写文章立论的时候，很多时候学生认为一定要黑白分明，把自己的立场清晰道出。其实在功课或是考试题目很多也只要求学生撰写说明文。

　　学生经常混淆议论文（argumentative essays）及说明文（expository essays），两种题材确有相似的地方。

　　简单来说，说明文是比较客观，而议论文则比较主观。大家先比较以下两个段落，可以分辨哪一段是说明文哪一段是议论文吗？

Example 1 - An excerpt from an essay about the effects of the internet on education

　A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010)… Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation.　　This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources… Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

Example 2 - An excerpt from an essay about the invention of the printing press

　The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the reliable production of high-quality books... Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

　　例子一是有关互联网对教育影响的议论文，划线的部分就是反论证（counter-argument）。而上下文就是支持论据的资料。

　　议论文一般写成比较有说服力的文章（persuasive essays）以第一身观点来写，作者要就一个特定的议题或问题立论，论点可以是事实数据，甚至纯粹个人观点，务求说服读者。

　　例子二则是有关印刷机发明的说明文，划线部分详细解释主题，提供具体资料，而上下文就是叙述印刷机的发明及传播。

　　说明文一般比较资讯性，资料也是针对某事情／问题作出比较平衡，不要求作者对事情或问题采取立场。相反地，作者应该提供非常有系统的证据或数据去支持每一个写作论点；很多时候也是以第三身叙述。

例子资料来源：

Caulfield, J. (2021, December 06). The Four Main Types of Essay | Quick Guide with Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved April 22, 2023, from:

https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/essay-types/

Miss Carol

资深英语老师、国际英文考试主考官；前大专院校导师

及企业培训导师。