谢振礼谈托福雅思写作【12】Characteristics

TOEFL-IELTS Writing: Characteristics
by Mr. Jeenn Lee Hsieh
for www.360abc.com

Altogether eight writing topics very similar in kind have been collected to illustrate alternative answers to questions about which you are asked to write an essay. Read a topic very carefully. Think before you start writing. Making notes will help you to plan an outline. An outline may include a thesis, structure and content. There are neither standard answers nor unified outlines. All that counts while brainstorming an outline is to have in mind an essay well-focused in thesis, well-organized in structure, and well-supported in content. I would like to suggest a four-paragraph format, with introduction, 2 body paragraphs, and conclusion. Outlines given below are only for reference. For sample essays, please visit www.360abc.com

Just for the fun of it, I have made it a rule to simplify the answer by using, in each case, a keyword in introduction describing a characteristic like obdience (child), patience (parent), self-discipline (roommate), team-spirit (co-worker), friendliness (neighbor), leadership (boss), trust (friend), desire (successful person). Then, the particular keyword is divided into two related sub-characteristics, one for the second paragraph and the other for the third. It may be easier to stay focused throughout the four paragraphs and to develop an essay logically until conclusion.

(Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.)

1. What are the most important qualities of a good son or daughter?

Outline:
thesis>a good son=a son+obdience (a good daughter=a daughter+obdience)
structure>4 paragraphs
content>
introduction--a good child behaves well and studies well
body paragraph 1--behaving well
body paragraph 2--studying well
conclusion--obdience of a son or a daughter promises a better future, making parents proud

2. What are some of the qualities of a good parent (father or mother)?

Outline:
thesis>a good parent=a parent+patience
structure>4 paragraphs
content>
introduction--bringing up a child is not easy, requiring patience to stress discipline and encourage learning
body paragraph 1--patience with exercising discipline
body paragraph 2--patience with educating a child
conclusion--loving without spoiling a child

3. Many students have to live with roommates while going to school or university. What are some of the important qualities of a good roommate?

Outline:
thesis>a good roommate=a roommate+self-discipline
structure>4 paragraphs
content>
introduction--a good roommate know self-disciplie during day-time and bed-time
body paragraph 1--during day-time
body paragraph 2--during bed-time
conclusion--creating the joy of sharing a room

4. We all work or will work in our job with many kinds of people. In your opinion what are some important characteristics of a co-worker (colleague)?

Outline:
thesis>a good co-worker+team-spirit
structure>4 paragraphs
content>
introduction--a good co-worker respects and cooperates with coleagues
body paragraph 1--respect
body paragraph 2--cooperate
conclusion--none of us is better than all of us: team spirit

5. Neighbors are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good neighbor?

Outline:
thesis>a good neighbor=a neighbor+friendliness
structure>4 paragraphs
content>
introduction--a good neighbor is friendly, dedicated to mutual-help and mutual-understanding
body paragraph 1--mutual help
body paragraph 2--mutual understanding
conclusion--people who live near us are better than distant relatives

6. What are some important qualities of a good supervisor (boss)?

Outline:
thesis>a good boss= a boss+ leadership
structure>4 paragraphs
content>
introduction--a boss knows leadership, speaking more and louder
body paragraph 1--speaking more
body paragraph 2--speaking louder
conclusion--a boss stays in the spotlight

7. What do you want most in a friend? Someone who is intelligent, or someonewho has a sense of humor, or someone who is reliable?

Outline:
thesis>a reliable friend=a friend+trust
structure>4 paragraphs
content>
introduction--reliability is more important than intelligence and a sense of humor
body paragraph 1--intelligent friends not necessarily reliable
body paragraph 2--friends with a sense of humor not necessarily reliable
conclusion--a friend in need is a friend indeed

8. In your opinion, what is the most important characteristic (for example, honesty, intelligence, a sense of humor) that a person can have to be successful in life? When you write your answer, you are not limited to the examples listed in the question.

Outline:
thesis>a successful person=a person+desire
structure>4 paragraphs
content>
introduction--a successful person is motivated by strong desire for fame and excellence
body paragraph 1--desire for fame
body paragraph 2--desire for excellence
conclusion--failure is proof that desire is not strong enough

本教程由来自台湾大学和智利大学的谢振礼老师为世博英语网站独家撰写，旨在提高大家托福雅思写作的实战水平。未经谢振礼老师和世博英语授权，其他媒体和个人不得转载！若有任何问题和建议，请电邮谢振礼老师：englishcomposition@hotmail.com