下面是關於英語四級考試議論文寫作的技巧指導，希望對大家寫作有所幫助。
1. 議論文的格式：
議論文的格式應由三個部分組成：<1> 立論部分;<2> 論證部分; <3> 結論部分。一般說來，議論文可分三個基本段落來寫：第一段引出話題;第二段立論且加以論證;第三段給出明確的結論。第二段是中心段落，應試者應將主要的內容放在第二段中，同時也要注意開篇及結尾段落的完整性，且應儘量做到首尾呼應，切忌前後矛盾。
2. 段落的統一性及語篇的連貫性
(1) 段落的統一性
英語段落有一大特點，即一個段落只涉及一個主題(甚至只是一個主題的某個方面)。段落中的一個句子點出主題並說明作者對該主題的看法，而其它所有句子都是為展開該主題而給出的事實、例證、推理，它們與主題緊密相關。段落中不應有一個與主題無關的句子。英文段落的這種各個句子與主題的關聯性被稱作段落的統一性。請看以下兩例：
(1)
Birds build their nests in all kinds of places. Some are high in trees, on the sides of buildings or on the top of hills while others on the ground, in fields or by stream banks. Birds also use various nesting materials to build their nests, including sticks, mud, stones, grass and so on. Some birds are able to change to be suitable for different conditions. They’ll build their nests wherever they can find a spot and use whatever materials they can find. But other birds will build their nests only in certain places and use only certain materials.
(2)
"Culture shock" occurs as a result of lack of understanding in a new culture. It happens to people who have been suddenly "transplanted abroad". Newcomers may be anxious because they do not speak the language, know the customs, or understand people’s behavior in daily life. The visitor finds that "yes" may not necessarily mean "yes," that friendliness does not always mean friendship, or that statements that appear to be serious are really intended as jokes. The foreigner may be unsure as to when to shake hands or embrace, when to initiate conversations, or how to approach a stranger. The notion of "culture shock" help explain feelings of bewilderment and disorientation. Language problems do not account for all the frustrations that people feel. When one is deprived of everything that was once familiar, such as understanding a transportation system, knowing how to register for university classes, or knowing how to make friends, difficulties in coping with the new society may arise.
(2) 語篇的連貫性
英語議論文的段落多采取直線展開式，即段落開始直接切入主題，並給出事實、例證、推理等。英語議論文段落這種展開方式是形成其語篇連貫的基礎。語篇的連貫是指段落中各句的意義通過某種有序的排列(如時間順序、因果順序、邏輯順序等)而相互關聯。在論述該段落主題的時候，每後一個句子都是建立在前面一個句子的基礎之上的。如果去掉段落中的一個句子，這種連貫便會受到影響，就會造成讀者在理解上的困難。
3. 議論文中心段落的主題句及其論據、議論文中常用的詞句與短語
(1) 議論文中心段落的主題句及其論據
一篇議論文能否獲得高分與其中心段落主題句的質量不無關聯，而主題句質量的高低則又取決於審題的好壞和論據的選擇(即所選的論據在邏輯性、說理性、準確性及與主題內容的關聯性等方面是否都經得起推敲)。需要明確的是，中心段落只應有兩個組成部分：段落的主題句和支援主題句的論據。
段落的主題句也應有兩個部分組成，即：主題句=主題+作者對主題的看法或態度，兩者缺一不可。假設應試者被要求寫一篇有關吸菸的議論文，那麼 SMOKING 就是中心段落的主題。請看下面這個主題句：
Smoking is a habit of many men.
該主題句暴露出兩個問題：(1)作者審題不清;(2)作者沒有表明對主題的看法或態度。
一般說來，議論文要求應試者闡明自己對某問題的看法或態度。因此當我們拿到議論文的題目以後，要認真審題，權衡某事的利與弊，然後確定我們的立場。
如何構建段落的主題句呢?
拿到議論文的題目以後，經認真審題後，用英文列出你所能想起的`與主題有關的例證。我們還用吸菸這個話題為例：
SMOKING
1. Smoking can cause such a disease as lung cancer.
2. Reports say that merely 3 grams of nicotine can kill a large animal.
3. Experts say that smoking one cigarette can reduce one’s life by about 15
minutes and that chain smoking is even more hazardous.
4. Smoking after a meal can also disturb one’s digestive system.
5. Heavy smoking can seriously affect an adult’s sexuality.
6. Smoking does harm to second-hand smokers as well.
7. Smoking makes one’s mouth smell.
8. The life expectancy of smokers is shorter than that of nonsmokers.
9. Smoking in bed may cause fire..
根據上面所列出的七個句子，我們可以選擇以下兩個主題句，即：
<1> Smoking is a bad habit.
<2> Smoking is a bad habit that does a lot of harm to human health.
第一個主題句表明了作者的態度，但不如第二個具體，因此在展開中心段落時不僅要談吸菸對人體健康的不良影響，還要涉及吸菸在其它方面造成的危害。這樣的段落考生較難掌握。因此主題句越是相對地具體段落就越好展開。但這並不等於說第一個主題句不好;如果主題句太過具體，段落可展開的範圍就會過窄。如果範圍較窄，有些考生所能列出的例證就會相對較少，整篇文章寫下來後可能達不到所要求的字數。因此選擇哪一個主題句要視具體情況而定。
用於支援段落主題句的論據其實就是我們開始列出的那些例證，但應視主題句所涉及範圍的大小而有所取捨。下面我們就上面的兩個主題句分別構建兩個不同的中心段落：
(1)
Smoking is a bad habit. For one thing, smoking in bed may cause a terrible fire. For another, regular smoking makes one’s mouth smell bad. And worst of all, cigarette smoking does great harm to human health. In many cases, cigarette has proved to be the direct cause of such a fatal disease as cancer-hence its nickname, "Cancer Stick". Experts say that smoking one cigarette can reduce one’s life by about 15 minutes and that chain smoking is far more hazardous. Recent findings of medical research show that even a tiny drop of nicotine (about 3 grams in weight) can kill a large animal like a horse. Some medical reports have also proved that heavy smoking would seriously affect an adult’s sexuality, and smoking after a meal also disturbs one’s digestive system. Cigarette smoking not only jeopardizes the physical health of a smoker, it also affects the health of a nonsmoker who passively inhales the polluted air into his or her lungs when he or she is exposed to a winding shroud of cigarette smoke. The impact on such passive smokers (also called second-hand smokers), according to the experts in the medical field, can be even more damaging, and that is why smoking is usually prohibited in most public places. (211 words)
(2)
Smoking is a bad habit that does a lot of harm to human health. Cigarette smoking does great harm to human health. In many cases, cigarette has proved to be the direct cause of such a fatal disease as cancer-hence its nickname, "Cancer Stick". Experts say that smoking one cigarette can reduce one’s life by about 15 minutes and that chain smoking is far more hazardous. Recent findings of medical research show that even a tiny drop of nicotine (about 3 grams in weight) can kill a large animal like a horse. Some medical reports have also proved that heavy smoking would seriously affect an adult’s sexuality, and smoking after a meal also disturbs one’s digestive system. Cigarette smoking not only jeopardizes the physical health of a smoker, it also affects the health of a nonsmoker who passively inhales the polluted air into his or her lungs when he or she is exposed to a winding shroud of cigarette smoke. The impact on such passive smokers (also called second-hand smokers), according to the experts in the medical field, can be even more damaging, and that is why smoking is usually prohibited in most public places. (196 words)
