Ministry of Education Mubarak Al Kabeer Educational Area

Ministry of Education ﺍﻟﺘﺮﺑﻴﺔ ﻭﺯﺍﺭﺓ Mubarak Al Kabeer Educational ﺍﻟﺘﻌﻠﻴﻤﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻜﺒﻴﺮ ﻣﺒﺎﺭﻙ ﻟﻤﻨﻄﻘﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ ﺍﻹﺩﺍﺭﺓ Area ELT Supervision ﺍﻹﻧﺠﻠﻴﺰﻳﺔ ﻟﻠﻐﺔ ﺍﻟﻔﻨﻲ ﺍﻟﺘﻮﺟﻴﻪ TOEFL i. BT Writing Prepared and presented by: ELT Supervisor: Mrs. Hanan Burezq

WRITING • The Writing section measures a test taker’s ability to write in an academic setting. • Test takers write their responses to two writing tasks. * 1 Integrated Writing Task: Read/Listen/Write * 1 Independent Writing Task: Writing from Experience and Knowledge • The total time for the Writing section is 50 minutes. Each of the questions is given a mark of 0 -5. Then the average score of the two writing tasks is converted to a scaled score of 0 -30.

• Responses are typed into the computer and sent to an Online Scoring Network where they are scored by certified raters. • People evaluating your writing, recognize that your response is a first draft. You are not expected to produce a well-researched, comprehensive essay about a highly specific, specialized topic. • You can earn a high score with an essay that contains some errors.

INTEGRATED WRITING TASK • You will have 3 minutes to read a short article. The reading passage will become available again once you get to the question. • The article will have a main idea (topic) which will usually be supported by two or three reasons. • The article will usually present one reason after another and provide details to support the reasons. This is the normal structure that you can expect. • You will then hear an academic lecture on the same topic. • You should take notes while listening since the lecture will only be heard once.

• The question asks about a relationship between the text and the lecture. • The lecture will either oppose (challenge) the article or support it • The lecture also has a predictable structure: * If it is opposing the article, it will have an opposite main point. * If it is supporting the article, it will have the same main point and similar reasons… but with different details than in the article. • You will not be asked to give your opinion. • You will have 20 minutes to write your essay, and you should write at least 150 words.

• You are being tested on your ability to summarize and compare information from more than one source (the reading passage and the academic talk. ) • Do NOT rely heavily on the reading passage to form your response. The whole point of this task is to be able to use information from both the listening and reading passages. • You will get a very low score (or zero) if you write only about the article.

HOW THE INTEGRATED WRITING TASKS ARE PHRASED • If the lecture challenges the information in the reading passage, the writing task will usually be phrased in one of the following ways: Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they cast doubt on specific points made in the reading passage/ how they challenge specific claims/arguments made in the reading passage/ how hey answer the problems raised in the reading passage.

• If the lecture supports or strengthens the information in the reading passage, the writing task will usually be phrased in one of the following ways: Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to specifically explain how hey support the explanations in the reading passage/ how they strengthen specific points made in the reading passage.

STRATEGIES FOR RAISING YOUR SCORE • As you read: 1. Take notes on your scratch paper. 2. Look for the main idea of the reading passage 3. Note points in the passage that either support the main idea or provide reasons to doubt the main idea.

• As you listen: 1. Look for information that makes points in the reading passage seem (wrong or less convincing or even untrue), or information that supports the points in the reading passage. • As you write your response: 1. You may take off your headset. 2. Before you start Writing: q briefly reread the passage, q consult your notes, qand make a very brief outline of the points you wish to make.

