短文写作是语法语境、短语词汇及认识表达等融为一体的语言能力训练。要想在40分钟内现场写出高质量的短文，除了要有较好的语言基础，还要注意掌握一定的应试技巧，多思考，勤实践，做到举一反三，以不变应万变。尽管写作的题目可以千变万化，但只要熟悉了写作套路、方法和技巧，任何题目都可根据内容归人一定的模式。
I 常见的写作模式
虽然文章无定式，但在长期的书面表达中人们还是总结出一些约定俗成的写作方法。本章节是在参考大量国外写作材料的基础上写成的，经多年实践颇见成效，使不同程度的考生均能通过短期训练得到较大提高。因此只要在运用中认真领会，掌握规律，一定会大受裨益。
考试的内容可以千变万化，但写作框架却相对模式化。如果考生分别掌握开头、中间、结尾段的表达方法，即做到大模块在握，再熟记一些常用套句、主题句的固定表达，就会稳扎稳打，为考试做好充分准备。
为了便于边学边练，立见成效，本部分分三步讲解：
第一步：展示模式，使框架内容一目了然。
第二步：试题举例，用实践模式来说明用法。
第三步：模拟练习，通过实际训练使写作水平得以稳步提高。
Introduction:
present situation / background information / thesis statement
Body:
topic sentence_____________________________
supporting details:examples / facts / evidence / statistics / physical description / personal experience
conclusion:
short summary:
prediction opinion
suggestion preference
solution recommendation
implication call for action
comments practice
1992年、1993年及1995年试题均属这种类型。写作时可根据试题选用一项或多项内容。
(二)试题举例
Title：Probleins in Our Gmin Pmduction
Opening sentence：With the rapid growth of our economy，we do not worry about food shortage anymore．
Outline：
1．Present situation for grain production．
2．Diseussion of the problems with specific details．
3．Summary and prediction．
参考范文：
Pronblems in Our Grain Production
with the rapid growth of our economy, we do not worry about food shortages. But can we grow much more grain to feed our growing population? Based on extensive rescarch, agricultural experts warn that grain production will decrease considerably wordwide for the next ten years. The situation is more serious in China.
There are at least three major problems in grain production. First, our farmland shrinks rapidly because of the construction of factories, apartments, golf coureses, shopping malls and graveyards. Moreover, peasants are eager to produce tobacco or flowers to get higher profits. Second, shortage of water often result in poor harvests because the rapid expansion of cities and towns uses up most of the water resources. In most dry provinces, a mild drought may cause poor or no harvest. Finally, since their life in rural areas is a perpetual struggle against poverty, millions of young peasants rush to cities for easier jobs and leave fertile fields to lie wasted.
In summary, lack of manpower, shortage of water and decrease of famrland are the major problems to be solved. With only 7% of farmland, we already produce enough food for 22% of the world population If we focus our attention on the solution of these problems, we will ensure that everyone has enough to eat.
根据提纲得知本文可按所给顺序写成三段。
第一段：说明当前粮食生产的状况。这种以present situation为开头段的段落，通常试题给出的opening sentence并不要求是topic sentence。
这类短文的开头段属概述型，可采用的方法为概括一分析一总结。考生在第一段只需续写开头句，概括介绍当前的状况并点明文章主题即可。
第二段：即body paragraph，给出主题句：“There are at least three major problems in grain production”，然后运用事实(facts)借助first，second，finally这些连接信号词形成模块依次具体说明主题句中的three major problems。
第三段：按照提纲要求，先总结前面的内容，给出short summary，然后做了prediction。
(三)模拟练习(略)
二、写作模式2
(一)展示模式(以下表格见附样格式)
introduction:
topic sentence_____________supporting details______thesis statement
body:
topic sentence(major point one)______supporting details;
topic sentence(supporting) supporting details.
conclusion:
Short summary
(二)试题举例
Title：Somc Fire Hazards around Us
Opening sentence：Fires can be disastrous in our lives．
Outline：
1．Damage of fires．
2．Possible causes of fires：
1)Carelessness，
2)Unsafe electrical parts．
3．My comments．
参考范文：
Some Fire Hazards Around Us
Fires can be disastrous in our lives.In the shocking fire in Kelamayi,hundreds of people were killed or injured; most of them were children.The big firs occurring recently have revealed that there still exist too many fire hazards around us.
Carelessness is a leading cause of fires.One kind of carelessness is simply the mishandling of small flames.Throwing a burning match or cigarette butts into a wastebasket,placing a lighted candle near curtains,playing with fireworks,or failing to screen a flaming fire are foolish things to do.Another type of carelessness is the misuse of flammable liquids.Using gasoline to clean clothes in the house may lead to a bad fere.
Another fire hazard is the use of equipment with unsafe electical parts.A worn or broken power cord,a damaged outlet,or wires which become overheated when trying to supply enough power for too many appliances should be replaced.
Therefore,the abuse of electrical devices and personal negligence are the main hazards.Prevention is better than cure.If all these hidden fire hazards are completely removed and all possible precautions are taken against fire,no fires may occur anymore.
