[토플라이팅] independent writing 연습문제 & 샘플답안 -2 <Preference>

Preference

14. Family & Society

 

1.     

Some people think that the family is the most important influence on young adults. Other people think that friends are the most important influence on young adults. Which view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

 

Sample Answer (Family > Friends)

[Opening sentence] Young adults are very impressionable and are easily influenced numerous ways, such as by their friends. [Thesis statement] Nevertheless, I believe that famili have the most important influences on young adults because they contribute to young people educational goals and give sound advice during good times and bad. 

[Topic sentence 1] First of all. parents are the only ones who are able to contribute to a young person's educational goals. [General statement 1] Most young adults would not be able to attend university without their parents' financial support. [Example 1] For instance, my cousin was accepted to a high-anking university, so his parents took out some personal loans, which allowed him to attend the school. Also, due to their support, he did not have to work, so he could focus exclusively on his studies. Ultimately, he became the first person in his family ever to graduate from university. [Closing sentence 1] Parents can therefore enable their children, who are young adults, to go to college. 
[Topic sentence 2] Additionally, families give sound advice during young adults' good and bad times. [General statement 2] The reason is that many times parents and other older family members have been through a certain situation and are able to offer expert counsel, unlike the young person's friends, who are not as mature. [Example 2] For example, my older brother received a large sum of money from a science contest he entered and won in high school. Most of his friends told him to go out and buy a new cell phone and clothes. However, my mom and dad said that it might be better to save the money for college and put it in the bank. My dad pointed out that it will come in handy for him one day. My brother realized they were right. [Closing sentence 2] Nothing can replace the positive influence of the family on a young adult's life. 
[Summary] In conclusion, there is no question that young adults are positively influenced the most by their families because their families support their future education after high school and often provide better advice than their more youthful friends can. [Final comment] Without their families, young adults would have much more difficult times navigating their ways through their lives. 

 

Sample Answer (Family < Friends)

[Opening sentence] There is no question can sad adults are under a lot of stress and are influenced in many ways. [Thesis statement] Among other influences, friends are by far the most important influence on young adults because the majority of their time is spent with their friends, with whom they share similar ages and perspectives. 
[Topic sentence 1] For one thing, most young adults spend more time with their friends than anyone else, including their families. [General statement 1] Therefore, a young person's friends can have profound effects on his personality and actions. [Example 1] A good example of this type of influence occurred with my father. As a high school senior, he tended to hang out with the wrong crowd, so his grades suffered to the point where he almost did not graduate. However, he managed to graduate from high school and eventually made it to college, where he chose his friends more carefully and spent time with serious, goal-oriented students. He ultimately graduated with top grades and still exhibits the positive personality traits he learned from his classmates. [Closing sentence 1] Being around friends can influence young adults constantly in both positive and negative ways. 
[Topic sentence 2] Moreover, young adults and their friends are of similar ages and perspectives. [General statement 2] Therefore, they are able to relate to one another better and be more empathetic and understanding because they know what the others are going through. Sometimes even family members cannot relate to a person like his friends can. [Example 2] For instance, my best friend recently broke up with her boyfriend. Of course, she turned to me for support and comfort because she trusts me and knows I understand how she feels. I doubt she could have discussed her intimate feelings about him with her parents or little sister. [Closing sentence 2] In this way, friends are the biggest influence on young adults. 
[Summary] All in all, friends influence young adults more than anything else because they are around each other all the time and they share common viewpoints. [Final comment] Friends have the most in common, and they make us who we are. 

2.     

Some people prefer to spend time with one or two close friends. Others choose to spend time with a large number of friends. Which of these two ways of spending time do you think is better?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

 

Sample Answer (Spending Time with One or Two Close Friends)
[Opening sentence] People have many different preferences when it comes to their friends. Some like to have one or two close friends while others enjoy spending time with many people. [Thesis statement] Personally, I believe it is better to spend most of my time with one or two close friends because the bond between us is tighter, so we are like a family. 
[Topic sentence 1] Spending time with one or two very close friends builds a tighter bond between people than it would by spending time with a large group. [General statement 1] They have more in common and are more apt to understand each other completely. [Example 1] I spend almost all of my time with my best friend, and we have a very close relationship. We never argue and can rely on each other for anything because we are so tight. On the other hand, there are often more misunderstandings and conflicts within a large group of friends. However, I know my best friend will be with me for life. [Closing sentence 1] This type of longevity is not possible with a large group of friends. 
[Topic sentence 2] In addition, having one or two close friends is like having an extended family. The reasons are that the relationship is more intimate and built on trust. [Example 2] I know my best friend will keep my most private secrets. For example, I did really poorly on my English exam, and I got really depressed about it. I would not have dared to have told a large group of friends about it because it was embarrassing, and I knew they would have told everyone in the whole school. However, I needed to talk about it with someone whom I could trust. That person was my best friend. She comforted me and helped me think positively. Plus, she never told anyone else about it. [Closing sentence 2] In this respect, spending time with one or two close friends is best. 
[Summary] In conclusion, spending time with one or two close friends is more desirable because the connection is closer than it would be with a group of friends and there is greater trust between these friends. [Final comment] I know I can absolutely count on them for anything. 

