圖表作文著重說明事實，常常是通過對圖表中所反映的具體數據的說明、分析、比較，對某種事物或現象的事實或變化情況等加以說明，并提出結論或看法。因此，圖表作文常常采用議論文體的寫作方法。

　　寫好圖表作文，關鍵在于能否讀懂圖表中所提供的信息，把握各信息間的聯系，用準確流暢的語言把這一信息表達出來，并就這一信息發表自己的看法。

　　圖表作文的寫作步驟

　　寫圖表作文時，要注意遵循以下步驟：

　　1)認真分析圖表的含義，弄清圖表中所含的信息及不同信息間的關系;

　　2)確定文章的主題思想，構思出文章的基本框架，篩選出能說明圖表主題思想的典型數據;

　　3)編列文章的提綱;

　　4)根據文章的提綱，將各段的提綱內容擴展成段落，然后將各個段落組成文章，注意段與段之間的銜接與過渡;

　　5)檢查與修改。

　　圖表作文的篇章結構

　　寫圖表作文時，常采用三段式的謀篇方式。文章的第一段往往分析圖表中的數據變化反映什么問題或趨勢，概述圖表所揭示的信息。第二段分析造成這一問題或趨勢的原因。第三段則展望未來的情況或提出解決問題的辦法或建議。這一結構可以簡單地表述為：

　　第一段：概述圖表反映的主題思想

　　第二段：分析產生的原因

　　第三段：展望未來或提出方法或建議

　　圖表作文常用的句型

　　(1)常用的開篇句型(即概述圖表內容時常用的表達法)

　　① According to the table/pie chart/line graph/bar graph, we can see/conclude that … 根據該表/圖，我們可知 ……

　　② The table/graph reveals (shows/indicates/illustrates/ represents/points out) that … 該表/圖表明……

　　③ As we can see from the table …

　　As can be seen from the line/bar graph …

　　As is shown (illustrated/indicated) in the pie chart …

　　如表/圖所示，……

　　(2) 描述增減變化常用的句型

　　① Compared with … is still increased by …

　　② The number of … grew/rose from … to …

　　③ An increase is shown in …; then came a sharp increase of …

　　④ In … the number remains the same/drops to …

　　⑤ There was a very slight (small/slow/gradual) rise/increase in 1990.

　　⑥There was a very steady (marked/sharp/rapid/sudden/ dramatic) drop (decrease/ decline/ fall/ reduction) in 1998/ compared with that of last year).

　　下面是根據例2的題目要求寫的范文。

　　⑴From the graph, we can see that the number of car accidents in Walton city fluctuated during the year of 1990. ⑵The first two months of 1990 showed an increasing trend. ⑶The rate rose to 32 in March but fell to 26 in June. ⑷From June on, the rate was rising again and reached the peak point 39 in August. ⑸After August the rate began to decline remarkably, and eventually dropped to the lowest point 16 at the end of the year. ⑹Therefore, it’s obvious that car accident in Walton city declined in 1990.⑴主題句/概述表格反映的內容⑵―(5)反映交通事故的變化情況(6)小結：總結表格數據反映的總趨勢

　　⑺There are several reasons for the decline. ⑻First, a new traffic law was made and came into force. ⑼It provided that in summer every car must be air-conditioned. ⑽As a result, the highest rate in August, when humidity and high temperature make drivers impatient and easily lead to car accidents, dropped steadily. ⑾Second, new roads were built and some narrow streets were widened, which quickened the flow of traffic. ⑿Finally, the city administration made great efforts to heighten people’s awareness of observing traffic rules.⑺主題句⑻原因/措施一⑼解釋措施一/次要輔助⑽采取措施一后的結果⑾原因/措施二⑿原因/措施三

　　⒀With all these new measures, I’m sure the rate of car accidents in Walton city will go on falling this year.⒀總結：展望未來的情況