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svbla · 2009 September 19th, 02:52 AM

Independent Essay, many topics offer 2 opinions(A or B?) and ask you which one do you agree, and why. my problem is do I have to support only one opinion, don't say anything about other one,or I can sustain one opinion, but I still offer something about another point?
I read a lot top score Essays, many Essays support one point, but also say something about another point.
e.g 1: TV and Movies bring a lot of benefits for our life, we can talk about the good that TV/movies bring to us, but can we also say something bad that TV/Movies bring to us? such as violence, illusion... influence our life from TV?
2. Books and experience. we can support our opinion that which is good, such as books are better than experience. details for support it. Can We also say, on the another hand, experience also the best teacher for us, and explain it.
so please tell me is that okay to support one point, but also offer the benefits/disadvantages another point has, I really need your opinion, my test is coming soon, Thanks!

phuc_thien1992 · 2009 September 19th, 05:39 PM

In my opinion , I just wanna recommend you something....
First , I don't know whether the obsolete TOEFL ibt such as PBT or CBT.. accept this kind of writing or not . Also , I somewhat heard that IELTS admit it . However , based on my observation , I see many friends of mine got high score in this section on IBT by applying one-sided argument . In other word , they completely didn't state anything about the advantageous sides which they opposed but their drawbacks . Get it ?
Second , If you actually wanna make some points about the advantages of the opposite opinion , I think you could state it in the introduction/ closing paragraphs in order to prolong your essays as long as you still uphold your opinion on the selected side . For example " In conclusion , Although B has some benefits such as M..N...Q v..v , A still my optimal option because of T..G..H..v..v" . Therefore , you should only support one side and shouldn't defend anything about the contradictory opinion . If you have more questions , let's ask , I am very willing to asnwer for ya by my best ^_^ !

svbla · 2009 September 19th, 08:53 PM

thanks a lot.
But I read many high score Essays, the writers sometimes support one opinion and offers details A... B.... to maintain their point, but they also show some disadvantages about it, for example:
1:TV/movies bring many benefits to us, such as......
2: on the another hand, TV/movies also has negative effects on us in terms of violence, and even brain malfunction. such as......
In conclusion......
I see many guys writing essay like that.and they also get good score.(essays from Answers to all TOEFL Essay Questions).
Actually, last time I pay a lot attention for writing section, but the score are very low, I don't even understand why, I was support one-side opinion only, and showed the reason 1.2.3. but my point was just low, so I really have no idea how to prepare again this time, my test is coming soon,I am confused badly.
Do you have any good mode of writing? I may need it if you could.

wlsullivan · 2009 September 19th, 10:21 PM

My job is to correct TOEFL essays. Here are a couple comments:

First, it is not possible to read "high score essays". Only ETS knows what the real essay score would be. Whenever you read that "this essay received a high score on the TOEFL" you can be sure that it is not true.

Second, students who try to argue both sides of an issue usually end up writing a very confusing essay. I highly recommend choosing one side of the argument and arguing for it strongly.

Third, it's okay to mention something about the opposing point of view, but do this is a way that actually supports your opinion. You have to be clever. For example, you might say something like this: "Although some television programs depict violence, most programs are family-oriented and educational in nature." In this case, you have mentioned a disadvantage of watching TV, but you have also strengthened your argument.

Fourth, don't believe that if you follow a simple rule (such as arguing strongly for one opinion), you will score high on the writing. The rating system is far more complicated than that. My advice: grammar, grammar, grammar.

Best of luck on the TOEFL!

2009 September 19th, 02:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
svbla I JUST got here. Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 7	Writing problem. please tell me! Independent Essay, many topics offer 2 opinions(A or B?) and ask you which one do you agree, and why. my problem is do I have to support only one opinion, don't say anything about other one,or I can sustain one opinion, but I still offer something about another point? I read a lot top score Essays, many Essays support one point, but also say something about another point. e.g 1: TV and Movies bring a lot of benefits for our life, we can talk about the good that TV/movies bring to us, but can we also say something bad that TV/Movies bring to us? such as violence, illusion... influence our life from TV? 2. Books and experience. we can support our opinion that which is good, such as books are better than experience. details for support it. Can We also say, on the another hand, experience also the best teacher for us, and explain it. so please tell me is that okay to support one point, but also offer the benefits/disadvantages another point has, I really need your opinion, my test is coming soon, Thanks!

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2009 September 19th, 05:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
phuc_thien1992 I JUST got here. Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 6	In my opinion , I just wanna recommend you something.... First , I don't know whether the obsolete TOEFL ibt such as PBT or CBT.. accept this kind of writing or not . Also , I somewhat heard that IELTS admit it . However , based on my observation , I see many friends of mine got high score in this section on IBT by applying one-sided argument . In other word , they completely didn't state anything about the advantageous sides which they opposed but their drawbacks . Get it ? Second , If you actually wanna make some points about the advantages of the opposite opinion , I think you could state it in the introduction/ closing paragraphs in order to prolong your essays as long as you still uphold your opinion on the selected side . For example " In conclusion , Although B has some benefits such as M..N...Q v..v , A still my optimal option because of T..G..H..v..v" . Therefore , you should only support one side and shouldn't defend anything about the contradictory opinion . If you have more questions , let's ask , I am very willing to asnwer for ya by my best ^_^ !

2009 September 19th, 08:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
svbla I JUST got here. Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 7	thanks a lot. But I read many high score Essays, the writers sometimes support one opinion and offers details A... B.... to maintain their point, but they also show some disadvantages about it, for example: 1:TV/movies bring many benefits to us, such as...... 2: on the another hand, TV/movies also has negative effects on us in terms of violence, and even brain malfunction. such as...... In conclusion...... I see many guys writing essay like that.and they also get good score.(essays from Answers to all TOEFL Essay Questions). Actually, last time I pay a lot attention for writing section, but the score are very low, I don't even understand why, I was support one-side opinion only, and showed the reason 1.2.3. but my point was just low, so I really have no idea how to prepare again this time, my test is coming soon,I am confused badly. Do you have any good mode of writing? I may need it if you could.

2009 September 19th, 10:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
wlsullivan I JUST got here. Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 26	My job is to correct TOEFL essays. Here are a couple comments: First, it is not possible to read "high score essays". Only ETS knows what the real essay score would be. Whenever you read that "this essay received a high score on the TOEFL" you can be sure that it is not true. Second, students who try to argue both sides of an issue usually end up writing a very confusing essay. I highly recommend choosing one side of the argument and arguing for it strongly. Third, it's okay to mention something about the opposing point of view, but do this is a way that actually supports your opinion. You have to be clever. For example, you might say something like this: "Although some television programs depict violence, most programs are family-oriented and educational in nature." In this case, you have mentioned a disadvantage of watching TV, but you have also strengthened your argument. Fourth, don't believe that if you follow a simple rule (such as arguing strongly for one opinion), you will score high on the writing. The rating system is far more complicated than that. My advice: grammar, grammar, grammar. Best of luck on the TOEFL!

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