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论点是一篇文章的灵魂、统帅，任何一篇文章只有一个中心论点，一般可以有分论点。论点要正确，认真概括，有实际含义，恰当地综合运用各种表达方式；论点的位置一般有三个：开篇、篇中、篇尾。

论据用来证明论点的材料，有事实论据和理论论据两种。事实论据用事实来说话，而理论论据靠经典性取胜。论据必须围绕中心论点，这是一个最基本的要求。选用的事例与论点若不能保持一致，势必削弱说服力量。论据要真实可靠，充分典型；选用事实论据还要注意几点：第一，论据必须具有典型性。典型就是指论据要具有代表性。第二，论据必须具有新颖性。不少学生的议论文写作离不开一些陈旧的事例，像一写失败与成功的关系，似乎就离不开爱迪生发明灯泡，一写逆境成才就非写张海迪不可，类似的内容不是说不可以用，而是说你用，他用，大家都用，谁的作文与众不同呢？第三，论据的表述要精练、简要，与记叙文的表述不同，它只要求表述出与论点相关的内容即可。

论证过程是指运用证据阐释证明论点是否正确的过程。它要求论述要深刻、周密，讲究说理的艺术，论证的方法多种多样，常用的方法有：归纳法：从分析典型，即分析个别事物入手，找出事物的共同特点，然后得出结论。推理法：从一般原理出发，对个别事物进行说明、分析，而后得出结论。对照法：对所有事实、方面进行对照，然后加以分析，得出结论。驳论法：先列出错误的观点，然后加以逐条批驳，最后阐明自己的观点。举例论证：列举确凿、充分，有代表性的事例证明论点。道理论证：用马列主义经典著作中的精辟见解，古今中外名人的名言警句以及人们公认的定理公式等来证明论点；对比论证：拿正反两方面的论点或论据作对比，在对比中证明论点；比喻论证：用人们熟知的事物作比喻来证明论点。此外，在驳论中，往往还采用“以尔之矛，攻尔之盾”的批驳方法和“归谬法”。在多数议论文中往往是综合运用的。类比论证：是从已知的事物中推出同类事例的方法，即从特殊到一般的论证方法。因果论证：它通过分析事理，揭示论点和论据之间的因果关系来证明论点。因果论证可以用因证果，或以果证因，还可以因果互证。引用论证：引用论证是“道理论证”的一种，通过引用名家名言等作为论据，引经据典地分析问题、说明道理的论证方法。引用的方法有两种：一是明引，交代所引的话是谁说的，或交代其出处，一种是暗引，即不交代所引的话是谁说的或出处。以上是我们一些常用的论证方法，当然，在具体写作时，我们不应拘泥于某种论证方式，可以几种方法混用。

2.议论文的结构

议论文的结构一般有引子、正文和结论句三部分。一般在引子部分提出论点，即文章的主题，在正文部分摆出有利的事实，对论点进行严密的论证，最后根据前面的论证得出结论。无论在英语还是在汉语中，一半以上的议论文段落都是段首主题句段落，即演绎型段落；英汉议论文段落主题句出现在段中的情况都是最少的。英语议论文的段落发展主要有两种模式：演绎型段落和无主题句段落。下面我们介绍议论文结构上需要注意的问题：1）先有规矩，然后才能从心所欲，不逾矩

议论文的写作，往往从正反两方面来论述，且都有其约定俗成的议论模式，即从“主题句—正面论述，反面论述—结论”四大块去营造文章的基本结构。

例如，某题目要求论述“学校规定‘课间学生只能待在自己的教室里’对吗？”这一话题。如果作者认为学校的规定不对，他就应该在文章第一块（段）亮出自己的观点：There is currently much discussion about whether students should stay in their own classrooms or not during break times. Personally I believe that...而第二块应该从正面论述“课间不能只待在自己的教室里”的理由。比如可以说：I would argue that break times are our only opportunity to choose what we want to do.第三块则从反面观点，即“课间只能待在自己的教室里”出发，批驳对方观点或进一步阐述己方观点。例如可以说：Another reason why people say that students have to stay in their own classes at break times is that it would be difficult to organize dinners.最后一块（段）则用不同的表达方式再次强调己方观点。乍一看去，议论文“四块论”仿佛有“八股文”的嫌疑，但“四块论”符合人的认知规律，所以值得多多模仿和操练。

