Tài liệu Speaking and Writing Strategies for the TOEFL iBT part 7 docx

Independent Essay - 49




Advantage-disadvantage prompts, like compare-contrast prompts, ask you to argue
by comparing and contrasting the opposing sides
of a topic, for example:








There are many advantages and disadvantages to owning a car. I could
write forever! What should I do?

Keep it simple. Change G+3TiC=C to G+2TiC=C. Develop one advantage in
body paragraph one and one disadvantage in body paragraph two.




When answering an advantage-disadvantage prompt, use G+2TiC=C and the six
steps to demonstrate OPDUL=C
in your essay.

Prompt What are the advantages and disadvantages of
owning a car? State your opinion using illustrations
and reasons.


Prompt What are the advantages and disadvantages of
owning a car? State your opinion using examples
and reasons.
Advantage-Disadvantage Prompts

Advantage-Disadvantage: Step-by-Step

Carefully read the prompt; formulate an opinion.
Step #1
Q

A

50 - Independent Essay






Note the transition of contrast connecting the body paragraphs.

Note: There are mistakes in this draft. Can you identify them?

G = there are advantages + disadvantages to own a car

Ti = for example I took the bus to work but the bus it
is very slow, always late for work = not good so I
bought a car
C = my car = not late for work = big advantage for me

Ti = in contrast a car uses gas, oil and insurance
I must make budget
C = having a car is expensive for me

C = to sum up a car has advantages + disadvantages



Personally, I think there is the advantages and disadvantages
to be own the car.

For example, I have a Honda care. Every time I drives to work.
Before I have to take the bus. The bus it take a long time.
Sometimes the bus misses me and I am late for work. Then I
saved my money and bought a Honda care. Now I am always
on time and my boss he no get angry no more for being so late
owning a Honda care is big advantage.

Also, owning a car can be so much expensive I drive to
work every time so I use a lots of the gasoline. Which costs a
lot of money these days. In one week I spend more than $100
on the gas. Insurance and repairs also expensive tire too. That
means I have to spend less dollars on other things like the
food and the cloths this is a big disadvantage two so I am to
think about buying the motorcycle Suzuki 750cc. Wow, is so
fast. You can’t belief.

To sum, better to be owning a motorcyle.





Make a note map; state your opinion (G); restate it in
your conclusion (C); develop examples (2TiC).


Step #2
Type a first draft. Do not include the note map.
Step #3
Independent Essay - 51



Note: This test-taker has checked his first draft for coherence using
OPDUL=C
and has moved on to step #5.

Note: This test-taker has revised his essay according to his revision
checklist and moved on to step #6.




TASK: Check this essay for coherence using the Independent Essay
Proficiency Checklist on page 310, then rate it using the Independent
Essay Rating Guide on page 312. Compare your proficiency checklist
and your rating to those on page 334.

Note: There are mistakes in this essay. Can you identify them?

Personally, I think there is the advantages and disadvantages
to be own the car.

For example, I have a Honda care. Every time I drives to work.
Before I have to take the bus. The bus takes a long time.
Sometimes the bus misses me and I am late for work. Then I
saved my money and bought a Honda care. Now I am always
on time and my boss he no get angry no more for being so late
so owning a Honda car is big advantage so you should buy a
Honda car to.

Also owning a car can be so much expensive I drive to
work every time so I use a lots of the gasoline so I am to think
about buying the motorcycle Suzuki 750cc, wow, is so fast.
You can’t belief. Another one is the Harley Davision but is so
expensive to. But so nice on weekends I can drive in the
country and leave city. This is what I want to do with friends
they have motorcyle and ride all the times.

To sum, better to be owning a motorcyle.

Words: 187

Check your first draft for Coherence using OPDUL=C.

Step #4
Revise your first draft using your revision checklist.

Step #5
Submit your essay.


Step #6
52 - Independent Essay





Advantage prompts ask you to argue the positive side of a topic. The positive side
states the advantages, for example:







When answering an advantage prompt, use G+3TiC=C and the six steps to
demonstrate OPDUL=C

in your essay.













Note: There are mistakes in this draft. Can you identify them?

Prompt What are the advantages of telecommuting? State
your argument using examples and reasons.



From my experience, I can definately say that their are many
advantages to working from your home.

For example, at work I have a small cubicle. It’s really noisy
because of people always talking and using the copi machines.
Also, people are always stopping and saying hello to me. This
is not good because it waists a lot of time. It also makes it
hard for me to finish my work. But at home, nobody bothers
me and I finish my work without interruption. This is a big
advantage of telecomuting.

Also, when I do go to work, I must get early and drive. It takes
an hour. Offen the traffic is bad. When there is an accident, I
get to work late. That means I have to stay late to finish my
assignments. Plus gas is expensive, especially since I have an
SUV. But if I work at home, I don’t have to worry about traffic

and I can save money on gas. Those are definately
advantages.

For those reasons, I believe there are advantages to working
from home.




Advantage: Step-by-Step

Carefully read the prompt; formulate an opinion.
Step #1
Type a first draft. Do not include the note map.
Step #3

Make a note map; state your opinion (G); restate it in
your conclusion (C); develop examples (3TiC).


Step #2
Independent Essay - 53



Note: This test-taker has checked her first draft for coherence using
OPDUL=C
and has moved on to step #5.

Note: This test-taker has revised her essay according to her revision
checklist and moved on to step #6.




TASK: Check this essay for coherence using the Independent Essay
Proficiency Checklist on page 310, then rate it using the Independent
Essay Rating Guide on page 312. Compare your proficiency checklist
and your rating to those on page 335.

From my experience, I can definitely say that there are many
advantages to working from your home.

For example, at work I have a small cubicle in a big office. It’s
really noisy because people are always talking and using the
copy machines. Also, people are always stopping and saying
hello to me. This is not good because it wastes a lot of time. It
also makes it hard for me to finish my work. But at home,
nobody bothers me and I finish my work without interruption.
This is a big advantage of telecommuting.

Also, when I do go to work, I must get up early and drive. It
takes an hour. Often the traffic is bad. When there is an
accident, I get to work late. That means I have to stay late to
finish my assignments. Plus gas is expensive, especially since I
have an SUV. But if I work at home, I don’t have to worry
about traffic, and I can save money on gas. Those are
definitely advantages.


Finally, my children are very small, only seven and eight. Every
morning I drop them off at day care. But when I work at home,
I can look after them. This saves me money and time. Also, I
can see my children more often, and this makes us all very

happy. This is the best advantage of telecommuting, killing two
birds with one stone.

For those reasons, I believe there are advantages to working
from home.

Words: 249



Check your first draft for Coherence using OPDUL=C.

Step #4
Revise your first draft using your revision checklist.

Step #5
Submit your essay.


Step #6