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”. Not
many things can be described with “only” or “all,” so proving this statement is
wrong might be a good start. How can you prove this statement is wrong?
--- To prove that a statement that only A is B is wrong, you 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 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 is a dedicated high school teacher everyone
in his community respects not successful? What about 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 interest and passion with
numerous associates around the world, including those in the past and in the
future?
☆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 necessary
condition 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】
☆Speech time
Make a one-minute speech on this topic.
☆Sample
Paragraph Development
A
【Main Idea】A person can be regarded as successful if the person earns respect from
the world.
【Supporting Detail (general)】Many artists and musicians that young people
aspire to be like were not 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 did not make a lot money, van Gogh was successful as an artist.
B
【Main Idea】A person leading a happy, decent life can be called a successful person.
【Supporting Detail (general)】A happily married full-time housewife can be
successful.
【Supporting Detail (specific)】Even though she does not get paid, she
professionally takes care of household work. She enjoys raising children and
takes pride in passing down traditions and customs to them.
【Follow up】Society often makes little of such
people, saying that they do not produce anything substantial. However, they
know that their jobs are as productive as any company.
【Conclusion】 If a
person is leading a mentally 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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