TOEFL iBT, Independent Writing, What might a foreigner learn about your country from the TV programs that are made in your country? / 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? -partly rewritten-

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

The statement that TV programs can tell us a lot about the culture in which they were produced means you can regard TV programs as reflection (a mirror) of the culture in which they are produced. There might be some programs or some characteristics of some programs that cannot be found in other countries.

 

For example, there might be a joke that one thing that overseas students to Japan look forward to seeing there is those abundant original anime shows put on TV all day every day. Some may say that female anchors that mainly sit and smile while male anchors talk and discuss in Japanese news shows can show that Japan is still a strongly male-oriented society or its culture of women supporting men by making them look good while doing all the drudge by themselves.

 

e.g.

1. family dramas/animations --- typical family structure and life style

2. popular dramas --- main characters wear nice clothing, live in cool condominiums or good houses, and enjoy exciting city lives --- materialistic entertainment-pursuing culture 

3. makeover programs  renovation of houses by famous architects --- wealth, family-oriented culture

4. many kinds of quiz shows from trivia to entrance examination questions for famous junior high schools --- diligent, academic background-oriented society

5. shopping channels --- consumerism

 

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)

 

☆Let’s prepare

1. Name a TV program typical of your country and describe it 

 

2. Point out the feature of the program that you think tells something about your country

 

3. Do the same with another TV program.

 

 

☆Essay Structure

♦Sample Essay Structure in the case that you have two or three reasons to support your argument

【Introduction = Outline】　主張と理由の概要

A lot of samurai dramas and anime shows on Japanese TV might show foreigners that Japanese culture is a really a high-tech, kawaii (cute)-loving, samurai culture.

【Point 1】理由1の詳細

Many samurai dramas show the traditional tendency of our culture.

【Point 2】理由2の詳細

Abundant original anime shows show our high-tech based, fantastic subculture.

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】理由3の詳細または反論の処理

There are programs, mainly news shows that are broadcast all day, that show Japanese are not just day-dreaming, conservative tech-lovers but are alert to current issues. However, the absence of political satire or comics radically dealing with the issues that play an important role in democracy such as Daily Show with Jon Stewart in the US indicates that there is some obstruction related to politics in this culture.

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】結論

Not only those are on but also those are not on Japanese TV hint, with some reservation, that we Japanese can be a group of neat and traditional 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】

 

 

☆Paragraph development

A paragraph of the body of an essay often develops its main idea as follows:

【Main Idea】Many samurai features show the traditional tendency of our culture.

【Explanation】 The fact that there are many programs featuring samurai tell foreigners that Japanese can be still living by the samurai spirit.

【Detail / Example】 There are long-running samurai sequences and shows that often deal with famous warlords and soldiers.

【More Specific Detail / Example】The half-national TV station, NHK, has a one-year Sunday prime time sequence that features historical Japanese figures, most of whom are samurais. There had been samurai sequences that ran decades till recently, and there is a channel dedicated to samurai dramas. We also have quiz shows that try to learn from the past and they often deal with legendary deeds or characters in the feudal ears.

【Counterargument & Counter-counterargument】

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.

【Conclusion】

Samurai culture and samurai spirit is one feature of our culture that manifests in our TV programs.

 

 

 

 

 

Your test paragraph development

Now let’s practice paragraph development. Choose one of the reasons you have come up with, make it the main idea, and develop it using the following form. As this is a tentative part of your real essay, use simple words and sentences for supporting details and focus on the logic and ideas.

 

【Main Idea】

 

 

【Explanation】

 

 

 

【Detail / Example in general】

 

 

 

【More Specific Detail / Example】

 

 

 

 

【Counterargument & Counter-counterargument】

 

 

 

 

【Conclusion】

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

☆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?

To disagree with the statement that only A is ---, you prove that something not A is also ---.

 

♦Hints for points

Reading fiction is also beneficial because …

1.    it teaches reality in a refined way. We can experience different times and different lives in a dramatic way.

 

2.    it conveys great thinker’s minds to us. We can be more thoughtful, better people through good novels.

 

3.    it develops our power of imagination, develops creativity, and contributes to build a new world. It is well known that many scientists and engineers attribute their passion for science to their childhood experience of treading science fiction novels. Good works of fiction give science visions to realize and direction to follow.

 

4.    Important as a piece of data: Even if the writer did not really live a respectable life, a piece of fiction itself is in itself a set of a raw data of a great mind and his time.

 

5.    Facts: If reading fiction is a mere entertainment, it would not be used in text books and Nobel Prize of fiction would not exist.

