以上是四级考试作文部分往年试题（为了节省空间， 87年到97年之间的部分没有列出）。在这些考试中，如果我们把考试题型分成四类，即议论文（探讨对同一个问题的两种不同看法）、说明文（向读者介绍作者自己对某个社会现象或问题的看法）、记叙与描写以及应用文，那么可以把可以清楚地看出，2000年是一道分水岭：这之前的五次考试中，有四次（97.6, 98.6, 99.1, 99.6, 如果加上00. 6这次前进中的后退就是五次了） 考的是议论文，只有98年1月考的是说明文。议论文在上世纪出现频率最高，至少每年一次，有些年份两次全是。它最早是由美国的托福作文题型借鉴而来。但考得多了，完全演变成一种模式甚至一种模板：三段式；每段两至三条理由；每条理由用first, second, third 或firstly, secondly, thirdly 连接起来，高明一些的同学用更长的联结手段，如 The first reason which they point out is that… The second reason they maintain is that… Also playing a part is that…这样一来，不管具体内容如何空洞，只要背上几套衔接手段，写作时拼拼凑凑很轻松就是一篇文章。我们阅卷时甚至发现一个非常极端的例子：一篇200多字的文章如果去掉这些套话再去掉命题中出现过的关键词，剩下来的单词不足二十个。这样的考试当然无法测试考生的真实水平，因此受到很多大学英语教师的强烈批评。
因此，从2000年起作文命题指导思想开始变化，开始考更能体现考生实力的记叙与描写文以及书信演讲类应用文。2000年1月开始考 “How to Finance My College Education?”, 这是一篇基本没有模式的说明文。01年以后的10次四级作文没有出现过一次议论文，除了02年6月、03年1月以及01年1月三次说明文外，5次为应用文2次为记叙描写文。最后这两类文章基本没有写作模式，要求也不高，只要能够把观点交代清楚，把时间的前因后果记述清楚就可以了，是考察考生英语表达基本功的最佳方式，因此近年来成为出现频率最高的题型。下面以新公布的样题为例（其实这就是05年1月试题）来谈谈这种命题趋势的变化要求我们具备哪些能力、考试时又可以采取什么策略。
For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a campaign speech in support of your election to the post of chairman of the student union. You should write at least 120 words following outline given below in Chinese:
1． 你认为自己具备了什么条件（能力、性格、爱好等）可以胜任学生会主席的工作。
2． 如果当选，你将为本校同学做些什么。
这样的内容其实对大家的要求并不高，只要将自己介绍给大家并谈谈对今后工作的打算就可以了。但从考试后同学的反馈来看，有些基础较差的同学完成得并不理想。即使是作为“范文”挂在网上的下面这篇文章（应该是某位考生考试结束以后自我感觉良好放到网上的）其实也仍然存在一些问题：
(1)Today I am very glad to run for the president of the students‘ union. (2)I am junior in Chemical Department. (3)Since I came into the university, I have always been the monitor of my class. (4)I have done a very good job for my classmates, and my classmates and my teacher all give me a good praise. (5)I am good at communication and organizing. (6)And I like to help others. (7)Moreover, I have a variety of hobbies, for example, basketball, football, pingpong, etc. (8)I am sure that I am qualified for this position. (9)If I become the president, I will try my best to do well. (10)I will organize some suitable activities for you. （11）I will do many things for you to reach your demands as well. (12)I am sincerely hope you will give me a chance, and please believe me that I will be a good president. (13)Thank you.
