continued from part 1, part 2 with 3 parts writing skills independent task; writing skills both tasks; modle test. this task asks an opinion about a topic. the test taker will use personal knowl edge and experience to write an essay of at least 300 words if time permits. to better understand the content details, invite you to consult the .
Trang 1Writing Skills: mere Independent Task
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Step 1: Plan
WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT
The Independent Task is different from the Integrated Task because ir is more per- E&Y) sonal In the Integrated ‘Task, you write about other people's ideas, but in the Independent Task, you write about your own ideas, In the Independent Task, you are asked to explain your opinion about a subject Your opinion about a subject is the thesis of your essay Remeniber‘thasa eae - thesis statement is A good essay has a clearly stated thesis A thesis statement focuses the direction of J )3, you plan's the topic and helps the reader understand what you want to say It tells the reader write abour—ir is what your essay is about your main idea Look at these example topics
to see how different thesis sracements can come from Statement for the
whole essay the same topic
Note
Essay Topic 99
You have been told that dormitory rooms at your university must be shared by two students Would you rather have the university assign a student to share a room with you, or would you rather choose your own roommate? Use specific rea- sons and details to explain your answer
THESIS STATEMENT A
Since | do not get along well with many people, | prefer to choose my own
roommate
From this statement, we can presume that the writer will discuss why he or she has difficulty having friendly relationships with people
Chapter 3
THESIS STATEMENT B
The opportunity to meet new people is an important benefit of a university edu- cation, so | believe it is better to let the university choose my roommate for me
115 116 Writing for ine TOEFL jBT
From this statement, we can presume the writer will discuss the benefits of meeting new people at a university,
A thesis statement must be on the topic Pay close attention to what the topic asks you to da
Trang 2Essay Topic 95
Some people think governments should spend as much money as possible explor- ing outer space (for example, traveling to the moon and to other planets), Other people disagree and think governments should spend this money for our basiv needs on Earth, Which of these two opinions do you agree with? Use specific rea- sons and details to support your answer
THESIS STATEMENT A
The moon is a better place to explore because it is nearer than the planets
This thesis statement is NOT a good thesis statement for this topic It takes nvo of the words from the topic and wrires about exploration possibilities The ropic, though, is how best co spend limited resources: on space exploration or on needs on Earth, This thesis statement is off topic
THESIS STATEMENT B
While there is still hunger, poverty, and illiteracy on Earth, our resources should be focused here and not in outer space
From this starement we can presume the wrirer will discuss why hunger, poverty, abd illiteracy on earth are more worthy of attention than space exploration
THESIS STATEMENT C
Gaining psychological and scientific knowledge through space exploration will benefit us more than trying to solve problems here on Earth
From this statement, we can presume the wyricer will discuss in detail the
psycholop- ical and scientific benefits chat we receive from space exploration
Choose the thesis surtements that are approprie vo the topic There can be more than one possible answer,
1, Whar is one of the most important decisions you have made? Why was this deei- sion Important? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer (A)
Decisions are important because without them nothing would ger done, (B)
Deciding to leave home to attend school in the U.S has been so far the most
important decision I’ve made (C) Although my parents wanted me to study
medicine, I knew that | should fallow my heart and get a degree in nuclear physics
SE =) oO oa oO rm ao) =)
Writing Skills: Independent Task 117
2 Someone who was considered an educated person in the past (for example, in your parents’ or grandparents’ generation) would not be considered an
educated person today Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer
Trang 3A If you define education as earning degrees, than I would have to agree that today people are more educated then they were in the past
B It was more difficult to get an education in the past since there weren't as many schools
C Both my grandfather and my grandmother attended university, which is where they met
3 Many people visit museums when they travel to new places Why do you think people visit museums? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer
A New museums are opening in almost every city in the world
B Museums hold the historic and artistic record of a region, so visiting muse- ums
is the best way to understand a new place
C Travelers want to see in person famous works of art that they have only seen in books so they head to museums when in new cities
4, In the future, students may have the choice of studying at home by using tech- nology such as computers or television or of studying at traditional schools Which would you prefer? Use reasons and specific details to explain your choice (A)
Interaction with my fellow students is important to me so I would prefer to study in
a more traditional setting
B Computers and television are two examples of technology that will change a lot
in the future
-C The advantages of studying what you want, when you want, and where you want do not, for me, outweigh the disadvantages of using technology for home education
5 In general, people are living longer now How will this change affect society? Use specific details and examples to develop your essay
A People are living longer now because of improvements in medical care
B As the majority of our population becomes older, our communities will have to shift their focus from providing services to the young, like schools, to ser- vices
to aging adults, like medical care
C Society has been around a long time and it is always changing
Extra Practice
Do any or all of the following activities on your own or in a group There are no answers
Trang 4provided 1 Write your own thesis statement for the five topics above.
