TOELF iBT Independent Writing, What might a foreigner learn about your country from the TV programs that are made in your country? - revised -

Writing Topic A

TV programs can tell us a lot about the culture in which they were produced. What might a foreigner learn about your country from the TV programs that are made in your country?

☆Let’s Think

1.      Think of nouns or adjectives that represent your home country.

2.      Are there any television programs that suit the nous or adjectives that you have come up with in response to the first question?

3.      TV programs exist in another country but that do not exist in your country may also tell something about your country. Are there any programs that you saw in a foreign country but you never see in your country? What aspect of your country do you think the absence of the program indicates?

Reference

List of Television Programs: News programs, Animated series, Dramas, Sitcoms, Soap operas, Comedies, Western shows or Samurai dramas, Talk shows/Chat shows, Satirical news programs, Children's television shows, Cooking shows, Game shows, Reality programs (Historical re-creation, Science, Dating, Law Enforcement/Military, Makeover, Lifestyle change, Fantasies fulfilled, Docusoaps starring celebrities, Hidden camera, Reality game shows, Talent Searches, Spoofs/Parodies)

☆Hints for Points

1.      Nouns and adjectives describing Japanese people and culture:

nouns: ,anime, sushi, ninja, Hiroshima, Fukushima, tsunami

adjectives: workaholic, polite, clean, cute-loving, curious, group-oriented, secular

2.      There are abundant original anime shows. Japan is the birthplace of anime, which derives from traditional Japanese culture. The origin of anime is Ukiyoe wood print, a pop-culture in Edo era.

3.      Family dramas and anime depict typical family structure and lifestyle in Japan.

4.      In popular dramas, main characters wear nice clothing, live in cool condominiums or good houses, and enjoy exciting city lives. This is a sign of materialistic entertainment-pursuing culture.

5.      The popularity of long-running home makeover programs means that most Japanese are interested in housing, that many of them are wealthy enough to be able to renovate their houses, and that they are family-oriented and like to be moved by dramatic events that happen in a family.

4.      There are many kinds of quiz shows from trivia to entrance examination questions for famous junior high schools in Japan. This shows that Japanese like being diligent and the society is academic background-oriented.

5.      There are shopping channels, indicating powerful consumerism and materialism.

6.      Insensitivity towards racial or minority issues is often seen.

7.      Focus on sports, gossip and psychotic homicide suggests that people are not very keen on politics.

☆Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction】A lot of period dramas and anime shows on Japanese TV might show people in other countries that Japanese culture is really a high-tech, kawaii (cute)-loving, samurai culture.

【Point 1】Many period dramas show the living tradition of our culture.

【Point 2】Abundant original anime shows show our high-tech based, fanciful subculture.

【Point 3】The absence of political satire or comic shows radically dealing with controversial issues like Daily Show in the US indicates that there is some obstruction for such shows in this culture.

【Conclusion】Not only what are on but also what are not on Japanese TV hint that we Japanese are neat and conservative boys and girls who will never take responsibility.

Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

【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】Many period dramas show the living tradition of our culture.

【Supporting Detail (general)】By seeing them broadcast almost every day, visitors to Japan can easily see that Japanese still live by the spirit of samurai.

【Supporting Detail (specific)】There are long-running samurai sequences and shows dedicated to famous warlords and soldiers. NHK, the national public broadcasting organization, has one-year Sunday prime time sequence featuring historical Japanese figures, most of whom are samurais, which has been loved by the citizens for more than half a century. Commercial TV stations also make historical plays and there is a channel dedicated to period films. Quiz shows often take up legendary deeds or characters in the feudal era.

【Follow-up】Termination of some famous samurai sequences might show the erosion of the culture, but we see Samurai Japan, the Japanese national succor team, in sports news shows every night.

【Wrap-up】 Samurai spirit is a characteristic of our culture that manifests in our TV programs.

Your Sample Paragraph Development:

【Main Idea】                                                                                       

                                                                                                     

【Supporting Detail (general)】                                                                      

                                                                                                    

【Supporting Detail (specific)】                                                                        

                                                                                                    

                                                                                                     

【Follow-up】                                                                                      

                                                                                                   

【Conclusion】                                                                                      

                                                                                                   

Comments or Suggestion from your partner or group members