Brainstorming

PRACTICE 1

STEP 1

Read the prompt and think about your own experience. List some ideas about your experiences in the blanks.

It is said that people are using text messaging and email more than writing notes or letters by hand. Which do you prefer to do? Give reasons and examples to explain your preference.

Text Messaging and email:

• faster to use and send
• typewriting helps understanding

Handwritten notes or letters:

• more thought goes into them
• can be read anywhere

Read the sample response below, and write the three sentences that are central to the organization of the passage.

As technology improves in the modern world, methods of communication are changing constantly. It is now possible for people to contact each other using text messaging and email. Some people prefer to communicate through more traditional methods, such as handwritten notes or letters. I prefer to communicate through text messaging and email for several reasons.

One reason I prefer to use text messaging and email instead of handwritten notes is because it is faster to use. I can type out a letter in just a few minutes, but it takes me a long time to write things out by hand. it can take me up to an hour to write a single letter. It is also faster in the sense that it takes less time to deliver. With just a click of a button, the recipient will receive my message in just a couple of seconds. If I handwrote the letter and sent it by mail, it could take up to a week to get there!

I would also rather use text messaging and email because it is guaranteed to be readable. Text messaging and email use a standard, easy-to-read font that people can understand. When I write things out by hand, people don’t always understand my handwriting. I’ve had several misunderstandings with people because they couldn’t read What I wrote. However, if I type it, it is easy to read and understand.

While some people like writing letters and messages by hand, I find text messaging and sending email to be a far more convenient, speedy, and clear means of communication.

constantly: always or regularly
communication: process of speaking or writing to someone
contact: to write to someone or talk to them on the telephone
recipient: someone who receives something
font: a set of numbers and letters in one size and style
misunderstanding: a failure to understand correctly

STEP 3

Answer the following questions in relation to the thesis and topic of the response in Step 2.

1.  What is the thesis statement of the essay? (Write it)

2.  What is the topic sentence of body paragraph 1? (Write it)

3.  What is the topic sentence of body paragraph 2? (Write it)

STEP 4

Answer the following questions in relation to the organization of the response in Step 2.

1. Which “side” of the prompt does this essay take?
2. What examples does the writer give to support the thesis statement?
3. Does the writer present a comment or idea from the other side in the conclusion? If so, what is the comment or idea?
4. What is the main idea of the conclusion?

Read the sample response presenting another possible answer to the prompt from Step 1.

Technology has changed many things in the world, including how people communicate with each other. Now people can use ultra-fast methods like writing emails or text messaging. But some people still prefer to write letters and cards by hand. When I need to write a letter, do it by hand for several reasons.

One good thing about writing letters by hand is that I get to put more thought into them. It takes extra time to write something by hand, which means that you really think about what you’re writing about. When you handwrite something, it is not as easy to delete and edit your words. Because of this, I am always more careful about what 1 write. It might take longer than typing out text, but the result is always a more personal correspondence.

Another reason I’d rather write my letters and notes by hand is because then the recipient can read it anywhere. In order to read emails or text messages, you need to have access to a computer or phone. But this isn’t always possible for everybody. In some places, it is impossible to get the Internet or a mobile phone signal. By simply sending out handwritten letters, the person can read it whenever and wherever they want without needing any extra equipment.

Though I appreciate the speed of sending emails and text messages, I still believe the personal touch of a hand written letter, which can reach even those without the Internet or mobile phone signal, is a far more special and intimate way of communicating with friends and loved ones.

ultra: extremely; used with many adjectives
extra: in addition to the usual or expected amount
delete: to remove something that has been written
personal: private and not known to most people
correspondence: the process of writing and receiving letters
access: the right to have or use something
equipment: the tools, machines, or other things needed for a particular activity

STEP 5

After studying the two sample responses, give your own opinion on the prompt. Brainstorm your own ideas below. Then, type your essay on a computer.

PRACTICE 2

STEP 1

Read the prompt and think about your own experience. List some ideas about your experiences in the blanks. They do not have to agree with the examples given.

More and more people eat in restaurants. Do you think food prepared at a restaurant tastes better than food prepared at home? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

Restaurant:

• does not taste as good as home cooked meals
• does not use fresh ingredients

Home:

• unique recipes
• fresh ingredients

STEP 2

Read the sample response below, and write three sentences that are central to the organization of the passage.

When it comes to eating, there are many choices for people. They can either eat at restaurants or cook food at home. Some people prefer to eat in restaurants because they think the food tastes better. However, I think that home-cooked meals taste the best for a couple of reasons.

First of all, the food cooked at home represents unique recipes that have been passed down in my family. Those are the meals I grew up eating and are a part of my culture. For example, my mother prepares a very tasty dish called mole. It is basically a sauce made out of chocolate and chilies that she pours over chicken. When I have tried the same dish in restaurants, it never tastes as good as my mother’s. That’s because I prefer my mother’s recipe to anybody else’s.