 

Sample Answer (Spending Time with a Large Number of Friends)
[Opening sentence] Some people really limit themselves by spending all of their time with just one or two close friends. [Thesis statement] I believe it is best to spend my time with a large number of friends. This will let me to get the most out of life because it will allow me to have an open mind and make me a more outgoing person. 
[Topic sentence 1] When I spend a lot of time with a large group of friends, my mind becomes open to new worlds. The reason is that a large group offers me many different opinions about life that I have never even thought of. [Example 1] For example, I was always nervous about traveling to a foreign country. But, after listening to the travel experiences and opinions of numerous friends, I decided to give it a shot. What an amazing experience I had in Norway! Without my friends' influence, I would never have made such a bold move. [Closing sentence 1] Because of them, I was able to find the courage to go on my trip and also grew as a person. 

[Topic sentence 2] Moreover, spenaing time with a large ballot of do makes me a more personable and outgoing person. Because I have a large, diverse group of friends, I am continuously exposed to different personalities, and I have learned how to interact with people better. [Example 2] A good example of this is when my family moved to a new city because of my father's job. Of course, I had to start a new school. I was alone and did not know anyone. Yet, because I was used to meeting and talking to lots of people, it was easy for me to form new friendships. [Closing sentence 2] If I had only spent time with one or two good friends, I would have been shy and less assertive when it came to making new friends. However, since I was used to dealing with lots of different types of people, I was able to make new friends rather easily. 
[Summary] Ultimately, it is better to spend the most time with a large group of friends because they can help open our minds and help us to be more outgoing and sociable. [Final comment] Without them, my life would probably be pretty boring. 

 

15. Environment & Technology

1.     

Some people say that the Earth is being harmed (damaged) by human activity. Others believe that human activity makes the Earth a better place to live. Which opinion do you agree with?
Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

 

Sample Answer (Human activity makes the Earth a better place.)

[Opening sentence] Something that I often see on the news is how Earth is being destroyed by people. [Thesis statement] However, human beings continue to do positive things which are beneficial to Earth and therefore make it a better place to live. 
[Topic sentence 1] First, doctors are donating their time to societies in third-world countries. [General statement 1] Places in Africa are benefiting from their aid and becoming healthier regions to live in more than ever before. [Example 1] For example, there is an organization called Doctors without Borders. They donate their vacation time to traveling to needy regions of the world and offering the people living there free medical care. Those regions are benefiting on every level not just a medical one from the doctors' help. Through their assistance, the quality of life for people in these areas has greatly improved. [Closing sentence 1] Thanks to people in groups like Doctors without Borders, Earth has become a better place to live. 
[Topic sentence 2] Furthermore, people in many cities of the world are using their cars less and less these days. [General statement 2] This helps eliminate harmful pollutants from the atmosphere and improves the quality of the environment. [Example 2] To give an example, people in certain cities have taken it upon themselves to rely less on their own cars and more on public transportation. In doing so, many citizens have reported vast improvements in the air quality of their cities. This proves that human activity can benefit Earth. [Closing sentence 2] If more people continue to make similar changes in their everyday behavior, Earth will continue to become a better place. 
[Summary] Ultimately, humans are doing many good things to make Earth a better place. Two of these actions are doctors donating their medical skills and people using their cars less. 
Doctors improve the health of people in needy societies, and the air quality has improved in places where people rely less on their own cars. [Final comment] Actions by humans can improve the quality of Earth and life on it in many ways. 

 

Sample Answer (Human activity harms the Earth.)

[Opening sentence] Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, the polluting of the Earth has increased greatly. Lately, however, many people have been trying to clean up the environment. In fact, some believe that the Earth is being mended from the damage done by humans. But this is actually not true. [Thesis statement] In fact, human activity is continuing to harm the Earth in a number of ways. 
[Topic sentence 1] One example of this is that coal power plants, which hurt the environment, continue to be used to produce electricity for people. [General statement 1] The toxins these power plants release into the atmosphere cause acid rain, which harms lakes and rivers. [Example 1] In many industrialized countries, lakes that used to be popular for swimming or fishing are now closed because they have been polluted by acid rain. Coal power plants should take much of the blame for this. Many experts say that lakes and rivers, as well as water supplies that people depend on, have been polluted by acid rain caused by greenhouse gases like those emitted from coal power plants. [Closing sentence 1] The continued reliance of people on fossil-fuel-burning coal power plants is causing the destruction of the environment. 