Answering Strategy Use an outlining strategy • The reading will have a main idea which will usually be supported by three reasons. • The lecture will then follow a point-counterpoint structure to address the points of the passage one by one. Reading Lecture

Writing Stage Write one introduction and three body paragraphs: • The Introduction: Start with a sentence like: "The article states that… and provides three reasons for support. However, the professor explains that. . . and refutes each of the author’s reasons. ”

• The Body Paragraphs: • Write one short body paragraph for each of the points (and counterpoints/supports. ) • Be sure to include as many details as you can. Details from the lecture are more impressive, but it’s also necessary to include details from the reading. • You cannot COPY details from the reading. Use your own words. • Begin your first body paragraph with "First" your second with "second" and your third with "third. "

First, the reading claims that …(reason 1)… The professor refutes this point by saying that …. . Second, the article suggests that…(reason 2)… However, the professor challenges that by. . . . Third, the reading claims that…(reason 3)… The professor opposes this point by explaining that ……

• When transitioning from discussing the lecture to discussing the passage, use transitional phrases like "the reading challenges these claims by stating that. . . " or "the reading casts doubt on this claim. " • If the reading supports the lecture, try phrases like "the reading supports this claim by. . . " or "the reading reinforces the lecture by. . . “ • Don't use boring phrases like "he says that. " Try something like "he observes that, " "he claims that" or "he suggests that. “

• Your response should contain the following: üThe specific ideas, explanations, and arguments in the lecture that oppose or challenge points in the reading. üCoherent and accurate presentations of each point that you make; that is, the language you use should make sense and should accurately reflect the ideas presented in the lecture and the reading. üA clear, coherent structure that enables the reader to understand what points in the lecture relate to what points in the reading.

INDEPENDENT WRITING • There's only the question prompt. • You are expected to write an essay based on your own personal experience and ideas. • You will have 30 minutes to write your essay. Your essay should be at least 300 words long. • You will be asked to express an opinion and support it with reasons based on your own knowledge and experience.

GRADING The three main factors that are used to grade this essay are: ØDevelopment: Did you give details, examples and reasons? ØOrganization: Does your essay make sense? Would a person understand what you are trying to convey or would they be confused? ØLanguage use: It covers grammar, spelling, vocabulary, word choice and sentence structure. How many errors did you make?

Independent Essay, “The College Years” Question Read and think about the following statement: The college years are the best time in a person’s life. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons to support your opinion.

• Begin by making an outline of the essay you plan to write. • write a three paragraph essay: The three paragraph structure is: üIntroductory Paragraph üBody Paragraph üConcluding Paragraph

Introduction: Start with an interesting sentence ‘hook’, then state your main point. Body paragraph : • Clearly state your reasons. • Each reason gets its own paragraph. Don't combine your reasons into one paragraph. • Start your first paragraph with a transitional word or phrase like “first, ” “to begin with, ” and your second paragraph with “second" or "secondly. " • Next, state your details one after another, expanding each one to three or four sentences. You can expand by Including a personal example from your life. • Try to use transitional phrases in between your details (“moreover, ” “furthermore, ” “also”).

Writing a conclusion: • Re-state your main point and begin with a phrase like “to sum it up…”/ “In conclusion…”. • Restate your reasons, beginning with a transitional phrase like “this is because…” • Once again, restate your main point but use different words.

Essay checklist The essay answers the topic question. The point of view or position is clear. The essay is direct and well-organized. The sentences are logically connected. Details and examples support the main idea. The writer expresses complete thoughts. The meaning is easy to comprehend. A wide range of vocabulary is used. Various types of sentences are included. Errors in grammar and idioms are minor.

Independent Essay, College “Theyear College Years” not best Question Read and think about the following statement: Stress The college years are the best Dependence time in a person’s life. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Decisions Competition Family strict budget Give reasons to support your opinion. Major/Career

TASK Independent Essay, “Learning a foreign Advantages language” Question Own Foreign country Many people have learned a foreign language in their own country; others have learned a foreign language in Less Teacher Cultural Natural Which Opportunities the country in which it is spoken. is better? stressf Cheaper 1 L context speech ul Give the advantages of each and support your viewpoint. Opinion: - Intermediate proficiency in country - Advanced level abroad