TOEFL iBT Independent Writing, one change in the twentieth century that is most important to remember - rewrite -

Writing Topic

There were many changes in the twentieth century. What do you think is the one change in the twentieth century that is most important to remember? Include specific reasons to justify your choice.

☆Let’s Think

1.      Fill in the blanks and make two questions similar to this writing topic. (Hint: Note 1)

-What …………………….. in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for people in your country?

-What ……………………... in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for people in your country?

2.      How do the following two sentences differ? (Hint: Note 2)

A     What is the most important change in the twentieth century?

B     What is most important change in the twentieth century?

3.      How would you come up with the answer to this question? (Hint: Go to the next question)

4.      Name important changes in the following categories: technology, economy, politics, medicine and culture.

5.      How would you explain that a certain change is most important to remember? Read the following paragraph and discuss how you can improve it. (Hint: Note 3)

In my opinion, the invention of the mobile phone is a most important change to remember that happened in the 20^th century. Mobile phones are great. You can make a phone call anywhere. Also, they allow you to do many things such as listing to music and taking a picture.

6.      Come up with expressions to prove that something is a most important change. (Hint: Note 4)

7.      Research about the important changes in the twentieth century.

8.      Which one do you think is most important? Why?

Notes

1.      The following are real TOEFL iBT Independent Writing questions of the same type as today’s topic:

-What invention in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for people in your country?

-What discovery in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for people in your country?

2.      Sentence A, “What is the most important change in the twentieth century?” is about the change that is more important than any other change in the last century, while Sentence B, “What is most important change in the twentieth century?” is about one of the most important changes in the last century. The article “the” does not precede the superlative in this question, most important. Thus you do not have to decide the most important change in the 20th century. There were some most important changes in the last 100 years. You pick up one of them and explain why it has the highest level of importance.

3.      Probably the difficulty in answering this type of question is to explain why you think your choice is a most important change. The hints to the answer are often in the questions. In this case, the hints are the words “change” and “most important.” They are related to great moments in history: the story of before and after the change. What is expected in your essay is comparison and contrast the situations before and after the change. Also, you are supposed to describe how great the impact of something was, in other words, in what way and how much it has changed society and/or the environment.

4.      Words and expressions to prove something is a most important change to remember would be as follows: has had a dramatic influence on, has provided a significant change of, has made everything more efficient than before, profoundly changed our perceptions or perspectives, has caused an irreversible change, has become the infrastructure of our life, or has made the world dependent on it.

☆Let’s make a point

Before writing your essay, let’s write about the points you are going to make by answering the following two questions.

Question 1  What is different before and after the change?

Sample response: I think the advent of the Internet is most important to remember in the last 100 years. In the past, the information was something that was provided in limited amounts by the authorities. However, these days, because of the Internet, most information has become available to anyone. Also, it has become possible for anyone to provide information for the public quite easily.

Your response

I think ………………………………………………………. is most important to remember in the last 100 years.

In the past, …………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………….

However, these days, because of …………………….…………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…

Question 2  What makes the change more important than other changes?

Sample short response: 1) The change brought by the Internet is most important to remember in that it has become the infrastructure of the world.  2) Its impact on our society was so great that no one in our society can live absolutely independent from the Internet any more.

Your short response

1)    The change brought by ………………………. is most important to remember in that…………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………………

2)    Its impact on our society was so great that …………………………………………………………..…………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

☆Hints for points

The rapid development of technology

Technological breakthroughs had happened before, but it was in the 20th century that the rapid development of technology happened and the lives of people changed dramatically. Nowadays, thanks to electronic appliances, people have more leisure time than they did one hundred years ago and use it to do things other than daily chores. The changes were good for the most part, but since they happened in a short time, people did not have time to adapt to it or consider the influence. As a result, the people in the 20th century left some negative assets to coming generations, such as pollution, global warming, threat of uncontrolled nuclear power, new types of crimes and so on. The first three are especially unprecedented in that they could wipe out mankind.

The spread of the entertainment

The notion of entertainment has given people a new lifestyle. Before the 20^th century people did have some fun activities but did not have much leisure time and what we now call the entertainment. However, in the last one hundred years, the entertainment industry has developed. Most people started watching entertainment programs and fun videos instead of reading books or playing with their families and friends. Following the trend in the entertainment industry has become the most important for many. A positive effect of this change is that people around the world started sharing the same entertainment experience. A negative impact is that the entertainment industry has promoted consumerism and made it easier for governments and corporations to control people’s thoughts.

The shift of hegemony

The two world wars ended imperialism. People learned it the hard way that peaceful coexistence is basic to the prosperity of humankind. Although international relationships do not always follow this idea, efforts are made to compromise and cooperate and no nation can invade and occupy another country without criticism anymore. At the same time, America has become the most powerful country in the world. Replacing England after WWI, it has played the leading role in politics, business, and culture. Its military bases, trading posts, and pop culture cover all over the world now. China gained power at the end of the century, but still its GDP is second to that of the US and its military spending rate to GDP is less than that of the US.

Globalization

The development of transportation and communication allowed corporations do business worldwide. They can now build their branches and factories in other countries, import cheap materials from other countries, and sell their products in other countries. As a result, people all over the world use the same kind of things, and share more information than before. The drawback of this change is the loss of indigenous languages, traditions and cultures.

☆Essay for ideas and expressions

Barron’s Writing for the TOEFL iBT, p. 338

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