(2) 支持句（Supporting sentences）
确定了主题句后，就要用支持句来支持和说明主题句。也就是说，写作者利用具体的证据（－细节），以说明、描写、论证或阐述等方式来支持主导思想，使读者能正确地理解和获取写作者所企图表达的信息。写好支持句的关键在于紧扣主题、层次分明。（层层渐进，按逻辑顺序排列）
在通常情况下，一个段落具有若干个支持句，每个支持句都具有一定的信息，以支持主题句。支持句就是用来向读者提供事实、数据、实例、原因以及个人的亲身经历等信息，以便帮助读者更好地理解作者所阐述的中心思想。支持句一定要包括具体的、足够的信息，只有这样，段落的主题才会清晰地呈现在读者面前。 (3) 总结句（Summary sentence）
a. 重述中心思想 ( Restating the main idea )
作者可以转换词汇重述主题句中的中心思想。这一做法能够起到强调的作用，而且还可以提醒读者段落的主题，尤其是在一个较长的段落中。但是以这种方式结束段落时，一定不要把主题句重抄一遍。
b. 概括段落要点 ( Summarizing the main points )
有时候，主题句没有详细地论述段落的要点，因为作者会在支持句中对它们详加讨论。那么，在总结句中概括段落要点就能够帮助读者清晰地掌握段落的内容。 c. 最后阐述最重要的论点 ( Putting the most important point last )
有时候，一个段落会讨论某个论点的几个方面，那么作者可以把最重要的一点放在最后，以便使段落达到高潮，这样会使整个段落自然结尾。 d. 以推论结束段落 （ Drawing an inference ）
在详细阐述自己的观点后，作者可以采用推论来结束段落。 英汉思维方式及语篇结构对比
人们说话和写文章,为方便听话人和读者的理解,一定要遵循约定俗成的语篇组织规律。然而，由于不同文化在思维方式上存在着差异，其语篇组织结构也会因此而不同。中英文之间就存在这样的差异。 I 汉语语篇模式
中国人说话或写文章，常常不是采取直线式或直接切题的作法，而是习惯于迂回式思维，即避开主题，把自己的想法保留到最后或者含而不露，让读者自己去领悟。由于汉民族重综合的思维习惯，因此，汉语语篇模式属于典型的东方“螺旋式”。这种模式的特点是：对篇章的主题往往不是通过直截了当的方式，而是采用曲折起伏、隐喻含蓄、断续离合、迂回间接的方式来阐述而且，中国人表达事物总是按时间和事理发展顺序由因到果、由先到后、由大到小进行阐述，这种思维方式可称为具体一般型（Particular-General Pattern）。
例如：
（1）The village of Marlott lay amid the northeastern undulations of the beautiful Vale of Blackemore or Blackmore aforesaid, an engirdled and secluded region, for the most part untrodden as yet by tourists or landscape-painter, though within a few hours? journey from London.
（2）前面说过的那个美丽的布雷谷或布莱谷，是一处群山环抱、幽静偏僻的地方，虽然离伦敦不过4个钟头的路程，但是它的大部分都不曾有过游历家和风景画家的足迹。马勒村就在它东北部那块起伏地带的中间。
段（2）译文是张谷若的佳作。它与原文（1）的根本区别是： 英语直截了当以主题“马勒村”为主位和重心，由里向外扩展，直到远涉伦敦；中文则以一个已知信息为主位，先远涉伦敦，再迂回到近旁的、作为主题的“马勒村”。 II 英语语篇模式
Hoey（1988）McCarthy(1991)认为英语语篇有三种模式： 1）概括—具体型（General-specific Pattern），其特点就是由作者先把要表达的思想概括成全文的立证句（thesis statement）或段落的主题句 （topic sentence），然后举例说明或交代细节。这是典型的直线性思维。其中包括：概括—举例式（Generalization-Example）和整体—细节式（Preview-Detail）；2）问题解决型（Problem-Solution Pattern）；3）对照—匹配型(Matching-Pattern)。
1) 概括—具体型（General-Specific Pattern）。这种模式在英语中是最常见的、最有代表性的。它不但广泛应用于社会科学和自然科学的议论文和说明文中，而且也常用于描写文和记叙文中。它充分体现了英、美等西方人的直线性思维模式。这种模式在英语的段落层面或语篇层面俯拾皆是。例如：
An increase or a decrease in the price level affects the economic well-being of farmers. One of the best-known examples of this in American history took place throughout the late 1800s. Prices were going down, and this caused much displeasure to farmers, who were still relatively numerous. Many farmers were in debt; they had borrowed money to buy land and equipment. A farmer might have borrowed $500, and if his farm made $500 per year over his costs and living expenses, he might hope to pay the debt off in a year. If the prices the farmer received went down, say, to $250 per year, it made it very difficult for him to pay off his $500 debt. These facts show how directly the improvement of farmers? life depends on the prices of their farm products.
