TOEFL Integrated Essay: Topic Statement

1. TOEFL Integrated Writing
Writing a Topic Sentence

2. Planning to Write
As you will recall, the Integrated Writing requires you to read a passage
and then to listen to a lecture on the same topic. You should take notes on
each. Once you are finished with that, you will be given 20 minutes to write
an essay that compares the two lectures.
Each passage will have a main idea and then three supporting points that
can be directly compared, as shown in the diagram to the right.
Once you understand the relationship between the two passages, your first
step in writing is to write an introduction, including a topic statement
(thesis statement) that clearly indicates this relationship.

3. Planning to Write
Last week, we compared two passages that discussed a decline in otter
populations. The two essentially disagreed on the probably cause for the
decline. Below are the notes that we took
Reading Passage
Listening Passage

4. Writing a Topic Statement
Your introduction doesn’t need to be very fancy. Most importantly, it should be clear and direct. We showed
you a general template earlier:
“The reading and the lecture both discuss ______. Whereas the author of the reading states that _______, the
lecturer argues that ________. The lecturer casts doubt on the main points made in the reading by providing
two/three reasons. “
For you own writing, it is good to memorize some useful phrases and synonyms:
Discourse Connectors
- Whereas, while, although, but
Verbs
- Says, claims, suggests, mentions, states, argues, posits
- Disagrees, disputes, contradicts, challenges, diverges, differs, counters

5. Writing a Topic Statement
Following the general pattern of our template, and remembering our notes, we can put together a simple
introduction and topic statement:
The lecture examines the claims made in the reading passage about the decline in the otter population. While the
reading passage suggests that the decline is most likely due to pollution, the lecture disagreed, arguing that
predation by orcas was a better explanation. Furthermore, the lecture disputes each point in the reading by
providing a counter-explanation.
Notice the sentence in bold. That is our topic statement. Make sure that you have that clearly stated at the
top of your essay, and you are well on your way to mastering the Integrated Essay!