论说文

论说文的写作目的在于通过对某一问题或观点的议论，甚至争论，以达到辨明是非、说服和教育读者的目的，在这一点上论说文与说明文不同：说明文只是客观地解释事物、观点、方法等，目的是为了使读者能够明白某一事理或了解某一事物的特点；而论说文除此之外，更着重于主观上说服读者、论证某种观点的正确，使读者接受自己的观点。论说文在说明自己的观点的同时，往往对相反的观点予以批驳。它运用概念、判断、推理等逻辑思维方式，通过摆事实、讲道理对客观事理及事物本质规律进行科学的分析和论证，以阐明作者的思想、主张、意见及见解。然而，论说文在某种程度上来说与说明文有着一定的联系，论说是带有说服目的的说明文，可以简单地说，说明文并不总有议论，但是论说文中一定包含说明。

一、论说文的结构

与说明文一样，论说文也由三部分组成：导言、正文和结尾。

1.导言

在导言部分作者要提出一个明确的论点，即对某一个问题或有争议的问题所持的观点态度。与其他文体相比，在论说文中作者要更鲜明、更直接地表达自己的观点，因而论点（主题句）是论说文中不可或缺的重要部分。主题句可以出现在导言的最后部分，前面以事例、数据或引语进行铺垫。主题句也可以放在导言的开始部分，然后用细节解释、发展主题思想。

2.正文

正文部分的作用是列举确凿有力的事实（论据）来支持作者所提出的论点，因为没有论据的论点不能够说服读者，它的写作方法与说明文方法不同。说明文是依据事实说明，紧扣中心思想，而论说文是摆观点，强调的是对同一事实做不同的解释，并以事实来证明论点。展开议论的方法有两种：把所有反面的观点呈现在正面的观点之前；同时呈现两面，先是反面的然后是正面的。不管采用什么样的方法，切记所选的论据一定能够支持自己的观点。

3.结尾

结尾部分可重申主题，也可以提出解决问题的方法或建议。后一种方法可以使论述显得更加有力。

［例1］Many people say that commercials are annoying interruptions that detract viewers from the enjoyment of television viewing. But I think that they do have their advantages.

First of all, the commercials are informative because they advise viewers of products and services that are available. For example, by watching commercials we can learn what products are new on the market and in what ways they are different from the old ones. Recently I learned from a commercial that Sears Dental Association offers a new convenience. Instead of sitting in a waiting room, patients can shop in the store. This is possible, the commercial explained, because Sear gives each patient a pager to carry. When the dentist is ready for the patient, the pager beeps, signaling that it is time to return to the Dental Center.Without the commercial I would not have known of this service, which is one I now plan to take advantage of.

在这段短文中作者所支持的观点是：电视广告也有其优点，为了支持这一观点，作者列举了一些事实，比如电视广告如何及时地告知人们新市场消息以及帮助人们得知牙医们新推出的服务项目。

［例２］Men and women should be equal both at home and in society, for they are indispensable for the family. However, not all the people agree on the problem of equality between the two sexes.

Some people hold that men are superior to women. They consider women are weaker than men both physical and mental. Their argument is that the most important positions in society are held by men, not by women. But,many people think differently. They argue that women seem to be less important than men because they are allowed much less chance to show their abilities. They have been living for too long a time in a world dominated by men.

In my opinion, either sex has its own strong and weak points. Men and women should regard each other as equals. If they can support each other in their life, our society will become a more colorful and harmonious one.

在导言中作者提出了自己所支持的观点：不论是在家中还是在社会上，男女都应该平等，接下来作者指出并不是所有的人都赞同这一观点,然后在正文部分作者对反面意见进行反驳，通过反驳反面意见达到说服和教育读者的目的。

二、论说文的组织方法

作者在导言部分提出论点之后，可以用归纳法、演绎法等证明这一论点。

1惫槟煞

归纳法是一种逻辑推理方法。一些论说文通过这种方法组织素材，从逻辑上论证某一观点的正确性，在具体写作中，作者首先要列举事实（这一点类似于说明文的列举法），然后根据这些事实自然地引申出一个符合逻辑的结论。例如：

Fact 1：Each member of family has a bad cough for weeks after they moved to the new house.

Fact 2：Some other people living in this building have also suffered from cough.

Fact 3：This building has been newly decorated.