2）围绕中心论述，确保论述的内容直接为主题服务

在上例中，“学生课间时不能只待在自己的教室里”是主题句，论述时应该紧紧围绕它。有的同学在写的时候先说“学生若课间被允许到其他班级活动，就可以交到更多的朋友”，然后又说“交到更多朋友就可以学到更多知识”，“学到更多知识就可以为社会做出更大的贡献”……这种论述方式貌似环环相扣，承前启后，实则是中心涣散的流水账，说到最后，不仅读者会一头雾水，连作者自己都会忘了自己在说什么。

3）确立并写好论点，并将其置于每一段的段首

整篇文章有整篇文章的中心论点，每一段落有每一段落的分论点。选取论点时要问一问自己：这一论点是否会让自己信服？如果一个论点连自己都说服不了，就要放弃它。段落论点的呈现不能羞羞答答，犹抱琵琶半遮面，也不能深藏不露，让读者去总结和归纳，而必须在文章开篇或段落开头就亮出来。论点置于篇首或段首，才能纲举目张，也是确保不跑题的前提。如：

（1） Firstly， it is very convenient in daily life. There are many shops and supermarkets in a city. I can buy everything I need easily in these places. When I am sick， I can easily see a doctor in any clinic or hospital. Transport services are good in a city. When I want to go somewhere， I can take a bus， a train or something else. There are also many kinds of entertainment in a city. Public buildings （such as libraries） and parks can easily be found in a city， too.

（2） First， it is convenient and comfortable to live in a city. To begin with， there is good housing in a city， as all the houses and flats are well-equipped with good facilities and surrounded by modern amenities such as places of entertainment， public libraries and parks.

以下两个例子中，第一个结构松散，群龙无首，令读者不知所云；而第二个例子则中心突出，章法严谨。目前大学英语写作中议论文的写作第一种形式是要求学生针对某一有争议性的两种观点，来阐述自己的立场，或对这一问题反映出的某一观点进行驳斥，然后提出自己的看法并加以论证。它的基本形式是：一些人认为……；另一些人认为……；我的看法……这种文章的基本结构如下：Paragraph1： Introduction（启）； Paragraph2： Analysis（承）；Paragraph3： Conclusion（转合）。如：

Data collection is a fact of modern life. Some argue that data collection is endangering the rights of individuals， though others see it as a useful tool which increases efficiency.（启）To be frank，I believe data collection does more good than harm.（作者观点）

For one thing， databases provide a very useful tool. Large databases which contain information on many individuals can enable more effective decisions to be made. Institutions such as government departments and police rely on data collection in order to operate efficiently， and hospitals use computerized records to help in their fight against disease. （承1） For another， databases stored on computer can also be very efficient. Data which has been collected in one area can be sent anywhere in the world almost instantly. This means that those who have legitimate access to this data can work very efficiently.（承2）

In summary， data collection on individuals can be justified，although all possible measures should be taken to minimize the risks. （转合）

议论文的第二种形式是要求学生生针对某一有争议性的观点，表明自己的观点（同意或是不同意），并提出相应的论证。如：

We could argue that children go to school to study so that they may become fully productive adults and good citizens. We should ask whether playing sport helps children to become better people.If so， sport is not a waste of time. （启）

It is generally believed that students need more than the knowledge of a subject. They need to know how to work in groups to achieve a mutual goal， how to work as a team. Where is better to learn those skills than on the sports field？ Any of the team sports involve coordination with other players， understanding and adopting a team mentality. These skills are too useful to be ignored. （承1） Moreover， it is important that people be healthy，and good health is not so easily achieved in a sedentary society.Sport gets students outside and gives them good reason to run about， thus countering hours spent sitting still. （承2）

In a word， although school studies are undeniably important，we should regard time spent playing sport as time well spent. （转合）.

