TOEFL iBT Independent Writing, main reasons for attending college - rewrite -

Writing Topic

There are many different reasons to attend a college or university. What do you think are some of the main reasons so many people are interested in attending college or university? Include specific reasons and details in your response.

☆Let’s Think

1.      How do the answers to the following two questions differ?

A) What do you think are some of the reasons people go to college?

B) What do you think are some of the main reasons people go to college?

2.      Fill in the blanks describing in detail how college-bound students and non-college-bound students differ in each aspect of life printed on top of the table.

	Study	Horizon	Future Career	Relationships	Independence
College- bounds
Non-college- bounds

3.      Discuss ideas related to the topic that you did not when you answered Question 3.

Notes

1)    The first sentence of the writing topic says that people go to college for “many different reasons.” This is the premise of this topic. Some believe that a college diploma promises a good job. Others regard college years as moratorium before going into workforce. Some might want to receive higher education so that they can study the subject they are interested in, while others might go to college just because they feel it is better for them to do so although they are not so sure why, and still others may intend to make friends with as many interesting people as possible during their college years.

2)    The question requires you to name some of the MAIN reasons why people think of going to college. Minor reasons such as exemption from military service might be irrelevant.

☆Ideas and expressions

WHY GO TO UNIVERSITY

Taken from http://www.upforitclub.org.uk/whataboutuniversity/whatwherewhyhow/whygotouniversity/

INDEPENDENCE: You could get the chance to live away from home during term time and won't have somebody telling you to tidy your room and do your homework. It's a great way of finding your feet before you move out completely.

OPPORTUNITIES: You get to meet people from all over the world who are interested in the same subject as you. You can join clubs and societies for almost every interest you can think of.

COURSES AND CHOICES: If you are thinking about university, then hopefully you have a course in mind that you may like to study. If you enjoy the subject and find it interesting, university allows you to explore and expand your knowledge for three years, normally with the use of fantastic facilities and experts in that subject who teach you.

SOCIAL LIFE: You get to socialize and take advantage of some fantastic facilities right on your doorstep! Never again will entertainment be so cheap and you'll meet people who might possibly end up being your friends for life.

JOBS: Graduates are much more likely to get a job, particularly at a 'professional' level and when they are working, graduates earn about a third more money than non-graduates. If you want to work in certain areas like medicine, teaching or law, you'll need a degree in the subject before you start.

☆Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction】 I think people think of going to college for wider perspective, for academic pursuit, and for their future careers.

【Reason 1】Spending another four years at school is attractive for many people who feel that they need some more years to expand their horizon.

【Reason 2】 Pure interest in the subject may well be another reason.

【Reason 3】 People go to college to get a good job.

【Conclusion】Many people are interested in going to college because they want to become a well-rounded, intelligent person equipped with college diploma.

Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction】

【Reason 1】

【Reason 2】

【Reason 3】

【Conclusion】

☆Sample Paragraph Development

【Main Idea】People go to college to get a good job.

【Supporting Details】They think having a college degree is an advantage when they look for a job. Most high-paying jobs require at least a Bachelor’s degree. Also, finding a regular job without going to college is very difficult in today’s job market.

【Follow-up】It is often said that interpersonal skills count in employment more than academic background, but the latter is easier to prove than the former because it takes the form of a document.

【Wrap-up】 It is natural to think that it is safe to get a college degree before starting work.

Your Sample Paragraph Development

【Main Idea】

【Supporting Details】

【Follow-up】

【Wrap-up】

TOEFL Independent Writing, Sentence Structure ,subjunctive, rather than Japanese-English translation

Lesson 26 STEP 1  Worksheet

If  S  過去形～, S 助動詞の過去形  do ….

もし～だったら、．．．するだろう。

1.      もしあるグループのリーダーになるように頼まれたら、その責任に圧倒されて、あるいは自分にはリーダーの資質がないと信じてほとんどの人がその申し出を断るだろう。

2.      もし、リーダーの身分にあこがれず、すべきことをやり、集団の各構成員の置かれている状況を良くしようといつも試みる優秀な人達が全てリーダーになったら、この世界は今よりずっと良くなるだろう。

～ rather than …

．．．というよりむしろ～

3.      カリスマ的な人よりもむしろ人の話をよく聞く傾向のある人の方が、より良い指導者になる可能性がある。

4.      決定に参加しないで文句を言うよりもむしろ決定に係わってグループの役に立ちたい。

Lesson 26 STEP 1  Worksheet  Answer Keys

If  S  過去形～, S 助動詞の過去形  do ….

