TOEFL, iBT, Independent Writing, What sort of setting would you like for your home, a traditional house in the county or an urban apartment building built in a modern style? - rewrite -

Writing Topic

What sort of setting would you like for your home, a traditional house in the county or an urban apartment building built in a modern style? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

☆Let’s think

I have seen quite a few students write, in answering this question, “I would like to live in a high-tech mansion in a resort.” The honest conclusion for most of us would be something like this image, and if you cannot resist, you could start the Introduction with “Honestly,” followed by the above sentence, and continue with the following, “but if I have to choose between a traditional house in the county or an urban apartment building built in a modern style, I would prefer the former/latter.”

A traditional house in the county and an urban apartment building in a modern style are two ultimate images of housing. Would you like to have a relaxed life close to nature or would you like to spend every day in an atmosphere that stimulates all of your senses?  Which do you prioritize in your life, nature or civilization? Which would you prefer, an idyllic setting or urban setting?

☆Hints for points

Brainstorming characteristics of each choice, juxtaposing them point by point.

	Traditional house in the country	Modern apartment in a city
environment	full of nature, good for the health	constantly changing, noisy, polluted
lifestyle	relaxing, slow-paced, traditional	exciting, fast-paced, progressive
convenience	low prices automobile society safer	many means of transportation varieties of businesses, many hospitals, schools, and cultural facilities
relationships	intimate, warm, strong ties	dry, individualistic, freer
people	same kind of people, many relatives carefree, relaxed, conservative	disparate, many strangers alert, ambitious, open-minded

☆Sample Body Structures

Sample body structure 1: You write about both choices comparing and contrasting them point by point

   (1) Point 1: Comparison of the environment, convenience, and security

   (2) Point 2: Comparison of the leisure activities              

   (3) Your preference (choice) with reasons

Sample body structure 2: You write about each choice separately and make your choice by giving reasons.

    (1) About living in a traditional house in the country

    (2) About living in an urban apartment building built in a modern style

    (3) Your preference (choice) with reasons

Sample body structure 3: You deal with the other choice as the counterargument.

    (1) Point 1: a/the first reason why you prefer one to the other

    (2) Point 2: a/the second reason why you prefer one to the other

    (3) Counterargument-treatment: why the points in which the other choice is superior to your choice does not matter to you

Your Sample Body Structure

(1)

(2)                                        

(3)