2 Write essays on the above topics
118 =Writing for the TOEFL iBT
MAKE NOTES ABOUT GENERAL IDEAS AND SPECIFIC DETAILS
In the Integrated Task, you make notes about what you read in the reading passage and what you hear in the lecture Your notes are about other people's ideas In the Independent Task, you write your own ideas about your own opinion, You make notes as a way of organizing your ideas before you write When you wrote your the- sis Statement, you wrote your opinion about a subject Now you will write notes about your ideas that explain your opinion
Just as in the Integrated Task, you can use either an outline or an idea map to
organize your ideas for the Independent Task, Both outlines and idea maps help you organize your thoughts into a thesis, topics (general ideas), and details (supporting statements), Use whichever form works best for you
As arule, you should try to have three general ideas per essay and at least two sup- porting details per general idea This will vary according to your topic and the way you choose to organize it,
Outlines
Look at the following examples of outlines and essays for specific topics
ESSAY TOPIC 159 ! The twentieth century saw great change In your opinion, what is one change that should be remembered about the twentieth cenlury? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice
Thesis Medical advances are the most important change: Paragraph 1 Main idea Vaccines and antibiotics have saved lives Supporting details (1) Polio vaccine (2) Penicillin Paragraph 2 Main idea Increased access to health care Supporting details (1) More clinics and hospitals (2) Easier to get treatment Paragraph 3 Main idea Improved surgical techniques Supporting details (1) Microscopie and laser surgery easier to perform
2 Patients recover faster
Compare the outline with the following essay,
Writing Skills: Independent Task 119
Medical Advances: An Important Change of the Twentieth Century
There were many important changes, both technological and cul- tural, during the twentieth century In my opinion, the most important of these are the advances that were made in medical science The development of vaccines and antibiotics,
Trang 5increased access to health care, and improvements in surgical techniques are all things that improved, and saved, the lives of people all around the world
Vaccines and antibiotics have saved the lives of many people Until the middle of the twentieth century, many people became crippled or died from polio Now the polio vaccine is available everywhere In the past, people could die from even simple infections Now penicillin and other antibiotics make it easy to cure infections
Increased access to health care has also improved the lives of mil- lions of people In the past, many people lived far from hospitals and clinics Now hospitals, clinics, and health centers have been built in many parts of the world More people have the opportunity to visit a doctor or nurse before they become very sick They can be treated more easily They are sick less, and this leads to a better quality of life
Improved surgical techniques make it easier to treat many medical problems
Microscopic and laser surgery techniques are more effi- cient than older methods It
is easier for the doctor to perform them, and easier for the patient to recover
Surgery patients can return to their normal lives more quickly now than they could
in the past
Everybody needs good health in order to have a good quality of life Advances in medical science have improved the lives of people all around the world They are improvements that are important to everyone
| learned about the history ok ngineering 7
): Buildings nd bridges ia
Compare the outline with the following essay
120) «Writing for [he TOEFL iBT
Art History
Even (hough | am an engineer, | have te say that Introduction to Ari History Is (he most important class! Nave ever taken In this class.| had the opportunity to learn new things, Nol only about art, but about other areas as well, | had a teacher who inspired me, And, believe it or not, It a> Was Important to my caree! as an engineer Art History should be a required course for everyone because jt you about so many things | learned not only about art, but also
ree about history, religian, literature, and mythology These are subjects | Because the didn’t leam about in my engineering classes, so jt was a wonderful Independent Tears opportunity for me
oy Personal in Studying art history taught me some things about the history of engi- mantra The sesienle neering In old paintings,.| saw how buildings and bridges were built in
responses include
Trang 6hurts anaGeanh, the past | saw how elties were planned | realized thal | could lear about my own field in different ways
| learned a lot of things in my art history class, | learned about art, about
engineering, and aboul other things | hadn't imagined Both the subject and the teacher inspired me ta expand my mind | am very glad that | took this class
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Kead each essay Then complete the missing part of each ousting,
Essay Topic 92
Some people prefer to live in places that have the same weather or climate all year long Others like to live in areas where the weather changes several times a year, Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples te support your choices
| Would prefer to live Ina place that has warm Weather all year, My life would be easier and more comfortable this way, | would be health- ier, | would have more fun, and | would save money if | lived in a warm olimate
| would always be healthy If | lived in a warm climate Where | live now, | get sick every winter | Wouldn't have this problem in a warm climate Also, | would be outside all year long, | would play sports and get more exercise, That would make
me healthier, tao
| would have more fun If | lived in a warm climate | lke outdoor actly- ities | like going to the beach, playing soccer, and riding my bicycle | can't do these things in cold weather In a warm climate, | could do my favorite activities all year long,
| would save money if | lived in a warm climate, If costs money to heat a house i the winter This can get very expensive | wouldn't have this expense ina warm climate || costs maney lo buy new clothes every time the season changes, In a wari climate, | could wear the same clothes all year