3.议论文的注意事项

论点通常在文章的第一段提出。议题的提出要开门见山，不要拖泥带水。

要证明自己的观点必须有充分的证据。作者可以列举事实、展示数据、提供事例、借助常识或利用亲身经历。所有事实、原因、理由都应紧密地同结论连接起来。

3）论证要逻辑严密，层次清楚

论证时可以采用不同的方法。如：可以摆出正反两方面观点，进行对比；也可引经据典论证论点的正确性，从而使读者接受作者的观点；亦可提出一种错误的观点然后论证其错误，最终提出正确的观点。正文部分是写作的重点，论证方法可用归纳法、推理法、比较法等。

4）态度要诚恳、友好

因为议论文重在说理，以理服人。议论文在写作手法上以议论为主，但有时也要运用说明、叙述、描写等手法。议论中的说明常为议论的开展创造条件，或是议论的补充；议论文中的叙述和描写应为论点提供依据。因此，叙述应该概括，描写应该简要。

5）注意连接词和过渡词等词语的使用，增强文章的条理性和逻辑性

常用的过渡词和连接词包括：first， second， third， finally， in addition， furthermore， besides， what was worse， more importantly，in contrast， because， since， now that， therefore， consequently， in that case，as a result/ consequence， in conclusion， to sum up等等。

6）结论部分要表明作者的观点，要对讨论的问题做出总结。

4.议论文的语言特点

由于与其他文体相比，英语议论文类似英语说明文，因此，它具有英语说明文的一些语言特点，如：时态较为统一，多用现在时；强调语言表达的客观性；尽可能指明信息来源；但作为一种独立的文体，英语议论文在语言上也有一些自己特有的表达形式：

1）较多使用表达委婉语气的词语和句子

与英语说明文相比，英语议论文不仅需要说明自己的观点，而且还要让读者接受自己的观点，因此，在词语表达上除了客观之外，还必须注意委婉。在英语中，常用虚拟语气，让步状语从句和情态动词can， could， may， might， would， should等。如：

（1） No one should be admitted into college without a personal interview. What can admissions people tell from a piece of paper？They can tell nothing. Only when they see a student face to face，can they decide what kind of a person he is.

（2） Though it is admitted that people can learn some things from a piece of paper， such as how well a person writes and what he is interested in， there may be many other things that an application can not tell but can only be seen in a personal interview. The way a person talks， the way he thinks about and answers questions， the way he reacts， are all important facts of a person which can not be found on a piece of paper.

两段文字都强调“大学生入学必须面试”，但相比之下，例（2）用了情态动词及though引导的让步状语从句等表达方式，语气较为委婉，更容易为读者所接受。

2）使用有辩论、推理等含义的连接词和过渡词等词语结构

英语议论文讲究辩论推理的条理性和逻辑性，因此，往往较多地使用这类性质的过渡词和连接词，常用的包括：since， now that，therefore，consequently， accordingly， hence， in that case，because，so等。另外，还有些句型也常出现在英语议论文中，比如：It follows that... ， If...we may conclude that... ， Should it be the case don't want to ...but， If you admit... then... ， It is true that... but ... even if…等。下面这篇作文较好地使用了上述这些英语议论文中常用的连接词和过渡词等词语结构，从而使文章的辩论和推理条理清晰，富有说服力：

Some people say that they will not give up smoking because they have the right to do what they want to do since smoking is not against the law. Yes it's true that smoking does not violate the law and therefore they can do as they like. What is equally true is that they have to be responsible for what they do at the same time.Now don't want to bringfears to anyone but here are some statics I've just got from newspaper: Over seventy percent of the people who died of lung were heavy smokers. More than thirty-five percent deformed babies have smoking mothers. Even if those chain smokers are not afraid for themselves， shouldn't they be afraid for their family members if they have got any？

