TOEFL iBT, Independent Writing, Eating out or eating at home? -partly rewritten-

☆Writing Topic

Many people like to eat in restaurants on a regular basis. Others would rather eat at home, except on rare occasions. Which approach to dining habits do you choose and why? Support your essay with details and examples.

 

 

☆Hints for points

Eating at home:

1.    healthy

2.    economical

3.    relaxing

4.    flavor of Mom’s cooking / passing down culture and tradition

5.    Eating out only once in a while will make the event more enjoyable ( “spice of life”, “less is more”)

Counterargument: It takes time to cook.

Counter-counterargument: A simple but well-balanced meal takes only 15-40 minutes to prepare. Also, cooking helps you get refreshed because you use the different part of your brain and, if you cook with someone else, you can interact with other human being.

 

Eating out on a regular basis:

1.    saves time

2.    tastes better

3.    variety

4.    social life (people, manners)

Counterargument: unhealthy

Counter-counterargument: health-conscious restaurants

 

 

☆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)

 

Sample

【Main Idea】 Eating at home is better for your health than eating out.

【Explanation】 You can use fresh and safe ingredients.

【Detail / Example】 For example, when you prepare food, you buy ingredients at a store of your own choice right before you cook while restaurants often use frozen food.

【More Specific Detail / Example】 This is especially true in seasoning. At home, you can make broth from real bones or fish and use fresh spices, but restaurants often use ready-made soup stock which may contain synthetic additives and preservatives.

【Follow-up / Counterargument-treatment】Of course, regulations on food have become tighter these days and eating out is not so unhealthy as before, but businesses always prioritize cutting costs to make profits and at least you know what you are eating when you prepare dishes for yourself.

【Conclusion】 By cooking for yourself, you can make sure that you stay healthy.

 

 

♦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】