Friends with Wings: 12月 2014

Day 1

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

not a good information source anymore:

♢The amount of information provided by TV is smaller compared to that of newspapers, magazines, books, and the Internet, which provide detailed information.

♢The quality of TV news is not so good as that of other media. TV stations choose which news to broadcast according to ratings, which are not always good or right. They also withdraw bad news about their sponsors. There are more informative independent online news shows nowadays.

♢TV news is not really new. Information on the Internet is now updated by the minute. Social media such as WikiLeaks, Twitter, and Facebook often outshine TV in terms of providing truth and latest developments of important events.

passive: Not interactive, TV watching requires little creativity, so it dulls your mind.

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

Some special programs such as live broadcasts of sporting events, documentaries, and language programs are hardly available elsewhere. e.g. language program, documentary

Popular TV programs or ads provide conversation pieces, which are good icebreakers.

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.

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】

Some TV programs are inspiring or educational.

【Counterargument & Counter-counterargument】

It is true that TV is addictive and often becomes a waste of your precious time. However, if you select good programs and do not watch them in excess, watching TV can be enjoyable and useful, just as alcohol and gambling are harmless fun unless you indulge yourself in them too much,.

【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】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 programs intended for most people.

【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 such as a news program, a music show, a drama, or a sporting event. You just watch it together, and in time you can laugh together or 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 Treatment or Detail Follow-up】If your guest says that he dislikes TV, it is a good opportunity to ask the person what he likes. Also, 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: It could be a good strategy for a writing beginner to 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 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 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 Treatment or Detail Follow-up】

【Conclusion】

Day 2

☆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:

healthy

economical

relaxing

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

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:

saves time

tastes better

variety

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】

付録　

英文エッセイの書き方の基本

☆手順

1．Writing Topicの確認: 課題を正確に読みとり要求されている解答内容をイメージします。

2．Brainstorming: 課題に関して思いつくことを書き出します。（頭の中にある材料を頭の外に出して整理しやすくする作業です。）

3．構成: Brainstormingで書き出した材料を整理してエッセイの基本構造に合う形にします。（１）同じ事項に関するものは同じ段落に集めます。（２）段落を重要な順に並べ替えます。

4．書く: 構成でできた段落（本論）に導入と結論の段落をつけ、実際の文章にします。

5．見直し: 論旨の矛盾、説明不足、構文・つづり・句読点等のミスをチェックします。

☆構成

英文エッセイの構造はごく簡単に言うと【主張（～だと思う）→理由（なぜなら…だからだ）→結論（従って～だと言える）】という流れになります。

この流れの各部分は以下のようにIntroduction, Body, Conclusionと呼ばれています。

英文エッセイの基本構造

主張＝Introduction (Thesis)　導入

理由＝Body　本論

結論＝Conclusion　結論

主張＝Introductionでは意見と根拠の要旨を示します。エッセイの概略の段落です。エッセイ全体が見通せるように書きましょう。

理由＝Bodyでは根拠を列挙します。具体例はここに書きます。

結論＝Conclusionでは本論から導き出せる結論を書きます。エッセイの総括の段落です。

Bodyでは示したい根拠の数だけ段落を作ります。例えば主張の理由が2つある場合、Bodyは2段落になります。

英文エッセイでは全体がこの流れになると同時に各段落もこの流れ（主張→理由→結論）になるようにします。

余裕がある場合はIntroductionを更に細かい(1) Hook（つかみ）(2) Background（背景説明）(3) Thesis（主張）(4) Reasons（理由）の構成にし、Conclusionでは最後にinsight（掘り下げの一文）をつけるとより形が整います。

以下は、次のWriting Topicに対するエッセイ構成メモとエッセイ例です。

Writing Topic: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement. It is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win. Support your response with specific reasons and examples.

エッセイ構成メモ

Introduction

Disagree　

Reasons: 1) for fun 2) joy of improvement 3) more enjoyable things than winning

Body

Reason 1: Games are for having fun. e.g.to kill time, to spend time with family or friends

Reason 2: Playing a game involves joy of improvement e.g. gamers

Reason 3: More enjoyable things than winning can happen during a game. 　e.g. a great performance

Conclusion

many other ingredients to make us truly enjoy ourselves than winning

→It cannot be said that it is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win.

☆Sample Essay (エッセイ例)

Humans have had many kinds of games since ancient times and there seem to be many reasons for our fascination with this activity. I disagree with the statement that it is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win. I think gams are for fun, development and more, not just for winning.

First of all, we play games to have fun. We play games to kill time, to release stress, or to spend time with others. When you feel empty or stressed out, you take out a game machine, play it for a while, and feel good whether you lose or win. Games are also used to add to the good companionship. At a party, for example, a game helps people laugh and talk, enjoying themselves, both winners and losers alike.

Also, playing a game involves joy of improvement. Humans, like other animals, have desire for learning something new and fulfilling this desire is a great joy of life. A game makes you lose more often than it lets you win, and you will be absorbed in gaining new skills and improving yourself by trial and error. What makes games enjoyable is not only reaching the top but the process.

Last but not least, more enjoyable things than winning can happen during a game. It is true that winning a game usually gives us a greater joy than just having fun or learning new skills through a game. However, in addition to the fact that difference in degrees does not deny the authenticity of the less in degree, there could be a moment of delight comparable to nothing in a game. There could be a great player or an incredible play. Olympians often express joy of witnessing superb performances of the medalists. A miracle goal at the last moment in an amateur soccer game would make all the participants excited and have them keep talking about it even years after the happening.

There are many other ingredients to make us truly enjoy ourselves than winning. Therefore, it cannot be said that it is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win. (355 words)

S so ～　that ….

Sはあまりにも～なので．．．だ。

“Technology helps us understand ourselves.”

1. 科学技術の発達により我々はより自然を理解できる。たとえば、顕微鏡の解像度は今やあまりにも良いので細胞をまるで機械装置であるかのように観察できる。

2. 過去にインターネットが平等な社会の実現に役立つという期待が存在したが、ITにおける独占があまりにも極端になったので、皮肉にもITの発展は人間が依然として野蛮であることを教えたと言える。

3. コンピューター・テクノロジーがあまりにも発展したので、人間のそれとほぼ同じ人工知能ができる日も遠くないと信じている人もいるが、今のところ昆虫の脳の一機能をまねるのが精いっぱいなのでヒトの脳が非常に複雑であることがわかるだけだ。

Answer Keys

The development of technology helps us better understand nature. For example, the resolution of the microscope is so high now that a cell can be observed as if it were a mechanical device.

2. 過去にインターネットが平等な社会の実現に役立つという期待が存在したが、ITにおける独占があまりにも極端になったので、皮肉にもITの発展は人間が依然として本質的に野蛮であることを教えたと言える。

There used to be an expectation that the Internet would facilitate the realization of an equal society, but the monopolies in the information technology has become so extreme that its development can be ironically said to have taught that human being is still inherently barbaric.

Some believe that computer technology has developed so much that it will not be long before we have an artificial intelligence which is almost the same as that of human. However, what we can do at best would be to mimic a function of an insect brain so far, which just tells us that the human brain is very complicated.

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