2020-03-05 TOEFL: writing practice

Greg Malivuk
gmalivuk@staffordhouse.com
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - notes from all classes
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https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-do-self-driving-cars-see-sajan-saini
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Delta 7.4 - Take three minutes to read the passage about brainstorming.
R0 (main idea) = group brainstorming is not good
R1 = less productive (solo brainstormers had 2x as many ideas as groups of 4)
R2 = less creative (solo had more original and more valuable ideas than groups; groups - topic fixation)
R3 = groupthink/conformity - end up with worse idea than if they were alone
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When you read, you should think about what points the lecture might bring up.
Predictions:
P0 = group brainstorming is (or can be) good
P1 = actually they’re more productive, that study had bad methods
P2 = more creative, topic fixation can improve ideas
P3 = different perspectives give more creative ideas; make sure groups are diverse to avoid groupthink
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Listen to the lecture and take notes on its main points.
L0 = well-designed group brainstorming can be very effective
L1 = quality is more important than quantity
L2 = groups can evaluate and choose the best ideas better than individuals; individual brainstorming followed by group evaluation can be the best option
L3 = diverse groups are more effective; more knowledge, skills, and perspectives; conflict can prevent groupthink
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“Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.”
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A point-by-point response has (at least) four paragraphs:
1 Introduction: Explain the topic, summarize the main ideas of the reading and the listening (R0/L0) and be clear how they relate (Your “thesis statement” for this task is, for example, “The speaker challenges each of the three points made in the reading passage.”)
2 First point: Summarize L1 and R1 and be clear how they relate
3 Second point: Summarize L2 and R2 and be clear how they relate
4 Third point: Summarize L3 and R3 and be clear how they relate
(5 Conclusion - if you have time and you have already made corrections in the rest of your response)

First, the text claims that group brainstorming is less productive than solo brainstorming. However,
the lecture points out that the quality of ideas is more important than the quantity.  This opposes the point in the reading that brainstorming groups are less productive because they produce fewer ideas.
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Accuracy (grammar, vocabulary, spelling) is mostly important to the extent that it’s easy for the reader to understand.
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Block Format:
1 Introduction: (same as in point-by-point)
2 Reading points: Summarize all three main points from the reading
3 Listening points: Summarize all three main points from the lecture (and be clear how they relate, as a group, to the points from the reading)
- You can write paragraph 3 before you write paragraph 2
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Independent Writing:
- It’s usually easiest to just pick one side or the other and support that, rather than choosing a third option or an “it depends” response.
- Before you choose one side, make sure to come up with some solid reasons for both sides, so you’re sure you’re making the best choice.
- Don’t bring up counterarguments against your position unless you also explain why they are wrong or why they don’t really contradict your point.
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A response should be 4-6 paragraphs and at least 300 words.
1 Introduction: summarize the options you’re choosing between and state your own choice (thesis)
2-4 Body: state your reasons, show that the reason is true (e.g. with examples), and show that it really does support your thesis
5 Conclusion: restate the thesis and summarize the reasons you gave to support it; you can “generalize” your point with a prediction or some advice for the reader, but don’t introduce new points or information here
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Some spelling mistakes are “luckier” than others:
it depens - This is just as easy to understand as the correct form
For example, my nice graduated last year, and she… - Leaving out the ‘e’ changes this to a completely different word, and now I have to read the sentence twice to understand.
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BREAK
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Writing Practice - ETS 2.4
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It can be a good idea to force yourself to start a new paragraph every 5 minutes on your “first draft”. Then once you’ve written something for each paragraph, you can go back and finish sentences and ideas.