TOEFL, iBT, Independent Writing, Most experiences in our lives that seemed difficult at the time become valuable lessons for the future. / Would you rather be self-employed, work for someone else, or own a business? - rewrites -

Writing Topic 1

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Most experiences in our lives that seemed difficult at the time become valuable lessons for the future. Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.

☆Let’s think

Let’s take a look at the details of the topic. It says, “MOST experiences,” so some experiences, those irreversibly damaging cases like child abuse or rare disasters are excluded. It says, “seemed difficult at the time,” and “valuable lessons for the future,” so it is talking about the tough experiences you will appreciate later.

We live and learn. We go through an endless series of difficulties of various degrees. The tougher the experience is, the stronger we become. The more complicated the experience is, the more knowledge we acquire. I guess most people agree with this statement and can easily come up with examples from your childhood piano lessons to moving to a foreign country to losing your pet.

When and where did you have the experience? What was tough? How did you feel then? How do you feel about the experience now? What have you learned from it?

☆Essay for Ideas and Expressions   (Barron’s, Writing for the TOEFL iBT, p.280)

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☆Reminders of harsh experiences

going abroad,

sharing a room with someone

living by yourself

living in poverty

having trouble with your neighbor

fighting a disease

having an injury

practicing piano

taking a difficult test,

failing a crucial test

starting a project

being in charge of something important

being extremely busy

making a serious mistake,

hurting someone,

embarrassing yourself,

being rejected

being betrayed,

being misunderstood, 

being discriminated against

losing something or someone important

having a difficult relationship

☆Your short responses

Answer the following questions briefly.

When and Where did you experience it?

What was tough?

How did you feel?

How do you feel about the experience now?

What have you learned from the experience?

Writing Topic 2

Some people prefer to work for themselves or own a business. Others prefer to work for an employer. Would you rather be self-employed, work for someone else, or own a business? Use specific reasons to explain your choice.

☆Let’s think                   

The question is related to your value or lifestyle. What is important in your life? What does work mean in your lifestyle? It might also be related to your property.

1)    What is important in your life?

2)    What does work mean in your lifestyle?

3)    What is your property related to work?

☆Ideas and Expressions

1.    Owing a business provides a lot of freedom as well as responsibility.

2.    Working for an employer can be stressful in some ways or depending on the person even though it is often the case that you can forget about work once you leave your office.

3.    Being self-employed allows some freedom but it is basically the same as working for someone else, because you cannot refuse job-offers for fear of missing opportunities in the future.

☆Essay for Ideas and Expressions

(Barron’s, Writing for the TOEFL iBT, pp.280-281)

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Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

☆Sample paragraph Development

【Main Idea】 Owning a business would give me a lot of freedom.

【Explanation】 It would allow me to try new ideas.

【Detail / Example】 If you work for an employer, it is almost impossible to put new ideas into practice. You are supposed to do your assignment under the policy decided by your employer. If you are the boss, you can carry out your idea at your discretion.

【Follow-up】 It is true that decision making in business actually involves a lot of consultation with other executives because there are many things for a CEO to consider such as effects to the community or the fate of your employees and clients, but the same considerations have to be made in any other important decisions. As long as I am aware of my responsibility and listen to others, I think I can do well, and the pressure and bother will not prevent me from feeling thrilled by the challenge in business.

【Conclusion】 I think my life would be livelier if I owned a business.

☆Your test paragraph development:

【Main Idea】

【Explanation】

【Detail / Example】

【Follow-up】

【Conclusion】