作为文章或演讲辞，首先应该有文章的样子：开头、主体、结尾。而上面这篇文章只有一段。这首先给阅卷教师一个很不好的印象。一段的文章一般很难有及格的可能；两段的文章一般很难高于9分。这次作文的提纲和以往不少考试作文提纲一样是两段。但我们完全可以先安排一个简短的开场白作为引言段；然后再根据提纲要求写出两段作为主体（一段自我介绍；一段今后打算）和结尾（对听众的感谢）。
其次，这篇文章的内容安排和深度也存在问题：作者只是简单地根据提纲提示介绍了自己的能力（Since I came into the university, I have always been the monitor of my class. I have done a very good job for my classmates, and my classmates and my teacher all give me a good praise.）、性格（I am good at communication and organizing. And I like to help others.）、爱好（Moreover, I have a variety of hobbies, for example, basketball, football, pingpong, etc.）。为了使文章的中心更加突出，写作时（尤其是作文考试时）我们需要写出醒目的中心思想句(Topic Sentence)。如这部分的中心思想句可以这样写来：I know that I will be qualified for the future job. I gain the confidence from my past experience and from my knowledge of my own personality。主题句之后应该紧接着扩展句：First of all, I have always been monitor of my class ever since I came into this university. In this post, I have done a great deal for my classmates。这是证明中心思想句的第一个分支观点。为了证明这个分支观点，我们需要更加详细的论据和细节：比如arrange for a trip to Hangzhou, the most beautiful city in China; find out students from poverty-stricken areas and help them overcome difficulty with donation。在这些细节之后再通过别人的赞美来证明自己工作的成就：For the wonderful job I have done and great contribution I have made, I have been often praised by both my classmates and my teacher。同样，后面写自己的性格和爱好时也应该用具体的论据（事实、数据等）。这样文章就条理清晰、论证充分了。
再次，这篇文章有些明显的语言错误，如“reach your demands”应该为 “meet your demands”； “I am sincerely hope” 应为 “I sincerely hope”。 另外下面这句：Moreover, I have a variety of hobbies, for example, basketball, football, pingpong, etc. 一般情况下，for example之后应为对前面综述的具体举例，但basketball, football, pingpong并不是兴趣，而只是一些球。尽管读者也知道这些指的就是作者兴趣所在，严谨起见，还是应该说: for example, playing basketball, football, pingpong.
还有，这篇文章的风格过于随意（informal）。演讲辞属于正式文体，其用词应该比较讲究。如文章第一句稍加修改就变成：I feel honored to stand here as an candidate for the president of the students’ union。演讲辞虽然不能像一般文章一样用一些很长、很复杂的句子，但也不能全用很短、很简单的句子。那样会显得很单调，同时会使阅卷老师觉得没有很强的造句能力。比如我们可以八一、二两句结合起来，这样就变成：As a junior in Chemical Department, today I feel honored to stand here as an candidate for the president of the students’ union。原文的第四句则可以改成：For the wonderful job I have done and great contribution I have made, I have been often praised by both my classmates and my teacher。类似的可以修改合并的句子在上述这篇文章中可以说比比皆是。修改过以后的句子读起来就富于变化。而原文的句子13个中只好由9个直接由I 开头，这样的开头方式过于单调。
综上所述，我们可以得出结论。新题型中的作文考试会与前几年一样，继续强调能力测试。面对这种考试，我们首先要加强自身的英语修养，唯有这样，才有可能在未来的写作部分立于不败之地。另外，还需要注意以下技巧：
1． 根据文章章法合理使用、灵活改造命题提纲，做到起、承、转、合，有头有尾。
2． 养成良好习惯，确保主体段落有明确的中心思想句，后面的扩展层次清楚。
3． 注意语法规则和固定搭配，减少语言错误。
4． 文贵在变，学会用不同的形式开始句子，注意句子的长短结合。
下面这篇05年6月作文一个考生的是现场作品，基本满足了上述要求，堪称佳作。大家可作参考。
For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay in honor of Teacher’s Day of no less than 120 words. You may base your writing on the following outline:
1.向老师祝贺节日
2.从一件难忘的事情记述老师的教诲和无私奉献
3.如何回报老师
September the 10th is a day to remember. Because it’s a day to thank those who care us, teach us, and the most important, educate us to be useful to the society.
I still remember it clearly when I was denied the opportunity to participate in the writing contest, my heart sank. The frustration and sadness almost overwhelmed me as I felt I was discarded and I thought for sure I would never pick up my pen to write. At that time, it is you, dear Miss Wang, who gave me power and energy to regain my confidence. Immediate help and advice on writing were also offered, which made me realize my weakness and know how to improve.
Through your encouragement, I soon picked up my pen. And also I learned to enjoy writing instead of focusing on prize.
Thank you, Miss. Wang, and allow me to thank all those who work hard as the most sacred people in the world on behalf of all students here.
