TOEFL iBT Independent Writing 1) It is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win. 2) Is the ability to read and write more important today than in the past? - revised -

Writing Topic A

Consider the following statement. It is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win. Do you agree or disagree with this idea? Support your response by including specific reasons and examples.

 

 

☆Let’s think

 

1.     Which of the following sounds objective and which sounds subjective?

a.    I enjoy winning a game.

b.    It is enjoyable for most of us to win a game.

Note: You are supposed to make an objective decision as the answer to Writing Topic A, although you can include your subjective view as one of your supporting details for your argument.

 

2.    Which of the following expressions is for the feeling from the bottom of the heart of the speaker?

a.    “I’m sorry.”

b.    “I’m truly sorry.”

Note: “It is truly enjoyable” means that you enjoy something from the bottom of your heart.

 

3.    Which of the following allows no exception?

a.    You can kill the dragon if you have the special sword.

b.    You can kill the dragon only if you have the special sword.

Note: Expressions like “only”, “all”, and “every” allow for no exception.

 

4.    What are games for?

 

5.    Name things that are truly enjoyable but are not related to games. e.g. Being with your beloved

 

6.      Is there anything that makes you say to yourself, “Well, I truly enjoyed the game!” after a game you lost?

 

 

☆Hints for Points

1.      We play games to kill time, to have fun with others, to release stress, to be inspired, to try your luck, etc.

 

2.      The examples of things that are truly enjoyable are making friends, feeling refreshed, receiving kindness, learning something, seeing someone extraordinary, etc.

 

 

☆Essay for Ideas and Expressions

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 games are for fun, development, and more, not just for winning.

 

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

 

Many truly enjoyable things happen during a game. For example, playing a game involves joy of improvement. Humans instinctively have a desire to learn something new, and fulfilling this desire is a great joy of life. Gamers lose more often than they win, and yet they are absorbed in gaining new skills, by thinking hard or by trial and error. This process let them truly enjoy games. Also, witnessing a great player or an incredible performance gives you delight comparable to nothing. Lost 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 have them talk about it even years later.

 

Winning may bring euphoria, as it proves you that you are on top of a competition. It confirms you and others that you are the best in terms of talent, efforts, or luck. It strengthens self-confidence, and we need it. Adults even deliberately lose to their young children so that their offspring can trust itself. Yet, the joy of winning games is all about one’s self, except when you are in a team and wish for the win for others. It has a gravity as it is related to our very existence, but as people grow, they experience a higher degree of delight that surpasses tiny self, such as those I have written above. When they experience that greater joy, the result of a game is of their least concern.

 

Joy of winning is satisfaction of ego, which is only one of many factors for euphoria. Therefore, it cannot be said that it is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win. When we feel more delight in losing than in winning, we can celebrate ourselves for the journey of life we have gone through and know the meaning of playing games.   (457 words)

 

 

☆Sample Essay Structure

【Main Idea】I disagree with the statement that it is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win.

【Point 1】Games are for fun.   e.g.to kill time, to spend time with family or friends

【Point 2】Many things that are truly enjoyable happen in playing a game. e.g. improvement

【Counterargument treatment】The joy of winning games is all about one’s self.

【Conclusion】Joy of winning is satisfaction of ego, which is only one of many factors for euphoria. Therefore, it cannot be said that it is truly enjoyable to play a game only if you win.

 

Your Sample Essay Structure

【Main Idea = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3 or Counterargument treatment】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

 

 

☆Speech Time

Make a one-minute speech on this topic.

 

 

☆Sample Paragraph Development

【Main Idea】A game can be really enjoyable even if you lose.

【Supporting Details】 You say to yourself, “Well, I truly enjoyed the game!” after a game you lost when the atmosphere was great, everyone smiling and being considerate to others; when your best friend won; when the winner won in an amazing way; when you have got something important during the game like a new friend or information; or when you were not concerned about winning or losing from the beginning.

【Wrap-up】 Therefore, winning is not the only factor to enjoy a game.

 

Your Sample Paragraph Development

Choose one of the points you have prepared in the essay structure above and develop it, using the paragraph development structure below if you like.

 

【Main Idea】

 

【Supporting Details】

 

 

【Wrap-up】

 

Show each other what you have written. Ask questions or make suggestions.

 

1.        

Writing Topic B

Is the ability to read and write more important today than in the past? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

 

 

☆Let’s Think

1.      What requires the ability to read and write?

2.      When in the past were most people illiterate?

 

 

☆Hints for Points

Agree:

1         Unlike two centuries ago, most of our daily tasks involve reading and writing. There is written information everywhere such as signs and scripts on TV screens. Literacy is necessary in our daily lives.

 

2         Literacy and wealth are related. The higher the literacy rate is, the wealthier the country is. When our country opened up to the West, the government focused on education to make the country powerful. Developing countries that make efforts to educate their people raise their GDP soon if everything else goes well.

 

3         Development of technology allows and requires you to be involved in more intellectual tasks than physical ones. For example, entrance examinations for university include more essays than before. In business, there are more need for research and presentation skills as automatization and robotization proceeds.

 

4         The present era is called the information age, which is based on letters. People usually exchange information through scripts, e-mails and text messages. To learn the latest information and communicate exactly what you think or feel, you need to be literate.

 

5         In conclusion, the ability to read and write is more important today than in the past for us to get the most out of our lives in this age of information.

 

Disagree:

1.          There are few opportunities to read and write today due to development of technology. Most tasks are done just by clicking icons. Many people can spell less than before due to predictive transform and spell check functions of their gadgets, while they find few problems in their daily lives.

 

2.          Robots take care of high levels of literacy while we do what we need to do. Human culture has evolved along with technological development. Just as the ability to make fire is unnecessary anymore thanks to lighters, so is the ability to read and write now that we have developed technology for it. We can think and communicate more freely and creatively while machines read and write for us.

 

3.          Successful people are not necessarily persons of letters. There are professors who cannot even move their fingers. There are CEOs who are dyslexic.

 

4.          To sum up, reading and writing is just a part of human intellectual activity like calculation. Our lives have been filled with many more important things than literal things. The ability to read and write has just a marginal importance now as it has always been. What is most important is the ability to think and feel.

 

 

 

☆Sample Essay Structure

【Main Idea】The ability to read and write is much more important now than before.

【Past】The number of people who needed to read and write were limited in the past. e.g. agricultural society

【Present】Children learn to read around 5 and people need to read throughout their lives.

【Counterargument treatment】Automatization reduces chances to read and write, but without the ability to read and write, a high level of intelligence cannot be maintained.   e.g. abstract ideas

【Conclusion】Literacy rate should be kept high so that we can keep surviving.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

☆Sample Paragraph Development

【Main Idea】 Automatization reduces chances to read and write, but without the ability to read and write, a high level of intelligence cannot be maintained. 

【Supporting Details】 It is true that with the advancement of technology, keyboards are disappearing and speakers have started to read out loud for us, but it does not mean that we can be illiterate. Abstract ideas develop with the aid of letters because thought is related to language and language ability develops with literacy.

【Wrap-up】 It might be frivolous to declare that technology will free us from reading and writing.

 

 

Choose one of the points you have prepared in the essay structure above and develop it, using the paragraph development structure below if you like.

 

【Main Idea】

 

【Supporting Details】

 

 

 

 

 

【Wrap-up】

 

 

 

Show each other what you have written. Give feedback.