本文开头段属段首主题句型：可采用的写法为：主题句一扩展句一结尾句；可把提纲提示分三段(或四段)来写作。因中间段包括carelessness和unsafe electrical parts两部分内容，可以把它们统一在一个自然段中，亦可分二段分别表达。
模式2适合这种开头便给出关键词的短文，一般所给出的opening sentence就是第一段的主题句。这篇短文提纲第一部分要求考生写出damage of fires，其中damage就是一个关键词，可直接采用，也可作为主题内容体现在段首的主题句中，然后在段落中用细节进一步解释与说明，不能只泛泛采用概括介绍的写法。如Fire can be disastrous in our lives中的disastrous就体现了提纲中的含义，但尚需具体说明。文中随后用事实举例，证明火灾确实是人们生活中的灾害。第一段举例说明主题句后，在段尾引出限制主题句“…there still exist too many fire hazards around us。
第二段主题句Carelessness is a leading cause of fires指出了造成火灾的第一个原因。第三段主题句Another fire hazard is the use of equipment with unsafe electrical parts说明了火灾隐患的另一主要原因。结尾进行总结并写出comments。
中间段视要点多少可分为一段或几段；有时在段首句作文中还会出现开头、中间、结尾段全以topic sentence的形式开首，因此具体写法还需认真审题，根据题目要求决定。(此种类型的作文可参看附录1中1991年、1994年、1996年试题)
(三)模拟练习(略)
三、写作模式3
(一)展示模式(以下表格见附样格式)
general inlroduclory remarks: introduction;narrow controlling idea.
→body:topic sentence______supporting details(examples, reasons or arguments)_____concluding remarks.←
final statement:conclusion;restatement of controlling idea.
无论是前面两种类型还是其他形式的短文都可运用模式3来组织内容。这种模式的特点在于结构紧凑、层次分明。开头段与结尾段彼此紧密呼应。它是英、美、加拿大等国学生所惯用的成文方式之一。通过结尾段对前面内容的简要总结可提醒读者文中所说明的要点(major point one，major point two，etc．)或所提供的主要事例(first，second，etc．)。这种方法尤其适用于三段至五段式短文。
(二)试题举例
Title：Taxi
Outline：
1．Personal expedence．
2．Advantages over buses：
1)Its comfort
2)Its convenience。
3)Its reasonable price，
3．Summary and my comments。
参考范文：
Taxi
Iwell remember the days when my mother sent me to kindergarten by bus every morning.We had to wait for hours until we finally got on board a bus.Being squeezed out of breath like satin in an overcrowded bus,we felt lucky when we saw women with children waiting helplessly at bus stops in heavy rain or bitter cold.Now we have taxi as an alternative,and people like its comfort,convenience and reasonable price.
Taxi is gaining popularity for several reasons.First,traveling in an air conditioned taxi cab is comfortable.Wherever your go,the driver takes care of everything;what you do in just sitting in cozy seats,enjoying yourself in all kinds of weather at any time.Besides,it can save you time and a world of trouble of driving.Second,taxi is convenient,especially in an emergency or on special occasions.For example,if you are suddenly very sick deep at night with nobody to turn to for help in an unfamiliar place,taxi is always available to help you to a hospital.Finally,taxi fare is affordable.Even you have a car,you have to pay the bills of gas,insurance and car maintenance.What is more,the many advantages of a taxi are recognized by more people.
With the rapid improvement of living standards,taxi has become an important means of transportation in China because of its reasonable price,its availability and the comfort it offers.In fact,many people depend on taxe to go to work and almost everyone has the experience of taking a taxi on special occasions.Iam happy for not having buses as the only choice anymore.
本文很好地采取了第三种写作模式。
开头，通过personal experience概括写出以前挤公共汽车的狼狈状况，从而在第一段结尾处引出narrow controlling idea：今天人们可乘出租汽车，而且由于其舒适、方便、价格合理而得到人们的喜爱。
第二段段首为主题句："Taxi is gaining popularity for several reasons.下面由过渡词分别依次写出了出租车受欢迎的三个理由，并得出段落小结句：“The many advantages of a taxi ale recognized by more people”。
结尾前半部分总结了其三点优势，接着给出final statement，写出自己的评论。
整篇文章首尾呼应，环环相扣，结构明晰而且语言规范，是一篇较好的短文。
同时在写作中本文的中间段也采取了如下写法：
Topic sentence + signal word1 + point1 + explanation1
+signal word2+point2+explanation2
+signal word3+point3+explanation3
+concluding sentence
这里topic sentence为主题句；signal word指first，second等这类过渡信号词；point指段落中各层次里的要点，即提纲中的comfort，conve nience等支持主题句的要点；explanation是对各点的具体解释细节。本段的concluding sentence为最后一句话，由What is more引出。
这种写法条理分明，内容可连锁激发，有章可循，有话可写，使文章结构更均衡。这种写法可与国外写作接轨，在托福等要求篇幅较长的作文中更有其优越性。
(三)模拟练习(略)
(本文节选自人大版《2004年考研英语短文写作及英汉翻译》(刘鸿飞 孙艺之主编))