TOEFL iBT Independent \writing, It is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win. & Is the ability to read and write more important today than in the past? Why or why not? - rewrite -

Writing Topic A

Consider the following statement. It is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win. Do you agree or disagree with this idea? Support your response by including specific reasons and examples.

☆Let’s think

1.      Which of the following sounds objective and which sounds subjective?

a.    I enjoy winning a game.

b.    It is enjoyable for most of us to win a game.

2.      Which of the following seems to be an expression from the bottom of the heart of the speaker?

a.    “I’m sorry.”

b.    “I’m truly sorry.”

3.      Which of the following allows no exception?

a.    You can kill the dragon if you have the special sword.

b.    You can kill the dragon only if you have the special sword.

4.      What is a game? For what purpose do you play a game?

5.      Name things that are truly enjoyable whether they are related to games or not.

6.      Is there anything that makes you say to yourself, “Well, I truly enjoyed the game!” after a game you lost?

☆Hints for Points

1.      You play games for many reasons other than to win. We play games to kill time, to have fun with others, to release stress, to be inspired, to try your luck, etc.

2.      Many things other than winning are truly enjoyable. The examples of things that are truly enjoyable are attaining a goal, gaining something expected like closer relationship or feeling refreshed, gaining something unexpected like receiving kindness, learning something, seeing someone extraordinary.

3.      To be honest, everyone wants to win. That you sometimes lose friendship after a close game is the proof of this truth.

☆Essay for Ideas and Expressions

Humans have had many kinds of games since ancient times and there seem to be many reasons for our fascination with this activity. I disagree with the statement that it is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win. I think gams are for fun, development and more, not just for winning.

People play games to have fun. We play games to kill time, to release stress, or to spend time with others. When you feel empty or stressed out, you take out a game machine, play it for a while, and feel good whether you lose or win. Games are also used to promote companionship. At a party, for example, a game helps people laugh and talk, both winners and losers enjoying themselves. Probably it is precisely because games are not to win but for fun that people enjoy them.

Many things that are truly enjoyable happen in playing a game. For example, playing a game involves joy of improvement. Humans, like other animals, have desire to learn something new and fulfilling this desire is a great joy of life. A game makes you lose more often than it lets you win, but you will be absorbed in gaining new skills and making progress by trial and error. What makes games enjoyable is not only reaching the top but the process. Also, leaning is not the only thing that is more enjoyable than winning that can happen during a game. There could be a great player or an incredible play that gives you pure delight. Olympians often express joy of witnessing superb performances of the medalists. A miracle goal at the last moment in an amateur soccer game would make all the participants excited and have them talk about it even years later.

It is true that by winning we may experience euphoria, which would be described as highest in degree of temporary happiness, if it could be quantified. However, difference in degrees does not deny the authenticity of the less in degree. Victory in non-professional games just gives an additional delight to the player who has already had enough fun.

Games are not essential in life and there are many other factors to make us truly enjoy ourselves than winning in games. Therefore, it cannot be said that it is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win. One with a mindset that does not allow one to truly enjoy games regardless of results might have lost sight of the meaning of playing games.    (420 words)

☆Sample Essay Structure

【Main Idea】I disagree with the statement that it is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win.

【Point 1】Games are for fun.   e.g.to kill time, to spend time with family or friends

【Point 2】Many things that are truly enjoyable happen in playing a game. e.g. improvement

【Counterargument treatment】Euphoria of winning is only an additional pleasure.

【Conclusion】Many other factors make us truly enjoy ourselves than winning. It cannot be said that it is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win

Your Sample Essay Structure

【Main Idea = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3 or Counterargument treatment】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

☆Speech Time

Make a one-minute speech on this topic.

☆Sample Paragraph Development

【Main Idea】A game can be really enjoyable even if you lose.

【Supporting Details】 You say to yourself, “Well, I truly enjoyed the game!” after a game you lost when the atmosphere was great, everyone smiling and being considerate to others; when your best friend won; when the winner won in an amazing way; when you have got something important during the game like a new friend or information; or when you were not concerned about winning or losing from the beginning.

【Wrap-up】 Therefore, winning is not the only factor to enjoy a game.

Your Sample Paragraph Development

Choose one of the points you have prepared in the essay structure above and develop it, using the paragraph development structure below if you like.

【Main Idea】

【Supporting Details】

【Wrap-up】

Show each other what you have written.

Writing Topic B

Is the ability to read and write more important today than in the past? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

☆Let’s Think

1.      What requires the ability to read and write?

2.      Do people need to read and write more often today than in the past?

 ☆Hints for Points

Agree:

1.      Most of our daily tasks involve reading and writing. Without the ability, you cannot read instructions and communicate exactly what you think or feel.

2.      Literacy and wealth are related. The higher the literacy rate is, the wealthier the country is. When our country opened up to the West, the government focused on education to make the country powerful. Developing countries that make efforts to educate their people raise their GDP soon if everything else goes well.

3.      Development of technology allows and requires you to be involved in more intellectual tasks than physical ones. For example, entrance examinations for university include more essays than before. In business, there are more need for research and presentation skills as automatization and robotization proceeds.

4.      Present era is called the information age, which is based on letters. We usually get information not from people but through the Internet. We exchange information through scripts, e-mails and text messages. There is written information everywhere such as electronic billboards or scripts on TV screens.

5.      In conclusion, the ability to read and write is more important today than in the past for us to get the most out of our lives in this age of information.

Disagree:

1.      Due to advanced machines, there is little need to read and write today. Many people can spell less than before and they relate this decline to the new technology prevalent in today’s society, while the same people find few problems in dealing with things that commonly happen every day. “I write only when I sign for my credit card.”

2.      Human culture has evolved along with technological development. Just as the ability to make fire is unnecessary anymore with all kinds of lighters around us, so is the ability to read and write now that we have developed technology for it. We can think and communicate more freely while machines read and write for us. What is ever more important today is the ability to think and feel.

3.      To sum up, reading and writing is just a part of human intellectual activity like calculation. Our lives have been filled with many more important things than literal things. The ability to read and write has just a marginal importance now as it has always been.

☆Sample Essay Structure

【Main Idea】The ability to read and write is much more important now than before.

【Past】The number of people who needed to read and write were limited in the past. e.g. agricultural society

【Present】Children learn to read around 5 and people need to read throughout their lives.

【Counterargument treatment】Automatization reduces chances to write and read, but without the ability to read and write, high level of intelligence cannot be maintained.   e.g. abstract thought, programing languages

【Conclusion】Literacy rate should be kept high so that we can keep thriving.

Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

☆Speech Time

Make a one-minute speech on this topic.

☆Sample Paragraph Development

【Main Idea】 Automatization reduces chances to write and read, but without the ability to read and write, high level of intelligence cannot be maintained. 

【Supporting Details】 It is true that with the advancement of technology, keyboards are disappearing and speakers have started to read out loud for us, but it does not mean that we can be illiterate. Abstract thought are easier to develop with the aid of letters because thought is related to language and language is related to literacy. Also, the programming skill, which is increasingly in demand, requires knowledge of programing languages.

【Wrap-up】 It might be frivolous to declare that technology will free us from reading and writing.

Choose one of the points you have prepared in the essay structure above and develop it, using the paragraph development structure below if you like.

【Main Idea】

【Supporting Details】

【Wrap-up】

Show each other what you have written.