もし～だったら、．．．するだろう。

1.      If all those smart people who do not aspire to the position of a leader, do what they have to do, and always try to improve the situation in which each member of the group is were elected to be leaders, this world would be much better than now.

2.      If (they were) asked to be the leader of a group, most people would reject the offer, being overwhelmed by the responsibility or believing that they do not have leadership qualities.

～ rather than …

．．．というよりむしろ～

3.      A person who tends to listen to others well rather than a charismatic person can be a good leader.

4.      I would like to be of help for the group by being involved in decision-making rather than complaining without participating in it.

国際教養学部AO入試 reference racism and nationalism, Japanese psyche, Naomi Osaka

大坂選手の「肌の色」や「発言」を悪意なく変えてしまう日本人の病理

1/31(木) 6:00配信   DIAMOND ONLINE

https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/article?a=20190131-00192484-diamond-soci&p=1

TOEFL iBT Independent Writing, one change in the twentieth century that is most important to remember - rewrite -

Writing Topic

There were many changes in the twentieth century. What do you think is the one change in the twentieth century that is most important to remember? Include specific reasons to justify your choice.

☆Let’s Think

1.      Fill in the blanks and make two questions similar to this writing topic. (Hint: Note 1)

-What …………………….. in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for people in your country?

-What ……………………... in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for people in your country?

2.      How do the following two sentences differ? (Hint: Note 2)

A     What is the most important change in the twentieth century?

B     What is most important change in the twentieth century?

3.      How would you come up with the answer to this question? (Hint: Go to the next question)

4.      Name important changes in the following categories: technology, economy, politics, medicine and culture.

5.      How would you explain that a certain change is most important to remember? Read the following paragraph and discuss how you can improve it. (Hint: Note 3)

In my opinion, the invention of the mobile phone is a most important change to remember that happened in the 20^th century. Mobile phones are great. You can make a phone call anywhere. Also, they allow you to do many things such as listing to music and taking a picture.

6.      Come up with expressions to prove that something is a most important change. (Hint: Note 4)

7.      Research about the important changes in the twentieth century.

8.      Which one do you think is most important? Why?

Notes

1.      The following are real TOEFL iBT Independent Writing questions of the same type as today’s topic:

-What invention in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for people in your country?

-What discovery in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for people in your country?

2.      Sentence A, “What is the most important change in the twentieth century?” is about the change that is more important than any other change in the last century, while Sentence B, “What is most important change in the twentieth century?” is about one of the most important changes in the last century. The article “the” does not precede the superlative in this question, most important. Thus you do not have to decide the most important change in the 20th century. There were some most important changes in the last 100 years. You pick up one of them and explain why it has the highest level of importance.

3.      Probably the difficulty in answering this type of question is to explain why you think your choice is a most important change. The hints to the answer are often in the questions. In this case, the hints are the words “change” and “most important.” They are related to great moments in history: the story of before and after the change. What is expected in your essay is comparison and contrast the situations before and after the change. Also, you are supposed to describe how great the impact of something was, in other words, in what way and how much it has changed society and/or the environment.

4.      Words and expressions to prove something is a most important change to remember would be as follows: has had a dramatic influence on, has provided a significant change of, has made everything more efficient than before, profoundly changed our perceptions or perspectives, has caused an irreversible change, has become the infrastructure of our life, or has made the world dependent on it.

☆Let’s make a point

Before writing your essay, let’s write about the points you are going to make by answering the following two questions.

Question 1  What is different before and after the change?

Sample response: I think the advent of the Internet is most important to remember in the last 100 years. In the past, the information was something that was provided in limited amounts by the authorities. However, these days, because of the Internet, most information has become available to anyone. Also, it has become possible for anyone to provide information for the public quite easily.

Your response

I think ………………………………………………………. is most important to remember in the last 100 years.

In the past, …………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………….

However, these days, because of …………………….…………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…

Question 2  What makes the change more important than other changes?

Sample short response: 1) The change brought by the Internet is most important to remember in that it has become the infrastructure of the world.  2) Its impact on our society was so great that no one in our society can live absolutely independent from the Internet any more.