Conclusion: The decoration material must contain some pollutants.

2毖菀锓

演绎法是与归纳法相对的另一种逻辑推理方式。论说文在使用演绎法组织文章时，作者首先要提出一个众所周知的原理或结论，然后据此及相应的事实再推论出作者的结论。

Wellnown concept: Polluting decoration material does harm to people health.

Fact 1：Each member of family has a bad cough for weeks after they moved to the new house.

Fact 2：Some other people living in this building have also suffered from cough.

Fact 3：The building has been newly decorated.

Conclusion: The decoration material must contain some pollutants.

三、论说文的种类

这里所说的论说文的种类是根据大学英语四级考试中命题作文的出题特点和写作方法、写作目的来划分的,目的是为了让考生能更好地抓住写作的重心，更快地掌握写作的技巧。四级英语考试的命题作文中经常出现的论说文类型有以下三种：分析性论说文、解释性论说文和批驳性论说文。

1.分析性论说文

分析性论说文的写作重点在于分析主题的性质，提出具体的建议或解决方案。作者可以依据论说文的结构（导言、正文和结尾）在第一段引入主题，随后在正文部分对主题进行分析，最后在结尾部分提出建议。例如Advantages of a Job Interview(1995年6月全国四级作文题),Getting to Know the World Outside the Campus (1997年6月全国四级作文题)都属于这一范畴。下面是一篇以污染为主题的作文：

Pollution is harmful to human beings. Polluted water causes many kinds of diseases such as diarrhea, vomit, etc. And sometimes these diseases even take man life. Dirty air or airorne garbage causes stinging eyes and running nose.

Nowadays pollution problems have not been completely solved. Pesticides are widely used almost everywhere. They pollute soil, water and food. They have the power to make our streams fishless and our gardens and woodlands silent and beardless. Some factories are still using sea as a dumping place for wastes. Some lakes are still dirty. Quite a few chimneys are still pouring smoke into air and noise pollution remains serious.

Measures should be taken to control pollution. Legislative steps should be introduced and pollutants should be trapped before they are poured out of chimneys.

文章在导言部分引入主题：污染有害于人类。在正文部分分析了污染会给人类造成哪些具体的危害。最后在结尾部分提出了防治污染的措施。

2.批驳性论说文

批驳性论说文在各类试题中多是给出一些有争议的观点或做法，由考生对其进行分析、评论和驳斥，目的是为了得出正确的结论或者给出问题的解决方法。例如：Is Failure a Bad Thing？(1992年1月四级作文题)/Do “Lucky Numbers” Really Bring Good Luck？(1998年6月四级作文题)/Can Money Buy Happiness？(1996年1月四级作文题)/Reading Selectively or Extensively?(1996年6月四级作文题)

［例1］

Does Lottery Really Bring Us Luck?

Nowadays, many people are enthusiastic about buying all kinds of lottery tickets. The purpose of them is to realize their dreams of becoming rich. However, some people don agree on this activity. They think trying luck on lottery is harmful. They believe that such practice is likely to make people expect good luck rather than hard work to achieve their goals.

I believe that it is a meaningful thing. It does more good than harm to our society. First, the money collected can be used to help poor and the needed. Second, the accumulated money will be helpful to promote our welfare and make contribution to the whole society. Moreover if you are lucky enough, you may be rewarded.

So I favor lottery tickets, if I have some money, Il buy them.

作者在第一段提出了人们对彩票的两种不同观点，接下来在正文部分提出自己的观点，并阐述了自己之所以坚持这一观点的原因。

［例２］

Can Success Be Measured in Terms of Money?

In the mind of some people money is the only yardstick of success. They bellies that if people have money, they may earn their position, fame, and popularity in the society. Consequently they can live a comfortable life.

However, others don agree with them, they think that success can be measured in terms of money. For example, Lei Feng and Liu Hulan had almost no personal property when they died, but they have gone down in history because their lives were dedicated to the Party and the people.

In my opinion, measuring success by money alone is rather misleading. It will mislead people to strive to make money, sometimes even by unfair means. Eventually this will do harm to our society.

作者在文章中首先摆出两种不同的观点：有人认为金钱是衡量成功的惟一标准，而有人却不同意这一观点，接下来作者用了雷锋和刘胡兰两人的事例来论证成功与否并不能靠金钱来衡量。最后作者发表了自己的观点。