2018-04-13 TOEFL: sample writing, speaking 5

Greg Malivuk
[email protected]
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - notes from all classes
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https://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-causes-headaches-dan-kwartler#review
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    “The question which is asked is to know if the apparition of a professor on television”
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Look at the other responses and discuss with your partner what’s good and bad about each one. What score do you think it should get?
DELTA p. 386 describes score levels for integrated writing
A - 3
B - 1 - The only information it includes about the lecture is wrong.
C - 5 - Notice that there’s no citation language outside the first paragraph, but that paragraph is clear enough about the positions of the text and lecture that this isn’t a problem.
D - 2 - This only summarizes one of the main points from the lecture. There are also a lot of serious language problems that make other things unclear.
E - 4 - Points are not developed with enough detail, language errors make sum ideas unclear.
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Write as if the person reading hasn’t read or listened to any of the test material. The main ideas should still be clear.
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Singular “they”:
A professor who appears on TV may hurt _______ reputation.
- “his” - Not all professors are men. This probably appears outdated and sexist.
- “his or her” - The grammar is fine and not sexist, but it’s awkward and repetitive.
- “their” - Singular “they” pronouns have always been very common and natural in English, though some people still believe they are incorrect. (This is how almost everyone speaks.)
- make the whole thing plural: “Professors who appear on TV may hurt their reputation(s).”
	No one has any problems with the grammar or political implications of this sentence.
	(If you’re talking about a generic person, you can (almost?) always change to plural.)
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Speaking Section: Third section, after the break after listening, 20 minutes total, 5m30s speaking
- six tasks
1 independent, open-ended - 15 seconds to prepare / 45 seconds to speak
2 independent, choice question - 15/45
3 integrated reading/listening/speaking, campus announcement and conversation - 30/60
4 integrated R/L/S, academic text and lecture - 30/60
5 integrated L/S, conversation about a problem and solutions - 20/60
6 integrated L/S, academic lecture - 20/60
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Speaking Task 5 can be about any typical problem that might be at a university.
DELTA test 1 - Listen to the conversation and take notes.
What is the man’s problem? - He has bad geology grades and doesn’t have time to study?
How many solutions do they talk about? - 2
- get a tutor (but that won’t help the amount of time he has)
- give up another activity to have more time
Which solution do you recommend? Why?
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The prompt for task 5 is always very similar:
“ The students discuss possible solutions to the man’s problem. Describe the problem. Then state which solution you prefer and explain why.”
- As with all the choice questions on TOEFL, it’s usually easier if you pick one of the two options.
Your response can be organized like this:
1 Introduction: Briefly describe the problem and list the two solutions they discuss
2 Your Opinion: State which of the two solutions you think is better
3 Lead-in: “I have two reasons for this choice.”
4 First Reason: “The first reason is that…”
5 Detail/example: “This means he will be able to…”
6 Second Reason: “The second reason is…”
7 Detail/example: “For example, if he…”
(8 Conclusion - if there’s time)
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Your notes for this task can be easier than any other integrated speaking
P: bad geology grades, not enough time
S1: tutor
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	- still wouldn’t have enough time
S2: drop an activity
	+ would free up time to study
	- doesn’t want to drop anything
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Then, when you have 20 seconds to prepare, you can spend it circling the information you’re going to say and numbering it in the order you’ll say it.
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Take 5 minutes with your partner to prepare a “perfect” response to ETS 1 test 4
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Record your responses to the ETS guide practice tests
Listen to your responses and choose one we can hear as a class
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Listen to sample responses and talk about what’s good or bad about each one.
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Homework (optional): If you want more feedback on your writing from yesterday (more than a grade and one or two sentences), email me this weekend with some of your own thoughts about your writing. What was good. What will you try to improve for the next time you do writing for me? If you have written before, what do you think you improved from the last time?