Your short response

1)    The change brought by ………………………. is most important to remember in that…………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………………

2)    Its impact on our society was so great that …………………………………………………………..…………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

☆Hints for points

The rapid development of technology

Technological breakthroughs had happened before, but it was in the 20th century that the rapid development of technology happened and the lives of people changed dramatically. Nowadays, thanks to electronic appliances, people have more leisure time than they did one hundred years ago and use it to do things other than daily chores. The changes were good for the most part, but since they happened in a short time, people did not have time to adapt to it or consider the influence. As a result, the people in the 20th century left some negative assets to coming generations, such as pollution, global warming, threat of uncontrolled nuclear power, new types of crimes and so on. The first three are especially unprecedented in that they could wipe out mankind.

The spread of the entertainment

The notion of entertainment has given people a new lifestyle. Before the 20^th century people did have some fun activities but did not have much leisure time and what we now call the entertainment. However, in the last one hundred years, the entertainment industry has developed. Most people started watching entertainment programs and fun videos instead of reading books or playing with their families and friends. Following the trend in the entertainment industry has become the most important for many. A positive effect of this change is that people around the world started sharing the same entertainment experience. A negative impact is that the entertainment industry has promoted consumerism and made it easier for governments and corporations to control people’s thoughts.

The shift of hegemony

The two world wars ended imperialism. People learned it the hard way that peaceful coexistence is basic to the prosperity of humankind. Although international relationships do not always follow this idea, efforts are made to compromise and cooperate and no nation can invade and occupy another country without criticism anymore. At the same time, America has become the most powerful country in the world. Replacing England after WWI, it has played the leading role in politics, business, and culture. Its military bases, trading posts, and pop culture cover all over the world now. China gained power at the end of the century, but still its GDP is second to that of the US and its military spending rate to GDP is less than that of the US.

Globalization

The development of transportation and communication allowed corporations do business worldwide. They can now build their branches and factories in other countries, import cheap materials from other countries, and sell their products in other countries. As a result, people all over the world use the same kind of things, and share more information than before. The drawback of this change is the loss of indigenous languages, traditions and cultures.

☆Essay for ideas and expressions

Barron’s Writing for the TOEFL iBT, p. 338

.....

国際教養学部AO入試 reference inequality in Japan, 「子供配食」

日本がはまり込んだ深刻な「貧富格差」の現実

1/22(火) 16:00配信

https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/article?a=20190122-00260891-toyo-bus_all&p=1

子供の食事格差解消へ　家庭に出向き配食や料理　世田谷区が支援事業

2/5(火) 8:46配信　　毎日新聞

https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20190205-00000007-mai-pol

国際教養学部AO入試 reference UN speech by Greta Thumberg, 15-year old climate activist

You Are Stealing Our Future: Greta Thunberg, 15, Condemns the World’s Inaction on Climate Change

UN speech by Greta Thumberg,  15-year old climate activist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzeekxtyFOY

Pre-TOELF Grammar reference Grammar Nazis by College Humor on YouTube

Grammar Nazis  by College Humor on YouTube  Transcript, Translation, and Explanation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtJ7P__4DiQ

【解説： タイトルに使われているNazisはNazi「（ヒットラーの）ナチス党員」の複数形ですが、「強制的にルールに従わせる人」の意味でも使われます。従って、Grammar Nazisは「文法に厳しすぎる人」の意味になります。】

Colonel: Good morning, Monsieur Lapadite. I am colonel Hans Landa of the SS. I was hoping you can invite me inside your home and we could have a discussion.

大佐： おはようございます、ラパディテさん。私はナチス親衛隊のハンス・ランダ大佐です。中に入れていただいてお話させていただきたいのですが。

Lapadite: Of course, please come in.

ラパディテ：もちろん、どうぞお入りください。

Colonel: Now, as you may have heard, I am in charge of rounding up all the Jews in this village.

大佐：さて、聞いていらっしゃるかもしれませんが、私はこの村のユダヤ人全員の検挙を任されています。

Lapadite: Yes, I have heard that.

ラパディテ：聞いています。

Colonel: Are you aware of any Jews hiding in the area?

大佐：この地域に隠れているユダヤ人を誰かご存知ですか？

Lapadite: No. No, I assure you that there haven’t been no Jews in this village.