[Topic sentence 2] Also, more and more homes are being constructed to house increasing populations of people. The building of these homes requires the destruction of various ecosystems. [General statement 2] Builders often destroy the habitats of many animals and therefore cause them to become extinct. [Example 2] For example, in areas near the rainforests of South America and Africa, populations are increasing, so construction companies must clear away the jungle to build more and more homes. When they do this, they are destroying the habitats of many species of animals. Without a place to live, many species on Earth have become extinct. And many more will become extinct in the future. Once this happens, certain types of animals are lost forever. The reason for this is human negligence. [Closing sentence 2] Human homes are replacing animal ones, which is harming the Earth in general.

[Summary] In conclusion, human activity continues to damage the Earth through the use of coal power plants and the construction of homes. Coal plants create toxins that cause acid rain, which harms bodies of water, and jungles and forests are being cleared to build houses, which reduces animal habitats. [Final comment] Humans should be more careful of how their actions affect the Earth than they are now. 

 

2.     

Some people say that the Internet provides us with a lot of valuable information. Others believe that too much information on the Net causes many problems. Which opinion do you agree with? 
Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. 

 

Sample Answer (The Internet Provides Valuable Information)
[Opening sentence] There is no question that the Internet has changed modern life forever. [Thesis statement] It provides us with a lot of valuable information, such as instant price comparison shopping and facts for students doing research papers. 
[Topic sentence 1] Before the creation of the Net, people would go to one or two stores before buying an item. But now, they can price comparison shop online in order to get the best prices on goods. [General statement 1] This way of shopping can save them a lot of money. [Example 1] For example, last month, I was in the market for a computer. I went to a couple of stores and thought the prices were a bit high. Later, after checking some websites, I found that I was right. I actually ended up purchasing the exact computer that I saw in the store; however, I got it online for three hundred dollars cheaper than the store was selling it for. Because of my ability to compare prices online, I saved a large amount of money. This would not have been possible before the Internet became widespread. [Closing sentence 1] The Internet clearly saves people a lot of money in the long run. 
[Topic sentence 2] Also, the Internet has a wealth of quick facts and information for students doing research or writing papers. [Example 2] Previously, students would have to be satisfied with the limited number of books on various topics at their local or school library. But, thanks to the Internet, they have access to a virtually unlimited amount of information on anything they could ever think of. Plus, the Internet saves them time while researching their papers as well as when they are actually writing them. [Closing sentence 2] Today, the Internet increases the amount of information available to students and cuts down on both their research and writing time. 
[Summary] Overall, the Internet is a valuable tool for gathering information for anyone, no matter if that person is a shopper or a student. It saves people money by price comparison shopping and is an excellent, swift research fool. [Final comment] It is amazing that anyone was ever able to do anything before the Internet. 

 

Sample Answer (Information on the Net Causes Many Problems)
[Opening sentence] Many people believe the Internet is the answer to everything. [Thesis statement] In reality, the abundance of information on the Internet causes many problems because it takes a long time for someone to sift through all of it to find exactly what the person is looking for and also because there are many fictitious and deceitful websites that attempt to trick people and take advantage of them. 
[Topic sentence 1] Whenever I surf the Internet for specific information, I sometimes spend hours clicking on links that lead to dead ends. This is really frustrating because it wastes my time if I am in a hurry. [Example 1] For example, one day I wanted to find a simple map of Switzerland. After a quick search, I had over 1,000 webpage hits for my search. Most of the maps were not of Switzerland itself but were of specific regions of the country or city maps. An hour later, I finally randomly hit a link which led me to a general map of Switzerland. If I had known it was going to have taken that long, I would have just gone down to my local library, which would have been much faster. [Closing sentence 1] Sometimes the abundance of information on the Internet can be too much. 
[Topic sentence 2] Furthermore, the Internet is full of information which is designed to take advantage of people and get their money. [General statement 2] Advertising for winning lottery numbers and spam mail are a couple of the most common examples of this type of misleading information on the Internet. [Example 2] For example, my mother was surfing the Internet and came across a webpage that said she had won a flat screen TV. She immediately called the number, and the person said that she had to buy something from  them in order to have her name placed in a contest for the new television. Of course, she was quite upset and immediately hung up. [Closing sentence 2] Still, the abundance of information on the Internet can be very misleading to some people and can cause lots of problems, like the one that happened to my mother. 
[Summary] In conclusion, the Internet might seem to be a wonderful world of information, yet when it comes down to it, it is also a sea of misinformation and deceptive inks which can lead to frustration and many problems. [Final comment] The Internet could be much more efficient if there were a way to limit the amount of false information on it. 

