Шаг первый. Внимательно прочитайте вопрос

Задайте эти вопросы себе. (О чем вопрос? Что я конкретно должен/должна сделать?). Выделите для себя основные части вопроса.

Question. Violent TV programs have been blamed for causing crime rates to rise m many cities. But many people do not agree that violence is related to TV viewing. Discuss the possible reasons for both opinions. Give our opinion as to whether or not violent programs should be taken off the air.

The question is about TV violence. It asks me to:
1. Discuss reasons for both opinions: A. opinion that TV violence is bad B. opinion that TV violence is acceptable
2. Give my own opinion.

Шаг второй. Мозговой штурм

Потратьте не более 8 минут на то, чтобы записать все пришедшие в голову идеи, сгруппировать их по смыслу, написать тезисное утверждение и обрисовать уточненную (а не общую) структуру эссе. Сравните подробный план эссе с сокращенным.

Пример подробного плана:

I. Introduction
A. state general topic
B. restate question
C. give thesis statement - reasons for both sides

II Body
A. crime related to violent TV programs
1. children imitate what they see
a. learn unacceptable values
b. copy behavior
2. heroes are frequently violent
3. gives ideas for crimes
В. crime not related to violent TV programs
1. crime related to social pressures
a. unemployment
b. homelessness
2. aggressive feelings vicariously released
3. parental guidance more influential
4. frequently bad consequences of violence shown

III Conclusion
A. my opinion
1. shouldn`t be censored
a. people enjoy it
b. change station
с. turn off
2. censorship questions
a. who decides?
b. what else may they censor?
3. concluding statement

Пример сокращенного плана:

Т. S. (thesis statement) reasons support both

A. why crime related to TV
imitate
violent heroes
gives ideas

В. why crime not related to TV
social pressures -joblessness homelessness
rids aggression
parental influence
bad consequences
conclude with opinion
no censor-enjoyment change or turn off
censor - who decides what

С.S. (concluding statement) need evidence

Шаг третий. Проверьте, поддерживают ли главные предложения абзацев тезисное утверждение

В соответствии с приведенными выше планами, тезисное утверждение будет представлять эссе, в котором обсуждаются обе стороны вопроса.
Главное предложение (А) указывает нам на то, что в абзаце будет оговариваться одна сторона вопроса – «reasons crime is not related to TV». Это предложение поддерживает тезисное утверждение.

Шаг четвертый. Проверьте, все ли поддерживающие идеи соотносятся с темой

В соответствии с приведенными выше планами, главное предложение первого абзаца будет говорить о «reasons crime is related to TV». Поддерживающие его идеи - imitate what is seen heroes sometimes violent and give ideas for crimes – подтверждают мысль о том, что телевидение и преступность взаимосвязаны.

Второе главное предложение – «reasons crime is not related to TV». Сопровождающие идеи – social pressures, rids aggression, parental influence, и bad consequences – подтверждают мысль о том, что телевидение и преступность не взаимосвязаны.

Шаг пятый. При необходимости детализируйте свою работу

Шаг шестой. Поставьте все идеи в логическом порядке

Шаг седьмой. Напишите введение

Помните о пунктах для проверки эссе, которые мы давали в одном из предыдущих уроков. У вас не будет времени на переписывание эссе, поэтому еще в процессе работы убедитесь в том, что вводный абзац отвечает всем необходимым требованиям.

The crime rate in many cities is rising alarmingly. Some people have the idea that violent TV programs are the cause of real crime. However, many others disagree that TV violence can be blamed for this rise. Both sides of the question of whether TV may or may not be to blame are supported by good reasons.

Шаг восьмой. Напишите основную часть эссе

Не забудьте также использовать вышеупомянутые пункты для проверки правильности написанной вами основной части эссе. Убедитесь в том, что все ее абзацы поддерживают заявленное вами тезисное утверждение.

Those who believe that violent TV programs cause crime give many reasons. First, many viewers are children who have not formed a strong understanding of right and wrong. They imitate what they see. If a person on TV gets what he or she wants by stealing it. a child may copy this behavior. Thus the child has learned unacceptable values. Second, many heroes in today's programs achieve their goals by violent means. Unfortunately, viewers might use similar means to achieve their objectives. Finally, people get ideas about how to commit crimes from watching TV.

Other people argue that violent programs have no relation to the rise in crime rates. First, they claim that social factors, such as unemployment and homelessness, are to blame. Second, some argue that watching violence on TV is an acceptable wav to reduce aggressive feelings. In other words, people may become less aggressive through viewing criminal and violent scenes. Third, even though children learn by imitation, their parents are the most influential models. Finally, the villains are usually punished for their crimes.

Шаг девятый. Напишите заключение

Убедитесь в том, что ваше заключение действительно завершает эссе, делает его полным и законченным.

Whether or not violent programs are a factor in the rising crime rate. I am against their removal for the following reasons. First, some people enjoy them, and those who don't can change channels or turn their TVs off. Second, I disagree with other people deciding what I should watch. If violent programs can be censored, perhaps other programs which may be important for our well-being will also be censored. In conclusion, even though I am not fond of violent programs. I am against their removal until conclusive evidence proves that viewing violence creates violence.

Шаг десятый. Прочтите все эссе полностью

По мере прочтения исправьте мелкие орфографические и грамматические ошибки, что сделает ваше эссе более ясным. Помните, что времени на крупные исправления у вас не будет.

Упражнение. А теперь потренируйтесь: напишите эссе в ответ на следующие вопросы. Постарайтесь завершить работу и проверку за 30 минут, потому что именно столько времени будет у вас при сдаче теста TOEFL. Ваше эссе должно состоять примерно из 250-300 слов.

1.Billions of dollars go into space exploration projects yearly Some people feel that this money should be used to solve problems on Earth. Discuss reasons supporting both opinions. State and support your opinion.

2.Compare and contrast the advantages of city living and country living. Defend уour preference.

3."A universal language should replace all languages". Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a universal language.

4.Compare and contrast the advantages of marring at а young age to marring at an older age. State and support your preference.

5.There are many people who wish to ban smoking in public places. Others don't agree. Give reasons for both opinions. Do you agree with a ban or not? Defend your answer.

6.The first Olympic games were held at Mount Olympus in Greece. Nowadays, each time they are held, they take place in a different area of the world. Many people would like the games to be held in one specific place each time. Some people believe Greece would be the best place. Many other people believe that the games should continue being held in different places. State what you think should be done and give reasons for your opinion.

7.Many people believe that parents are too permissive with their children nowadays. Do you agree that this is a problem? Defend your answer.

8.Some people believe that young people should work for their spending money. Other people believe that young people should be given an allowance (spending money given at a regular interval) without having to work for it. State your opinion concerning allowances and defend it.

9.Drug abuse has become a major social problem in many parts of the world. Discuss the consequences of drug abuse and ways to deal with the problem.

10.Compare and contrast the way of life that you have with that of your parents. What experiences from both your life and that of your parents would you like your children (or future children) to have?

Продолжение следует!