Objectives:

• To be familiar with the key techniques for TOEFL writing success
• To avoid common errors that result in marks below a student’s capability.

Timing the Writing

Reading the Question

• Read carefully! As we learnt last week, many good essays are given low grades because students don’t answer the question they are asked.
• Highlight the directive verb, so you know what to do in your essay, for example compare or argue.
• Highlight key words from the question, find synonyms for the key words, and use them in the restatement. Use the key words and their synonyms throughout the essay to help you stay focused.
• Refer back to the question as you write. Every three or four sentences, check that you are still ‘on topic’.

Structure

• Leave a clear gap between paragraphs and start the first line of each paragraph two centimeters (or one tab stop on a computer) in from the left hand margin.
• Do not begin sentences with and/but/or/because. These are words for linking two parts of a sentence together. Instead use In addition/however,/Alternatively/Due to.
• Remember that sentence structure is more than just translating vocabulary? Don’t use the word order of your first language because you are concentrating only on vocabulary.

Sentences

• Try to vary your sentence structure, if possible include a question, a conditional, and a passive voice structure. Use structures you have practiced many times so that you don’t have to spend too much time thinking about this in the exam.
• Do not begin sentences with and/but/or/because. These are words for linking two parts of a sentence together. Instead use In addition/however,/Alternatively/Due to.
• Remember that sentence structure is more than just translating vocabulary? Don’t use the word order of your first language because you are concentrating only on vocabulary.

Punctuation

• Study the rules of English punctuation. Punctuation is important, and bad punctuation will lose a student marks in the exam.
• Use capital letters ONLY at the start of sentences, and for particular nouns, such as the names of people, cities and countries.
• Every sentence needs to end with a period (.) exclamation mark (!) or question mark (?). Do not overuse exclamation marks (!), they are not common in essay writing.

Stop & Check

• Take five minutes to reread your work. Look for spelling and punctuation mistakes as well as grammar and vocabulary.
• Use this time to add any adjectives, adverbs or transition signals that you didn’t include originally, but that add to the impact of your writing.
• Think about the mistakes you usually make? check carefully for your weaknesses.

Task