 

♦Dealing with a counterargument: It is true that fiction distorts or exaggerates reality. The world depicted or created in fiction is limited by the author’s values and perception of the world, or his or her background, but readers’ understanding of the world is usually inferior to those of novelists and thus fiction is useful enough for most people to comprehend 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 the writer’s mind.

 

 

 

♦Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

 

【Point 1】

 

 

【Point 2】

 

 

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

 

 

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

 

 

 

 

 

TOEFL iBT, Independent Writing, Do you feel that your country should have a strong army? / Which of the three subjects would choose as an extra class, physical education, home economics, or current events? / School teachers, whether they work for public or private schools, should not express their opinions on current politics. -partly rewritten-

Writing Topic A: Some people think it is important for a country to maintain a strong army in case of war. Others think it is better for a country to spend money and energy on other things than the military. Do you feel that your country should have a strong army?

☆Hints for points

Yes:

1.    neighboring countries (China, South Korea, and ASEAN countries) getting wealthier and spending more money on their military

2.    request from the world society: The Unites States and other big countries request Japanese militaristic participation in their activities to keep the world quiet such as fight against terrorism or protection of commercial ships against pirates.

No:

1.    doubt about solution of international conflicts by military power (Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq, “war on terror”)

2.    Being armed is the call for action of violence. Strengthening the military just stimulates those who are ready to start wars. No arms, no battle.

3.    needless: less chance of war than before (strong economic and political relationships with America, China and other countries)

4.    the position and image of Japan in the world society

(1)  Article Nine in our constitution: renunciation of war and military force, soft power

(2)  history of violent past: imperial Japan before and during WWII: bad impression to other countries, especially countries that Japanese military invaded.

(3)  history of diplomatic solutions of international problems after WWII

(4)  the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty (American military bases in Japan)

5.    other priorities

(1)  recovery of Fukushima and other disaster stricken areas

(2)  aging society

(3)  the widening gap between the rich and the poor

(4)  global warming

(5)  need for more research and development of science and technology

☆A writing topic for reference and essay for ideas and expressions

The following sample essay is not about the same writing topic that we are given above but is about something related. Let’s read it and learn some ideas and expressions.

Writing topic for reference

Some people think that governments should spend as much money as possible on developing or buying computer technology. Other people disagree and think that his money should be spent on more basic needs. Which one of these opinions do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

Essay for ideas and expressions  (Writing for the TEOFL iBT, Barron’s)

ｘｘｘ

♦Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

Writing Topic B: In your school schedule, you are required to take an extra class in one of the following subjects: 1) physical education (sports and exercise activities), 2) home economics (cooking or sewing), or 3) current events (the study of topics from recent news stories). Which one of the three subjects would you choose to study?

☆Hints for points

♦Physical Education:

(1) more time to keep in good shape

(2) opportunities to try unfamiliar sports

(3) refreshment

(4) chances to make friends

♦Home Economics:

(1) independence

(2) not confident of my ability of household jobs

(3) to understand the world at the level of household (the basic unit of society)

♦Current Events: to understand what is going on in the world

(1)  related to many important aspects of our society such as economy, politics, and history

(2)  areas that TV reports do not constantly cover in detail (especially international affairs)

(3)  few chances to talk about current issues with friends and teachers

♦Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

Extra Writing Topic: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? School teachers, whether they work for public or private schools, should not express their opinions on current politics.

☆Hints for points

Yes:

1.    In practice, contracts between teachers and the schools they work for prohibit them from taking a stand in politics, and teachers should follow the agreement they made when hired.

2.    Teachers should be the conveyers of the consensus of the public. They should inform students of a variety of, well-balanced views, not a slanted, personal view.

3.    Having a radical political view is a stepping stone in any place, including universities, in this world. Therefore, it is unthinkable and unacceptable for teachers, who are responsible for their students’ future careers, to affect their students’ political views.

No:

1.    As long as they clearly say to their students that what they say is only a personal view, it is ok.

2.    Except for young children, who are still vulnerable to brainwash, students know better than to believe everything their teachers tell them. They take their teachers’ opinions as one of the many.

3.    There is no neutral view, and, if any, such sterilized statements as those found in textbooks approved by the government would be the worst teaching materials in class, where human beings of two different generations struggle to make the most of the given time for the better future, which requires realistic understanding of the past and the present.

♦Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

TOEFL iBT, Independent Writing, Suppose you had a chance to take a two-week trip to a foreign country. What country would you most wish to visit? / What aspect of your hometown do you think is the most important to change, why? -partly rewritten-

☆Writing Topic A: Suppose you had a chance to take a two-week trip to a foreign country. What country would you most wish to visit?