这是一个“概括—举例式（Generalization-Example）”的语篇。首句是一个主题句，道明了全段的主题思想, 下文的例证部分展开的是首句的内容：
The working conditions were poor. The tables where workers sat were very high, and uncomfortable. Except for a half hour at lunchtime, there were no breaks in the day to relieve the boring work. There was no music. The walls of the workrooms were a dull gray color. I was amazed that the workers hadn?t gone on strike.
这是一个“整体—细节式”(Preview-Detail Pattern)的语篇。其首句概括了主题思想，然后用细
节加以说明。
2) 问题解决型（Problem-Solution Pattern）。这种模式的特点是先说明情况，提出问题，随后进行分析，最后提出解决问题的意见或办法。这种模式多用于叙事性文体、文学作品，探讨科技、自然或社会问题的说明文也有时出现这种模式。例如：
Nowadays there are more and more traffic accidents in some big cities. It is estimated that thousands upon thousands of men, women and children are severely injured or even killed on the roads every year. Man is obviously much weaker than motor vehicles. It is a never-ending battle which man is losing.
Why have there been so many road accidents? The first reason is that some pedestrians, especially old people and children, cannot see, hear or judge very well. The second reason is that some young drivers recklessly violate traffic regulations, such as driving when drunk, going the wrong direction, etc. The third reason is that sometimes something goes wrong with vehicles, so that the drivers lose control of them at a critical moment. For all this, the main cause of the road accidents is due to carelessness.
It is high time that something were done about it. For example, drivers should be educated to see the importance of complying with traffic regulations and the terrible consequences of violating them. The motor vehicles should regularly be put through strict tests for safety. In addition, traffic facilities should be improved so as to make drivers safer on the roads. All these measures will certainly reduce the number of traffic accidents.
此语篇第一段提出问题，第二段分析原因，第三段提出解决问题的办法。
3) 对照—匹配型（Matching-Pattern）。 英语常用这种模式构成对比语段，比较两种事物的异同点。它往往存在于较长的语篇中，与“概括—具体型”一起组成更复杂的语篇模式。例如：
The American car of the 1980s is quite different from its old models. The most striking difference is the size. While the old models were large and spacious, the newer ones are smaller and more compact. In the past, cars were also constructed of heavier materials. Nowadays light-weight aluminum and plastic have replaced the heavy-weight metals of yesterday. Engines are now more fuel efficient. Ten years ago the average American car got ten miles per gallon to compete in the market. Many of these differences are advantageous to today?s driver, but unfortunately these smaller, lighter cars are not as safe if an accident occurs.
这一语篇分别就汽车的体积、重量、节能以及潜在的安全问题等方面进行了比较。 从以上各例我们可以看出，英语语篇的三种模式均具有“先抽象，后具体；先综合，后分析；先概括，后细节” 等特点。换句话说，英语语篇的组织和发展呈“直线型”，它通常以一个主题句（topic sentence）开头，直截了当地点明语篇的中心思想，然后在以后各句中发展这一中心思想。
对于许多学习英语的中国学生来说，尽管已经掌握了一定的英语词汇及语法规则，但因为缺乏对英语语篇结构的认识，他们常常会无意识地把汉语的语篇结构规则应用在英文写作的过程当中，因而造成了不符合英文语篇结构规律的问题，而这些学生虽然使用英文写作，他们的作文却表现出典型的中国式的思维惯式。这两种思维模式的差异造成了中国学生进行英文写作时的最大问题，即把汉语的思维模式应用在英文写作中。尽管用的是英语的词汇及语法，表现出的却是中国式的思维，这种思维是雅思英语考官所不熟悉的。因此，中国学生最需要英文思维模式的训练。
通过以下两篇文章, 我们可以具体讨论英语和汉语文章, 尤其是英汉议论文的语篇结构的区别。
Topic: Today PC games are very popular among teenagers. But some parents consider that these games are not instructive and that teenagers should be kept away from them. What do you think?
