Writing Topic
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Only people
who earn a lot of money are successful. Use specific reasons and examples to
support your answer.
☆Let’s think
1.
Finding
a counter example
One of the key words of this statement is “only”. To
prove this statement is wrong, how can you approach it?
--- Not many things can be described with words like “only” or “all,” so
trying to focus on proving this statement is wrong might be a good start. To
prove that a statement that only A is B is wrong, all you have to do is to show
that non-A is also B. Therefore, to disagree with the statement that only people
who earn a lot of money are successful, you just show that those who do not
earn a lot of money are also successful.
2.
Thinking
about the definition of “successful” Another key
word of this statement is “successful”. What is the definition of being
successful? Reaching a goal helps one feel successful personally, but, to
others, it might not be successful. A murderer who has killed the person he
believed should not be in this world cannot be called a successful person other
than to those who have the same belief as this person.
--- It seems that, to be successful, a person must meet some unsaid
criteria set by the society. They might be those who have money, a higher
status, or a good life. They might also be admired by many people or have accomplished
something important.
3.
Thinking
about “making a lot of money” Is money an essential factor to
be regarded as a successful person? Is your uncle who owns a venture business
producing a lot of money successful while another uncle of yours who is a
dedicated high school teacher everyone in his community respects is not
successful? Is a researcher who does not make a lot of money but is proud of the job because what the
person is doing is part of a large current of a scientific pursuit in which the
person shares his or her interest and passion with numerous associates around
the world, including those in the past and in the future, unsuccessful?
☆Sample Essay Structure
【Introduction】I do not think earning a lot
of money is necessary to be successful because there are people who are looked upon as
successful even though they do not make a lot of money.
【Point 1】A person can be regarded as
successful if the person earns respect from the world by doing what he believes
right. e.g. Vincent van Gogh
【Point 2】A person can be regarded as successful if the
person is leading a happy, decent life which most people would wish to be
theirs. e.g. a happy, good scientist
【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】Deep in our heart, we know that becoming rich
is not very important in life. e.g. People
consider how a certain rich person became rich in deciding whether he or she is
successful or not.
【Conclusion】Earning a lot of money is only one way of being successful, and
there are many people who are regarded as successful in other aspects of life.
Sample Conclusions
1)
From the examples above, it is
clear that there are many counter examples against the statement that only
people who earn a lot of money are successful. Therefore, I cannot agree with
the idea.
2)
A large income is not the
prerequisite for being successful. Thus, it cannot be said that only those who
make a lot of money are successful.
3)
When we think of history, there
are few people we remember simply because they were rich. Overall, we remember
people who did something with their lives―that were influential in politics, or contributed to science or art
or religion. If history is the ultimate judge of success, then money surely isn’t
everything. (Barron’s, Writing for the
TOEFL iBT, p.322)
Your Sample Essay Structure
【Introduction】
【Point 1】
【Point 2】
【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】
【Conclusion = Wrap-up】
☆Sample
Paragraph Development
A
【Main Idea】A person can be regarded as successful if the person earns respect from
the world by doing what he or she believes right.
【Supporting Detail (general)】Many artists and musicians that young people
aspire to be like were never rich.
【Supporting Detail (specific)】For example, Vincent van Gogh is one of the
most famous and successful artists. His paintings are sold at high prices. It
might be difficult to find a museum of modern art without a van Gogh.
Department stores have retrospectives of van Gogh as often as those of
Impressionists and there is no fine art textbook without his paintings.
【Follow up】However, he never became rich
while he was alive. What makes him successful is that he knew his artistic
experiment was on the right track and made the world recognize it
【Conclusion】 Although
he was not happy in his private life and he was never rich, his life was
successful as an artist.
B
【Main Idea】A person leading a happy, decent life can be called a successful person.
【Supporting Detail (general)】For example, a happily married housewife can be
successful even if she does not earn money.
【Supporting Detail (specific)】Many women are full-time homemakers who
professionally take care of their
household work. They enjoy raising children, and take pride in passing
down traditions and customs.
【Follow up】Society often make little of
them, saying that they do not produce anything substantial. However, they know
that their jobs are as productive as any companies and they are proud of it.
【Conclusion】 If a
person is leading a fulfilling life, the person can be called a successful
person.
Your Sample
Paragraph Development:
【Main Idea】
【Supporting
Detail (general)】
【Supporting
Detail (specific)】
【Follow-up】
【Conclusion】
Comments or Suggestion from
your partner or group members
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