Class Supplement, TOEFL Essay, Is watching TV a useful or enjoyable way of spending time? - partly rewritten -

Writing Topic
Some people think watching television is enjoyable and educational, while others think it is a complete waste of time to watch television. Do you think watching TV is a useful or enjoyable way of spending time?

☆Let’s think
“A” useful or enjoyable way of spending time means that, although it is not “the” best, it is as useful or enjoyable as activities that are considered good. What are useful and enjoyable ways of spending time? What do you usually do when you have some free time and try not to waste it? Do you read, listen to music, watch a movie, work out, do something creative like painting, or hang around with your family or friends? Is watching TV as worth spending your precious time on as other choices?

☆Ideas and Expressions
♦Waste of Time
1. not a good information source anymore: The amount of information provided by TV for a particular length of time is smaller compared to that of newspapers, magazines, books, and the Internet, which provide detailed information and allow you to skip advertisements. You passively receive the information the TV station has selected according to ratings, popularity votes, which are not always good or right. Information on the Internet is now updated by the minute. Also, there are more informative, thought-provoking, and even enjoyable independent online news shows and information sites. Besides, social media such as WikiLeaks, Twitter, and Facebook often outshine any media in terms of providing truth and latest developments of an important event
2. passive: Not interactive, TV watching requires little creativity, so it dulls your mind.
3. mind-numbing: TV can make you narrow-minded or brainwashed because it is sponsored by corporations, which can manipulate the content and put emphasis on advertisements. For example, you might develop desire for needless goods or come to follow fashion trends obsessively, not aware of what is really going on in the world.
♦Useful or Enjoyable
1. Some special programs such as live broadcasts of sporting events, documentaries, and language programs are hardly available elsewhere. e.g. language program, documentary
2. Popular TV programs or ads provide conversation pieces, which are good icebreakers.
3. One good thing about TV watching is that it allows you to learn things that you did not intend to. By keeping TV on or zapping channels, you can come across interesting people, useful information, or moving stories. It is like taking a walk in an unfamiliar neighborhood and find a lovely garden or sitting among strangers and hear an eye-opening story. The Internet, which is made to be used to search for specific information of your choice, allows this to happen less often.
4. As long as you keep an eye on how you use it, TV can be an inexpensive, handy tool for fun.

☆One-paragraph essay
Sample
【Main Idea = Outline】
In moderation, watching TV is useful and enjoyable.
【Good/Bad point 1】
TV-watching is useful for spending time with others because it is inclusive.
【Good/Bad point 2】
Technology has made TV a home theater.
【Counterargument & Counter-counterargument】
Although most programs are boring at best, some are good or educational and are only on TV. Also, while it is true that TV is addictive and you could waste your precious time, just as alcohol and gambling are enjoyable unless you indulge yourself in them too much, watching TV can be enjoyable for most people.
【Conclusion = Wrap-up】
TV can provide a good time if used wisely.

Your one paragraph essay
【Main Idea = Outline】

【Good/Bad point 1】

【Good/Bad point 2】

【Counterargument & Counter-counterargument】


【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

☆Paragraph development
Sample
【Main Idea】 TV-watching is useful for spending time with others because it is inclusive.
【Explanation】 Unlike the Internet, where each click reflects the taste of the user―a gamer and a non-gamer cannot spend an hour together in front of a computer, for instance―you can usually share the content of TV with others and with anyone.
【Detail / Example】 You can enjoy an evening with your family or friends watching a news program, a music show, a drama, or a sporting event, exchanging thoughts and feelings.
【More Specific Detail / Example】 TV is especially useful when you spend time with someone you know little about. You do not have to worry about likes and dislikes of the stranger once you have chosen a popular program, and in time you can pick up a conversation piece from the content of the program, say, the latest costume of a popular singer or a succor game result.
【Counterargument & Counter-counterargument】If the person says that the only program he watches is FoxNews, you could just watch that ultra-right-wing news show with him and learn what kind of people the Right are.
【Conclusion】 TV is a good medium for relationship-building.

Note: Start with a short and simple sentence and elaborate on the idea in the next one: a simple main idea (topic sentence) and a longer explanation, and a simple example and a more specific example or two. Of course starting with the main idea with expressions for transition like “Another good thing about having a TV set in your room is that” or “Last but not the least” is a good idea and these expressions can sometimes be long and complicated, but the core of the main idea should be short and simple so that you can make the point clearly. Very often, we lose our point by being particular about details at the beginning of the paragraph, so, if you are not the type that can produce a perfect work just by typing what comes up to your mind, I would recommend making it simple first and focus on the details later. A main idea (topic sentence) is the pillar of the paragraph to which you attach other parts (details). Making it straight and firm would be safe in an academic test writing.

Now let’s practice paragraph development.
Choose one of the reasons you have come up with, make it the main idea, and develop it using the following form. As this is a sketch of a part of your real essay, use simple words and sentences for supporting details and focus on the logic and ideas.

【Main Idea】


【Explanation】



【Detail / Example】


【More Specific Detail / Example】



【Counterargument & Counter-counterargument】



【Conclusion】