An overall study of TOEFL writing

TOEFL writing
Ahmad Nasher Sarwary 6 March 2020

Table of content
 Structure of TOEFL test
 A general introduction to writing section
 Integrated topic
 General tips on writing independent topic
 General tips on writing integrated topic
 Independent topic
 References

Structure of TOEFL test
Reading 54–72 minutes 30–40
questions
Read 3 or 4 passages from academic texts
and answer questions.
Listening 41–57 minutes 28–39
questions
Listen to lectures, classroom discussions
and conversations, then answer questions.
Break 10 minutes — —
Speaking 17 minutes 4 tasks Express an opinion on a familiar topic;
speak based on reading and listening tasks.
Writing 50 minutes 2 tasks Write essay responses based on reading
and listening tasks; support an opinion in
writing.

A general introduction to writing section
 The writing section is the fourth section of the TOEFL IBT test
 Takes about 50 minutes to complete.
 It consists of two separate tasks:
 Integrated Writing task
 Independent Writing task.

 You will be given 3 minutes to read an academic passage.
 You will then listen to a lecture on the same topic.
 You’ll have a total of 20 minutes to write your response.
 Your response should be around 150-225 words.
 During this time, you may reread the passage; however, you may not
listen to the lecture again.
Integrated writing task

 The reading passage may or may not have a different point of view from the lecture.
There are a total of two different scenarios that you can encounter.
 Contradiction:
The lecture contradicts or casts doubt on the key points in the reading passage.
 Supporting with Examples:
The lecture supports the key points in the reading passage.
 It doesn’t matter which scenario you encounter. Your response
must summarize the key points discussed in the lecture and explain how
these points relate to the reading.
 In this task, taking good notes is critical.

 When taking notes for the reading passage,
make sure to write down the position or opinion of the author
and the main supporting reasons for that position or opinion.
 In most cases, there will be three main supporting ideas.
 Note that the reading passage are always presented in a point-by-
point fashion.
 That is, the article begins with a main statement, followed by three
paragraphs, each of which gives a main point supporting the main
statement.

 For the lecture, it’s the same basic idea as the reading passage.
 The lecture follows the same pattern, with the main points matching
up with the main points in the reading passage.
 In other words, the main points directly support or refute the points
made in the article, usually in the same order. You must be aware of
this in order to take appropriate notes.
 One more thing! The lecture might include information that is not
related to the reading. Remember this! You don’t need to write
irrelevant information down in your notes!
General tips on writing integrated topic

 In addition to taking good notes,
 you’ll need to write at least 5 paragraphs that synthesize the main points
of the reading passage and lecture.
 You should also paraphrase when you write your response.
DO NOT copy the exact words from the reading passage or lecture. Your
score will suffer, if you do.
 Here is the breakdown of your essay structure:
Introduction
Body A
Body B
Body C
Conclusion

 The introductory paragraph should contain the following:
The main topic of both the reading passage and the lecture
A paraphrase of the question describing the number of points made
that were used to cast doubt on the reading passage.
 Each body paragraph should cover one main point from the listening
and explain in detail how it relates to the main points in the reading
passage.
 Finally, the conclusion paragraph should summarize the introductory
paragraph...and yes...you guessed it...you should paraphrase. Do not use
the same wording you used in the introduction paragraph.

The reading and the lecture are both about theories of the rapid decline in sea otter populations. Whereas the author of the
reading states that pollution was the major cause of the decline in sea otter populations, the lecturer suggests that predation is the
most likely factor contributing to the reduction in the number of the sea otters. The lecturer casts doubts on the main points made
the reading by providing three reasons.
First of all, according to the reading, the increased levels of pollutants taken from water samples provide evidence for the
theory. However, the lecturer disputes this point. He says that if the sea otters had been killed by pollutants in water, they would
have been found on shores. Furthermore, he mentions that the absence of dead sea otters on shores indicates that sea otters
killed and eaten by predators.
Secondly, the reading states that aside from sea otters other small sea animals also decreased in population due to pollution. This
finding indicates that the pollution is the reason why sea otters are in rapid decline. Nevertheless, the lecturer refutes this
He argues that because the whale population decreased, the orcas in the area had to eat otters instead of whales. As a result, the
population diminished.
Finally, the reading claims that environmental factors, which lead to different levels of pollutant concentration, perfectly explain the
uneven pattern of the diminishing sea otter populations. On the other hand, the lecturer believes that the uneven pattern of
declining sea otter populations corresponds to the prevalence of orcas in different areas. He thinks that the otter population
in places with orcas and there was not a big decrease in otters in places where orcas could not access.
In conclusion, although the reading and the lecture are both about hypotheses of the diminishing sea otter populations, the three
main points made in the reading are effectively challenged by the lecturer.