ラパディテ：いえ。この村にはひとりもいないユダヤ人はいないと保障します。

Colonel: There haven’t been no Jews? So, there have been some Jews?

大佐：ひとりもいないユダヤ人はいない？だから何人かユダヤ人がいるのですね？

Lapadite: Oh! Ah, sorry. No, I meant there haven’t been any Jews. No Jews here.

ラパディテ：あっ、すみません。ユダヤ人は一人もいないという意味でした。ここにはユダヤ人はいません。

Colonel: Sorry. I was confused by a double negative. You see grammar is very important to the Nazis Party. Now, are you familiar with one, Shosanna Dreyfus?

大佐：すみません。二重否定で混乱しました。お分かりでしょう、ナチス党にとって文法はとても重要なのですよ。さて、ショシャナ・ドレフュスというユダヤ人をご存知ですか？

【解説： 「ひとりも/ひとつも～ない」は no ～. または not any ～ です。ラパディテさんはこのふたつを混ぜる方言を使っています。この方言は標準英語では二重否定の間違った使い方とされます。二重否定とは否定語や否定的表現をふたつ使うことにより［否定の否定＝肯定］の意味にすることを言います。ラパディテさんの”there haven’t been no Jews”はnotとnoの二つの否定語により［否定の否定＝肯定］の意味に取れるので大佐が”So, there have been some Jews?”と確認しています。】

Lapadite: Yes. I know her. Me and her buy our milk in the same market.

ラパディテ： はい、彼女を知っています。同じ市場で私と彼女をミルクを買っています。

Colonel: Me and her? Surely you meant to say, “She and I”, no?

大佐：私と彼女を？もちろん「私と彼女は」と言おうとしたのですよね？

Lapadite: Yes, of course.

ラパディテ：はい、もちろんです。

Colonel: The trick is to take the other person out of the sentence to see if it makes sense. Me buy milk. I think not. I buy milk. You see?

大佐：こつは、もう一人の人を文から取り出して意味を成すかどうかみるのです。私をミルクを買う。違います。私はミルクを買う。お分かりですか？

【解説： 述語動詞buyの主語になる人称代名詞は主格ですのでShe and Iとすべきです。Meを主語にするのは口語です。】

Lapadite: I swear I don’t know where Miss Dreyfus is at.

ラパディテ：ドレフュスさんがどこににいるのか知らないと誓います。

Colonel: Did you just end the sentence with a preposition?

大佐：今前置詞で文を終わらせましたか？

Lapadite: Forgive me colonel.

ラパディテ：許してください、大佐。

【解説： 古い文法では前置詞で文を終わらせるのは良くないとされていました。現在では例えば「彼女がどこの出身か知らない。」はI don’t know where she is from. が一般的ですが、昔はI don’t know from where she is.の方が好まれました。関係詞節の場合も、「これがその容器を開ける道具です。」はThis is the tool which you open the container with.よりもThis is the tool with which you open the container. の方が好ましいとする人は現在でもいます。ラパディテさんのI swear I don’t know where Miss Dreyfus is at.という発言は前置詞atで終わっているので大佐が非難し、ラパディテさんが謝罪しています。】

Colonel: When was the last time you saw the Jew Dreyfus?

大佐：最後にユダヤ人のドレフュスを見たのはいつですか？

Lapadite: About a month ago I was walking by the river Bayonne and I saw Dreyfus fishing so I went down to the river bank to see if it was her but I couldn’t get a good view.

ラパディテ：約１ヶ月前私はバヨネ川のそばを歩いていてドレフュスが釣りをしているのを見てずっと川土手まで行って彼女かどうか見ましたしかしよく見えませんでした。

Colonel: (Bang) Did you really think I was so stupid that I wouldn’t recognize a run-on sentence?

大佐：（バンという物音）私があまりにもおろかで区切り無しで続く文に気づかないと思いましたか？

【解説： run-on sentenceとは適切な場所で文を切ったり句読点を使ったりせずに文を複数繋げてしまった文です。 尚、大佐のDid you really think I was so stupid that I wouldn’t recognize a run-on sentence? は［so ～that …構文］で「とても~ なので．．．」の意味です。Thatは口語では省略することも多く、このビデオでもthatはほとんど発音されていません。このような場合、thatの部分をカンマ( , )で表記し、Did you really think I was so stupid, I wouldn’t recognize a run-on sentence? とすることもあります。】

Lapadite: Sorry, there was no Jews here.

