Standard Model to answer Question 2

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Standard Model to answer Question 2

• A
• R
• T

rgument (topic sentence)
easons (supporting details)
ransition (logical need)
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Notes to Answers

• First, you should clearly state your opinion.
• Then, you should offer detailed reasons.
• Whats more, you should use transitions in your
  answer.
• Try answering the questions from both
  perspectives.
• Your answer could also be that depends. (See OG
  P211-212)

3
Question 2 Sample Notes (A)
Argument Reasons Transition

• I personally prefer to study for my classes
  individually.

• Enough resources to refer to
• Avoid wasting time chatting
• Solve problems independently

Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly
4
Question 2 Sample Notes (B)
Argument Reasons Transition

• I personally prefer to study for my classes in
  groups.

• Others opinions help me think
• Discussions help improve understanding
• Get help to solve problems

Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly
5
Question 2 Sample Notes (C)
Argument Reasons Transition

• I think in some cases it is better to study
  individually while in other cases it is better to
  study in groups.

• It would be better to study alone if one is
  writing a paper or preparing an exam.
• It would be better to study in a group if one is
  preparing for a paper or an exam

Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly
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Sample Answer (C)

• I think in some cases it is better to study
  individually while in other cases it is better to
  study in a group. It is better to study
  individually when one is writing a paper or
  preparing an exam, because these tasks requires
  quiet and independent thinking. For example, one
  needs to memorize a lot of knowledge points for
  exams and it would be better if no one is around
  to interrupt. But if we are preparing for a paper
  or exam, it would be better to study in a group,
  because othersopinions may help us broaden our
  thinking and make up for the notes we have missed
  in class. This saves lots of time and improves
  our learning efficiency.

7
Please turn to P230 and Look at Practice 2
8

Simulated Test
Some college students choose to take courses in a
variety of subject areas in order to get a broad
education. Others choose to focus on a single
subject area in order to have a deeper
understanding of that area. Which approach to
course selection do you think is better for
students and why? ________________________________
__________
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Question 2 Sample Notes (C)
Argument Reasons Transition

• I think in some cases it is better to have a
  broad education while in other cases it is better
  to have a deep understanding in one area.

• It would be better for an undergraduate student
  to study broadly.
• It would be better for a graduate student to gain
  a deeper insight into one area.

Firstly, Secondly,
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Sample Answer (C)

• I think there will be different answers in
  different situations. If the student in question
  is an undergraduate student, then it is a good
  idea to have a broad education, because an
  undergraduate student might pick any line of work
  after graduation and a broad education will offer
  him a better chance of employment. In addition,
  his wide range of knowledge will put him on a
  vantage point of approaching the same problem
  from various perspectives. While it would be
  better for graduate students to focus on one
  area, because graduates are more research
  oriented and are aimed at becoming experts in his
  field. A deeper insight will surely help him get
  closer towards his goals and lay him on a more
  solid foundation for further research.

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High level Answer from OG

• Listen carefully

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Raters Comments on P234

• The speaker gives a thoughtful, sustained
  answer with ideas and reasons that progress
  logically. He speaks fluently and demonstrates
  good control of grammar and vocabulary, with only
  minor errors that do not obscure the meaning of
  his ideas. The speaker very clearly states his
  opinion that the answer depends on whether you
  are an undergraduate or graduate student. He
  continues by giving a detailed reason that
  supports each perspective.

13
Low-level Answer from OG

• Listen carefully

14
Raters Comment on P235

• Although the speakers pronunciation is clear,
  his pace is slow and irregular. The clearest
  parts of his speech are words that he has taken
  from the prompt of the question. He demonstrates
  very limited vocabulary. His thoughts are
  understandable at the sentence level, but there
  are very few connections between sentences. Such
  connections would help listeners to understand
  what is being said or enable them to predict what
  will likely come next. The opinion is stated in
  the beginning. However, he frequently uses words
  from the prompt and repeats the same idea
  throughout the response.

15
Clothing
Food
culture
Studying

• Event

Travel
Accommodation
16

• About Clothing

17

Simulated Test
Describe the kind of clothes you would like to
wear most and give reasons or details to support
your response . _________________________________
_________
18
Clothing Sample Notes
Argument Reasons Transition

• The kind of clothes I want to wear most has
  the following characteristics

• Material pure cotton
• Color red or white
• Style informal

First, Second, Last
19
Sample Answer

• The kind of clothes I prefer to wear most
  should have the following characteristics.
  Firstly, the material of the clothes should be
  pure cotton, for the simple reason that pure
  cotton is natural fiber and is better at soaking
  up sweat and releasing heat. Whats more, pure
  cotton feels very soft and comfortable on my
  skin. Secondly, the color of the clothes should
  be red in winter and white in summer. Because red
  makes people feel warmer and white makes people
  feel cooler. These colors also set off my fair
  and clear complexion. The last consideration
  would be style. I always want to dress in an
  informal way. So I love T-shirts and jeans a lot.
  They allow me to feel relaxed and to do many
  exercises at will whenever I want.