Another reason I think home-cooked meals taste better than food in restaurants is because people use fresher ingredients at home. Every week, people must go to the market or grocery store to buy their Most restaurants, meanwhile, use frozen foods to make their meals. When the ingredients are cooked, I can taste the difference. Fresh ingredients taste the best when cooked and have better flavors than food that has been frozen. I think fresh ingredients produce the most delicious flavor.

It may be fun to eat out at a restaurant every now and then, but in my opinion nothing beats the uniqueness of a home-cooked meal made with care, using fresh, tasty ingredients.

represent: to symbolize or serve as an example
unique: very special, unusual, or good
chili: a red or green vegetable with a hot taste
dish: food prepared in a particular way
ingredient: one of the things used for making a particular meal
market: a public place where people sell goods
delicious: with a very pleasant taste or smell

STEP 3

Answer the following questions in relation to the thesis and topic of the response in Step 2.

1. What is the thesis statement of the essay? (Write it)
2. What is the topic sentence of body paragraph 1? (Write it)
3. What is the topic sentence of body paragraph 2? (Write it)

STEP 4

Answer the following questions in relation to the organization of the response in Step 2.

1. Which “side” of the prompt does this essay take?
2. What examples, does the writer give to-support the thesis statement?
3. Does the writer present a comment or idea from the other side in the conclusion? if so, what is the comment or idea?
4. What is the main idea of the conclusion?

Read the sample response presenting another possible answer to the prompt from Step 1.

The modern world is full of many conveniences, like eating in restaurants. In the past, most people ate at home because they didn’t have many other choices. Now there are restaurants of all types all over the place. Some people think that food cooked at home tastes better. However, I think that restaurants have the best-tasting food for several reasons.

One of the reasons that I think restaurants make better tasting food is because they specialize in a certain type of food. A restaurant cannot be successful unless they can provide food that you cannot make at home without a lot of effort. When someone is thinking about opening a restaurant, they have certain recipes in mind that are different from what people can just make at home. Because of this, the food in restaurants always tastes better.

Another reason why I think the food in restaurants taste better than food made at home is because it is made by someone else. What I mean is that sometimes when you are cooking your own food, you have to keep on tasting it to make sure it is good. By the time you’re ready to eat, you have already become tired of it, so it doesn’t taste as good. At a restaurant, when the plate is brought to you, you get to experience it for the first time and enjoy the flavor better.

The specialization of restaurant food and all the effort that goes into preparing these meals make them better and tastier than anything one could ever prepare at home. The entire experience of eating out is much better than slaving over a stove and losing your sense of taste.

modern: relating to or belonging to the present time
convenience: Something that makes things easier for people
specialize: to concentrate attention and effort on something
certain: referring to someone or something without being specific
successful: having achieved wealth or honors from doing good work
provide: to give someone something that they want or need
experience: to feel an emotion or physical feeling

STEP 5

After studying the two sample responses, give your own opinion on the prompt. Brainstorm your own ideas below. Then, type your essay on a computer.

Read the prompt and think about your own experience. List some ideas about your experiences in the blanks. They do not have to agree with the examples given.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Teachers should be held responsible if students do poorly in school. Provide reasons and examples to support your viewpoint.

Agree – should be responsible

• may not be doing their job
• more motivated to. teach

Disagree – should not be responsible

• don’t always have control over factors
• students have power over teacher

STEP 2

Answer the following questions about how you would organize a response to the prompt.

1. Which “side” of the prompt would your essay take? Briefly write your opinion.
2. With what points or details would you support your opinion?
3. Give one example for each detail you wrote above.

STEP 3

Look at the two sample responses. Of the two, which agrees more with your response? Write down any keywords and key phrases that would be useful in your answer.

SAMPLE RESPONSE 1

Teachers hold a large amount of responsibility in the education of children. It is their job to make sure that students learn and are able to advance in their education. Some people think that given their important role, teachers should be held responsible for students performing poorly in school. I think this is a bad idea for several reasons.

One reason I think that teachers should not be held accountable for poor student performance is because they only have control  over certain things in,their classrooms. A student may do badly on a test, but one doesn’t know all of the factors that caused him or her to fail. Perhaps he or she isn’t able to get help from a parent at home, or maybe the student did not get enough sleep the night before the test. These things are not the teacher’s fault, so they should not be punished for it.

Another reason I think it’s a bad idea to blame teachers is because it might make students uncontrollable. In order to do a good job, teachers must.have control over the students in their classrooms. Holding teachers responsible for the student’s performance gives students power over their teachers. Students could perform poorly on purpose just to get their teachers into trouble.

