管理类联考——英语二——技巧篇——写作——图表作文——经典方法论

考研英语(二)的B节写作主要考查的是图表作文。笔者根据考研英源(二)大纲要求以及议论文经典的三段式写法(首段指出问题、中间段分析问题、尾段解决问题)，研发出一套图表作文的经典写法。下面我们来看图表作文经典的三段式写法的基本大招。

从上图可以看出，三段中首段描述图表内容，也就是选取图表所给关键数据进行描述;中间段论述主题，说明图表数据所揭示的规律的成因或造成的影响;结尾段表达看法，提出建议或预测数据走势。整体结构十分清晰明了。

一、首段：描述图表

按照总体形状，可将图表分为五类。
线图(line graph)：表示数据的点通过线串在一起。示例如下：

柱状图(bar chart)：数据用柱子表示。示例如下:

饼图(pie chart)：数据用扇形所占的面积表示。示例如下:

表格(table)：数据放在行与列的项目相互所对应的格子里。示例如下：

流程图(diagram):描述具体步骤的图形。示例如下：

从2010年至今，考研英语(二)已经考查过线图、柱状图、饼图和表格这四种主流图表类型，其中柱状图考查次数最多，达5次以上。这说明，考研英语(二)图表作文命题较为稳定，因此2021年依然会考查图表，理论上讲，任何图表类型都有可能被考查，所以考生需要熟悉各种图表描述方法，以不变应万变。

(一)如何概述图表

描述图表可分为两步，首先概述图表主要信息，然后引用图表中的数据验证这条信息。比如考到一张关于生二胎的表格，考生可以这样概述表格信息：“这张表格表明了不同国家年轻人生二胎的意愿。”写完这句，考生即可引用数据说明每个国家中愿意生二胎的年轻人所占的比例。
概述句的难点在于其宾语往往由比较长且复杂的名词短语充当。“这张表格表明了不同国家年轻人生二胎的意愿”的宾语部分是“不同国家年轻人生二胎的意愿”。如何正确有效地用英语写出这一短语？我们先来看考生的若干版本。

二、中间段：分析图表

根据大纲要求，考生需要在描述图表之后提出自己的看法，那么中间段就是体现考生看法的一段。一般来说，考生可以分析这些数据所反映的现象或局面的背后的成因，也可以分析这些现象或局面产生的结果或影响，还可以把两者结合起来分析。所以，笔者为考生们整理了三种图表作文中间段的写法。

1.纯粹原因分析
这种方法要求考生在中间段只分析成因，不分析影响。除去流程图，几乎绝大部分图表中间段都可以只分析原因而不分析影响。请随笔者先来看一下考研英语(二)真题案例。

高分范文

• ①It seems that the rate of high-grade students taking part-time jobs is higher than that of low-grade students.②Several factors can account for this situation.3For one thing,doing a part-timejob takes time. ④Compared with low-grade students，high-grade students，having fewer courses,gain more free time,⑤so they are more likely to try part-time work.⑥For another, one’s willingnessis also a factor. ⑦High-grade students endure higher pressure to find a job.BAs a result，they aremore willing to take a part-time job that they believe can bring them certain experience.
  写作分析
  ①句(段首句)用来总结图表主要规律或特征:高年级学生兼职率比低年级学生高。因为一张图表中的数据必定呈现出某种规律或特征，所以在段首指出规律或特征，既总结上文，又可以很好地引出下文。
• ②句提示本段主旨是分析原因,而不是分析影响。
• ③句是第一个原因的铺垫句。铺垫句多半是指出论证的前提。打个比方:有人说康熙大帝比乾隆大帝更伟大。他的证明过程如下:皇帝的伟大程度和在位时间成正比。因为康熙大帝在位时间比乾隆大帝在位时间长，所以康熙大帝比乾隆大帝伟大。在此证明中，“皇帝的伟大程度和在位时间成正比”是铺垫，也是前提。换言之，如果没有此前提，之后的论证“因为……所以……”就不成立。④句是基于③句的论证:因为高年级学生所学课程少，所以他们有更多空闲时间。⑤句是由此论证得出的结论:高年级学生更有可能去做兼职工作。此处的结论句其实是图表所反映的主要规律或特征的另—种说法。
• ⑥句是第二个原因的前提:个人意愿。⑦句是基于第二个前提的论证:高年级学生找工作方面压力更大。⑧句是由此论证得出的结论:高年级学生更愿意做兼职。
  这种“前提—论证一结论”式的原因分析法使分析段流畅自然。这种方法改编自两千多年前古希腊哲学家亚里士多德提出的三段论，由上述例文可见，纯粹原因分析段的写作框架如下:
  It seems that{主要规律或主要特征}.②Several factors can explain{这个现象或局面}.③For one thing, as we know,{第一个前提}.④{基于此前提的论证}.⑤As a result,{基于此论证的结论}.⑥For another,it is a fact that {第二个前提 }.⑦{基于此前提的论证}.BTherefore,{基于此论证的结论}.
  基于三段论的此框架具有层次分明和便于操作的优势。另外，考生若担心千篇一律，则可以用一些相关表达进行替换。
  
