You'd better read this before starting the TOEFL iBT Writing Task!
Upon beginning a TOEFL Writing Exam, it is important to read the question very carefully. You should determine what the writing task is. To illustrate the importance of this, consider the following situation: Your mom tells you to remove a food stain from the carpet. She instructs you to use a special chemical called "Stain Be Gone." You go into the laundry room and instead of getting "Stain Be Gone", you get a chemical called "Clorox," a type of bleach. You begin to clean the carpet with the chemical and what happens? The brown carpet begins to turn an awful shade of yellow! Even though you had good intentions and you worked very hard to clean the carpet, you did not get the results you or your mom expected because you used the wrong chemical; consequently, you bleached out the carpet.
It is the same with TOEFL iBT writing. If you fail to follow the instructions the prompt gives you, it does not matter how hard you work, the end result will not be what the grader expected. As a result, you will not get the score you deserve. Think about the following three writing prompts:
1. Some people say that it is best to be loyal and to work for one company during one's life. Others take the opposite view and say it is better to change jobs frequently in one's life. Discuss these positions, using specific examples of both. Then tell which one you agree with and explain why.
2. In addition to their specialized classes in their major, students should also be required to take general education classes in a university. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons to support your opinion.
3. The automobile as well as the airplane are important inventions of the 20th century. Both of these inventions have had a major change on our lives. Think of another invention that you think is important. Give clear reasons for your choice.
Are these three prompts the same to you? Are they asking the same requirements? If you answered no, you are already ready to being able to write a successful essay.
The first prompt can be broken down into four tasks: The question is asking you to discuss both positions, which means (1) you need to write about why there are some people who say that it is better to be loyal to work for one company during one's life; (2) you must also write about why there are others who say it is better to change jobs frequently in one's life; (3) you need to tell which of the opinions you agree with; and (4) you need to explain why (i.e., give reasons). Be careful to remain indifferent until near the end, you do not want to state your position first in this type of essay.
The second prompt can be broken into two argumentative tasks- (1) that of choosing whether you agree or disagree with the statement: "In addition to their specialized classes in their major, students should also be required to take general education classes in a university." (2) You should also give reasons to support your opinion. Stating your argument in the introduction in this type of essay, you assert which view you support. Then in the remainder of the essay, you defend why you support that view.
During the third writing prompt, yet another style of argumentative essay is introduced, the task is straight forward- (1) that of using another invention that you believe is important. (2) You have to give specific reasons for your choice. The word "another" means something other than the automobile or the airplane. Consequently, if you begin to write about the airplane or the automobile, you will be penalized for not following the instructions provided for this writing prompt.
The concept is easy: think first before you write. Make sure you know what the writing task is asking.
Upon beginning a TOEFL Writing Exam, it is important to read the question very carefully. You should determine what the writing task is. To illustrate the importance of this, consider the following situation: Your mom tells you to remove a food stain from the carpet. She instructs you to use a special chemical called "Stain Be Gone." You go into the laundry room and instead of getting "Stain Be Gone", you get a chemical called "Clorox," a type of bleach. You begin to clean the carpet with the chemical and what happens? The brown carpet begins to turn an awful shade of yellow! Even though you had good intentions and you worked very hard to clean the carpet, you did not get the results you or your mom expected because you used the wrong chemical; consequently, you bleached out the carpet.
It is the same with TOEFL iBT writing. If you fail to follow the instructions the prompt gives you, it does not matter how hard you work, the end result will not be what the grader expected. As a result, you will not get the score you deserve. Think about the following three writing prompts:
1. Some people say that it is best to be loyal and to work for one company during one's life. Others take the opposite view and say it is better to change jobs frequently in one's life. Discuss these positions, using specific examples of both. Then tell which one you agree with and explain why.
2. In addition to their specialized classes in their major, students should also be required to take general education classes in a university. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons to support your opinion.
3. The automobile as well as the airplane are important inventions of the 20th century. Both of these inventions have had a major change on our lives. Think of another invention that you think is important. Give clear reasons for your choice.
Are these three prompts the same to you? Are they asking the same requirements? If you answered no, you are already ready to being able to write a successful essay.
The first prompt can be broken down into four tasks: The question is asking you to discuss both positions, which means (1) you need to write about why there are some people who say that it is better to be loyal to work for one company during one's life; (2) you must also write about why there are others who say it is better to change jobs frequently in one's life; (3) you need to tell which of the opinions you agree with; and (4) you need to explain why (i.e., give reasons). Be careful to remain indifferent until near the end, you do not want to state your position first in this type of essay.
The second prompt can be broken into two argumentative tasks- (1) that of choosing whether you agree or disagree with the statement: "In addition to their specialized classes in their major, students should also be required to take general education classes in a university." (2) You should also give reasons to support your opinion. Stating your argument in the introduction in this type of essay, you assert which view you support. Then in the remainder of the essay, you defend why you support that view.
During the third writing prompt, yet another style of argumentative essay is introduced, the task is straight forward- (1) that of using another invention that you believe is important. (2) You have to give specific reasons for your choice. The word "another" means something other than the automobile or the airplane. Consequently, if you begin to write about the airplane or the automobile, you will be penalized for not following the instructions provided for this writing prompt.
The concept is easy: think first before you write. Make sure you know what the writing task is asking.
About the Author:
The writing section on the TOEFL iBT Exam can be easy if you follow Michael's tricks by clicking on Free TOEFL English Writing Tips. Michael can not help you if you unless you click on Free TOEFL English Writing Tips. This and other unique content 'TOEFL iBT Exam' articles are available with free reprint rights.
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