TOEFL iBT Independent Writing, an advertisement that I think is good/bad -rewrite -

Lesson 29  Writing Topic

Advertising is a constant presence in our lives. Some advertisements are enjoyable and effective, but others are annoying. Choose an advertisement you think either very good or very bad, and explain why you either like or dislike this particular advertisement. Include specific details to explain your response.

☆Let’s think

1.      One way to choose an advertisement for this essay would be first to brainstorm good and bad points of advertisements and try to come up with one that fits some of the points. Discuss good and bad points of advertisements.

Good Points of Advertisements	Bad Points of Advertisements

2.      What do you think is a difficult part of writing an essay answering today’s question?

Note

One difficult part of answering the question of today’s writing essay might be how you describe and explain. The reader might not know the ad you are writing about, so you have to describe it in detail. Also, you have to explain the reason why you think it is good/bad. Sense is personal, and it requires careful explanation, or you will fail to convey to the reader the excitement you got from the ad.

☆Hints for Points

Good points of advertisements

1.    They provide information about goods and services people are interested in.

2.    They entertain viewers with attractive features and good ideas.

3.    Non-commercial advertisements attract attention to important issues

Bad points of advertisements

1.    They take up more space and time and are louder than the contents.

2.    They promote consumerism and materialism. They make people want what is not really necessary.

3.    Some ads have little or no information about what is advertised.

☆Ideas and Expressions

1. Play audio charade with the following advertisements.

2. Choose one of the advertisements you like/dislike, and explain why.

A.    Color-blind world

B.    Quit smoking

C.    Love your enemy

D.   Technology for development 

E.    Donate now

F.    Eho-maki roll

  

G.   Beer

H.   Kei Nishokori & Naomi Osaka (Nisshin)

(For reference of Advertisement H)

I.     Philippino housemaids

☆Let’s prepare

Now let’s prepare for your essay by responding to the following directions

Q. 1 Describe the advertisement you are going to write about.

e.g. The advertisement is a poster showing a woman eating what looks like a hamburger with plenty of cigarette butts instead of meat.

Q. 2 Account the issue related to the ad.

e.g. Smoking is proved to be bad for the health. Its addictive nature, second-hand smoke, and the tobacco industry are other related issues.

Q. 3 Why do you think the advertisement is very good/bad?

e.g. I think the advertisement is good because the metaphor helps realize the reality of smoking, taking in poison in a disgusting way.

☆Essay for ideas and expressions

Walking down a street in downtown Tokyo the other day, I looked up, saw an advertisement, and was fascinated by its simple design. I thought it was very good because it was eye-catching, stimulating, and practical.

The advertisement that caught my eye was a bulletin board of the biggest size on top of a tall building in Shibuya, one of the busiest districts in Tokyo. It had nothing on it except for a small phone number in the center. It made a huge white square against the sky as if it were a copy of The White Album of The Beatles placed on a blue table.

First, I thought that the bulletin board was empty and wondered why no one was interested in putting up an ad in such a crowded area. Next, I noticed the phone number, and then I realized that it was the number of the bulletin board company and that it was the advertisement of the advertisement space. I smiled because it made my mind light as things with good ideas always do. It was beautifully asserting its existence, saying “Here is a good space for advertisement” to those who might be interested.

I thought this ad was very good because it attracts attention and makes you think. Among numerous ads in all colors and designs, which are abundant in the shopping and pop-culture center Shibuya, a huge blank white square stands out. The ad gives you joy of question-solving and, by doing so, it gives you a good impression about the advertiser. Also, you can call the company on the spot if you are interested.

If I were the advertiser, I would have been tempted to put the name of the company in large letters near the phone number. However, this would be mundane and no one would pay attention to it. In practice, you will not be bothered by the absence of the name. It is not the name but the number that you need to use the service. You see the ad and you call, before trying to find out the company name. The absence of the name is strategically successful in appealing to potential clients.

Even if this design is actually often used when an advertising company advertises itself, there is no denying that it stimulates your mind when you see it for the first time. Advertisements that challenge conventional ideas and your intelligence always win. I think this simplest ad is one of them.