20
Food

• What?
• Where?
• When?
• With whom?

21
Please turn to P188 and practice Question 6
22

Simulated Test
What is your favorite food? Use reason and
details to support your response.
__________________________________________
23
Sample Answer

• My favorite food is traditional Chinese
  Hot-pot. I like it because of the following four
  reasons. First, a hot-pot boils lamb, beef, and
  other vegetables instead of frying them, thus
  avoiding using oil that easily results in fat.
  Second, boiling helps maintain the freshness and
  nutrition of the food, because I can control the
  time of cooking more easily than I can with
  frying. Third, the water in which all the food
  has been boiled is the most tasty soup of all.
  After eating, a spoon of that soup certainly
  gives me a greater satisfaction. Last, hot-pot
  eating is not a personal event according to
  Chinese tradition and, instead, it usually
  involves several friends eating together. So
  eating hot-pot is also a good occasion for us to
  chat about anything that is going on and improves
  our relationship.

24

Simulated Test
Do you prefer to eat traditional food in your own
country or eat foreign food? Use reason and
details to support your response.
__________________________________________
25
Sample Answer

• I have to say my preference changes with my
  mood. Most of the time I prefer to have
  traditional food of my own country, because
  thats what I have been eating my whole life and
  I am used to the taste, flavor and cooking style.
  And I believe the foods in a country have
  definitely been adapted to the health condition
  of the people in that country, thus allowing
  people to get the most nutrition from the foods.
  But I also need to have changes. After eating the
  same kind of food for some time, I also feel
  bored and will try different foods from different
  countries. They give me new flavors and pleasures
  while eating. Whats more, I get to learn
  different table manners while eating foreign
  food. For example, I learn how to use fork and
  knife while eating western food. This allows me
  to have a different yet interesting experience in
  life.

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Simulated Test
Do you prefer to eat outside in a restaurant or
cook at home? Use reasons and details to support
your response . _________________________________
_________
27
Sample Answer

• My preference varies from occasion to
  occasion. If there are friends coming over to my
  apartment on a holiday, I prefer to cook at home
  so that we can enjoy our meals more privately in
  a warm home atmosphere. But if I am really tired
  after work, I would prefer to eat in a restaurant
  so that I dont have to rack my mind thinking
  about what to cook and then shop for raw
  materials for cooking. This way, I can relax a
  little bit. And if there is a very special
  occasion, like a birthday party, I would like to
  eat in a restaurant, because I want to spend more
  time with people chatting and enjoying instead of
  cooking and cleaning up dishes.

28

Simulated Test
Do you prefer to eat when you are hungry or at
regular times? Use reasons and details to support
your response. _________________________________
_________
29
Sample Answer

• I personally prefer to eat at regular times
  for the following considerations. First, to eat
  regularly for a while will help adjust my
  biological clock, so that I can make arrangements
  for other things in a predictable way. For
  example, if my lunch time is scheduled at 12
  oclock, I will be able to arrange an interview
  with job applicants at 1 oclock without having
  to ask all those questions with a groaning belly.
  Second, a regular timetable of eating helps
  maintain a good health. One of my friends, for
  instance, gets a very bad stomachache in his
  disordered eating habits and he recovered very
  quickly after switching to regular eating
  timetable. Last, eating at regular times helps me
  control the amount of food I eat in each meal,
  thus preventing me from putting on unnecessary
  weight easily.

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Simulated Test
Do you prefer to eat with a partner or eat
alone? Use reasons and details to support your
response. ______________________________________
____
31
Sample Answer

• My preference in this case varies from
  occasion to occasion. If I am in a hurry to do
  something else, like going to work or a class, I
  would prefer to eat alone, because it saves a lot
  of time. While if I have plenty of time, I would
  prefer to eat with a partner, so that we can chat
  with each other and share a lot of lifes
  valuable experiences together. But again, if I am
  in the middle of a research or writing my paper,
  I would prefer to eat alone, because this
  provides me with more space and time to meditate
  on my own problems and organize my ideas.