TOEFL, iBT, Independent Writing, main reasons to go to college or university- rewrite -

☆Writing Topic

There are many different reasons to attend a college or university. What do you think are some of the main reasons so many people are interested in attending college or university? Include specific reasons and details in your response.

☆Let’s Think

The first sentence of the writing topic says that people go to college for “many different reasons.” It is probably true. Some might go to a higher school so that they can study the subject they are really interested in, while others might go to college just because they feel it is better for them to do so although they are not so sure why, and still others may intend to make friends with as many interesting people as possible during their college years.

The question requires you to name some of the MAIN reasons why people think of going to college. Minor reasons such as personal would be the least relevant to the topic.

☆Ideas and expressions

WHY GO TO UNIVERSITY

Taken from http://www.upforitclub.org.uk/whataboutuniversity/whatwherewhyhow/whygotouniversity/

1.    INDEPENDENCE: You could get the chance to live away from home during term time and won't have somebody telling you to tidy your room and do your homework. It's a great way of finding your feet before you move out completely.

2.    OPPORTUNITIES: You get to meet people from all over the world who are interested in the same subject as you. You can join clubs and societies for almost every interest you can think of.

3.    COURSES AND CHOICES: If you are thinking about university, then hopefully you have a course in mind that you may like to study. If you enjoy the subject and find it interesting, university allows you to explore and expand your knowledge for three years, normally with the use of fantastic facilities and experts in that subject who teach you.

4.    SOCIAL LIFE: You get to socialize and take advantage of some fantastic facilities right on your doorstep! Never again will entertainment be so cheap and you'll meet people who might possibly end up being your friends for life.

5.    JOBS: Graduates are much more likely to get a job, particularly at a 'professional' level and when they are working, graduates earn about a third more money than non-graduates. If you want to work in certain areas like medicine, teaching or law, you'll need a degree in the subject before you start.

☆Making the framework of your essay

Now let’s make the framework of your essay. You could use each sentence as the main idea (thesis sentence) of each paragraph of your full essay.

Sample Framework:

【Introduction】 I think people think of going to college to become a better adult, for academic pursuit, and for their future careers.

【Reason 1】Spending another four years at school is attractive for many people who feel that they need some more years to be ready for adult life.

【Reason 2】 Pure interest in the subject may well be another reason.

【Reason 3】 People go to college to get a good job.

【Conclusion】Many people are interested in going to college because they want to become a well-rounded, intelligent person equipped with college diploma.

The framework of your essay:

【Introduction】

【Reason 1】

【Reason 2】

【Reason 3】

【Conclusion】

☆Paragraph development

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

【Main Idea】People go to college to get a good job.

【Explanation】They think having a college degree is an advantage when you look for a job.

【Detail / Example】 Most high-paying, challenging jobs require at least a Bachelor’s degree.

【More Specific Detail / Example】It is especially true when it comes to a regular job or a managerial job. Getting one without going to college is very difficult in today’s job market.

【Counterargument & Counter-counterargument】It is often said that interpersonal skills count more than academic background in employment, but the latter is easier to prove than the former because it takes a form of a document.

【Conclusion】 It is natural to think that it is safe to get a college degree before starting work.

☑Let’s deal with counterarguments

A counterargument is a bonus-point icon in an essay writing game. If you venture to take it up and deal with it successfully, your essay will jump up to the upper level and you will be awarded with a good score. On the other hand, if you fail to be aware of an inevitable counterargument, your essay will become vulnerable to the attack on it. The raters of your essay may regard the neglected counterargument as a flaw in logic. Think of the debate for which you did not prepare carefully. As TOFFL essay writing is an English test, it is important to show that you can think and write objectively in English.

             

Your test paragraph development

Now let’s practice paragraph development. Choose one of the reasons you have put in the framework, make it the main idea in the form below, and develop it. As this is a tentative part of your real essay, use simple words and sentences and focus on the logic and ideas.

【Main Idea】

【Explanation】

【Detail / Example】

【More Specific Detail / Example】

【Counterargument & Counter-counterargument】

【Conclusion】