☆Let’s think

1.    Name countries you would like to visit according to your interests.

a.     according to your differing interests

e.g.

1) America or other English speaking countries―English study 

2) China or other emerging economies―interest in vigorous societies 

3) countries that are not so popular as tourist destinations―interest in countries you do not know well

b.    focusing on one of your interests

e.g.

1) ancient history―Egypt, China, Iraq (Mesopotamia), Iran (Persia), etc. 

2) biology―Galapagos Islands, a country in the Sub-Saharan Africa

2. Narrow down choices based on realistic or personal reasons

   e.g. safety, cost, time constraint

☆Essay Structure

♦Sample Essay Structure in the case that you have two or three reasons to support your argument

【Introduction = Outline】　主張と理由の概要　I would like to visit Indonesia because I have studied the Indonesian language and it has many places to visit.

【Point 1】理由1の詳細I would like to visit the country whose language I have studied.

【Point 2】理由2の詳細Indonesia is an attractive country with diverse living traditional cultures and many magnificent structures.

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】理由3の詳細または反論の処理　One should hesitate to be a totally happy tourist in this country as a Japanese because Japan occupied this country for a while in the past, but this makes the visit all the more meaningful if I carefully communicate with the people there.

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】結論　I would like to deepen my understanding of the country and the language of Indonesia.

♦Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

☆Writing Topic B: There may be good points and bad points about your hometown. What aspect of your hometown do you think is the most important to change, why?

☆Let’s Think

“What aspect”…singular (not “What aspects” → You have to choose one aspect from several bad points about your town that you would like to change.

☆Sample of a thought process

１．What kind of town is my town?　What problems does it have?

   a town in a city

    problems: air/water/noise pollutions, less contact with nature,

little human relation, few opportunities to join the local traditional events

fewer nurseries and primary schools

   a town in the suburban area

    problems: diminishing mom-and-pop shops ( large outlets, discount shops)

long commuting hours, less human relation, less open to foreigners

   a town in the countryside

    problems: high unemployment rate, aging society,

delicate relationship between the locals and foreigners as farmhands

fewer hospitals/doctors and nurses, lower education levels

2.    Explain why it is a problem.

3.    Describe how you would like it to change.

4.    Describe what kind of results would be expected.

♦Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

The lack of outside free space is the problem of my hometown.

【Point 1】

To raise productivity, our town needs more space free to use for creative work.

【Point 2】

This circumstance lessens communication and limits the range of activities of the residents, especially of the weak such as children, the elderly and the poor.

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

Free open spaces often become hangouts of teenagers and delinquency can be the concern, but means to prevent it can be carried out easily by volunteers.

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

A town with many stores but few places for life is my hometown and I would like to change this situation.

♦Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

【Point 2】

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

♦Sample Paragraph Development

A paragraph of the body of an essay often develops its main idea as follows:

【Main Idea】To raise productivity, our town needs more space free to use for creative work.

【Explanation】 Our town provides only space for consumption.

【Detail / Example in general】 There is no free space to spend time other than a few small parks and narrow river banks in my hometown.

【More Specific Detail / Example】 There is no decent library. Going into a coffee shop is the only choice left for the people who want to think or do some tasks outside of their houses.

【Follow-up / Counterargument-treatment】 Some might say that you should study or work at home, but many people work better when in a public space.

【Conclusion】 My town should take workers and students more into account in its planning.

♦Your Sample Paragraph Development

Now choose one of the points you have made in your Sample Essay Structure and make develop it. Use the following form if you like.

【Main Idea】 (主張)

【Explanation】 (主張の説明)

 【Detail / Example in general】 (一般的な例) 

【More Specific Detail / Example】 (より具体的な例)

【Follow-up / Counterargument-treatment】 (補足または反論の処理)

【Conclusion】 (結論)

Optional: Full Introduction Writing

Sample

【Hook】 For many, the word “Down Under” has a negative connotation, but to me it sounds great.

【Background】 I have heard a lot of good things about Australia from my mother who have been there.

【Thesis】 If I had a chance to take a two-week trip to a foreign country, I would like to go to Australia.

【Reason(s)】 I would like to see interesting wild life, interact with the people, and learn about its history.

Ideas for Hook:

1.    It seems impossible to see around European countries in two weeks, but I think it possible.

2.    Although I am Japanese, my hometown is Jakarta, Indonesia.

3.    Two years have passed since I left the US and I still miss the country and the people there.

Your　Sample Full Introduction

【Hook】           

【Background】

【Thesis】

【Reason(s)】