The TOEFL ibt Independent Writing Task: Steps to Writing the Introduction

1. The TOEFL ibt Independent Writing Task: Steps to Writing the Introduction Wendy M. Gough St. Mary College/Nunoike Gaigo Senmon Gakko

2. Steps to Writing a Successful Introduction 1. Introduce the general topic 2. Narrow the topic to focus on the specific question 3. Restate the question in your own words 4. Write a concluding sentence with your opinion or the controlling idea of the essay

3. Introducing the Topic Question:What is the best age to marry? Give reasons and examples to support your response Introduce the topic I think the best age to marry is 27 because when I am 27, I will have graduated from university. X In some countries people can choose the age when they want to marry. O

4. Question: Compare yourself today and yourself five years ago. In what ways are you the same or different? Use specific examples to support your response. Introduce the topic Five years ago, I was very immature but now I have grown up and my life has changed a lot. X Young peoples’ lives tend to change rapidly in a relatively short amount of time. O

5. Narrowing the Focus Question:What is the best age to marry? Give reasons and examples to support your response 1. In some countries people can choose the age when they want to marry. Narrowed topic I think I would like to get married when I am in my 30s. X In my country, women get married within a few years of finishing university and beginning a career while men can wait until they are a little older to marry. O

6. Question: Compare yourself today and yourself five years ago. In what ways are you the same or different? Use specific examples to support your response. 1. Young peoples’ lives tend to change rapidly in a relatively short amount of time. Narrowed Topic It is almost impossible to consider all of the ways my life has changed. X Though five years may seem like a short time, for young people it encompasses most of our teenage years, which is a time of growth and maturing in many ways. O

7. Restate the Question in Your Own Words Question:What is the best age to marry? Give reasons and examples to support your response 1. In some countries people can choose the age when they want to marry. 2. In my country, women get married within a few years of finishing university and beginning a career while men can wait until they are a little older to marry. Restate the question I don’t want to get married in my 20s just because my culture expects me to. X Nowadays, many young people question themselves about this tradition and the best age to marry and start a family. O

8. Question: Compare yourself today and yourself five years ago. In what ways are you the same or different? Use specific examples to support your response. 1. Young peoples’ lives tend to change rapidly in a relatively short amount of time. 2. Though five years may seem like a short time, for young people it encompasses most of our teenage years, which is a time of growth and maturing in many ways. Restate the question X My life has changed a lot in the last five years. I am eighteen years old and when I compare my life as a junior high school student with my life now, I can see that I am a much different person with different interests and goals than I had in my younger days. O

9. Write a concluding Sentence with the controlling idea (thesis statement) Question:What is the best age to marry? Give reasons and examples to support your response 1. In some countries people can choose the age when they want to marry. 2. In my country, women get married within a few years of finishing university and beginning a career while men can wait until they are a little older to marry. 3. Nowadays, many young people question themselves about this tradition and the best age to marry and start a family. Controlling idea I think the best age to marry is in the early thirties because at that age, people have finished their education, started their career and had a chance to travel or do other things that will be impossible once they start a family.

10. Question: Compare yourself today and yourself five years ago. In what ways are you the same or different? Use specific examples to support your response. 1. Young peoples’ lives tend to change rapidly in a relatively short amount of time. 2. Though five years may seem like a short time, for young people it encompasses most of our teenage years, which is a time of growth and maturing in many ways. 3. I am eighteen years old and when I compare to my life as a junior high school student with my life now, I can see that I am a much different person with different interests and goals than I had in my younger days. Controlling idea In my junior high school days, playing soccer was the most important thing in my life but now I realize the importance of studying and I work hard at my part time job so I can save enough money to go abroad and experience a new culture while studying at an American university.

11. Sample Introductions In some countries people can choose the age when they want to marry. In my country, women get married within a few years of finishing university and beginning a career while men can wait until they are a little older to marry. Nowadays, many young people question themselves about this tradition and the best age to marry and start a family. I think the best age to marry is in the early thirties because at that age, people have finished their education, started their career and had a chance to travel or do other things that will be impossible once they start a family.

12. Young peoples’ lives tend to change rapidly in a relatively short amount of time. Though five years may seem like a short time, for young people it encompasses most of our teenage years, which is a time of growth and maturing in many ways. I am eighteen years old and when I compare to my life as a junior high school student with my life now, I can see that I am a much different person with different interests and goals than I had in my younger days. In my junior high school days, playing soccer was the most important thing in my life but now I realize the importance of studying and I work hard at my part time job so I can save enough money to go abroad and experience a new culture while studying at an American university.