My fife would be better in a Warm climate My health, my free time activities, and my bank account would all improve, In fact, | plan to move to a Warm climate as soon as
| finish school
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2 [=5 w | t~ =
Writing Skills: Independent Task 121
Thesis I prefer to live in a warm climate Paragraph 1 Main idea (1) Supporting details Now I get sick every winter I could be outside all year Paragraph 2 = Main idea I would have more fun
Trang 7Supporting details (2)
Favorite activities all year
Paragraph 3 Main idea I would save money
Supporting details (3) No need to buy new clothes
Essay Topic 101
Some people like doing work by hand Others prefer using machines Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer
| prefer using machines to doing work by hand Machines can work faster and more neatly than | can, and they never get tired
Machines are fast If | want to write a letter, it takes me a certain amount of time If | write ten letters by hand, it takes ten times as long if | use a computer, on the other hand, | just write the letter once, then tell the printer to make ten copies Or | can use
a photocopy machine Either way, it’s much faster than doing all the work by hand Machines are neat They don’t make mistakes and cut the wrong way They don’t get distracted and spill coffee on the paper They do a job over and over again, each time
as neatly as the time before | could never be as neat as a machine
Machines never get tired You can set a photocopy machine to make 25 copies or 250 copies It makes no difference to the machine how many copies it has to make An answering machine answers calls in the middle of the night as well as it does in the morning If | work a lot, | get tired, and | can’t work at all in the middle of the night
| can depend on machines, but | can’t always depend on myself to be fast, neat, and tireless
Thesis I prefer machines to working by hand
Paragraph 1 Main idea Machines are fast Supporting details Write letters by hand Use a photocopy machine
Paragraph 2 Main idea (5) Supporting details No mistakes
Not distracted All jobs neat
122 Writing for the TOEFL iBT
Paragraph 3 = Main idea Machines dont get tired Supporting details Photocopy machine (6)
a Create an outline for each of the following topics Then write an essay from your outline Baie Write on a separate piece of paper or on computer Compare your essays with the essays for
Trang 8IntheIndependent — hose topics in the Model Essay section Task essay, there is no right or wrong
opinion The task Essay Topic 11
measures your
ability to: express Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Universities should give your opinion in the same amount of money to their
students’ sports activities as they give to their writing, to explain —_—_yniversity libraries Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion your opinions clearly, and to back
your opinion with , supporting details Thesis
Paragraph 1 Main idea
Supporting details (1)
Paragraph 2 Main idea
Supporting details (1) (2) (3)
Paragraph 3 Main idea
Supporting details (1) (2) (3)
ae a] q) ~ =e a ao a
Writing Skills: Independent Task 123
Essay Topic 9
Some people prefer to live in a small town Others prefer to live in a big city Which place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer
Thesis
Paragraph 1 Main idea
Supporting details (1) (2) (3)
Paragraph 2 Main idea
Supporting details (1)
3 Paragraph 3 Main idea
Supporting details (1) (2) ~ (3)
124 Writing for the TOEFL iBT
Trang 9Essay Topic 7
How do movies or television influence people’s behavior? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your answer
Thesis
Paragraph 1 Main idea Supporting details (1)
Paragraph 2 = Main idea
Supporting details (1) (2) (3)
Paragraph 3 Main idea
Supporting details (1) (2) (3)
Writing Skills: Independent Task 125
Essay Topic 149
Imagine that you have received some land to use as you wish How would you use this land? Use specific details to explain your answer
Thesis
Paragraph 1 Main idea
Supporting details (1) (2)
Paragraph 2 = Main idea
Supporting details (1)
Paragraph 3 Main idea Supporting details (1)
126 Writing for the TOEFL iBT IDEA MAPS
Look at the following examples of idea maps and essays for specific topics
Sample Essay Topic
When choosing a place to live, what do you consider most important—location, size, style, number or rooms, types of rooms, or other features? Use reasons and
specific examples to support your answer
Idea Map
location is the most important
attordagle
neighborhoods Pleasant mer near expensive inexpensive tient nat ttre work Stores P neighbors
Trang 10Writing Skills: Independent Task 127
Compare the idea map with this essay
House Hunting
When choosing a place to live, | look at several things | need to con- sider price, size, and type of housing However, the most important thing of all is location | look for a house in a convenient and pleasant neighborhood that has rents | can afford to pay
My apartment must be conveniently located | don’t have a car, so | want to be near
my job | want to be able to walk or take the bus to work | don’t have a lot of time for shopping, so | want to be near stores, too
| want to live in a pleasant neighborhood | like quiet areas with little traffic | like to have nature around me, so | prefer a neighborhood with a lot of trees, gardens, and maybe even a park Most of all, | want to have friendly neighbors
Some neighborhoods are more expensive than others | have to look for my
apartment in neighborhoods that aren’t too expensive Some neighborhoods are very beautiful, but if the rents are too high, | can’t afford to live there If | only look in areas of the city that have affordable rents, | won’t be disappointed
The size of my apartment and the style of the building aren’t impor- tant to me | don’t care if my apartment is small or if the building is old and in need of repair If | can find an affordable place to live in a con- venient and pleasant location, then | will have everything | need
Notes
128 Writing for the TOEFL iBT
Essay Topic 1
People attend college or university for many different reasons (for example, new experiences, career preparation, increased knowledge) Why do you think people attend college or university? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer
Idea Map
people attend college for different reasons
AQVe new experienZes
Prepare for a Career
INC PEASE knowl edge