TOEFL, iBT, Independent Writing, eating out on a regular basis or eating at home and seldom go out to eat -rewrite-

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 beings.

Eating out on a regular basis:

1.    saves time

2.    tastes better, more variety

3.    social life (people, manners)

4.    “spice up one’s life”

Counterargument: unhealthy

Counter-counterargument: health-conscious restaurants, good breakfast at home

☆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)

【Specific Detail / Example】 (具体的な例)

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

【Conclusion】 (結論)

Sample 1

【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.

【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. However, 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.

Sample 2

【Main Idea】&【Explanation】 Eating out regularly livens up life because going out to eat in town is a fun activity.

【Detail / Example】Having a jolly conversation over lunch or dinner surrounded by other relaxed diners helps see people and life positively.

【Specific Detail / Example】Going to a familiar Chinese restaurant with your beloved makes you feel comfortable while trying a new Italian dish with your friends is exciting, and each of such times is a precious moment of life.

【Follow-up / Counterargument-treatment】This habit might seem to some morally wrong, but eating in restaurants on a regular basis does not mean going out to eat three times a day. Allowing oneself an hour of good mealtime a couple of times a week is neither an extravagance nor indulgence. It is a good practice.

【Conclusion】Man does not live to eat but eat to live.

♦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. Starting with【Main Idea】 and 【Specific Detail / Example】, and then filling in other parts is one way to develop a point.

【Main Idea】

【Explanation】

【Detail / Example in general】

【Specific Detail / Example】

【Follow-up / Counterargument-treatment】 

【Conclusion】