5.议论文常用论证方法

有理有据是议论文的生命线。我们平时在和别人争论某个话题时常常会引用诸如报道、例子、科学研究结果等去增强自己的话的分量，去说服别人，这是力求做到有理有据的表现。很多学生都有这样的困惑：当回答一个问题时，第一句往往脱口而出，但接下来就不知道说什么，这正是由于不知道如何找证据及找什么证据所导致的。这种弱点在写作中就显得尤为明显，要么是论据与观点无关，要么根本想不出任何论据。那么英语议论文究竟有一些什么有效的论证办法呢？前面我们已简要介绍了十一种有效的论证方法，下面我们重点介绍一下英语议论文常见的论证方法。

举例法是议论文写作中最常用和最有效的方法之一。记住这句话：“写好文章的真正的秘诀在于使用例子。”如：

In the first place， as science and technology develop rapidly，work today is more demanding than it used to be. For example，college graduates nowadays have to master English， computer science and driving skills before they can find decent jobs.

此句中的例子具体地解释了第一句中的“... work today is more demanding... ”。如果没有这个例子，读者就会产生困惑，论据的说服力就会降低。再如：

Even when children use a computer for other purposes， such as getting information or e-mailing friends， it is no substitute for human interaction. Spending time with other children and sharing non-virtual experiences is an important part of a child's development that cannot be provided by a computer.

这段对“使用电脑给孩子带来危害”的议论，作者用“such as”直接引出使用电脑的目的“getting information or emailing friends”。并且在举例的同时就评价说“it is no substitute for human interaction”，使用电脑与他人交流不能代替面对面的互动。并且进一步议论说“Spending time with other children and sharing nonvirtual experiences”，在真实的环境而非虚拟的环境与同伴相处是孩子成长所必需的，电脑无法胜任。正所谓，举例言简意赅，议论及时深刻。

统计数据是另一种非常有效的论证办法，因为数字总是能给我们一种权威和信任感因而更具有说服力。比如，你想说明拳击是一种危险的运动，除了可以用举例法来论证以外（比如以阿里为例），你完全可以用统计数据说明。比如，根据调查表明，有××%的拳击运动员脑部都有程度不同的创伤，这样写可以，但更好的处理方法是，有××%的拳击运动员得了帕金森综合征，生活不能自理。因为更具体，这样的数据胜过一百句空洞的话。如：

比较论证法非常易于操作，然而却常常被很多人忽视。具体讲，在议论文写作中，我们常常运用两种比较方法：纵比和横比。所谓纵比，就是和过去比；所谓横比，就是和同类比。我们回头再看一看“数据法”中的例句。除了数据证明，我们完全可以用比较论证。试看：

Recent statistics show convincingly that jogging is saving the lives of many Americans.Of the 12.5 million who jog at least ten miles per week， 78 percent have a pulse rate and blood pressure lower than nonjoggers of the same age.Estimates indicate that these joggers can expect to live an average of 77—more than three years than the average age of their contemporaries.

这一段中我们分别用了数据和对比（横比）的方法来支持我们的观点，使得它完全可以服人。再如：

There is little doubt that the plane is one of the greatest inventions in the history of human beings. Indeed， people have to travel for about one month from Nanjing to Beijing before the arrival of the plane. However， it takes people only about two hours to cover the same distance by air， which our ancestors could never have imagined.（纵比）Besides， the plane has been considered to be the safest means of transport. Statistics have shown that the number of air crushes is only one hundredth of that of train accidents.（横比）

这一段中分别运用了纵比及横比的方法，这样主题句中的观点就能站住了。

引用论证，是最为考验学生知识储备的一种论证方法。引用论证，一般引用名人名言、权威数据、研究成果、学术刊物，它能够增加论证的可信度和权威性。假设我们要论证这个观点“抽烟应该被禁止”，我们可以使用哪些论证方法呢？我们可以采用很多手段——举例（列举深受香烟危害的历史名人）、数据法（抽烟者的高死亡率）、对比法（抽烟者和不抽烟者在寿命长短方面的对比）。我们当然也可以引用科学研究支持我们的观点。如：

Undoubtedly， smoking should be banned. Indeed， numerous medical researches have convincingly proven that smoking may cause a variety of diseases， such as， lung cancer， which considerably shortens smokers'life span. The results indicate that those who smoke two packs of cigarettes a day live about ten years shorter than those who never smoke.

