The second question in the TOEFL writing section is an essay. You have 30 minutes to write a persuasive essay with a minimum of 300 words.
You are given a statement and must agree or disagree. Here is an example question:
- “When people succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with success.” Do you agree or disagree with the quotation above? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position.
The essay should have a clear format:
- Introduction
- Body Paragraph 1
- Body Paragraph 2
- Body Paragraph 3
- Conclusion
The Writing Process
The 3 steps in the writing process are Planning, Writing, and Editing. You need to dedicate time to each. For the TOEFL essay, you have 30 minutes. Break your time down as follows:
| Planning | 5 minutes |
| Writing | 20 minutes |
| Editing | 5 minutes |
Don’t skip any steps because you are worried about the time limit. A good plan makes it easier to write, and good editing makes your essay stronger.
Dedicate time to plan your essay. The process is 3 steps:
- Thesis
- Brainstorm
- Outline
Thesis
First, decide on your opinion about the question. Next, form this opinion into a sentence called the thesis. Do not wait to decide. It should take you less than 20 seconds to choose an opinion. Pick the side you can support most easily. Write this into a thesis statement using words from the question.
Here is an example:
- Question: Should countries provide aid to other nations, or focus only on helping their own people?
- Thesis: Countries should not send aid to foreign countries.
Thesis Strategies
- Make your thesis directly related to the question.
Use the words from the question in your thesis statement. For example:
- Question: Does technology make life easier or more challenging?
- Thesis: Technology makes life easier.
- Make your thesis arguable and specific.
You must be able to argue either side of the thesis statement. People need to be able to agree or disagree with your thesis. The thesis cannot be a fact, quotation, or question.
A good thesis sentence should be specific, not vague or broad. Be careful using vague adjectives like “good”, as in this example:
- Studying in the morning is good.
How is it good? Using vague adjectives leaves you with a weak thesis. A good thesis is specific and direct. For example:
- Studying in the morning is more effective than studying at night.
Brainstorm
Next, brainstorm as many possible supporting ideas as possible. The purpose of brainstorming is to think of as many ideas as possible. Don’t worry about if an idea is good or bad. Just right it down. Later, you will decide which ideas are good and which ideas are bad. You should be able to think of 5-10 ideas.
When brainstorming, ask yourself two questions:
- Who is involved?
- What is involved?
Outline
After creating a thesis and brainstorming, organize your ideas into 3 main arguments that support your thesis. This is your outline.
When grouping ideas, take your brainstorm and make 3 groups. These are your 3 body paragraphs. Each paragraph should have 2 points. Here is a chart to help you organize your ideas:
| Reason 1 | Reason 2 | Reason 3 |
| Point A | Point A | Point A |
| Point B | Point B | Point B |
Sample Outline
Here is a sample outline for the previous thesis:
- Students should live in apartments on their own rather than in dormitories.
| Sample Outline | ||
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Living in apartments is cheaper than living in dorms. | Living in apartments is better for studying. | Living in an apartment is healthier than living in a dorm. |
| Cheaper rent | More privacy for studying | Dorms are dirty and unsanitary |
| Cheaper food (no meal plan required) | Apartments are quieter for studying or sleeping before exams | Students must walk to school from an apartment |
With this outline, you are ready to write the essay. Next, take your ideas and insert them into the essay format listed in the next section.
Writing
Once you are finished your outline, you are ready to create your 5-paragraph essay. The 5 paragraphs are as follows:
- Introduction
- Body Paragraph 1
- Body Paragraph 2
- Body Paragraph 3
- Conclusion
Introduction
The introduction establishes the purpose of the essay. It shows the reader what will follow. Here are the steps of the introductory paragraph:
- Introduce the topic without giving an opinion.
Use the ideas in the question to help you introduce the topic. Do not include your opinion in the first sentence.
- List both sides of the argument.
Restate the two sides of the argument. You can find these in the question.
- Write your thesis with the 3 points.
Use the question to form the thesis. Include your three points using parallel grammatical structure.
Here is an example of an introduction.
Question
Is it better to learn with a teacher or learn alone?
| Sample Introduction |
| (1) There are several ways to learn. It is possible to learn independently or with assistance. Some people believe learning with a teacher is best. Others think learning independently is more effective. (2) While both sides have advantages and disadvantages, learning with a teacher is best because (3) a teacher keeps you organized, motivates you, and helps you when you do not understand. |
Body Paragraphs
The body paragraphs explain your 3 arguments. In each paragraph you should have two or three main points. Within these points, make sure you use examples to support your arguments. Body paragraphs are structured as follows:
- Topic Sentence
- Supporting Point A
- Supporting Point B
- Concluding Sentence
Topic Sentences
The topic sentence is the first sentence in the paragraph. It shows what the paragraph is about. Your topic sentences should follow these guidelines:
- It must be a complete sentence.
