Percentage of Total Income |
Parents
|
Part-time job |
Fellowship or Scholarship
|
|
American Students |
50% |
35% |
15% |
|
Chinese Students |
90% |
5% |
5% |
［范文］
Income Sources Between Chinese Students and American Students
Income sources of Chinese students are quite different from those of American students. In China, students get 90% of their money from their parents while in America, only 50% of students’ money is provided by parents. In addition, Chinese students earn only 5% of their money from parttime jobs and 5% from fellowship or scholarship while income from these two resources for American students takes up 35% and 15% respectively of their total income.
I think there are probably three reasons for their differences. First, because of the influence of different social and family values, Chinese students have formed the habit of asking for money from their parents while American students have developed more sense of being financially independent. Second, most Chinese parents devote too much care to their children and they would rather save up to afford their children’s education rather than encourage them to take part-time jobs. But in America, many parents pay more attention to developing the students’ ability of self-reliance, so they encourage their children to find part-time job to earn some money by themselves. Third, since America is more developed than China, it is relatively easy for students to find parttime jobs. In China, such opportunities are rather rare.
I believe with the development of China, more and more Chinese students will realize and pay more attention to the necessity of selfdependence. In addition, more and more opportunities will be provided for them to take part-time jobs. So more students will go out of the ivory tower to broaden their knowledge and to become the master of their own lives.
作者在这篇图表作文中很好地利用了图表以及题目中所给的提示，文章结构完整，意思表达清楚，较好地完成了一篇图表作文所应该表达的内容。
摘自：《大学英语四级考试写作专项突破》
