TOEFL iBT Independent Writing, Games are as important for adults as they are for children. - rewrite -

Writing Topic

Consider the following statement. Games are as important for adults as they are for children. Do you agree or disagree with this idea? Support our response by including specific reasons and examples.

☆Let’s Think

Survey

Question	Your Response	Classmate A’s Response	Classmate B’s Response
How do games benefit you?

Discussion

1.    Do adults play games?

2.    When, where, and how do they play games?

3.    Why do you think adults play games?

4.    Are games as important for adults as they are for children?

☆Hints for Points

We play games …

1.    to have fun, release stress, etc.

2.    to get to know each other well, mingle with others, make friends with coworkers, etc.

3.    to learn some skills, to learn how to communicate, learn about life, etc.

☆Essay Structure

Sample 1

【Introduction】I agree with the statement that games are as important for adults as they are for children because society at all levels utilize games.

【Point 1】Adults can benefit from games as much as children.

【Point 2】Games have been part of culture and thus they are indispensable for both adults and children.

【Counterargument-treatment】It is true that play is the main job of not adults but children. However, the line between play and work is actually difficult to draw aside from responsibility and earning.

【Conclusion】Humans grow all through their lives and games can play as important a role in development for adults as for children.

【導入】社会は全ての段階でゲームを活用しているので、ゲームは子供にとってと同様大人にとって重要だという発言に賛成だ。

【要点1】大人は子供と同じくらいゲームから利益を得る。

【要点2】ゲームは文化の一部なので大人と子供両方にとって不可欠だ。

【反論処理】確かに遊びは大人ではなく子供の主な仕事だ。しかし責任と収益は別として遊びと仕事の間の線引きは実は難しい。

【結論】人間は一生成長する。そしてゲームは子供にとってと同様大人にとっても発達において重要な役割を果たす。

Sample 2

【Introduction】As games are secondary to adults, I disagree with the idea that games are as important for adults as they are for children.

【Point 1】In terms of learning through games, most of what adults learn is too practical to be covered by games.

【Point 2】Adults play games in leisure time as they have more important things to do than playing games.

【Counterargument-treatment】 Adults need to have fun, but they could do without it. Also, people find many other ways to have fun as they grow up.

【Conclusion】Games are just for fun for adults and are significant mainly for those who are in the early stages of life. Adults who seriously think games are important may have some problems such as escapism.

【導入】ゲームは大人にとって二次的なので、ゲームが子供にとってと同様大人にとって重要だという考えに反対だ。

【要点1】ゲームを通した学びという点では、大人が学習することのほとんどは実践的過ぎてゲームでカバーできない。

【要点2】大人はゲーム遊びより重要なすべきことがあるのでゲームは余暇にする。

【反論処理】 大人も楽しむ必要はあるが無しでも済まされる。また成長すると他のいろいろな楽しむ方法を見つける。

【結論】ゲームは大人にとって単なる楽しみであり、ゲームは人生の初期段階の人にとって主に重要だ。ゲームが大切だと真剣に考えている大人は、例えば現実逃避癖の様な何らかの問題を抱えているかもしれない。

Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

☆Sample Paragraph Development

【Main Idea】Games have been part of culture and thus they are necessary for both adults and children.

【Explanation】Like language and custom, games help people (to) think and act normally.

【Example】It is often the case that a game element is introduced in adults’ daily activities.

【More Specific Example】A company management often tries to raise morale among employees by having them have competitions named after popular sports. Workshop instructors and learning applications take advantage of games for effective learning.

【Follow-up】 Even when they do not think they are playing games, their minds might be working as if they  were playing a game. They might always be saying to themselves that they will challenge someone, bet on something, or won or lost something and acting accordingly, and this behavior seems natural for most of us.

【Wrap-up】Adults who forget playfulness completely may not act well in society.

【主張】ゲームは文化の一部なので大人にも子供に必要だ。

【説明】言語や習慣の様にゲームは人が正常に考えたり行動したりするのを助ける。

【具体例】ゲームの要素が日常の大人の活動に取り入れられていることはよくある。

【より具体的な例】会社の経営陣はしばしば人気のあるスポーツにちなんだ名前の競争をさせることによって従業員の士気を上げようとする。研修の指導員や学習アプリは効果的な学びのためにゲームを利用する。

【補足】ゲームをしていないと思っている時でさえ、頭はまるでゲームをしているように働いているかもしれない。誰かに挑戦するとか何かにかけるとか何かに勝ったあるいは負けたといつも心の中で言いそのように行動しているかもしれないし、この行動は大抵の人にとって当然だと思える。

【まとめ】遊び心を完全に忘れた大人は社会でうまく行動できないかもしれない。

Your Sample Essay Structure

【Main Idea】

【Explanation】

【Detail / Example】

【More Specific Detail / Example】

【Follow-up】

【Wrap-up】

☆Sample Introduction  (Optional)

【Hook】 There are many adults who play games.

