论说文
论说文的写作目的在于通过对某一问题或观点的议论，甚至争论，以达到辨明是非、说服和教育读者的目的，在这一点上论说文与说明文不同：说明文只是客观地解释事物、观点、方法等，目的是为了使读者能够明白某一事理或了解某一事物的特点；而论说文除此之外，更着重于主观上说服读者、论证某种观点的正确，使读者接受自己的观点。论说文在说明自己的观点的同时，往往对相反的观点予以批驳。它运用概念、判断、推理等逻辑思维方式，通过摆事实、讲道理对客观事理及事物本质规律进行科学的分析和论证，以阐明作者的思想、主张、意见及见解。然而，论说文在某种程度上来说与说明文有着一定的联系，论说是带有说服目的的说明文，可以简单地说，说明文并不总有议论，但是论说文中一定包含说明。
一、论说文的结构
与说明文一样，论说文也由三部分组成：导言、正文和结尾。
1.导言
在导言部分作者要提出一个明确的论点，即对某一个问题或有争议的问题所持的观点态度。与其他文体相比，在论说文中作者要更鲜明、更直接地表达自己的观点，因而论点（主题句）是论说文中不可或缺的重要部分。主题句可以出现在导言的最后部分，前面以事例、数据或引语进行铺垫。主题句也可以放在导言的开始部分，然后用细节解释、发展主题思想。
2.正文
正文部分的作用是列举确凿有力的事实（论据）来支持作者所提出的论点，因为没有论据的论点不能够说服读者，它的写作方法与说明文方法不同。说明文是依据事实说明，紧扣中心思想，而论说文是摆观点，强调的是对同一事实做不同的解释，并以事实来证明论点。展开议论的方法有两种：把所有反面的观点呈现在正面的观点之前；同时呈现两面，先是反面的然后是正面的。不管采用什么样的方法，切记所选的论据一定能够支持自己的观点。
3.结尾
结尾部分可重申主题，也可以提出解决问题的方法或建议。后一种方法可以使论述显得更加有力。
［例1］Many people say that commercials are annoying interruptions that detract viewers from the enjoyment of television viewing. But I think that they do have their advantages.
First of all, the commercials are informative because they advise viewers of products and services that are available. For example, by watching commercials we can learn what products are new on the market and in what ways they are different from the old ones. Recently I learned from a commercial that Sears Dental Association offers a new convenience. Instead of sitting in a waiting room, patients can shop in the store. This is possible, the commercial explained, because Sear gives each patient a pager to carry. When the dentist is ready for the patient, the pager beeps, signaling that it is time to return to the Dental Center.Without the commercial I would not have known of this service, which is one I now plan to take advantage of.
在这段短文中作者所支持的观点是：电视广告也有其优点，为了支持这一观点，作者列举了一些事实，比如电视广告如何及时地告知人们新市场消息以及帮助人们得知牙医们新推出的服务项目。
［例２］Men and women should be equal both at home and in society, for they are indispensable for the family. However, not all the people agree on the problem of equality between the two sexes.
Some people hold that men are superior to women. They consider women are weaker than men both physical and mental. Their argument is that the most important positions in society are held by men, not by women. But,many people think differently. They argue that women seem to be less important than men because they are allowed much less chance to show their abilities. They have been living for too long a time in a world dominated by men.
In my opinion, either sex has its own strong and weak points. Men and women should regard each other as equals. If they can support each other in their life, our society will become a more colorful and harmonious one.
在导言中作者提出了自己所支持的观点：不论是在家中还是在社会上，男女都应该平等，接下来作者指出并不是所有的人都赞同这一观点,然后在正文部分作者对反面意见进行反驳，通过反驳反面意见达到说服和教育读者的目的。
