TOEFL Writing Task

1
TOEFL Writing Task

• Tips to Improve Your Score

2

• The Writing task consists of two different styles
  of writing

• The Integrated writing task

• The Independent writing task

3

• The Integrated Writing Task

• Tests your ability to synthesize two sources
• One Lecture
• One Academic Reading

Your essay must focus on the lecture.

• Even though the focus should be on the lecture,
  you must incorporate the reading as well.

Synthesize- v.- to combine two or more things
4

• Parts of the Integrated Essay

• The Introduction
• This need only be about one or two sentences.

• The body
• Usually three paragraphs of about three to four
  sentences

• The Conclusion
• This need only be one sentence. It is very
  similar to the Introduction.

5

• The Introduction

The introduction must have the following bits of
information
1. The topic that was discussed in both the
lecture and the reading.
2. What each source said about the topic.
3. The connection between the lecture and the
reading.
6

• Introduction Examples
• (Copy these down and USE them!)

• In this set of materials, the reading and the
  lecture both discuss (put topic here). While the
  reading states that (state the reading's position
  on the topic), the lecture opposes that position
  in three ways.

• Both the reading and lecture talk about (state
  topic). The author argues that (state reading's
  position) however, the lecturer counters the
  reading with the following three points.

• Discussing the topic of (state topic), the
  reading suggests that (reading's position).
  However, the lecturer disagrees with the reading
  for the following reasons.

The main idea for the introduction is that you
state the topic, the positions of the reading and
lecture, and the connection between the two.
Special tip The connection is usually
opposition! (95 of the time!)
7

• The Body Paragraphs

1. You must focus on the lecture!
2. You must mention the reading!

• There will always be 3 reasons that match up
  between the reading and lecture. These are
  usually ordered in the same way in the reading
  and lecture.
• For example, the first reason you read about in
  the reading is also the first reason you hear
  argued against in the lecture.

• Write from the perspective of the lecture. You
  need only mention the reading briefly.
• For example To begin, although the author stated
  that vivisection is necessary to develop drugs
  that benefit humans, the lecturer disagrees by
  stating that there are many alternatives to using
  animals including computer simulations and
  previous lab studies that can be just as
  effective.

Notice how much is written about the lecture!
Reading
Lecture
8

• The Body Paragraphs

• Use transitional phrases that show the connection
  between the lecture and reading. E.g.
• Even though the reading..the lecture
• While the reading.the lecturer
• Although the author.the speaker

• Use transitional phrases that show the next
  reason or topic
• To begin, First
• Secondly, next, another reason
• Thirdly, finally, the final reason
• In sum, In conclusion, In the end