Pre-TOEFL writing, In what way do you think movies and televisions influence people's thoughts and actions? What is the most important or enjoyable class you have ever taken? Why did this class have an impact on you? - revised-

Writing Topic A

In what way do you think movies and televisions influence people's thoughts and actions?

☆Let’s Think

Let’s start by discussing the words in the writing topic.

1)    What do movies and televisions have in common?

(e.g. celebrities, sponsors, advertisements, trends, media most people use to get information)

2)    What do these factors have in common in people’s thoughts and actions? 

(e.g. influence on our likes and dislikes, moral notion, etc.)

3)    What argument can you make using the answers above?

(e.g. Movies and televisions affect the world view of the audience.)

☆Hints for Points

Movies and television …

1.    either widen or narrow our views – useful for children to learn new things while preventing grownups from seeing the whole picture of their society (e.g. Despite the fact that half of their income goes to the richest 10% of them, still many people in America, the world’s most celebrity-oriented society, believe in the American dream and think they will be a millionaire some day and thus are against raising tax on the rich.)

2.    help us learn “common sense” – children learn dos and don’ts

3.    shape our habits – many smoking scenes and more smokers in the past

4.    make us spend money

5.    narrow our interests – sports, music, and fashion and food being what most of our lives are about because they are featured in TV and movies

☆Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】Movies and televisions make people easier to control.

【Point 1】Movies and televisions greatly help shape people’s values.

e.g.  In the Islamic extremists’ animation, the bad guy is always American.

【Point 2】TV and movies encourage consumerism.

e.g. Thousands of brand names instilled in children in the US

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】There can be good news shows and documentaries, but as media depend on sponsors, they cannot go so far as to be straightforward about the dark side of the power, and people’s perception of the world will be biased.

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】Movies and television programs provide information and values which comply with the status quo, and people tend to think and behave accordingly.

♦Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

☆Sample Paragraph Development

【Main Idea】Movies and televisions greatly help shape people’s values.

【Explanation】 They create people’s desire for what is valued in their society.

【Detail / Example in general】 For example, children watch TV and decide what they want to be.

【More Specific Detail / Example】 With the intense attention to the celebrity life of the media, American girls fancy being a celebrity instead of someone in a specific profession like an actress. On the other hand, in the Islamic extremists’ animation, Americans are villains, and their boys aspire to become soldiers to be a martyr, i.e. suicide bomber.

【Follow-up】 Other media and society also help shape our values, but since movies and televisions are more attractive and easier to use than others the influence is greater. Popular good-looking actors and TV personalities beat printed words and charts.

【Conclusion】 Watching popular movies and televisions help make minds submissive to the power.

♦Your Sample Paragraph Development

【Main Idea】

【Explanation】

【Detail / Example in general】

【More Specific Detail / Example】

【Follow-up 】

【Conclusion】

Writing Topic B 

What is the most important or enjoyable class you have ever taken? Why did this class have an impact on you?

☆Let’s Think

Let’s start by answering the following questions.

1) Recall the most important or enjoyable class that you have ever taken

2) Why do you think so?

(e.g. lesson content, teacher, atmosphere, key events)

3) What impact did it have on you?

(e.g. interest in the subject, interest in studying, acquired some skills or knowledge)

☆Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】 A mock language class for English language instructors.

【Point 1】It was my first time to learn a language without the aid of my mother tongue.

【Point 2】I relearned effective skills.

【Point 3】I also learned students’ psyche in class.

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】The class was not only informative but also inspiring.

♦Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

☆Paragraph development

♦Sample Paragraph Development

【Main Idea】 I also learned students’ psyche in class.

【Explanation】 The foreign language class showed me how students feel in class and helped me improve my job as an English instructor.

【Detail / Example in general】I was surprised at and frustrated by the slow speed of my learning.

【More Specific Detail / Example】 I repeatedly failed to pronounce words properly and had difficulty in memorizing names of the things on picture cards.

【Follow-up】 Since I had thought that I was a quick learner and had a confidence in my short time memory, the class was shocking enough for me to reflect on my ability and attitude as a teacher in class where I would often take it for granted that students could do some tasks without much difficulty.

【Conclusion】 I came to see students’ uneasiness in class and became more patient with them.

♦Your Sample Paragraph Development

Now choose one of the points you have prepared in the essay structure above and develop it, using the paragraph development structure below if you like.

【Main Idea】

【Explanation】

 【Detail / Example in general】

【More Specific Detail / Example】

【Follow-up】

【Conclusion】