考研英语大作文的话题演变经过几个阶段，从91年到96年是一些命题作文，这使得考生在内容上不会无话可说，因为内容的限定也使得考生基本上不会跑题，总体上考生在写作部分的分数不会拉得很远；随着考试难度增加，写作部分也进行了改革，从97年开始作文部分的题目没有了限定，而是加入了对一幅图画或是表格的分析和理解。
接下来老师把98-14年的大作文进行归类，以便同学们对考研英语作文的话题方向有个大致了解：
话题 | 年份 |
成功品质 | 03独立、04坚持、07自信、08合作、12乐观、13选择 |
环保类 | 99野生动物保护、00鱼类保护、11旅程之余 |
社会道德类 | 98职业道德、01爱心、05养老孝敬、11旅程之余、14养老孝敬 |
文化交流 | 02美国姑娘、10文化火锅 |
科技与传播 | 09网络远近 |
偶像崇拜 | 06小贝 |
学校类 | 13就业 |
话题的抽取并不是一件难事，一定注意的是不要跑题。有的同学会想着标新立异，想着自己的角度和思路新颖一些，比如05年的图画文字是“养老”足球赛，图画中间是一个蜷缩的老人被比成踢来踢去的足球，四周是他的三个儿子和一个女儿，都守着自己的球门，避免让老人进来，这反映的是大家对于养老问题的漠视。而有的同学会有非常奇葩的想法，认为图画中只有小女儿在张开双臂迎接老父亲的到来，因此立意为养儿不如养女好。为了避免跑题，大家需要注意的是在拿到图画时首先关注的是图画的文字，因为文字传达的意思更为直接明了；另外大家的话题一定要有趋同性，不可想着标新立异，反映的话题要大众化一些。
这种作文类型的出现对于写作部分是个改革上的飞跃，学生可以自由发挥，仁者见仁智者见智，不必拘泥于常规性的题目。但有的同学会害怕这种题目的出现导致自己无话可说，毕竟是应试，题目总有它的规律和法则，接下来老师会教给大家怎样做得到有话可说，会告诉大家每一段的每一句话都写些什么内容。话题趋同的情况下，每个学生需要做的就是在语言上使自己尽量出彩，多一些复杂句，词汇变化多一些。作文的提高需要大家在一些纲领引领下去积累属于自己的素材。
考试大纲对于大作文的要求在于内容的完整性、组织的连贯性、语法和词汇的准确性及多样性，做到这几方面对于大家来说并不是很难，内容上不要跑题，文章三段式，变换句式、语法和词汇。
从03年到14年的大作文提纲如下：Write an essay of 160-200 words based on the following drawing. In your essay, you should 1) describe the drawing briefly, 2) interpret its intended meaning, and 3) give your comments. You should write neatly on the ANSWER SHEET. (20 points)
按上述大纲，我们把文章分成三段式，引入段、意义阐释段和总结评论段。各个段落的字数分配如下：第一段2-4句话，30-60词；第二段4-9句话，100-120词；第三段3-4句话，30-60词。
我们首先来看引入段，大家的困惑在于：抓不住图画内容；不熟悉描述句式。所以下边给大家具体分析首段应该如何写：第一句要用一个倒装句式，对应到图画中我们要找出中心事物及位置，把时间状语放到句首的话可以利用一下倒装；第二或三句对上一句提到的中心事物及周边事物进行描述，可以采用非谓语动词、介词短语、定语从句等语法形式，对于配图文字可以不用处理，或者翻译成谚语或贴合主题的话；第三或四句是总结句，这句话的句式需要大家积累。在首段的三句话中，第一句话和第三句话比较容易，第二句话需要大家不断加以练习。以下是三篇文章的首段，希望大家可以模仿借鉴。
例2007
As is vividly shown above in the picture, in front of the football stands a young athlete, imagining the goal keeper is so giant that hardly can he score the goal, on the contrary, the goal keeper minimizes himself, wondering whether he can keep the net. Simple as the picture is, the symbolic meaning is as deep as ocean.
例2011
As is shown above, on the lake floats a boat, on which one couple of tourists are throwing waste into the lake, which has been in a mess and full of various wastes including lunch boxes, fishbone and its like. The primary purpose of the picture above is that due attention should be paid to urgent problem that people’s inappropriate behaviours lead to the severe destruction of environment.
例2008
As is shown above, in the picture run two-legged people, heading toward the same direction side by side, holding each other’s shoulders tightly, with crutches being put aside. The caption indicates, “You have merely one leg and so do I. Helping each other, we can travel extensively.” The author’s real purpose is not the fact itself, but to lead us to find what hides behind the ice burg.
因为考研中的写作大小作文占了30分，如果大家努力按照文都老师的要求去多积累一些，拿到20分以上不是一件难事。考研英语国家线一般在四五十分，20分将近一半的比例，所以希望大家在这方面多投入一些精力和时间。
第二段意义阐述段的攻略讲解，在这一段，第一句提出论点，论点要准确，即话题要趋同不要跑题；论点要清晰，即在首句中要有能够涵盖主题的关键词；论点要精彩，即语言要有亮点，比如采用一些复杂语法像非谓语动词、从句类、介词短语等。第二句可用虚拟语气强调论点，如正面话题，Were there no the Hope Project, those children would never receive the precious knowledge. 可提炼出这样的句式：Were there no sth., sb. would never do sth. 如负面话题，Were the situation to continue, we would pay high price. 第三句就论点展开论述，就如同中文中的论证方法有对比论证、举例论证、引用名言论证等等，下边介绍几种常用方法：
(一)因果法
1.There are many causes/reasons for the dramatic growth/decrease. Firstly,...secondly,...finally,...
2. A number of factors can account for the change in...
(二)例证法
1.As an example of the power of love, we should remember how the Chinese people of all nationalities respond to the call to help the victims of natural disasters every year. Although their incomes are still low by international standards, people all over the country do not hesitate to donate whatever they can — be it money or goods—to help their needy fellow citizens. Moreover, they do this with no thought of gain for themselves.（01年）
2.A case in point is the successful launching of "Shenzhou 7 Spacecraft" which sets china in a high position of aviation and space flight. Although it means a great achievement for us Chinese, we are facing new challenges in the future and need to do further research in space technology. Another illustration is closely related to us, the examinees. If we pass this test and are fortunately admitted by a university, we shall not stop making efforts. Instead, we are confronted with the challenge of conquering the difficult graduate courses. We still have to strive for success in our future academic study, employment and career.（04年）
(三)比较与对比法
The difference between a man who succeeds and one who does not lies only in the way each treats opportunities. The successful person always make adequate preparations to meet... as they duly arrive. The unsuccessful person, on the other hand, works little and just waits to see them pass by. Obviously, the two different attitudes towards opportunities may lead to quite different consequences.
大家在论证方法上可以多种方法同时采用，比如上文例证法01年的爱心主题例子是在遇到自然灾害的时候，中国人民无私捐献财力物力；04年的例子是神舟七号卫星发射的成功既是机遇又是挑战，另一个例子是如果考上研究生对于大家既是机遇也是挑战。建议大家的一点是在例证法上，要多积累一些时事、时下励志人物等相关的例子，在考试之前准备好，可以找老师帮忙翻译好，在考试时可以信手拈来，祝大家考研顺利！