短文写作是四级考试整个试卷中分值最高的主观测试题型，写作成绩的高低会直接影响整个卷面成绩。文章由段落组成，段落由句子组成，句子是表达思想的基本单位，因此写作得分的高低在很大程度上取决于句子写作水平的高低。要写出好的、吸引人的文章可以从句式的变化入手。不同类型的句子有不同的特点和用途，句式不同，表达的效果也会不同。只有在写作中保持句式的多样化，才能够使文章生动活泼、引人入胜。以下介绍几种保持句式多样化的方法：
一、巧用连接词
如果在写作中大量使用简单句，势必会导致句式单一，正确使用连接词不仅能够将简单句合并，而且能够将文章的内容更清楚、更连贯地表达出来。在表示逻辑关系时，可以选用以下四种连接词。
表示增补的连接词：and，as well as，besides，furthermore，moreover，not only．．．but also等；
表示转折的连接词：however，in spite，though，but， otherwise，whereas，nonetheless等；
表示原因的连接词：since，as，so，because，why等；
表示时间的连接词：before，after，since，as，until， meanwhile，when，whenever，as soon as等。
同时还可使用一些表示从属关系的连接词，如 who，what，that，which等。例如：
He was born in a small village．His father was a teacher in the village school．His mother did the housework．He began to go to his father's school at seven．He graduated from it six years later．He went to the junior middle school in a nearby town．He studied at a senior middle school in the county．He was a good student there．
尽管这段话中所有的句子都是正确的，但是句型单一，而且在八个句子中只有“His father”和“His mother”两个不同的主语，其他句子都是以“He”开头的。下面是修改后的段落：
He was born in a small village．His father taught at the village school and his mother did the housework．He began to study at his father's school at seven and six years later entered the junior middle school in a nearby town．After graduating from it he was admitted to a senior middle school in the county，where he proved to be a good student．
二、活用短语
简练是写作的一个重要原则。有时可以根据前后句子之间的关系，通过灵活使用分词短语、不定式短语、介词短语或形容词短语将从句简化成短语，这样不仅能够丰富句式，还能够用最少的词汇准确地表达最多的信息。例如：
1．If he had been born in the new society，he would have developed into a GREat artist．
2．She was so weak that she couldn't even stand up．
3．She was frightened when she saw a lion staring at her．
4．As she was not satisfied with this，she tried to think of a better solution．
可以把以上从句分别改成下面四个短语，从而达到用较少的词汇表达同样的内容，而且更符合英语的表达习惯：
1．Born in the new society，he would have developed into a GREat artist．
2．She was too weak to stand up．
3．She was frightened at the sight of a lion staring at her．
4．Not satisfied with this，she tried to think of a better solution．
三、长短句相间
长句和短句各有其优点和缺点。长句因为使用了较多的限定语，限制了概念的外延，增加了概念的内涵，所以比较精确，但使用起来不太灵活、方便。短句直截了当，一般比较简洁、有力，但不利于表达复杂的信息。因此，在写作中应长短句交替使用。例如：
I like reading novels．They often tell me interesting and moving stories．Some stories are also instructive．They describe good and evil people．They describe the bright side and the dark side of life．They help me distinguish between right and wrong．In this way they have helped me understand people and life．As a result，I seem to have become wiser．
此段中一共有八个简单句，句型结构单一，而且句子长短相近，十分单调。下面是修改后的段落：
I like reading novels because they tell interesting and moving stories．Moreover，some stories are instructive．By describing good and evil people，and the bright side and the dark side of life，such stories help me to distinguish between right and wrong，and understand people and life．Reading them has perhaps made me wiser．
修改后的段落句子长短相间，中心意思（作者从阅读小说中学到了哪些东西）更加明确。修改稿没有将原稿中的第三句和最后一句与其他的句子融合在一起，因为短句通常更有力，能够强调重要内容，所以仍保持简单句的句式。
四、巧用倒装结构
英语的基本句型是：主语＋谓语＋宾语或主语＋系表结构，但是如果偶尔改变某一句子成分的位置，可以收到意想不到的表达效果。例如：
1．Under no circumstances should we do anything that will benefit ourselves but at the same time harm the interests of others．
2．In her he has absolute faith．
3．By no means should we look down upon people who have less education than we do．
总之，考生在平时的写作过程中要有意识地运用一些有效的手段来改变句式，而在考试过程中应抽出几分钟的时间对草稿的句式进行适当的调整，以避免句式的单一。只有这样，才能够保证提高自己的写作水平，同时在四级测试中取得好的成绩。