【Background】 We often see office workers challenging crossword puzzles or shooting something in their smartphones in the train on their way home. Old people enjoy playing scrabbles and other board games. A lot of grown-up people are found in penny arcades.

【Thesis and Reason】 Still it does not directly mean that games are as important for adults as for children because people spend and efforts doing not only the important but also the unimportant, although importance can be subjective.

【注意喚起】 ゲームをする大人がたくさんいる。

【説明】 会社員が仕事帰りに電車内でクロスワードパズルに挑戦したりスマートフォンの中で何かを撃ったりしているのをよく見る。お年寄りはスクラブルや他のボードゲームを楽しみ多くの成人がゲームセンターにいる。

【主張と理由】それでもそのことが直接子供にとってと同様大人にとってゲームが重要だということにはならない。なぜなら人は重要なことだけでなく重要でないことをするのに時間と労力を費やすからだ。重要性は主観的でありうるとはいえ。

Your Sample Introduction

【Hook】

【Background】

【Thesis and Reason】

Pre-TOEFL Writing, What are the qualities of a good neighbor? - rewrite -

Writing Topic

Neighbors are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good neighbor? Use specific details and examples in your answer.

隣人は近くに住む人々です。あなたの意見では良い隣人の資質は何ですか。答えには具体的な詳細と例を使用して下さい。

☆Let’s Think

You can tell what kind of neighbors are good ones based on your experience or draw on your knowledge gained from the media or talks with people around you. You could also imagine an ideal neighbor by asking yourself what kind of neighbor you want to have or you yourself want to be. 実際の隣人との経験・メディアや人から聞いた話・自分の理想の隣人を考えてみよう。

☆Hints for Points

A good neighbor …良い隣人は

1.    is thoughtful and gentle. 思いやりがあり優しい。

2.    is helpful and reliable 助けてくれ、頼りになる。

3.    is calm and quiet  大人しくて静か。

4.    is cheerful and outgoing. 明るくて外交的。

5.    does not discriminate against any neighbors. どんな隣人も差別しない。

6.    do not interfere his or her neighbor’s life. 邪魔しない。

7.    does not bother others by being selfish. わがままで人を煩わせない。

8.    follows rules. 決まりに従う。

☆Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】In my opinion, qualities of good neighbors are tolerance and empathy.

【Tolerance】Good neighbors are tolerant; they pay respect to their neighbors’ culture.

【Empathy】Good neighbor are empathic, so they can get along well and cooperate.

【Other Qualities】A friendly and communicative neighbor would be nice, but as long as we can respect and help each other, the neighborhood will be a good place to live.

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】Good neighbors will ward off discrimination and apathy.

【導入＝概要】私の意見では良い隣人の資質は寛容性と共感性だ。

【寛容性】良い隣人は寛容性がある。隣人の文化を尊敬する。

【共感性】良い隣人は共感性があるので他人とうまくやれるし協力できる。

【他の資質】友好的で話好きな隣人は良いだろうがお互いを尊敬し助け合える限り近所は住みやすい場所になるだろう。

【結論＝まとめ】良い隣人は差別と無関心を防ぐ。

Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Body 1】

【Body 2】

【Body 3】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】.

☆Sample Description

Good neighbors are empathic. They are like extended family members who are in good terms with you. They respect your privacy, but give you a good smile and warm words when you meet them and come help you when you are in trouble. In a traditional society, where most of the members were related, such neighbors were common. If there was a young couple who had their first child cry hard every night, the neighbors would send them a gentle middle-aged housewife, who would ask them if there was anything wrong with their child. By doing so, they saved both the parents and the child. In a modern society, where most inhabitants in an area do not know each other, it is difficult for a next-door neighbor to visit a household with a problem, but similar thoughtful actions would be possible if we seriously think about our neighbors instead of being preoccupied with our own business all the time.

良い隣人は共感力がある。関係が良好な遠縁の親戚のようだ。プライバシーは尊重するが会えば優しく微笑み暖かい言葉をかけてくれ、困った時は助けてくれる。伝統社会では構成員の大半が親戚でそのような隣人が普通だ。毎晩子供を泣かせている若い夫婦がいれば、近所の人は優しい中年の主婦を行かせて子供に何か問題があるのか尋ねさせる。そうすることによって親と子両方を救った。現代社会ではある地域の住民の大部分がお互いを知らず、問題のある家庭を隣の人が訪問するのは難しいが、いつも自分自身のことに夢中になっている代わりに隣人について真剣に考えるならば同様の思慮深い行動が可能だろう。

国際教養学部AO入試、reference, Environmental Issues, Technology, Plastic

BBC Podcast, The Inquiry
How Do We Get Hooked on Plastic?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csvsyn

TOEFL iBT, Independent Writing, Imagine that the school you attend has received a large donation of money. If you had the power to decide how to spend this money, how would you choose to use the money? - rewrite -

Writing Topic

Imagine that the school you attend has received a large donation of money. If you had the power to decide how to spend this money, how would you choose to use the money? Offer specific reasons to explain your response.

