TOEFL iBT, Independent Writing, Is it important to spend effort and money to dress fashionably and attractively? / Do you think it is a good and useful thing for many foreigners to learn the language of your country?

☆Step 2 - A

Some people think it is important to spend effort and money to dress fashionably and attractively, others think that clothes are not an important way of spending one’s money and energy. Do you think fashion and clothes are important? Use specific details and examples in your answer.

☆Let’s Think

Sample thought process

1.    Analyzing the ideas in the Writing Topic:

1. The first part of the first sentence of the writing topic says, “Some people think it is important to spend effort and money to dress fashionably and attractively”. What makes some people think that way? They might think that it is beneficial to dress well or it is bad not to dress well.

Supposed reasons:

Good impression, especially the first impression. It is a shortcut to tell who someone is For example, …(e.g. job interview)

1)    Self-expression.  For example, …(e.g. an inexpensive way to be creative)

2)    Sense of belonging. For example, …(e.g. a way to show your identity)

Your guess:

I think they think dressing fashionably and attractively is good for …

2. The second half of the first sentence goes that others think that clothes are not an important way of spending one’s money and energy. What kind of values or views might this opinion be based on? What is more important than clothes?

Supposed values:

1)    As the saying goes, you cannot judge a book by its cover. What counts more is one’s personality, not what he or she wears. Money and energy should be spent on self-improvement. A good appearance would follow later naturally. For example, …(e.g. IT business CEOs)

2)    Fashion is not eternal. Its trend changes every year. You can gain respect as long as you make yourself look neat and clean enough. We should be focused more on something that lasts forever such as art or science.

For example, …(e.g. By enjoying music, you will share a sense with many people while fashion seldom allows you such experience.)

3)    There are many things that you should be concerned about in life than fashion. Advertisements distract us from important issues and make many of us buy more than what we need. For example, …(e.g. There were no fashion magazines for teenagers some decades ago, while more people are virtually illiterate nowadays than before.)

Your guess:

They might think clothes are not worth spending one’s money and energy based on a value that ….

☆Writing a one-paragraph essay

Let’s write a one-paragraph essay before writing a full essay using the following template.

I think / do not think it is important to spend effort and money to dress fashionably and attractively, because …

For example,

It is true that … 

                           

but …

Therefore,

☆Step 2- B

Writing Topic

Do you agree or disagree that it would be a good and useful thing for many foreigners to study the language of your country? Express your opinion on this question by including specific reasons and examples.

☆Let’s Think

Sample thought process:

What is the purpose of learning a language?

1)    Business

Things would work more smoothly in doing business with some foreign company if you speak their language.

2)    Culture

To learn about some culture, the knowledge of the language is a must, for language is part of culture and plays a very important role in it.

3)    Communication

To understand or make friends with someone, you have to talk with him or her. Without language, communication will be hampered.

In the case of Japanese:

1)    Business

Japan is one of the largest economies in the world. Japanese companies provide employment domestically and internationally. There are many Japanese multinational conglomerates and, with globalization in progress, there are many Japanese firms that are expanding overseas.

⇔ There is more demand for English as the international language. Also, demands for other major languages such as Spanish and Chinese are stronger than that for Japanese.

⇔ It is a niche to be proficient in Japanese since there is a sound demand while competition is low.

2)    Culture

Japan has traditional culture and sub-culture that are loved all over the world.  e.g. healthy traditional food, good service, cool and cute fashion of the young, etc.

⇔ Japanese culture is so famous and wide-spread that there are abundant translations of relevant materials in many languages. Moreover, many people just learn Japanese by being exposed to Japanese sub-culture such as manga, anime, and pop-songs.

⇔ To know the culture really well, learning the language is necessary.

3)    Communication

The number of Japanese who can use English well is small. Thus, there are many opportunities for Japanese-learners to help communication between Japanese and people from other cultures.

⇔ In ten years from now, most young Japanese will be able to have basic conversation in English because of the curriculum change directed by the administration.

⇔ For higher morale and better relationships, proficiency of Japanese is a big plus.

☆Sample conclusion:

♦ Since Japanese is a minor language, there is little need to study it. People who are interested in learning foreign languages should prioritize English and languages of developing countries to help better communication between rich countries and poor countries.

♦It is at least not a bad thing for many people to learn Japanese. Those who love things related to Japan might well learn Japanese. They have nothing to lose while they would be some rare people who can understand us well and work as liaison between Japan and other countries.

☆Writing a one-paragraph essay

Let’s write a one-paragraph essay before writing a full essay using the following template.

I think / do not think it is a good and useful thing for many foreigners to learn the language of my country, because …

For example,

It is true that …    

                        

but …

Therefore,