There are several types of questions or prompts. Today we will look at the first type.
Type 1: Agree or disagree. Type 1 is asking you to agree or disagree with a statement. Here is a sample:
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Always telling the truth is the most important consideration in any relationship. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer
Now, let’s do steps 1 and 2.
Step 1 is brainstorm and choose 2.
For our sample, let’s agree or disagree with the statement and brainstorm reasons.
Step 2 is to create the thesis statement. Let’s practice creating the thesis statement. Here are our rules:
To create the thesis statement, follow these 3 steps:
1.Delete the wh question. If there is no wh question, go to step 2.
2.Delete do/does or did OR move am/is/are/will/should/could/can after the subject
3.Add the 2 answers you chose.
Here is our sample: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Step 1: There is no wh question so we go to step 2.
Step 2.Delete do/does or did OR move am/is/are/will/should/could/can after the subject
Now we have: you (change you to I) agree or disagree with the following statement always telling the truth is the most important consideration in any relationship.
Step 3: Add the answers or the vocabulary for the type or organization.
I agree or disagree (choose one) with the following statement always telling the truth is the most important consideration in any relationship because ____ and ____.
I agree or disagree (choose one) with the following statement always telling the truth is the most important consideration in any relationship for a couple of reasons.
Creating the topic sentence.
Topic sentence 1: Now for the topic sentence, just write the question + the first answer. Can you change it? Sure, there are options for vocabulary and grammar.
I agree with the statement because_____.
Can you change it? Sure, there are options for vocabulary and grammar.
First of all, write your first reason here.
One reason why I agree with the statement is that…
One reason for ____ is that
Topic sentence 2:
Now for the second topic sentence, just add a transition and change the vocabulary or grammar.
Another reason is that____________________________
I also agree because_____________________________________
An additional reasons is that____________________________.
II.Let’s do some exercises. We’ll create the thesis statement for each and the topic sentences for each.
1.Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A teacher’s ability to relate well with students is more important than excellent knowledge of the subject being taught. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. https://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pdf/SampleQuestions.pdf (10 points each for a total of 30 points).
Thesis statement:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Topic sentence 1: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Topic sentence 2:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2.Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television advertising directed toward young children (aged two to five) should not be allowed. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. (10 points each for a total of 30 points).
Thesis statement:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Topic sentence 1: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Topic sentence 2:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3.Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is more important for students to understand ideas and concepts than it is for them to learn facts. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. https://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/prepare/quick_prep/(10 points each for a total of 30 points).
Thesis statement:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Topic sentence 1: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Topic sentence 2:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10 points: Read the rubric for how the Independent TOEFL is graded: https://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pdf/Writing_Rubrics.pdf