☆Let’s Think

Pair Work

1. What is the difference between the following two questions?

a. Imagine that you have received a large amount of money. How would you like to use the money?

b. Imagine that your school has received a large amount of money. How would you like to use the money?

2. If there are proper usages of the money, what are they likely to be?

3. How can you construct the essay on this topic?

☆Hints for Points

1.    facilities

I would like to make the library / computer room / laboratory /gymnasium / cafeteria of my school better / larger / cleaner.

2.    System

I would like to start an exchange-students program / scholarship for disadvantaged students.

3.    Environment

I would like to improve the school buildings / quad of my school / the school zone.

☆Preparation

A. Make a presentation to your partner/group member on this topic answering the following questions.

1.    Problem: What is wrong?

2.    Your Plan: What should be done?

3.    Expected Benefits: How will it benefit my school?

4.    Expected Problems: What sort of obstacles can be expected and how can it be managed or ignorable?

B. Ask questions about the points made in the presentation by your partner./group member It would help him or her with writing an essay on this topic later.

☆Essay for Ideas and Expressions

Writing for the TOEFL iBT, p. 331, Barron’s

...

☆Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction】If my school has received a large donation and if I had the power to decide how to use it, I would set up a fund for a domestic home stay program.

【Current Problem】There are many students who want to have a homestay but cannot.

【Your Plan】My plan is to make a fund for a domestic home stay program so that students can stay with native speakers of English who are staying in Japan.

【Benefits】The financial burden would be lighter, and in case something goes wrong, adjustment can be done more quickly and easily than the case of real home stay.

【Counterargument-treatment】Staying with foreign residents at home is essentially different from staying abroad. However, it is better to have some kind of experience of living with foreign people than to have no experience with it, because language acquisition heavily depends on constant contact with the speakers.

【Conclusion】If my school had a windfall, funding for staying with foreign families would help improve many students’ performances.

【導入】もし私の学校が大きな寄付を受け、使い道を決める権限が私にあったとしたら国内留学制度基金を設立するだろう。

【現在の問題】ホームステイをしたいができない生徒が沢山いる。

【計画】私の計画は生徒が日本に滞在している英語のネイティヴスピーカーの家に滞在できるように国内留学制度の為の基金を作ることだ。

【利益】金銭的負担が軽くなり、何か問題が起こった場合、調整が本物のホームステイより容易に速くできる。

【予測される問題点】国内の外国人居住者宅での滞在は海外滞在と本質的に異なる。しかし海外の人と生活する何らかの経験があることはその経験が全くないよりましだ。なぜなら言語の獲得はその言語の話し手との継続的接触に大きく頼っているからだ。

【結論】もし私の学校が思わぬ大金を得たら、外国人家庭滞在への資金提供が多くの生徒の成績改善を助けるだろう。

☆Sample Paragraph Development

【Current Problem】There are many students who want to have a homestay but cannot.

【Explanation】In most cases, they cannot afford it.

【Example】For example, homestay program costs a lot.

【More Specific Example】To have a couple of homestay in America, you have to pay hundreds of thousands of yen to the agency, This is as much money as having a surgery or moving into a new apartment room. Thus it is a financial and mental burden for students as well as their parents.

【Follow-up】Also, staying abroad for a long time demands too much sacrifice from high school students as they lose time for other important activities like club activities or spending time with family and friends.

【Wrap-up】It would be nice if all students who are eager to learn English had opportunities to have a homestay without worrying about family budget and feeling loss.

【現在の問題】ホームステイをしたいができない生徒が多い。

【説明】ほとんどの場合金銭的余裕がないのだ。

【例】例えばホームステイ用プログラムはお金がかかる。

【より具体的な例】アメリカで2週間ホームステイするのに代理店に何十万円も支払う。これは手術を受けたり新しいアパートに引っ越したりするのにかかるのと同じ金額だ。従って親はもとより生徒にとって金銭的精神的負担になる。

【補足】また海外に長期滞在するのは部活動や家族や友人と時間を過ごすといった他の重要な活動のための時間を失うので高校生にはあまりにも大きな犠牲を要求する。

【まとめ】英語を熱心に学びたい生徒が皆家計の心配と喪失感なしでホームステイする機会があればよい。

Your Test Paragraph Development

【Main Idea】

【Explanation】

【Detail / Example in general】

【More Specific Detail / Example】

【Follow-up】

【Wrap-up】