对比论证的方法，主要适用于出现两个对象比较的情况。从操作性上看，对比论证较为方便。论证对比的角度，只需从论题中的两个对象入手即可。如：

However， learning to understand and share the value system of a whole society cannot be achieved just at home. Once a child goes to school， they are entering a wider community where teachers and peers will have just as much influence as their parents do at home. At school， children will experience working and living with people from whole variety of backgrounds for the wider society. This experience should teach them how to cooperate with each other and how to contribute to the life of their community.

这段的论题为“孩子社会意识的教育与培养是靠家庭还是靠学校”。在论证学校的教育义务时，着重强调了：相比较家庭，“teachers and peers will have just as much influence as their parents do at home”。学校中的老师和同学对孩子社会意识的培养有相同的影响力。而且，在学校相比较在家，“experience working and living with people from whole variety of backgrounds for the wider society”。孩子接触的世界更大，人的类型更多。正所谓，公正合理两方面，对比论证出真知。

在自然界和社会中，各种现象之间是普遍联系的，因果联系是现象之间普遍联系的表现形式之一。因果联系是普遍的和必然的联系，没有一个现象不是由一定的原因引发的；而当原因和一切必要条件都存在时，结果就必然产生。在议论文体中，根据客观事物之间都具有这种普遍的和必然的因果联系的规律性，通过提示原因来论证结果，就是因果论证。如：

Those who feel that sports star's salaries are justified might argue that the number of professionals with real talent is very few，and the money is recognition of the skills and dedication a person needs to be successful. Competition is constant and a player is tested every time they perform in their relatively short career. The pressure from the media is intense and there is little privacy out of the spotlight. So all of these factors may justify the huge earnings.

在这段中，作者从体育奇才数量少“The number of professionals with real talent is very few”，竞争强度大“Competition is constant”，训练时间长“A player is tested every time”，体育生涯短“relatively short career”，媒体关注度高、压力大“the pressure from the media”，隐私基本得不到保护“little privacy out of the spotlight”多方面论证“体育明星的高收入是合理的”。正所谓，分析原因层层深入，得出结论水到渠成。

在议论文中，就某一事物或者问题发表议论，揭露和反驳别人错误的或反动的言论，通常叫做驳论。进行驳论，首先必须占有材料，对错误言论进行周密的分析，弄清它的症结所在，集中一点，才能一针见血，击中要害。“伤其十指，不如断其一指”，这是驳论的要领。驳倒了错误的观点，正确的论点才能确立起来。进行驳论，还要选准角度。如同打仗一样，进攻角度选得不好，就不能给敌人以致命的一击。如：

With the development of the society， more and more people take the postgraduate examination in order to get a high diploma.It is believed that high diploma is equal to high ability and profound knowledge. Most companies are inclined to hire people with high diplomas. It seems that having high diploma means a better future.

However， is it really true that high diploma equals high ability or profound knowledge？ Some people think that ability or knowledge means more than diploma. Take Bill Gates， head of Microsoft， for example. He does not have a MBA degree which is believed to play a vital role in commercial success. Furthermore，Sam Walton of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. does not have a MBA degree，either. But they are among the most successful men in commerce.

In my opinion， diploma does not equal knowledge. A diploma is a piece of paper which indicates your education level. But your true ability and real knowledge come from your hard work and endowment. If you get a diploma by dishonest behavior， no matter how high it is， it is just a piece of paper， and you are as blank as that paper.

这篇文章讨论的话题是知识和文凭的问题，当今社会是一个文凭社会，文凭成为许多人找工作的敲门砖，但是文凭是否等同于能力，作者并没有直接回答，而是通过举例，以比尔·盖茨和山姆·沃尔顿两名商业巨头为例，有力地驳斥了社会上一些人的错误观点，认为高学历等同于高能力，之后，作者才将自己的观点亮出来，认为文凭仅仅是一个人受教育水平的凭证，而真正的能力只有通过辛苦的努力才能获得，通过不正当手段获得的学位，只能是一张没有任何意义的白纸。该文章论点清晰，辩驳有力，是非曲直分明。