2019年8月12日月曜日

TOEFL iBT Independent Writing, Do you agree or disagree with the idea that reading is only beneficial when you read books that concern real people, actual events, and factual information? - revised -


Writing Topic B
Do you agree or disagree with the idea that reading is only beneficial when you read books that concern real people, actual events, and factual information?


☆Let’s Think
1.      Suppose your mother believes that you are nice ONLY when you are in front of your friends. How would you let her know that she is wrong?
Hint: To disagree with the statement that only A is …, you prove that something that is not A is also ….
2.      Have you ever benefitted from reading fiction? How did it benefit you?


☆Hints for points
Reading fiction is not beneficial.
1.    Fiction is a lie or at least exaggerates reality. If prevents us from understanding the real world.
2.    Reading fiction is an addiction that makes the reader escape from the reality.

Reading fiction is also beneficial.
1.      It is a great pleasure. Read a novel, and your mind will be rich and your soul will be fulfilled.
2.      It teaches reality in a refined way. Fiction is a form of truth in disguise. e.g. book on bullying vs. novel on bullying
3.      It tells us human psyche, what other people are feeling or thinking.
4.      We can have a vicarious experience of what we cannot experience such as different times, different lives, or unusual or fantastic events.
5.      It develops our power of imagination and creativity.
6.      It conveys great thinker’s minds to us. We can be more thoughtful, better people through good novels.
7.      A piece of fiction is in itself a set of a raw data of a great author and his time.
8.      If reading fiction is useless, it would not be used in textbooks, and Nobel Prize of fiction would not exist.


☆Similar Writing Topic and Sample Essay
Writing Topic: Do you agree or disagree with the statement that people should read only those books that are about real events, real people, and established facts?”
    


☆Sample Essay Structure
【Introduction】I totally disagree with the idea that reading is only beneficial when you read books that concern real people, actual events, and factual information.
【Point 1】Through novel, we can learn about the world and people.
【Point 2】Science fiction contributes to building a new world.
【Counterargument-treatment】Fiction is not practical to some people, but someday they will find themselves wanting something to fill the void in their souls and will realize that fiction is useful.
【Conclusion】Fiction is as beneficial as or more beneficial than non-fiction.

Other Sample Essay Structures

A      【Introduction】fiction ≧nonfiction
【Point 1】entertainment
【Point 2】education
【Counterargument-treatment】more real than real stories
【Conclusion】enriches life
B      【Introduction】fiction = nonfiction
【Comparison 1】practicality – human psyche
【Comparison 2】reality – sympathy
【Comparison 3】knowledge – based on facts
【Conclusion】as useful as nonfiction


Your Sample Essay Structure
【Introduction = Outline】
【             】
【             】
【             】
【Conclusion = Wrap-up】


☆Speech Time Make a one-minute speech on this topic. Don’t worry. Everybody speaks at the same time.


☆Sample Paragraph development
【Main Idea】Science fiction contributes to developing the world.
【Supporting Detail (general)】Since the mid-19th century, science fiction has affected the world,
【Supporting Detail (specific)】Many scientists attribute their passion for science to their childhood experience of reading science fiction novels or manga. Sci-fi also shows us the future. For example, Fillip K. Dick predicted half a century ago that humans will indulge themselves in the virtual world, that the world will be controlled by singularity, AI which has evolved to be smarter than humans, and that humanoids will be so similar to humans that it will be difficult for humans to tell if they are robots or not. His readers were not unfamiliar with today’s video games, AI, and humanlike robots when they first saw them.
【Follow-up】Of course not all sci-fi predictions have come true. It did not predict the Internet. However, it has always made us think about the benefits and hazards of science and technology.
【Wrap-up】Good works of fiction give visions to realize and directions to follow.

Your Sample Paragraph Development:
【Main Idea】                                                                                       
                                                                                                     
【Supporting Detail (general)】                                                                      
                                                                                                     
【Supporting Detail (specific)】                                                                       
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                     
【Follow-up】                                                                                      
                                                                                                    
【Conclusion】                                                                                      
                                                                                                   

Comments or Suggestion from your partner or group members
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    


☆Sample Counterargument-Treatment
【Counter-Argument】It is true that fiction distorts or exaggerates reality.
【Explanation】The world in fiction is limited by the author’s values and perception of the world determined by his or her background.
【Confirmation of Your Argument】However, readers’ understanding of the world is usually inferior to those of novelists and thus fiction is useful enough for most people in learning about the world. In fact, even when the reader and the writer share the same levels of intelligence, since no one is the same, the reader might still benefit from reading what is in another person’s mind.
【Wrap-up】Avoiding fiction just because it is not real will make you miss deep understanding of the world.

Your Sample Counterargument-Treatment
【Counter-Argument】                                                                               
【Explanation】                                                                                     
【Confirmation of Your Argument】                                                                    
【Wrap-up】                                                                                        

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