 When you start the TOEFL independent writing task, you will
be asked a question
 You read a prompt (a topic)
 You express your opinions in your response.
 Your response is based entirely on your own knowledge
and experience.
 The essay should be at least 300 words
 You will be given 30 mins for this
Independent topic

Independent writing types
 Agree or Disagree
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children
should be required to follow strict rules set by their parents. Use
specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
 Preference
There are many different styles of classes at schools nowadays. Some
students prefer classes where they interact with their teacher and with
other students in debates and group assignments. Others prefer
classes where they just listen to their teacher speak. Which do you
prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Independent writing types
 Multiple Choice Style
Everyone faces challenges they have difficulty overcoming. These challenges
are often related to our school life, our family life or our academic life. What
do you think is the best way to deal with a problem that is difficult to solve?
asking someone with more experience for help
finding more information about the problem using the Internet
discussing the issue with a close friend
taking a long time to think about the problem
 Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
 REMEMBER DO NOT USE MEMORIZED EXAMPLES

Writing an Introduction
 The first part of your TOEFL independent essay must always be the
introductory paragraph. Follow this template:
Sentence One: The “Hook”
This is an interesting sentence that introduces the general theme or topic of
the essay.
Sentence Two: The Main Point
This is your main argument and direct answer to the question. Start with
“Personally, I believe…“
Sentence Three: The Transition
Just say: “I feel this way for two reasons, which I will explore in the
following essay.”
General tips on writing independent topic

 Example
There are many different learning styles, and it is important that we find
classes that match our academic preferences. Personally, I believe that it
is extremely beneficial to take classes which are very interactive. I feel
this way for two reasons, which I will explore in the following essay.
 There are a few things to keep in mind as you write your introduction:
Don’t copy from the question prompt when you write your hook.
Don’t waste time stating the opposite of your thesis (“Some people might
think…”)
Don’t copy anything word for word from the prompt.

 Writing Body Paragraphs
 Next you must write two body paragraphs that state your supporting arguments
and examples. Use this template for your first body paragraph:
 Sentence One: A Topic Sentence
This summarizes your first supporting reason. Begin with “First of all…“.
 Sentences Two to Four: The Explanation
Explain what you mean, without talking directly about a personal experience.
 Sentence Five: The Transition
Just use: “My personal experience is a compelling example of this.“
 Sentence Six to End: The Personal Example
An example from your life that illustrates this argument. Make it longer than the
explanation part.

Example:
 First of all, classes that include a lot of discussions develop our communication
skills. Our long-term success depends on our ability to persuade others to accept our
ideas and proposals, so it is critically important to seize opportunities to talk to a
variety of people. If we do not practice this skill, we will never develop it. My
personal experience is a compelling example of this. About ten years ago, I
enrolled in a history class. At that time I had already taken many classes at university,
but I was still very shy around strangers. However, after nine months of participating
in debates, discussions and presentations in that class I came out of my shell and
became a very confident public speaker. As a result, when I began my career
following my graduation I excelled in group work and was seen by my supervisors as
a natural leader. For this reason, I was quickly promoted within my company. I have
been very successful at my workplace, and I owe it all to that wonderful class.

 Use a similar template for your second body paragraph:
 Sentence One: A Topic Sentence
This summarizes your second supporting reason. Begin with “Secondly…“.
 Sentences Two to Four: The Explanation
Explain what you mean, without talking directly about personal experience.
Shorten if necessary.
 Sentence Five: The Transition
Just use: “For instance,“
 Sentence Five to End: The Personal Example
An example from your life (or someone else’s life) that illustrates this
argument. Make it longer that the explanation part.

 Secondly, classes that are very interactive help us to form connections with
our classmates, and these can lead to future opportunities. When we
regularly converse with our peers, we get to know their
personalities. Consequently, we can even become very close friends with
them. In contrast, when students just sit and passively listen to their
professor, they are unlikely to get to know each other. For instance, when
my brother was in college he took an information technology class that
required a lot of group work. He spent two months that semester working on
a programming project with two other students and during that time they all
became very close. In fact, a year later they felt comfortable enough to
actually form a company together. It has been six years since they founded
that business and it is still very profitable.

There are a few things to keep in mind as you write the body of your TOEFL
independent essay:
 Use a mix of simple and compound sentences
 Emphasize the example. It is the easiest part to write, so make it about 60%
(or more) of each body paragraph
 Avoid very short sentences (less than seven words) and very long sentences
(more than 60 words)
 Don’t start sentences with coordinating conjunctions
 Use a variety of discourse phrases

Writing a Conclusion
 Conclusions are easy. You just need to repeat your thesis and your two
supporting arguments. Try this short template:
 Sentence One: Restate the Thesis
Paraphrase your thesis. Begin with “In conclusion, I am of the opinion
that…“.
 Sentence Two: Restate the Two Reasons
Just use: “This is because ______, and _______.“

Example:
 In conclusion, I am of the opinion that it is a great idea to take
classes where students actually talk to each other and their
professor. This is because they help us develop valuable skills and
abilities, and because they help us form important social
connections.
 Here’s what you should keep in mind:
 Paraphrase yourself. Don’t copy and paste from above when you
restate your ideas in the conclusion
 Don’t introduce new ideas in the conclusion

Final Thoughts
 That’s how you write a strong TOEFL independent essay. There are a final
few points that are worth mentioning here, of course:
 Aim for about 380 to 400 words. Write a bit more if need a really high score
 Use two minutes to plan before you start writing and save two minutes for
proofreading when you finish
 Practice does not make perfect; proper practice makes perfect.

References
 https://www.bestmytest.com/toefl/writing
 https://www.toeflresources.com/writing-section/toefl-independent-writing-section/
 https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/prepare/practice_sets/
 https://www.fluentu.com/blog/toefl/toefl-independent-writing-topics-sample/

An overall study of TOEFL writing

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