TOEFL iBT Independent Writing 1) If you could study a subject that you have never had the opportunity to study, what would you choose? 2) Only people who earn a lot of money are successful. - revised -

Writing Topic A

If you could study a subject that you have never had the opportunity to study, what would you choose? Explain your choice, using specific reasons and details.

 

 

☆Let’s think

1.       What to write about: How can you think of what to write on this topic?

Note: You could choose a subject related to your study or interests. They can be related to your major, hobby, future goal, or interests. Also, you could choose a subject that is totally different from your field. For example, if your main interest is business, you could choose literature.

 

2.       How to write it: How can you explain the subject you have chosen?

Note: One idea to explain your choice might be to follow the grade school writing method: to answer the questions starting with Wh or H. Who/What made you interested in it? When/Where did it happen? How did you become interested in it? Why do you want to learn it?

3.       Tell your partner or group members about your choice, and ask each other questions.

 

 

☆Speech time

Make a one-minute speech on this topic.

 

 

☆Sample Paragraph Development

【Main Idea】I would study astrophysics partly because I have a feeling that it will give me an opportunity to think about life and universe.

【Supporting Detail (general)】Astrophysics deals with the physics and the universe, and it involves studies of both the invisible matters and huge objects in space.

【Supporting Detail (specific)】A memorable statement of one of my high school mates now makes me interested in it: “Electrons circling around atoms is similar to planets orbiting the sun, isn’t it?” It was an inspiring analogy of physics about the gravity wording on both the smallest and the largest. It seems to have been an insight into clues to solve questions about life and universe that all things around you are hinting to you when you are young.

【Follow-up】Unfortunately, it did not encourage me to study the related subjects at that time, and I chose the humanities, but the analogy stayed somewhere in my mind.

【Conclusion】I hope that studying this subject will help me have a glimpse of the secret of life and universe which I have missed in my youth.

 

 

Your Sample Paragraph Development:

【Main Idea】                                                                                       

                                                                                                     

【Supporting Detail (general)】                                                                      

                                                                                                    

【Supporting Detail (specific)】                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                   

                                                                                                   

【Follow-up】                                                                                       

                                                                                                   

                                                                                                    

【Conclusion】                                                                                      

                                                                                                   

Comments or Suggestion from your partner or group members

 

Writing Topic B

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.       Read the following statement: Only Italian food is worth spending a lot of money on. If you think this statement is wrong, how can you prove it?

Note: The word “only” does not allow exceptions, so showing that there are exceptions will prove the idea is wrong. In this case, you can name other delicious food such as Chinese food, American food, or whatever people spend a fortune on to have a good culinary experience, to prove the statement is wrong. To prove that a statement that only A is B is wrong, you show that non-A is also B. In other words, you come up with some counterexamples to disprove the statement.

 

2.       Finding a counterexample: How can you prove the statement that only people who earn a lot of money are successful is wrong?

Note: You show that there are people who do not earn a lot of money that are successful.

 

3.       Thinking about the definition of “successful”: What is the definition of being successful?

Note: Reaching a goal helps you 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 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.

 

4.       Thinking about “making a lot of money”: Is money an essential factor to be regarded as a successful person?

Note: 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 regarded as successful even though they do not make much money.

【Point 1】A person can be 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 successful if the person is leading a happy, decent life which most people would wish to be theirs.   e.g. a happily married housewife

【Point 3/Counterargument-treatment】Media always report who is the richest person in the world, but 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 much 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

●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.

●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.

●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 one 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 one of his paintings.

【Followup】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 fulfilling life as a human being, 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