Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Is There a Method to Decode the TOEFL iBT Writing Task?

Is There a Method to Decode the TOEFL iBT Writing Task?

by Michael Buckhoff

Before beginning the TOEFL iBT Writing Task, You'd Better Read This!

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. As well as taking their specialized classes in their major, students should be required to take general education classes in a university. Do you concur or not with this statement? Give reasons to support your position.

3. The automobile along with the airplane are important inventions of the 20th century. Together, both of these inventions have had an important effect on society. Select another invention that you feel is important. Give a specific line of reasoning for your choice.

Do these three prompts look the same to you? Do they have the same requirements? If you answered no, you are already on your way to being able to write a successful essay.

The first prompt may be broken into four different tasks: The essay asks you to discuss both positions, which signifies (1) you must write a little bit about why some people say that it is best to be loyal to work for one company during one's life; (2) you must write a little bit about why others say it is better to change jobs frequently in one's life; (3) you need to tell which of the positions you agree with; and (4) you should defend why (i.e., give reasons). It is best to remain neutral until near the end, you do not state your opinion first in this type of writing style.

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 direct: think about the task before you begin to write. Make sure you have a clear idea about the writing task. - 17285

About the Author:


---------------------------------

Title: Is There a Method to Decode the TOEFL iBT Writing Task?
Author: Michael Buckhoff
Email: jrduggan2@yahoo.com
Keywords: TOEFL iBT Exam,TOEFL Writing Section,TOEFL,Learn English Writing,English Skills,English,Learn a Language,English as a Second Language,Self Improvement
Word Count: 663
Category: Communications
---------------------------------

No comments:

Post a Comment