- It is not in the first person (I think, In my opinion, etc.).
- It is an opinion not a fact.
- It is not a question.
For each supporting point, use the following format:
- Introduce the idea.
Use a simple sentence to introduce the main point or idea.
- Rent is cheaper in an apartment than in a dormitory.
- Explain the idea.
Describe how your idea is true.
- Often rent in an apartment is $200 cheaper than in a This is because a dormitory is close to
school, so it costs more.
- Provide an example.
Use an example to illustrate your point and make it more convincing. Use these phrases to introduce examples:
- For example,
- For instance,
- As an example,
- For example, at the University of Toronto, the dormitory rooms costs about $800 per month, which is much more expensive than a room in an apartment.
- Explain the significance.
This is where you show how your point proves your topic sentence and thesis. This step is the most commonly missed step in writing. Don’t forget it!
- The difference in rent prices shows how an apartment is better than a dormitory.
- Use a transitional phrase to move to point B.
- Another reason
- Another benefit
- Another cause
The sample point below is from a paragraph arguing why the Internet is the best invention.
| Sample Point from Body Paragraph |
| (1) The Internet makes communication easier. (2) Free video chat on the Internet has replaced expensive long distance telephone conversations. (3) For example, Skype allows people to make video calls for free. (4) The increased accessibility to communication has made life better for everyone. |
Here is the full outline of a paragraph. On the left, you can see the features of the paragraph. The sample sentences are on the right. The thesis of this essay is as follows:
- “High school students should have part-time jobs.”
| Function | Example |
| Topic Sentence | Jobs help high school students develop personal skills. |
| Reason 1 | |
|
One skill students develop from working is money management. |
|
They learn how to earn and budget money. |
|
For example, students learn about income tax rates when they receive a pay cheque. |
|
This skill will help them for the rest of their life. |
| Reason 2 | |
|
Another skill students develop is time management. |
|
Jobs require stricter attendance than school, so student must act accordingly. |
|
For instance, school may allow 10 absences a semester. Employees do not have the same number of sick days. |
|
Developing time management helps the student in future studies and career. |
| Concluding Sentence | Money and time management skills are two excellent benefits for high school student working in part-time jobs. |
Conclusion
The conclusion summarizes your argument. You should never introduce new ideas in the conclusion. The conclusion format is the reverse of the introduction. Here is the structure:
- Restate the thesis.
Use similar words, but do not make it exactly the same.
- Restate the arguments.
Use one sentence for each body paragraph.
- Conclude the topic by looking to the future.
This is the final sentence. Do not add anything new.
Here is a sample conclusion from the thesis that university students should live in apartments instead of dormitories.
| Sample Conclusion |
| (1) Living in apartments is better for university students than living in dormitories. (2) Apartments are cheaper, including rent, utilities, and extra fees. Apartments are also better for studying, mainly because of the privacy they provide. Finally, apartments are a healthier option for students. (3) Students attending university should consider all advantages and disadvantages of apartments and dormitories before choosing. The most successful students will choose apartments. |
Sample Essay
Cars are now a very popular method of transportation around the world. They have benefitted society and allowed the world to grow. They have also created pollution and societal problems. Alternative forms of transportation should be developed and laws created to control car use.
Cars should be limited because they are bad for the environment. Cars release carbon dioxide into the air and contribute to global warming and air pollution. For example, large cities like Mexico City or Los Angeles have issues with air quality due to the large volumes of traffic. Another negative impact cars have on the environment is the land used to support the traffic. Natural or green areas are destroyed to create infrastructure like parking lots and highways. Polluting the air and taking up precious natural areas are environmental reasons why car use should be limited.
Cars should be limited because they are dangerous for individuals and society. First, cars are dangerous for drivers and passengers. A car accident is much deadlier and more common than a public transportation accident. Another dangerous aspect of cars is the impact on society. People who do not use cars are also in danger. For example, cars can crash with pedestrians or cyclists. Cars are dangerous for society, so they should be limited.
Cars should be reduced because they negatively impact owners. Cars are expensive. People who own cars need to pay gas, insurance, and maintenance fees. In addition, they pay parking and tolls. This makes cars very expensive for the owners. Moreover, cars contribute to unhealthy lifestyles. People seldom walk when they own a car. These financial and health issues for car owners are good reasons to limit car use.
In conclusion, car use should be limited because of the negative impact on the environment, safety, and the lives of car owners. Hopefully governments around the world will begin to recognize the problems cars create. This would lead to less car use and more public transportation use, in turn creating a better world.
More TOEFL Writing Lessons and Strategies
Are you ready for more tips to help you increase your TOEFL writing score? Try these lessons: