写图表作文时，常采用三段式的谋篇方式。文章的第一段往往分析图表中的数据变化反映什么问题或趋势，概述图表所揭示的信息。第二段分析造成这一问题或趋势的原因。第三段则展望未来的情况或提出解决问题的办法或建议。这一结构可以简单地表述为：
第一段：概述图表反映的主题思想
第二段：分析产生的原因
第三段：展望未来或提出方法或建议
图表作文常用的句型
(1)常用的开篇句型(即概述图表内容时常用的表达法)
① According to the table/pie chart/line graph/bar graph, we can see/conclude that … 根据该表/图，我们可知 ……
② The table/graph reveals (shows/indicates/illustrates/ represents/points out) that … 该表/图表明……
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/图所示，……
(2) 描述增减变化常用的句型
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).
下面是根据例2的题目要求写的范文。
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主题句/概述表格反映的内容⑵—(5)反映交通事故的变化情况
(6)小结：总结表格数据反映的总趋势
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主题句⑻原因/措施一⑼解释措施一/次要辅助⑽采取措施一后的结果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总结：展望未来的情况
第四节、 图表作文练习及其参考范文
