2018-03-09 TOEFL: speaking 5, ind writing

Greg Malivuk
[email protected]
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - notes from all classes
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Speaking Section: third section (after the break), six tasks, 5m30s speaking, 20 minutes total
1 independent, open-ended - 15 seconds to prepare / 45 seconds to speak
2 independent, choice - 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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DELTA CD 5.23 - Listen to the conversation and take notes.
What is the problem? - She doesn’t have enough time to do both swimming and the newspaper.
What are the two “solutions”? - Leave the newspaper, or don’t.
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track 25 (p. 316 exercise 3.8.B)
problem: she needs to take a class but it doesn’t fit in her schedule
solution 1: take the class in the evening
	disadvantage: it makes her day very long
solution 2: wait until spring term to take the class
	disadvantage: she has a full-time internship then so a course will be difficult
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Your notes for listening to this conversation can almost always be basically the same:
P:
S1:
	but:
S2:
	but:
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Take notes on ETS 1 test 1
P: he forgot his schedule and doesn’t know where his class is
S1: check on the computer (then he can check the rest of his day as well)
	but: he might be late if he stops to check (he doesn’t want to make a bad impression)
S2: check the big lecture halls on each floor of this building
	but: he’ll be embarrassed if he goes into the wrong room (but he might get lucky the first time)
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your notes might look like this:
P: forgot schedule
S1: check computer (for all day)
	but: late
S2: check each floor
	but: maybe wrong room -> embarrassing
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"Briefly summarize the problem the speakers are discussing. Then state which of the two solutions from the conversation you would recommend. Explain the reasons for your recommendation."
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Your response should have these parts:
1 Introduction: Summarize the problem, list the solutions (don’t describe them in detail)
2 Your opinion: State which of the solutions you think is better
3 Lead-in (optional) (“I have two reasons for this opinion.”)
4 First reason (“The first reason is that this way he can check the schedule for the whole day.”)
5 Detail/example (“That means he won’t have this problem for any of his other classes.”)
6 Second reason (“The second reason is that he won’t have to embarrass himself by walking into the wrong classroom.”)
7 Detail/example (“If he walks in late because he checked the computer, the professor might not notice, but if he has to ask if it’s the right class, the professor will notice and know that he…”)
(8 Conclusion (if there’s time): “Because it will solve the problem for the whole day and…”)
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Do the same for Test 2. Then take 5 minutes with your partner to prepare a “perfect” response.
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Record your responses to ETS 1 test 3.
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BREAK
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Writing Section: Fourth and final section (after speaking), two tasks, 20 and 30 minutes to write
1 integrated: 3 minutes to read text, listen to a lecture on the same topic, 20 minutes to write about how the points from the lecture relate to points from the reading passage
2 independent: read a prompt (choice question), 30 minutes to write and support your answer
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The choice question for independent writing can be the same two types as speaking task 2:
- agree/disagree: “Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? ___”
- some people / other people: “Some people believe…. Others think…. What do you think?”
Both prompts end with, “Use specific reasons and examples to support your response.”
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DELTA p. 498: “There are times when it is acceptable not to tell the truth.”
If you agree: your three reasons could be different situations where it’s okay to lie, with details and examples to explain why it’s okay to lie in those situations.
If you disagree: you can still bring up times when other people think it’s okay to lie and explain why it isn’t, you can bring up examples of when someone lied and it turned out worse than if they’d told the truth
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p. 566 has a some people / other people prompt
This is about where we learn “our most important lessons”. Either response (in school or outside of school) can involve describing the three most important lessons and where those are learned.
A supporting paragraph might look like this:

reason: one important type of lesson
convince me it’s true: explain why you think this is one of the most important lessons for kids to learn
convince me it supports your argument: show that children learn it in/out of school
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Your response will usually have five paragraphs:
1 - Introduction: explain the question that you’re answering and say what your answer is
2-4 - Body Paragraphs: state your reasons, show that they’re true, show that they support your answer
5 - Conclusion: restate your answer and summarize your reasons, give a takeaway for the reader
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Homework: Write a response to this independent writing prompt:

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
	A person should never make an important decision alone.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

You might set a timer for 30 minutes (which is the amount of time you’ll have for this type of question on the TOEFL), but then take a few more minutes if you need to, to finish your thoughts and make corrections to your writing.