Pre-TOEFL writing, Nowadays, food has become easier to prepare. Has this change improved the way people live? - rewrite -

Writing Topic

Nowadays, food has become easier to prepare. Has this change improved the way people live? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

☆Let’s Think

That food has become easier to prepare means it has become faster and less troublesome to prepare meals thanks to the technological advancement such as the electrification of cooking tools, invention of instant food, and development of ready-to-eat food industry. However, technological advancement has both good points and bad points, so this change may not have improved the way people live in all aspects of life.

☆Hints for Points

Good points

1.    faster, saves time, helps make time to do other things

2.    reduce stress related to cooking

Bad points

1.    loss of skills, loss of tradition

2.    less communication between family members

3.    fewer chances to develop creativity

4.    lower dietary life: less tasty, less enjoyable in texture, and less fresh

5.    less healthy, for example, many prepared foods contain a lot of chemicals such as additives and preservatives

☆Sample Essay Structures

Sample 1

【Introduction = Outline】Less time to prepare food means more time to improve life.

【Good point 1】Reduction of cooking time lead to higher production.  e.g. Before rice cooker was invented, it took about an hour to cook rice, but it now takes 2 to 5 minutes. All you have to do is to rinse the rice, pour it into the machine, and push the button. The saved time can be used for side dishes and other tasks.

【Good point 2】Release from manual labor leads to higher mental activity.  e.g. Some housewives used the extra time they got by shorter cooking time for women’s rights and other social reform activities.

【Counterargument-treatment】Some might deplore decline of food culture. However, those interested in cooking are even more enthusiastic about improving their eating experience.   e.g. cook books

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】Efficiency is fundamentally helpful in improving life.

Sample 2

【Introduction = Outline】It is true that most of us have experienced the convenience of this change. However, it is doubtful whether it has improved our lives especially in terms of quality.

【Good points】Electric appliances and convenience food save us time to do other things although most of us have become busier because of increased workload assigned for the extra time saved by the technology.

【Bad point 1】The strong tastes of ready-to-eat foods make you less sensitive about tastes and they are addictive.  e.g. very sweet or salty food with a lot of fat in it

【Bad point 2】 An important part of life is lost by the reduction of the cooking process.  e.g. People no longer make traditional food such as ohagi cakes for ancestors, and few families pound mochi, rice cakes for New Year’s feast, together these days. 

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】 Diet makes up a significant part of life and related to culture and tradition. Therefore, simplified cooking has somewhat lowered the quality of our life.

♦Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】