Teachers may have a responsibility to help their students do well in school, but they are not the only influence on students and blaming them for poor performance seems unfair when home life and lack of sleep could also play a big role.

responsibility: duties that one is held accountable for
advance: to progress and become better
role: the influence of someone in a situation
accountable: responsible
factor: one of the things that influence an event
distract: to prevent someone from concentrating
punish: to make someone suffer as a result of something they have done

1. Key Words:

SAMPLE RESPONSE 2

Education is important for all people. But when there are problems with education, who should be blamed? While some people are opposed to punishing teachers when students perform poorly, I think that teachers should be held responsible when students do badly in their studies for several reasons.

One reason I think that teachers should be punished is because if the students are not learning, that means the teachers are not doing their jobs. In any other field, when someone is not doing their job, they have to face consequences from their employers. Imagine if doctors weren’t punished for doing their jobs incorrectly! It only seems fair that teachers, like any other professional, should be held responsible when they make mistakes at work.

Another reason I think that teachers should be held responsible for poor student performance is because then they would feel more motivated to push students to do well. By making them accountable, they will feel that they are more involved in the job they do. A lot. of the time, teachers think there is only so much they can do to help their students. However, if they know they will be held responsible for their students’ work, they will want to make sure that all of their students do as well as they possibly can.

I really believe we need to punish teachers when students do badly. This is the only way to make teachers truly accountable and ensure that they do a better job helping students give their best.

solution: a way to solve a problem
opposed: not supportive of something
field: an area of work or profession
consequence: a result or effect of something
professional: someone who has special skills and qualifications
motivate: to make someone feel determined about doing something
involved: affected by or included in an activity

1. Key words:
2. Which response agrees with your answer and why?

PRACTICE 4

STEP 1

Read the prompt, and think about your own experience. List some ideas about your experiences in the blanks. They do not have to agree with the examples given.

When on vacation, some people like to visit popular tourist attractions, while others enjoy exploring lesser known spots that are popular with the residents of an area. Which would you prefer doing?

Popular attractions      

• guaranteed to be interesting
• easier to organize trips

Lesser known spots

• meet local people
• see something new

STEP 2

Answer the following questions about how you would organize a response to the prompt.

1. Which “side” of the prompt would your essay take? Briefly write your opinion.
2. With what points or details would you support your opinion?
3. Give one example for each detail you wrote above

STEP 3

Look at the two sample responses. Of the two, which agrees more with your response? Write down any keywords and key phrases that would be useful in your answer.

SAMPLE RESPONSE 1

Since people don’t have a lot of time to take vacations, they are usually particular about how they spend their time off from work or school. Many people like to visit popular tourist attractions during their vacations. Personally, I would rather go to places that aren’t very popular with tourists for several reasons.

I think that it is better to go to less popular places because then you have a better chance of meeting local people. When I travel, I want to discover different cultures. So if I go to a place that doesn’t have a lot of tourists, I can meet the locals and learn first-hand about what life is like for them. They can teach me about the food and the language of their home country.

Another reason I would rather go to a less popular area instead of a tourist attraction is because then I could appreciate something that many people haven’t seen. I think a lot of the time, people forget about the more secluded attractions because it is easier to go to the most popular ones. But with a little research and preparation, you can go to a place that is equally as beautiful and have a unique experience that is all your own.

For me, the thrill of discovering a new place off the beaten track and meeting the local people will always be more exciting and attractive than vacationing in a popular tourist destination.

particular: very selective or clear about one’s likes and dislikes
attraction: an interesting place or thing that people like to visit
discover: to find out something you did not know before
appreciate: to recognize the good or special qualities of a person, place, or thing
secluded: private, peaceful, and not near other people or places
preparation: the process of getting ready for something

1. Key Words: 

SAMPLE RESPONSE 2

Vacations are the rare times that people have to do whatever they want. People can do a number of things. A lot like to visit places that aren’t full of tourists. However, I prefer to visit large tourist attractions for several reasons.

I prefer to go to tourist attractions because I know that it’s guaranteed to be an interesting and fulfilling experience. I figure that if it weren’t those things, it wouldn’t be so popular in the first place. Vacations don’t usually last that long, so I have to make sure that I spend time doing things I’m sure to enjoy. With tourist attractions, I know the places are going to be fun. Plus, I can be sure of what I’m getting myself into without having to worry that it might end up being a waste of my vacation time.

Another reason I like to visit tourist attractions instead of less popular places is because it’s much easier to organize trips to tourist attractions. There are usually a lot of materials available about more popular attractions, like travel guides and brochures. These types of materials make it easier to find places to stay and eat during my trip. That way I can enjoy my vacation instead of being stressed out about making those types of arrangements.

I think popular tourist destinations offer the best of everything because they are easy to organize, there is lots of information available about them, and they always offer lots to do. For all these reasons, I would always choose a popular vacation spot over a lesser known one.

rare: not happening very often
fulfilling: making a person feel happy and satisfied
get into: to become involved in
material: documents, etc. that are used for a particular activity
waste: to fail to make effective use of something valuable
brochure: a small magazine containing details and pictures of something
arrangement: practical plans for managing the details of an event

1. Key Words:
2. Which response agrees with your answer and why?