本次考试的小作文非常简单：要求写一封致图书管理员的建议信。小作文只要能写到100字即可，而它的开头、结尾又有很多句式可以套用，比如第一段开门见山交待写信目的、最后一段表示感谢，高度模式化。在信的中间部分随便凑上两条建议，每条建议后面展开一两句就可以超出最低字数了。文字方面保证文理通顺即可。如果事先能背一两句模式化的正式表达就肯定能达到7、8分的标准。如果再能有点句型和用词的变化则大功告成可以稳拿9到10分了。
例文：
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am Li Ming, a freshman majoring in Computer Science & Application at this university. I am writing this letter on behalf of all the students to offer some advice on your service and management.
First of all, I am wondering if you can extend your opening hours. The library is believed to be a paradise for us students in scorching summer and freezing winter. But every morning we have to queue in the biting wind at the gate of the library waiting to be let in.
Besides, I would like to draw your attention to the software you are using now – it is much too outdated and has proved to be a time waster for its users. It is estimated that we have to spend an hour searching for a book on the average. To make the matter worse, it often breaks down without warning. In that case, we can do nothing but to wait for another hour until it gets started.
We would be grateful if you could take measures to improve your service and management. Thank you for your attention to this letter.
Sincerely yours,
Li Ming
今年的大作文倒是很有点麻烦。
首先它没有明确的文字提示。从97年开始，考研英语写作命题形式发生变化，原来的命题作文改成了图画、图表作文。但历年来不论图画、图表，旁边文字总还有点文字提示。提示部分不管多少，不管中文、英文，总还能为我们审题构思提供一点帮助。而今年的图画作文除了几点泛泛的要求和一个看似让人莫名其妙的图画就什么都没了。考试本来心情就很紧张，时间又短。一下子看不懂图画的寓意给很多考生的写作增加了不少难度。考后有考生回忆说：不知道图画讲什么，也不知道自己写了什么。反正乱七八糟写了一气好歹把字数凑起来了。这样的文章能得多少分令人担忧。
即使看懂漫画寓意，文章如何展开也有些棘手。因为今年这篇文章属于考研写作中考得相对较少的“观点论证”类，而不是属于考得比较多、大家比较熟悉的那种“现象、问题”类。对于后一类文章，我们往往可以采取“分析原因、列举影响”的方法来展开，这类文章的起承转合往往有明确的模式，并且不论对于什么现象或问题我们甚至可以在考前预先准备一些常见的原因和影响。但对于“观点论证”类文章很难有明确的既定模式，事先准备的材料如果文不对题会很牵强。这是使得今年的大作文难写的第二个原因。
但也正因为缺少明确的提示，我们就有了更多自由发挥的空间。从图中我们可以比较清楚地看出：攻守双方都将对手想象得过于强大而对自己的能力失去自信。因此，我们最好将文章中心定位于“自信的重要性”。但如果写成“如何面对压力”，“最大的敌人是自己”，“充分的准备是自信的源泉、成功的关键”等等都未尝不可。
如果把文章的中心定位于“自信”，如果对“观点论证”类的文章感到无从下笔，我们就把它当作“现象、问题”类来对付也未尝不可。比如，我们可以来分析，为什么有些人在竞争中缺少应有的自信？有些人是属于“平时不烧香”，有些人是由于“心里有问题”，另一些人则可能是“实战无经验”。然后我们可以简单谈谈其后果。当然，在文章中好歹要写出一两个例子。哪怕是一句话提到一个例子也表示我们没有完全抛开提纲。否则有偏题的嫌疑。
对一般同学来说，比较可行的方法是举出一个例子支撑观点（如下文中王励勤技术加自信成就天下第一），写几句正反阐述强调观点（Were it not for confidence, Wang couldn’t have won the championship, were it not for confidence, Edison couldn’t have gone through the countless frustrations he experienced, were it not for confidence, the Allies couldn’t have enjoyed the remarkable triumph over the Axis）, 再加上一两个数据论证证明观点（According to statistics from a recent survey, most people who excel in their fields have strong confidence in themselves）。这样主体段落也就差不多了。
至于开头、结尾不管什么文章多差不多。如果平时有足够的练习，基本不需要花时间思考可以一挥而就。所有考研作文的开头至少包含两部分：描写和点题。“现象问题”类文章还可以来一两句背景介绍。这次的作文属“观点论证”，本来不好写背景介绍，但我还是在文章一开始写了几句（下文第一段）。大家可以看出这纯属多余。之所以加上这一段是想告诉考生朋友背景介绍可以怎么写，另外想告诉大家只要想用某种方法总可以用上。结尾段一般是总结加建议。这种写法大家都很熟悉。下文稍有变化用了“引用名言”法。其实这种方法放在中间也未尝不可。
文章无定法，功到自然成。图画既无题，天马可行空。
祝考生朋友好运。
例文：
In his life, man is always engaged in endless battles to win, to win admission to a prestigious university, to win a scholarship at an attractive program, or to win a desirable post in a world-renowned company… In these battles, some win while others lose. Among those unfortunate losers, some are beaten by their rivals, but most, I should say, are beaten by themselves.
As is described in the cartoon, in the field stand two footballers: one is ready to shoot while the other prepared to defend. However, both of them have been beaten before the game – not by their opponents but by themselves, because they think of each other as too powerful. Obviously what is described in the given cartoon reveals a widely accepted truth: only when we believe in ourselves can we achieve success.
Take Wang Liqing, the No. 1 pingpong player in the world for example. His unbeatable techniques and talents have long been proved by his innumerable triumphs over all his opponents. However, he failed our expectation every time he participated in such important events as the Olympic Games. What was wrong with him? He had no self-confidence in spite of his excellence. He was too nervous to bring his talents in full play. It was only after experts helped him overcome his psychological obstruction that he began to assert himself as the real No.1.
Wang’s case is not unique. In fact, there are few places that you cannot find such stories. It is often reported that an all-A student fails to pass an exam, an outstanding candidate fails to list his name at a certain program, a highly intelligent jobseeker fails to be employed – all because of the lack of self-confidence.
“If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, I know I can achieve it.” From the examples mentioned above we can safely conclude that self-confidence is a must for anyone who desires to survive and thrive in this world characteristic of fierce competitions. Therefore, it is advisable for us to bear in mind in whatever a tough situation, “I can do it if I think I can”.
