rebutted in Secondly, the author contends that

The lecture, on the other hand, posits that ______________.

is challenged by The article notes ______________.
outface The lecturer rebuts this argument.
casts doubt on She suggests ________________.
is refused She elaborates on this by mentioning that
disagrees _____________.
argues Paragraph Four (Body)
dissents
claims Finally, the author states that _____________.
compels The article establishes that _____________.
The lecturer, on the other hand, posits that
conceives _____________.
comprehends She puts forth the idea that
discern _______________________.
notice Paragraph Five (Optional Conclusion)
observe
realize In conclusion, the lecture and the reading are both
twigged about ______________.
be alive to The professor effectively challenges the claims
made in the article.
asserts Your integrated essay should be about 280-300
mentions words in length.
states
suggest Independent Essay Template
elaborate
I advocate for Paragraph 1 (Introduction)
you plead for
support Sentence one: A "hook." This is an interesting
notes sentence that describes the topic of the essay
points out without stating your main point. Example: "Children
have an incredible number of interests, so there are
argument many possible gifts to give them."
assertion Sentence two: Your main point. Example: "In my
affirmation opinion, the very best gift to give to a child is..."
statement Sentence three: A transitional sentence. Example:
avowal "I feel this way for two reasons, which I will explore
asseveration in the following essay."
Sentence Four: "First....." (quickly summarize your
Special Offer: TOEFL Essay Evaluation and Scorin first reason, optional)
Integrated Essay Template Sentence Five: "Second...." (quickly summarize
your second reason, optional)
Paragraph One (Introduction): Omit sentence four and five if you are running out of
time. It is perfectly okay to write just a three-
The reading and the lecture are both about sentence introduction!
________, which is _________.
The author of the reading believes that Paragraph Two (Body)
______________________. (Main idea)
The lecturer casts doubt on the claims made in the A topic sentence that introduces your reason.
article. Example: "To begin with..."
He/She thinks that _______________. (Main idea) One or two sentences that give general information
Paragraph Two (Body) about this reason
A transitional sentence that introduces your
First of all, the author points out that personal example: "My own experience is a
__________________. (point 1) compelling example of this."
It is mentioned that _________________. Four or five sentences that talk about an example
(supporting detail) from your life.
This point is challenged by the lecturer. Paragraph Three (Body)
She says _________________. (counter-point 1)
Furthermore, she argues A topic sentence that introduces your second
_____________________. (supporting detail) reason. Example: "Secondly..."
Paragraph Three (Body) One or two sentences that give general information
about this reason
A transition. Example: "My own personal history is
proof of this"
Four or five sentences that talk about this example
Paragraph Four (conclusion)
In conclusion... MAIN POINT."
"This is because REASON ONE, and REASON
TWO."
Your whole essay should be between 380 and 400
words.
The reading and the lecture are both about transient
lunar phenomena (TLP), which are short color
changes that are occasionally seen on the surface
of the moon. The reading presents three possible
explanations for this phenomenon, but the lecturer
feels that none of these explanations are plausible.
To begin with, the author suggests that the TLP are
caused by gas found beneath the moons surface
which is sometimes ejected into the atmosphere. It
is argued that this theory is supported by the fact
that TLPs are often seen near craters which the gas
can escape from. The lecturer casts doubt on this
claim. He says that it is just a coincidence that the
TLPs are seen near craters, which are the most
common feature of the moon. He observes that a
NASA probe which detected gas near a major crater
might have only found a small amount of it.
Secondly, the author observes that the TLPS might
just be bright clouds of dust floating above the
surface of the moon. It is mentioned that this dust
can reflect light, leading to the observed
phenomenon. The lecturer, in contrast, says that
dust clouds would have to be massive in order to be
observed from Earth. However, there is no evidence
of a large amount of dust on the moon.
Thirdly, the author posts that TLPs might be a
product of solar radiation. The article notes that
magnetic storms occurring on the sun release
radiation which might illuminate certain sections of
the lunar landscape. The lecturer challenges this
assertion. He points out that the dates when TLPs
have been observed do not match the dates of
known solar flares. He observes that for the most
part, there is no relationship between these two
events.
The opening of something as simple as a
restaurant can bring about a lot of changes to a
community. In my opinion, the opening of such a
business would be beneficial for my town, and I
would support it. I feel this way for two main
reasons, which I will explore in the following essay.
First of all, businesses like restaurants provide
valuable job opportunities for young people who live
nearby. Positions at a restaurant do not require
much prior experience, so they can be held by
college students and even teenagers who are still in
high school. Working part time can help young
people pay for things like college tuition which they
might not be able to afford otherwise. My cousins
experience is a compelling example of what I mean.
