TOEFL iBT, Independent Writing, Would you rather be self-employed, work for someone else, or own a business?

Writing Topic

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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☆Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】 I would rather be an employee than an employer or a freelance.

【About Being Your Own Boss】Starting a new business can help improve the economy.

【About Being a Freelance】It is risky to be a freelance.

【My Choice】I am not interested in running a business.

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】Being my own boss is not my cup of tea.

Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

☆Sample Paragraph Development

A

【Main Idea】 I am not interested in running a company.

【Explanation】I have never been leader and wanted to.

【Detail and Example】”Each individual doing his or her best in his or her position will improve the whole society,” which was a musician’s comment I heard when I was young, has been my motto.

【Follow-up】Rather, I would like to improve the performance of the margin by working as a rank-and file

【Conclusion】I am happy if I am of any use for a company and can be paid for it..

【主張】会社経営には興味がない。

【説明】リーダーになったことがないしなりたいとも思わない。

【詳細】「ひとりひとりの個人がそれぞれの立場で最善を尽くすことが世の中をよくする。」という若い時に聞いたあるミュージシャンの言葉がずっと座右の銘だ。

【補足】むしろ平社員として末端の成績を改善したい。

【結論】何か会社の役に立ててそれで給料がもらえれば満足だ。

B

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

【Explanation】If you are the boss, you can carry out your idea at your discretion.

【Detail】 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 the management.

【Follow-up】 This does not mean that I would like to be au autocratic president. 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 steering the whole organization is up to me.

【Conclusion】I would like to try my ideas in business in my own ways by becoming leader of a company.

【主張】会社を所有すれば仕事の自由が増えるだろう。

【説明】ボスだったら自由裁量で自分の考えを実施できる。

【詳細】雇われている場合、新しいアイディアを実施するのはほとんど不可能だ。経営陣の決めた方針の下で割り当てられたしhごとをするものと思われている。

【補足】これは私がワンマン社長になりたいという事ではない。最高経営責任者は地域社会への影響や従業員と顧客の運命など考慮すべきことが多いのでビジネスの決定は実際のところ他の重役たちとの相談が大いに関わっている。しかし全体のかじ取りは私にかかっている。

【結論】会社の指導者になることによってビジネスに関する私のアイディアを自分の方法で試してみたいのだ。

Your Sample Paragraph Development:

【Main Idea】

【Explanation】

【Detail / Example】

【Follow-up】

【Conclusion】