议论文的论题大体可分为五类，这可以通过分析他们试图回答的问题来确定。一般说来论题类型与文章的结构和所需要的证据密切相关。因此，了解论题的基本类型及其与结构和论据的关系，将有利于你从宏观上驾驭议论文的写作。

(1)    事实论题（claims of fact）

事实论题意在回答如下问题：

Did it happen?

Is it true?

Does it exit?

Is it a fact?

例如：

The ozone layer is becoming depleted?

The increasing population threatens the environment.

Men have more opportunities than women in our society.

此类，论题的论证主要依靠事实性论据，包括事实、数据、例子、援引权威观点。归纳推理是论证这类问题的一个基本思路，既从对几个基本论证的讨论得出结论。

例如：

Besides physical hazard and anxieties, competitive sports pose psychological dangers for children, Martin Rablovsky, a former sports editor for the New York Times, said in all his years of watching young children play organized sports. He noticed very few of them smiling. “I’ve seen children enjoying a spontaneous prepratice scrimmage become somber and serious when the coach’s whistle blows,” Rablovsky said .”The spirits of the play disappears, and sports become joblike.” The primary goal of a professional athlete –winning-is not appropriate for children. Their goals should be having fun, learning, being with friends. Although winning does add to the fun, too many adults lose sight of what matters and make winning the most important goal. Several students have shown that when children are asked whether they would rather be warming the bench on a winning team or playing regularly on a losing team, about 90 percent choose the later.

在这一段里，作者运用了权威人士的发言和调查数据来如下事实论题，

Besides physical hazards and anxieties ,competitive sports pose psychological dangers for children.

(2)    定义论题（claims of defination）

定义论题旨在回答下列问题：

What it is ?

What does it mean?