My cousin began university soon after he
graduated from high school. At first, he did not have
enough money to pay for his tuition, so he took out
a big student loan to cover it. However, during his
first semester a McDonalds franchise opened close
to his home. My brother applied for a position there
and was fortunate enough to be hired. Thanks to
the salary that he earned working there during
evenings and weekends, he did not need to get a
loan for the remainder of his time as a student. He
graduated with only a small debt, and he says this is
because of his job at the restaurant.
Secondly, a new restaurant can introduce us to
aspects of a culture we are not familiar with. These
days, many popular restaurants serve ethnic foods,
so by eating in them we can learn about a culture
that is unfamiliar to use. For example, a few years
ago an Ethiopian diner opened in my home town. I
had never eaten Ethiopian food at that time, but I
ordered a plate of food there during its first week of
operations. Everything about the meal was new to
me, from the ingredients to the seasonings and
even the fact that Ethiopian food is usually eaten
using our hands rather than a fork and knife. This
was an eye-opening experience for me, and I was
actually inspired to someday visit Ethiopia so I could
learn more about the country. I am not sure when
this trip will occur, but I am determined to make it
happen before I finish university.
In conclusion, I am totally in support of a new
restaurant opening in my town. This is because it
would provide more employment opportunities for
young people, and because it would possibly
introduce me to a new culture and cuisine.
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Question One: Personal Experience
A good answer to the independent speaking
question might follow this template...
I feel that..... // I believe that.... // In my opinion...
I feel this way for two reasons...
First of all... // First...
Secondly... // Moreover...
To sum it up... // And that's why I feel that.... // And
that's why I believe that...
 Question Two: Personal Preference
A good answer to the second independent speaking
question (preference) might follow this template...
I prefer to... // I prefer that... // I prefer X over Y
I feel this way for two reasons...
First of all... // FirstSample Essay
The reading and the listening are about whether or
not dinosaurs were endotherms. The author of the
reading feels there is evidence to suggest that
dinosaurs were animals of this type. The professor,
on the other hand, is not convinced of this. He casts
doubt on each of the theories presented in the
reading.
First of all, the author points out that dinosaur fossils
have been found in cold polar regions. It is noted
that only animals that can maintain warm body
temperatures, like endotherms, could have been
active in climates of this type. The lecturer casts
doubt on this claim. She observes that todays polar
regions were much warmer during the time of the
dinosaurs; warm enough for non-endotherms to
inhabit them. Moreover, she observes that such
animals could have migrated or hibernated during
months when the temperatures actually were very
cold.
Secondly, the author contends that the dinosaurs
were endotherms based on the structure of their
legs. The article points out that dinosaurs had legs
underneath their bodies, just like all modern
endotherms. On the other hand, the lecturer notes
that the leg structure of dinosaurs served merely to
support their weight. She contends that having legs
under their bodies allowed the dinosaurs to evolve
to very large sizes, which was advantageous in
many ways.
Finally, the author makes a connection between
endothermy and bone structure. The bones of
dinosaurs contained bodies called Haversian
canals, which helped them to grow large, which is a
common characteristic of endotherms. The
professor challenges the validity of this point. She
notes that dinosaur bones also show evidence of
growth rings. She says that these rings indicate that
the dinosaurs grew in spurts, which is a
characteristic of non-endotherms.
Secondly... // Moreover...
To sum it up... // That's why I prefer X over Y
Question Three: Campus Situation
A good answer to the first integrated speaking
question might follow this template...
The article/announcement/letter is about...
It states that...
The man disagrees/agrees with the plan/proposal.
He feels this way for two main reasons.
First of all, he states that...
Secondly, he notes that...
Question Four: General to Specific
A good answer to the second integrated speaking
question might follow this template...
The reading is about...
It states that...
The lecturer elaborates on this by providing several
examples/an example.
First of all, he mentions...
Secondly, he says
In this way, the professor expands upon the topic of
_____. (Optional).
Question Five: Problem and Solution
A good answer to the first integrated
listening/speaking question might follow this
template...
The mans problem is...
Two possible solutions are suggested.
First of all, the man could...
Secondly, it is mentioned that he could...
In my opinion, the man really ought to
I feel this way for two reasons.
First
Moreover...
Question Six: Academic Lecture
The final speaking question doesn't really lend itself
to the use of a template, but you might want to try
something like this:
The lecture is about...
The professor illustrates this concept using two
main examples. Sample Essay
These days tourism is more popular than
ever, and everyone has their own style of travel.
Some people like to take trips alone, while others
like to travel with a companion. Personally, I prefer
to travel with a partner. I feel this way for two
reasons, which I will explore in the following essay.
