TOEFL, iBT, Independent Writing, Buying a book or watching a movie? - rewrite -

Writing Topic: Suppose you have enough money to buy a book or watch a movie. Which would you rather spend the money on, the book or the movie?

☆Reading the question carefully.

Which would you rather spend the money on?  → This question is asking about your choice/preference. The answer can be subjective. You do not necessarily have to make an objective judgment.

☆Comparison and Juxtaposition

Sample Comparison

	a book	a movie
a	a physical material	an experience
b	like your best friend―you choose it carefully  and repeatedly return to it.	like friends or fashion―you enjoy their novelty but most of them just come and go.
c	nonfiction: a lot of detailed information fiction: about what is going on in the character’s mind	non-fiction: a brief digested explanation fiction: the plot and point of the original story
d	academic training (vocabulary, sentence structure, etc.)	composite art  (picture, music, fashion, etc.)

                                                                                          

Sample Juxtaposition

The experience you have through reading feels more real than that you have through watching a movie. When you read, you draw on your own experience to understand what is written, and it makes the story more real to you. For example, when the leading character is scolded by a strict teacher, you think of a particular teacher in your elementary school and remember the shock and embarrassment you felt when you were scolded by her. In a movie, the character of a strict teacher is presented through the interpretation of the actor and the director, which is different from your own image. Although it is always exciting and inspiring and therefore enjoyable to see the images created by great actors and directors, when it comes to reality, no other interpretation can beat your own. The world you build through reading is more real and intimate to you, and hence reading often gives you more satisfaction than watching a move.

Your Juxtaposition of one of the differences between buying a book and watching a movie:

☆Body Structure

Sample Body Structure for today’s writing topic

【Point 1】A book provides more detailed information.

【Point 2】Reading makes you more mature and develops your language ability.

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】It is true that watching a movie takes less time to finish a story, but the effect is weaker than reading. The difference is like that between a tour and a stay.

Your Sample Body Structure

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

☆Paragraph development

Sample Paragraph Development of Point 1 in the Essay Plan above

【Main Idea】 (主張)

A book can make you more mature more often than a movie can.

【Explanation】 (主張の説明)

Reading develops your thoughts and emotions more effectively than watching a movie.

【Example in general】 (具体例の概要)

For example, novels tell you the characters’ thoughts and feelings in detail.

【Specific Example / Reason】 (具体例)

While watching an episode of the Harry Potter Series, for instance, you just see some troubled face of Harry when he has difficulty in mastering an important magic for defense, in the book you see precisely what is going on in his mind, that is, his mixed feelings: an urge to achieve the magic, frustration, and the secret desire to fail again as he can see his late father’s image whenever he fails.  

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

Of course a movie can do some for the same purpose through expressions and narratives, but the effect is limited. You just understand or feel the same way. On the other hand, literature develops a piece of real life in you. By reading word by word and going through each single thought and feeling that are in Harry’s mind, you will actually own this orphan’s longing for his father which is stronger than the fear of death.

【Conclusion】 (結論)

You can enrich yourself in humanity by reading a good book.　

♦Your Sample Paragraph Development

【Main Idea】 (主張)

【Explanation】 (主張の説明)

【Example in general】 (具体例の概要)

【Specific Example / Reason】 (具体的例)

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

【Conclusion】 (結論)