TOEFL iBT Independent Writing, Has TV taken away opportunity to communicate?

Writing Topic

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Television has taken away opportunities to communicate with friends and family.

 

 

☆Let’s think

What did families use to do in the evening before TV was invented? Did they talk about their day? Did they do some small household work like spinning threads together and have a chat? Some families might have used the time to pass down their culture such as history of the family or the community, you know, grandparents telling the tales of old times which often have morals and important information about the community, surrounded by their grandchildren. Others might have read a book or the Bible together, one reading while the others listening. Has TV deprived family of time to do those things? Clearly they have some. Few modern families talk about their history or read together every night. But they might be using TV as a tool to pick up conversation pieces although at the same time they might be using it to escape from direct communication or unwittingly losing time to have more fruitful communication than talking about the costume of a singer in a program. One thing is clear. We cannot go hours without communicating in the presence of others. Then it can be said that, without TV, we would do something else, whether it is mingling or conflicting.

 

We might have to consider some characteristics of TV as a medium. The information it provides can basically induce conversation, but TV can affect us both productively and unproductively depending on how we use it. Some people can enjoy lively conversation while others stay silent all the time whether TV was on or not. You can also talk about some information you picked up from a program later with your family or friends. Getting a TV set in their living room could have amplified the tendency of the users. A loud family probably became louder by getting a new, exciting machine that provides infinite amount of information as their conversation pieces. A quiet family became quieter because time can pass hours just as family members sat side by side gazing at the screen without a word. Also, prevalence of TV might have had some side effect on our communication. Over time, TV has become a personal tool. Before, TV was a thing to use together. First a community had one TV set, and then each family got one. People used to gather around it, but now each individual has his or her own TV. Therefore, TV might be less likely to be a machine which potentially induces communication although it still provides information that can be used in communication.

 

Last but not least, we might also have to consider what communication is. As we all know that communication includes not only language but also many other things like body language and expressions. Just looking at someone or not can be a strong message. Having a lively conversation does not always mean good communication. You know a person who is a great conversationalist and still no one knows who he really is, while a reserved person who is always quiet can convey what is going on in his mind very well. Also, quality of communication through TV might be very low and some people might not call it communication. Experience of working with your family or friends might be totally different in quality from experience of watching TV with them. All kinds of interaction with others can be called communication, and in that sense, TV makes us have less time for practical communication. Just walking down the street may reward you more than sitting in front of the TV because real people are there in the street while none on the screen.

 

 

 

☆Making the framework of the full essay

Now let’s make the framework of your full essay. The basic English essay structure is as follows:

【Introduction = Outline】

【Reason 1】

【Reason 2】

【Reason 3 / Counterargument & Counter-counterargument】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

 

 

One idea of making the framework (structure) of your essay:

Here is one idea of making the framework of an English essay. You do not actually have to start with the introduction, proceed to make the body, and finish with conclusion. Often we do not know the answer before fully discussing the points, so we could begin with the body, examining each point. Then we make a conclusion, and put the introduction matching the conclusion on top. The diagram of the procedure is as follows.

 

Step 1 Working on the body (making each point thinking about the topic)

【Point 1】#`*&%#@&%

【Point 2】@@&!*&

【Point 3】$$$$$

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Step 2 Making a conclusion

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】G!!!

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Step 3 Writing the introduction

【Introduction = Outline】G

 

The actual structure of the essay made up of the ideas above is as follows.

【Introduction】G

【Point 1】#`*&%#@&%

【Point 2】@@&!*&

【Point 3】$$$$$

【Conclusion】G!!!

 

 

Here is a sample which follows the procedure above.

Step 1 Working on the body (making each point thinking about the topic)

【Point 1】Before they got TV, people used to talk about important things in life, but now, people talk about many other things such as fashion or gossip or do not talk at all because of TV.

【Point 2】Before, people used to do many other activities through which more meaningful communication is possible. Now, they have stopped doing them because TV makes them feel good easily.

【Point 3】It is true that personalities and other factors such as culture or circumstances affect how much people communicate, but in general TV-watching occupies much of lifetime and we just do not get a life.

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Step 2 Making a conclusion.

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】Generally, TV has lessened time to communicate because people can spend time without communicating or have less time to have different types of communication because of TV.

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Step 3 Writing the introduction.

【Introduction】I agree with the statement that television has taken away opportunities to communicate with friends and family considering people had less distraction before.

 

The actual structure of the essay based on the ideas above is as follows:

I agree with the statement that television has taken away opportunities to communicate with friends and family considering people had less distraction before. 【Introduction】

 

Before they got TV, people used to talk about important things in life, but now, people talk about many other things such as fashion or gossip or do not talk at all because of TV. 【Point 1】

 

Before, people used to do many other activities through which more meaningful communication is possible. Now, they have stopped doing them because TV makes them feel good easily.【Point 2】

 

It is true that personalities and other factors such as culture or circumstances affect how much people communicate, but in general TV-watching occupies much of lifetime and we just do not get a life.【Point 3】

 

Generally, TV has lessened time to communicate because people can spend time without communicating or have less time to have different types of communication because of TV. 【Conclusion】

 

 

 

Your framework notes:

If you like, follow the procedure above while you don’t have to do so at all, of course.

 

【Introduction = Outline】

I (entirely/partly/cannot entirely/) agree/disagree with the statement that television has taken away opportunities to communicate with friends and family.

 

【Point 1】

 

 

【Point 2】

 

 

【Point 3】

 

 

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】