As one of the products of modern technology, PC games have definitely become an indispensable part of most teenagers? lives. Statistics show that teenagers are spending more time and money on entertainment items such as PC games than they did ten years ago. However, in my opinion, although PC games have certain positive effects such as giving teenagers relaxation and activating their imaginations, they have certain negative effects.
First, PC games occupy the time when teenagers should be sitting in the classroom or studying in the library. The colorful pictures and vivid characters of PC games are far more exciting than the dull black letters in textbooks. Therefore, addiction to PC games is often accompanied by poor academic work.
Furthermore, far from being instructive, some PC games contain violence and pornography, which are extremely harmful for the healthy growth of teenagers. It is said that most juvenile delinquents commit crimes just because their PC game heroes do so in a virtual-reality world.
In addition, speaking from the physical aspect, PC games have contributed a lot to failing eyesight among teenagers in recent years.
To sum up, despite their entertainment and relaxation values, PC games interfere with the education of teenagers. It would be better if teenagers could use such games in a more rational and controlled way, perhaps under the supervision of their parents.
这篇例文是一篇雅思范文，文章采用很典型的直线式思维结构。
(1) 首先，这篇文章的结构符合英文写作中最普遍的直线式思维模式。 文章提出了问题，并且在第一段就阐述了作者看法。作者先把要表达的思想概括成全文的立证句（thesis statement）：
However, in my opinion, although PC games have certain positive effects such as giving teenagers relaxation and activating their imaginations , they have certain negative effects. 然后每段以主题句 （topic sentence）开始，如:
First, PC games occupy the time when teenagers should be sitting in the classroom or studying in the library. (Paragraph 1)
Furthermore, far from being instructive, some PC games contain violence and pornography, which are extremely harmful for the healthy growth of teenagers. (Paragraph 2)
In addition, speaking from the physical aspect, PC games have contributed a lot to failing eyesight among teenagers in recent years. (Paragraph 3) 然后在每一段中举例说明或交代细节。
(2) 文章的讨论方式符合英语的习惯。在典型的英文写作中，作者习惯采用非此即彼的思维及表达方式。对于一个问题，他们的答案要么是yes, 要么是no，而不会模棱两可，含糊不清地回答问题。这篇文章的作者在第一段即明确指出： …they (PC games) have certain negative effects.
(3) 文章具有明确的观点和论据，以及详尽的论证过程。因此，这篇文章符合英语的思维习惯，在本质上，文章采用了英语的篇章结构。
Should Students Do Business Or Not?
In recent years, doing business is very popular on the campus. More and more college students spend more time doing business. This phenomenon causes a lot of hot argument. Is it right or not? In my opinion, we can not say it is right or wrong directly because the reason is complex. On the other hand, many students do business in order to reduce the burden of their families because their families have not enough money to support them. So their doing business is reasonable. We can not say it is not right. As to those students whose families are not very poor, some of them doing business just want to practice in the society and gain some experience. Earning money is not their main purpose. We can not say it is not right, either.
这篇例文是一位中国大学生写的文章，是很典型的迂回式思维结构。
(1) 首先，这篇文章的结构与英文写作中最普遍的直线式思维迥然不同。 文章提出了问题，却没有在一开始就阐述作者看法，而是亦此亦彼地给出模糊的答案，令读者费解 — ?We can not say it is right or wrong …?。
(2) 文章的讨论方式也与英语的习惯截然不同。本文的作者试图维护两种截然相反的观点，其态度模棱两可，含糊不清。这与英文写作中常见的非此即彼的明确态度形成鲜明的对比。
(3) 文章没有明确的观点和论据，更没有论证的过程。因此，这篇文章虽然使用英文写成，但它显然不符合英语的思维习惯，在本质上，文章采用了汉语的篇章结构。这样的文章显然无法达到英语国家考官的要求。