7.3 图表作文写作方法

三、图 表 作 文
    图表作文包括几种形式，有统计表(table)、比率表(graph)、图示与统计数字相结合的图表(chart)或图画(cartoon)等。图表作文要求考生通过分析试题所提供的图表中相互关联的各种数据, 阐述某种现象的规律和原因。它要求将图表中所包含的信息转化成英语描述。例如:
    For this part, you are allowed 40 minutes to write a composition about Changes in People's Diet according to the following outline in three paragraphs. Your part of the composition should be no less than 120 words, not including the words given.

     Outline: 1. State the changes in people's diet in the past five years
              2. Give possible reasons for changes
              3. Draw you own conclusion

    写作图表作文要注意从以下几个方面入手:

1. 仔细分析图表中所提供的数据和有关的文字说明, 清楚题目的要求以及弄清各个数据之间的内在关系, 归纳出数据所说明的问题, 即找出规律性的东西。
   
2. 切忌堆砌数据, 在对图表进行准确地概括和描述后, 要用更多的篇幅来揭示图表的含义或分析造成这种现象的原因。我们可以把上题写成:
   

Changes in People's Diet

    In the past five years, great changes have been taking place in people's diet. There is a general trend of decrease in the consumption of grain, while the consumption of some high-energy food, such as milk and meat, is increasing steadily.
    Why do people have these changes in their diet? In my opinion, there are two major reasons: On the one hand, nowadays people are richer and richer, and they have more money to buy the food with better nutrition, which is generally much more expensive than grain or vegetables. One the other hand, they now pay attention not only to quantity but also to the quality of their food. They have more knowledge in improving the structure of diet.
    From the above, we can see that in the past five years people's living level has been rising year by year. We can also expect that there will be a more prosperous future awaiting us.

    关于统计表、比率表以及图示与统计数字相结合的图表我们大都见过，但对于图画形式我们见得不多。

    这样的作文与提纲式作文的写法一样，基本上可以写成三段式，即第一段描述图画，第二段写出它的引申意义，第三段写出自己的观点和看法。上图可以写成：

    There is an interesting and funny cartoon: A fat official holds a document which is about the information high way, and he orders his secretary to find out whether this "way" would cross their area or not. His secretary, a thin young man, seems very obedient and is ready to follow his order. On the wall there is a map of communication lines.
    It is obvious that this official has no idea of the difference between the usual high way and the information highway. However, he seems very gentle and sure of himself. This reveals a serious problem now in our country. In some areas, especially in some remote and poor areas, some leaders are not qualified enough. They can't catch up with the quickly developed society, so they are actually ignorant of high technology. Moreover, they always think highly of themselves and are reluctant to accept other people's opinions or suggestions. As a result, they will make serious or foolish mistakes like what the above cartoon shows.
    In my opinion, it is very necessary to take measures to improve the officials' qualities because it is a key to improving the government's efficiency and quickening the speed of the healthy development of the economy in our country.
    本文首先内容切题，所论述的包括了图画的全部信息；条理很清楚，表达了图画的内涵，文字也连贯；句式有变化，句子结构和用词正确，文章长度符合要求。像这样的作文可以得14分左右。