TOEFL iBT Independent Writing 英文エッセイの書き方の基本 - revised -

☆手順

1．Writing Topicの確認: 課題を正確に読みとり要求されている解答内容をイメージします。

2．Brainstorming: 課題に関して思いつくことを書き出します。（頭の中にある材料を頭の外に出して整理しやすくする作業です。）

3．構成: Brainstormingで書き出した材料を整理してエッセイの基本構造に合う形にします。（１）同じ事項に関するものは同じ段落に集めます。（２）段落を重要な順に並べ替えます。テストのときはここで先に結論の文を一番下に書いておくと時間切れで結論のないエッセイになるのを防ぐことができます。

4．書く: 構成でできた段落（本論）に導入と結論の段落をつけ、実際の文章にします。

5．見直し: 論旨の矛盾、説明不足、構文・つづり・句読点等のミスをチェックします。

 

☆構成

英文エッセイは簡単に言うと【主張（～だと思う）→理由（なぜなら…だからだ）→結論（従って～だと言える）】という流れになります。この流れの各部分は以下のようにIntroduction, Body, Conclusionと呼ばれています。

 

英文エッセイの基本構造   主張＝Introduction (Thesis)  導入 理由＝Body  本論 結論＝Conclusion  結論

主張＝Introductionでは意見と根拠の要旨を示します。エッセイの概略の段落です。エッセイ全体が見通せるように書きましょう。

理由＝Bodでは根拠を列挙します。具体例はここに書きます。

結論＝Conclusionでは本論から導き出せる結論を書きます。エッセイの総括の段落です。

 

Bodyでは示したい根拠の数だけ段落を作ります。例えば主理由が2つある場合、Bodyは2段落になります。

全体がこの流れになると同時に各段落もこの流れ（主張→理由→結論）になるようにします。

余裕がある場合はIntroductionを更に細かい(1) Hook（つかみ）(2) Background（背景説明）(3) Thesis（主張）(4) Gist of Reasons（理由の要旨）の構成にし、Conclusionでは最後にinsight（掘り下げの一文）をつけるのが正式です。

 

以下は、次のWriting Topicに対するエッセイ構成メモとエッセイ例です。

Writing Topic: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement. It is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win. Support your response with specific reasons and examples.

 

エッセイ構成メモ

Introduction

Thesis: Disagree Gist of Reasons: 1) for fun   2) other truly enjoyable things than winning

Body

Reason 1: for fun.   e.g.to kill time, to spend time with family or friends

Reason 2: other truly enjoyable things than winning  e.g. improvement, a great performance, etc.

Counterargument treatment: Euphoria of winning is only an additional pleasure

Conclusion

Conclusion: It cannot be said that it is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win.

 

エッセイ例

Humans have had many kinds of games since ancient times and there seem to be many reasons for our fascination with this activity. I disagree with the statement that it is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win. I think gams are not only for winning but also for fun, development and more.

   People play games to have fun. We play games to kill time, to release stress, or to spend time with others. When you feel empty or stressed out, you take out a game machine, play it for a while, and feel good whether you lose or win. Games are also used to promote companionship. At a party, a game helps people laugh and talk, both winners and losers enjoying themselves. It is precisely because games are not to win that people enjoy them.

   Many things that are truly enjoyable happen during a game. For example, playing a game involves joy of improvement. Humans, like other animals, have desire to learn something new and fulfilling this desire is a great joy of life. A game makes you lose more often than it lets you win, but you will be absorbed in gaining new skills and making progress by trial and error. What makes games enjoyable is not only reaching the top but the process. Another factor that makes games source of pure delight is the joy of seeing great players and incredible plays. Olympians often express joy of witnessing superb performances of the medalists. A miracle goal at the last moment in an amateur soccer game would make all the participants excited and make them talk about it even years later.

   It is true that we may experience euphoria by winning, which involves a distinct joy related to self-esteem. However, this special joy will not negate the authenticity of the other joys. Victory in non-professional games just gives an additional delight to the player who has already had enough fun.

   Games are not essential in life and there are many other factors to make us truly enjoy ourselves than winning in games. Therefore, it cannot be said that it is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win. One with a mindset that does not allow one to truly enjoy games regardless of results might have lost sight of the meaning of playing games.    (391 words)