ラパディテ：すみません。ここにはユダヤ人たちはいませんでした。

Colonel: Jew or Jews, plural?

大佐： ユダヤ人、ユダヤ人たち、複数形どちら？

Lapadite: Plural.

ラパディテ：複数形。

Colonel: Wrong! You have to match your subject with your verb.

大佐：不正解！主語は動詞と一致させなくてはなりません。

【解説： ［主語と述語の数の一致］です。Sorry, there was no Jew here. かSorry, there were no Jews here. のどちらかになります。no の後には単複どちらも来ます。存在する場合単複どちらになりそうかで使い分けます。】

Lapadite: What do you want from me?

ラパディテ：私にどうしてほしいのですか？

Colonel: I’ve heard from numerous sources you are hiding Madamoiselle Dreyfus.

大佐： 多くの情報源からあなたがドレフュス嬢をかくまっていると聞いています。

Lapadite: From who?

ラパディテ：誰がから（ですか）？

Colonel: From whom?

大佐： 誰から（と言いなさい）？

【解説： fromは前置詞で、前置詞の後に来る語は［前置詞の目的語］と呼ばれます。従って疑問詞whoも目的格のwhomにするのが正式です。】

Lapadite: Don’t kill me, please.

ラパディテ：殺さないでください。

Colonel: Monsieur Lapadite, I have one more question for you. If you answer correctly, I will leave you and your family in peace. If not, you are coming with me. Now, let’s say you are writing a list. Would you or would you not put a comma before the end?

大佐：ラパディテさん、もうひとつ質問があります。正解すれば、あなたとご家族をそっとして置きます。不正解ならあなたを連行します。さて、あなたがリストを書いているとします。最後の前にカンマを付けますか、それとも付けませんか？

Female voice: It depends on whether you’re following the Chicago Manual of Style or the Associated Press Guide.

女性の声： シカゴ文体マニュアルに従っているかAP通信ガイドに従っているかによります。

【解説： 何かのリストを書く、すなわち何かを並べ立てることを［並列］と言います。並列するものがふたつの場合、A and Bとしますが、３つ以上の場合、人によって最後(C)の前(B)の後にカンマを付ける場合(A, B, and C) と付けない場合(A, B and C)があります。これはどちらでもよく、女性の声が言っているように、習った教材によります。】

Colonel: Hiding under the floorboards, I have finally found you.

大佐： 床下に 隠れて、ついに見つけたぞ。

Lapadite: Wait. You were hiding under the floorboards or she?

ラパディテ：待ってください。あなたが床下に隠れたのですかそれとも彼女がですか？

Female voice: A dangling participle!

女性の声： 懸垂分詞！

Colonel: A dangling participle… (a sound of a gunshot)

大佐：懸垂分詞…（銃声）

【解説： (1) 大佐が言いたかったのは、「あなたは床下に隠れていた、そして私は遂にあなたを見つけた。」です。この場合前半をフルセンテンスにすると、You were hiding under the floorboards, and I have finally found you. となります。大佐はこの文前半を分詞構文にしたのですが、 分詞構文にする文の主語が分詞構文にしない方の文の主語と異なる場合省略できません。つまり隠れていたのはYou （女性）であってI（大佐）ではないので省略できません。正しくはYou hiding under the floorboards, I have finally found you.です。ところが大佐はYouを省略してしまいました。これはネイティブスピーカーでも時々してしまうミスで、懸垂分詞(dangling participle)と言います。

(2) 大佐の分詞構文はHidingの主語がない（省略されている）ので、主語は自動的にIだと解釈されます。つまり Hiding under the floorboards, I have finally found you. ＝ I was hiding under the floorboards, and I have finally found you. （私は床下に隠れていた、そしてあなたを遂に見つけた。）だと解釈されるのです。

(3) このビデオでは状況から床下に隠れていたのは女性だと分かりますが、大佐の発言では床下に隠れていたのは大佐だということになります。この為、ラパディテさんがYou were hiding under the floorboards or she (was hiding under the floorboards)？（あなたが床下に隠れたのですかそれとも彼女が(床下に隠れていたの)ですか？）と尋ね、女性が「懸垂分詞（のミスだ）！」と指摘した為、大佐は自らの文法ミスを認めて自殺します。】