  除了构思框架，想出至少两个原因(causes)也是一门技术活。原因分为内因(internalcauses)和外因(external causes)。内因一般来说和当事人(物)自身有关。每张图表的变量就是当事人(物)，因此找出内因不是难事。外因指相对于当事人(物)之外的因素，这些因素可能是他人，也可能是社会。对于上一案例，当事人是各年级大学生，所以内因和他们自身有关，比如说个人意愿、空闲时间、个人能力等。而外因是相对于这些学生的外部因素，比方说提供兼职岗位的单位和社会上关于大学生做兼职的舆论等。
  考生应能看出笔者在大学生兼职案例中讨论的皆为内因–—空闲时间和个人意愿。考生如果着手完成这篇作文，也可以内因和外因各分析其一。从理论上来说，在写作时同时提到内因和外因，是比较稳妥的做法，但阅卷者阅卷时间很短，所以只提及内因的分析段不一定给阅卷者留下不好的印象。当然，在分析段，若考生写出的两个原因都是外因则不妥，毕竟社会现象或局面和当事人(物)本身脱不了干系。
  以下段落为同时包含内因和外因的分析。
  ①It seems that the rate of high-grade students taking part-time jobs is higher than that of low-grade students. ②Several factors can account for this situation.③For one thing,doing a part-timejob takes time. ④Compared with low-grade students, high-grade students,having fewer courses, gainmore free time,⑤so they are more likely to try part-time work.⑥For another, companies tend tohire competent part-time workers.⑦Since high-grade students are more capable of handling workstuff than low-grade students,Bthey are more willing to gain part-time work.
  笔者在这段范文中提及的外因是公司招募原则:胜任能力。因为高年级学生更有能力处理事情，所以更受招聘方青睐。不过从另一角度看，胜任能力高低和学生自身有关，也可以被认为是内因。所以内因和外因并无绝对界限，或许因为这一点，有些看上去都是分析内因的段落也并非没有提及外因。
  2.纯粹结果分析
  与纯粹分析原因相反，纯粹结果分析式写法中只讨论影响，不讨论成因。除去流程图，有不少图表中间段可以只分析影响而不分析原因。
  
  高分范文
  DIt seems that China has been undergoing a fast urbanization，②which has far-reachinginfluences on Chinese people and the society as a whole.③As cities grow, the Chinese have betterliving conditions; they move into larger apartments or even houses while their children receive more advanced education and their parents better medical care.④As for society,rapid urban developmentbrings fast economic growth，which then allows for scientific and technological breakthroughs.Eventually,China will regain the prosperity that our forefathers once realized.
  写作分析
  ·①句(段首句)总结了图表反映的主要规律或特征:中国正在快速城市化。
  ·②句提示本段分析影响，不分析原因;具体来说，分析城市化对中国人民和中国整个社会的影响。
  ·③句分析了城市化对中国人民的影响:城市发展给人民创造了更好的生活条件。后半部分举例说明中国人民在哪些方面变得更好:居住、子女教育和父母养老。考生需注意，举例不要求面面俱到，但求清楚并具有代表性。此外，笔者在这一部分展示了分析影响的一种经典写法:一句话概述影响，然后举例说明。两者关系可谓抽象和具体。笔者先提到城市发展使人民生活质量提高，这是概述，然后举例说明在哪些方面得到提高。像这样纲举目张的写法可使文章层次清楚,让阅卷者看上去一目了然。
  ·④句分析了城市化对中国社会整体的影响:城市发展带来经济发展，而经济发展又带来科技进步。此外，笔者在这一部分展示了分析影响的另—种经典写法:
  X→A→B→C→……。X是图表反映的主要规律或特征，A是X带来的影响，B是A带来的影响，C是B带来的影响，依此类推。

3.原因和结果分析
与上述两种写法不同的是，“原因和结果分析”表示在分析段既分析原因，也分析影响，但由于篇幅的限制,原因和结果各分析一个即可。

高分范文
①we can see from the chart that college students，particularly seniors，tend to take part-time jobs in addition to their academic study.②Many factors can account for this situation,but the most important one is concerned with social competition.3As the competition in labormarkets or academic fields becomes fierce，all college students face difficulties in findingjobs or pursuing further study after graduation，so they tend to do part-time jobs to gain someexperience.④But spending too much time on part-time practice is not good, since it will distractstudents from finishing school assignments—the primary goal during college.
写作分析
因为笔者在此案例中只分析了一个原因和个消极影响，所以没有特别指出高年级学生兼职率高于低年级学生，而只是说大学生总体兼职率高。试想，若笔者将规律总结为高年级学生兼职率高于低年级学生，这一规律有何消极影响，相信考生在短时间内难以想到。总之，中间分析段没有一成不变的写法，考生应当根据图表本身特点和临场状态加以选择。

