TOEFL iBT, Independent Writing, a university coming to your town -partly rewritten-

☆Writing Topic

The government of your area has announced plans to build a large, new university. Some people think that your community would be a favorable location for the university; others disagree. Compare and discuss the good and bad consequences that might result from building a new university in your community. Use specific reasons and details to support your essay.

 

☆Let’s think

This question is made up of two parts: the premise and a direction. The first two sentences provide the premise of this topic, that is, a hypothetical plan to build a large, new university and the situation in which people separate on whether to support the plan. Therefore, your area is supposed to be both favorable and unfavorable for the university depending on the points of view. The third sentence is the direction. Since it says “compare and discuss the good and bad consequences, “ an essay referring to only good or bad points would not get a high score.

 

☆Hints for points

Good Consequences:

1. better access to information (library, audit program, extension school)

2. stimulation to the local economy (shops, apartments, construction of new facilities)

3. influx of young power (events, volunteering, campaigns, interaction with the local people)

 

Bad Consequences:

1. loss of a large area of nature

2. heavier traffic

3. binge drinking

 

 

☆Essay Structure

♦Sample Essay Structure in the case that you have two or three reasons to support your argument

【Introduction = Outline】　主張と理由の概要

【Point 1】理由1の詳細

【Point 2】理由2の詳細

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】理由3の詳細または反論の処理

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】結論

 

♦Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

 

【Point 1】

 

【Point 2】

 

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

 

 

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

 

 

 

Paragraph development

☆A paragraph of the body of an essay often develops its main idea as follows:

【Main Idea】 (主張)

【Explanation】 (主張の説明)

【Detail / Example in general】 (一般的な例)

【More Specific Detail / Example】 (より具体的な例)

【Follow-up / Counterargument-treatment】 (補足または反論の処理)

【Conclusion】 (結論)

 

♦Your Sample Paragraph Development

Choose one of the points of your essay structure, and develop it. You can either use or not use the form below.

 

【Main Idea】

 

 

【Explanation】

 

 

 【Detail / Example in general】

 

 

 

【More Specific Detail / Example】

 

 

 

 

【Follow-up / Counterargument-treatment】

 

 

 

 

【Conclusion】