To begin with, traveling with a companion
is more economical than vacationing alone. As
leisure travel has become more and more popular,
hotel operators have started to charge increasingly
high costs for accommodation. Single occupancy
rates are fairly uncommon nowadays, so sharing a
room with a friend is good way to cut costs. Not
only that, but people traveling in pairs have better
access to package deals on tours, entrance fees
and other activities. My own experience
demonstrates some of the financial benefits of
vacationing with a friend. When my girlfriend and I
traveled together through Peru last year, we were
able to rent an entire hotel room for less than the
cost of both of us sleeping in a shared dorm. Over
the course of our one month trip, we saved several
hundred dollars in this way. As a result of saving so
much money, we were able to change our plans and
extend our trip for almost an entire week. This
example demonstrates some of the financial
benefits of traveling with a companion.
Moreover, it is much easier to talk to local
people when traveling in a pair, and this makes any
trip much more rewarding. While a lone stranger
can be seen as intimidating, a traveling couple is
often considered more approachable. For example,
when my girlfriend and I took the aforementioned
South American trip last year, we were often
welcomed into peoples homes and businesses with
open arms. The individuals who invited us often
pointed out that they were willing to do so because
we looked so happy, friendly and cheerful spending
time together. When I traveled by myself in Bolivia a
year before I wanted to make similar connections,
but I faced a lot of difficulty in doing so. While a
single traveler may actually be quite kind and
outgoing, this can be somewhat difficult to
determine from a distance.
In conclusion, I definitely prefer to travel
with a companion rather than alone. This is based
on the financial benefits of doing so, and because
traveling with a partner makes it easy to interact
with local residents.
First she talks about
She says that...
Secondly, she speaks about
In her opinion
As modern education continues to develop, the
usefulness of grades as a form of assessment has
been called into question. Personally, though, I
believe that grades do encourage students to learn.
I feel this way for two reasons, which I will explore in
the following essay.
To begin with, grades motivate students to
approach their studies in a deep and meaningful
fashion. When a student feels that his grades are
on the line, he will spend more time working on his
assignments and will therefore absorb more
information and comprehension. On the other hand,
students who do not have to worry about their
grades will achieve merely a superficial
understanding of the topics they are studying. My
own experience as a student demonstrates
convincing evidence of this. During my sophomore
year I was assigned a major presentation in a
classical studies seminar which I was a member of.
The assignment made up about half of my total
grade in the class, so I approached my work with
diligence and care. I wrote a compelling speech
and spent hours preparing for every possible
question that my classmates might have. If the
presentation had not been graded, I would not have
worked so hard in preparing it. Just like me,
students all over the world today are motivated to
work hard by the chance to achieve high grades in
their classes.
Secondly, grades motivate students because
they serve as an objective measurement of our
knowledge. Grades are assigned in a systematic
way and they clearly demonstrate which students in
a class are the best and brightest. As a result, in
classes where grades are given, students will strive
to succeed so that they can set themselves apart
from their peers. For example, in my freshman year
I took a pass/fail course in literature. Since only
a moderate amount of effort was required to pass
the class, I completed my assignments and
presentations with only a slight amount of care and
effort. In contrast, when I took a graded class on
the same subject in my junior year I spent hours in
the library researching my papers so that I could
show my professors that I was intellectually superior
to my classmates. This may appear somewhat
shallow, but in todays competitive academic
environment it is absolutely necessary for students
to distinguish themselves. This demonstrates
another way in which grades motivate students to
excel.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that grades
encourage students to learn. This is because they
force students to approach their studies with
enthusiasm and diligence, and because they give
young learners a way to distinguish themselves
from their peers.
Sample Essay
The reading and the lecture are both about
ecocertification of wood products, which is a way to
show that they are environmentally friendly. The
author of the reading believes that American
companies will not adopt this practice. The lecturer
casts doubts on the claims made in the article. She
thinks that American wood companies will
eventually certify their products.
First of all, the author points out that
customers will likely ignore such a label. It is
mentioned that many products are now given
special labels, so shoppers no longer trust them.
This point is challenged by the lecturer. She says
customers actually do pay attention to claims when
they are made by official agencies. Furthermore,
she she argues that Americans will be enthusiastic
about products that are endorsed by a trustworthy
organization.
Secondly, the author contends that it costs a
lot to have wood inspected, so certified products will
be more expensive. The article notes that American
consumers are strongly motivated by price, and will
choose products that have not been certified. The
lecturer rebuts this argument. She suggests that
customers do not care too much about small
differences in price. She elaborates on this by
mentioning that certified products will only be about
five percent more expensive, which will not affect
the purchasing decisions of buyers.
Finally, the author states that certification only
makes sense for companies that sell products
outside of the United States. The article establishes
that American firms sell most of their products
domestically, and their customers are happy with idea that foreign firms could flood into America and
their merchandise as it is. The professor, on the win customers by selling ecocertified wood to
other hand, posits that American businesses should people who care about the environment.
be afraid of foreign competitors. She puts forth the