三、尾段：发表个人看法

有了首段的描述和中间段的分析，考生将在最后一段发表个人看法。考生可以对图表走势进行合理预测(针对动态图)，也可以就图表反映出的社会现象(局势)产生的影响给出建议(尤其针对消极影响)，还可以将这两者结合起来。和中间分析段一样，对于尾段发表个人看法这一步，考生应当见招拆招,具体情况具体分析，找出最佳解决方案。
1.合理预测
案例

高分范文
The bar chart gives information about the change in population in both cities and villagesin China. The number of residents in Chinese cities increased rapidly from 300 million in 1990to about 670 million in 2010.By contrast,the number of rural dwellers in China，which stood at 820 million in 1990, decreased to 680 million in 2010，which was only marginally higher thanthe number of urban dwellers that same year.
lt seems that China has been undergoing a fast urbanization.Several factors can account forthe trend. For one thing, the Chinese government has been investing profoundly in city expansionsince the implementation of the Reform and Opening-up Policy in 1978. As time has passed,Chinese cities have developed at an unprecedented speed. For another, Chinese people desire tolead better lives. Since the living conditions in cities is much better than that in rural areas,morepeople have rushed into cities.
As the Chinese government will continue to invest money in urban construction,we havesound reasons to believe that the city population of China will keep growing while the ruralpopulation will shrink in the future. So we college students should grasp opportunities broughtby the urbanization to realize our own dreams.

写作分析
·在尾段中，笔者先指出政府会将大量资金投入城市建设，然后由此预测未来城市人口继续增长而农村人口继续减少，最后笔者以写这篇作文的大学生的口吻指出，大学生应该抓住城市化带来的机遇实现梦想。
·在尾段中，sound作形容词用,表示“令人信服的”。
·笔者在“the city population of China will keep growing while the rural population willshrink in the future”一句中用了省略。可以想象，如果不省略，这部分应写成“the citypopulation of China will keep growing while the rural population of China will keep shrinkingin the future”。其中加粗部分与前半部分完全重复，在“X,while Y”等平行结构中，Y部分和X部分完全重复的部分可以省略(但不能影响句意)，这种省略是写作常用手法。英国著名散文家弗兰西斯·培根(“知识就是力量”这一名句就出自他笔下)在他著名的随笔《论读书》(Of Studies)中曾写道:“Reading makes a full man; conference a ready man; and writingan exact man.”(读书足以怡情，足以博采，足以长才。)此句中的后两个并列分句都省略了谓语动词makes，这样既避免赘述，又不失文采。

2.给出建议
案例

高分范文
The table shows the rates of satisfaction among employees in a company.One sixth ofemployees under 40 are satisfied,while one third are not. None of the employees in their 40s arecontent，and almost two thirds in this age group are dissatisfied. And the rates of satisfied anddissatisfied employees over 50 are 40% and 10% respectively.
we can see from the table that in general，older employees are more satisfied than eitheryoung or middle-aged ones. The main factors contributing to this situation are listed below.Oneis payment. As age and experience grows，older employees are paid more，sometimes muchmore, than the other two groups,so they tend to feel more satisfied.Another factor is a sense ofbeing valued.Often rewarded and highly praised, older workers have a stronger sense that theyare valuable. Therefore, the satisfaction rate among this group is higher.
A high dissatisfaction rate among employees is harmful to companies. So company leadersshould be more familiar with employees’needs. And employees themselves should also lowertheir expectations so as to feel happier about thcir work.
写作分析
短语lower one’s expectation表示“降低期待值”。中国古语所谓“知足常乐”，一个人越容易满足就越容易感到幸福。

3.合理预测+给出建议
案例

高分范文
The table gives a breakdown of the main causes of accidents in 2005 and their frequencyof occurrence compared with 2004.The number of accidents caused by drivers turning leftwithout due care was 608,10% higher than that of 2004,while the figure for those attributed topedestrians crossing roads carelessly was 401 (12% higher than the previous year). And drivers failing to give a signal contributed to 264 accidents, a 5 % decrease from a year earlier.
The table tells us that road accidents occur more frequently year by year. The major causesof this trend are discussed as follows. First,one important cause is concerned with the numberof drivers. Since the population of drivers grows every year, they are likely to cause more trafficaccidents one way or another.Second, another factor might be drivers’safety awareness.Lackinggood instruction, drivers are now less aware that they should be extremely careful when driving.As a result, more of them tend to make mistakes,contributing to more casualties.
lt is highly possible that the number of road accidents will see another rise in the followingyears. So related agencies should lay more severe punishments on those breaking traffic rules.Besides, drivers as well as pedestrians should enhance their safety consciousness.