 

16.Business & Economy

1.     

Some people prefer to work for a large company. Others prefer to work for a small company.
Which would you prefer? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

 

Sample Answer (Small Company> Large Company)

[Opening sentence] These days, it seems that many people want to work for large companies. In their minds, bigger is better. [Thesis statement] However, while large companies might give bigger paychecks to their employees, small companies provide better working environments for their employees. 
[Topic sentence 1] One major advantage is job satisfaction. When it comes to job satisfaction, a large company simply cannot compete with a small company. [General statement 1] Because of its size, employees often feel that they are making a bigger contribution when they work at a small company as opposed to when they work at a large one. At a large company, workers often feel like they are simply anonymous individuals. [Example 1] In a recent nationwide survey, employees at both small and large companies were questioned about their overall job satisfaction. Over half of the small company employees responded positively, citing the fact that they believe they play key roles at their companies. In contrast, fewer than a third of the workers at large companies believed that their contributions were of importance. [Closing sentence 1] This clearly shows how employees at small companies feel more valued than employees at large companies. 
[Topic sentence 2] Another important factor is that smaller companies also allow their employees flexibility, unlike large companies. [General statement 2] Employees at small companies often have various duties, which keep their interest and energy levels high. [Example 2] Last year, a TV documentary revealed that many employees at small companies perform multiple duties and, in turn, have higher energy levels than their large company counterparts. In short, the variety of duties lets workers at small companies maintain their interest in their jobs. Performing different jobs also helps reduce burnout and boredom, according to the program. Unfortunately. workers at large companies do not often get the opportunity to do a variety of tasks. [Closing sentence 2] Task flexibility enables employees at small companies to have excellent work environments. 
[Summary] In summation, small companies provide better work experiences for people because they are ultimately more satisfying and flexible than large companies. [Final comment] People spend a large part of their adult lives at their jobs, and, by working at small companies, they can improve their levels of satisfaction with their work. 

 

Sample Answer (Small Company< Large Company)

[Opening sentence] Many people opt to work at small companies, where the atmospheres are not as fast paced as they are at large companies. [Thesis statement] While small companies might initially seem enticing because of their more relaxed environments, large companies are actually better places to work at due to the greater financial benefits and opportunities for advancement that they offer. 
[Topic sentence 1] Unlike many small companies, nearly all large companies provide generous benefits packages to their employees. [General statement 1] This saves money for employees and also provides them with health insurance and retirement benefits. On the other hand, many employees at small companies receive fewer benefits. Those employees may have to pay for their own health insurance, which can cost them thousands of dollars a year. [Example 1] A recent Internet survey conducted by a leading financial magazine showed that a significant majority of the large companies that responded provide retirement and comprehensive health care plans for their employees. In comparison, a very small number of small companies offered the same benefits to their workers. [Closing sentence 1] When it comes to offering more than just basic compensation, large companies provide much more than small ones.

[Topic sentence 2] Another way in which large companies are better than small ones is that large companies provide their workers with more opportunities for advancement. [General statement 2] Since there are more positions available at large companies, the workers can get promotions much faster than their counterparts at small companies can. [Example 2] For example, workers at large companies might get three or four promotions during a several-year period while a worker doing the same job at a small company may get just one promotion. Naturally, these promotions come with higher salaries and more benefits, so they can help to advance workers' careers. [Closing sentence 2] For ambitious employees who are eager to improve their status at their workplaces, large companies simply offer many more chances than small ones do. 
[Summary] In conclusion, large companies are definitely better places to work at than small companies. First, they provide better financial packages, and second, they give their employees more chances to get promotions and higher status. [Final comment] Money and advancement are two of the main reasons that people work, so it seems natural that more people would want to be employed at large companies. 

 

 

2.     

Some people think governments should spend as much money as possible exploring outer space (for example, traveling to the moon and to other planets). Other people disagree and think governments should spend this money on our basic needs on Earth.

Which of these two opinions do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer. 

 

Sample Answer (Spending Money on Space Exploration)
[Opening sentence] Many people are in favor of spending large amounts of money on exploring space, particularly the moon and other planets. [Thesis statement] I fully agree with these people for several different reasons. For one, we are running out of space on Earth and need to colonize other planets. And, second of all, exploring space will help people learn much more and increase their knowledge in many different fields. 
[Topic sentence 1] The population of Earth continues to increase every year while Earth's natural resources are becoming depleted. For these reasons, we should consider moving off the planet and colonizing either the moon or some other planets. [General statement 1] This will accomplish two things. It will allow large numbers of people to migrate to other planets, thereby easing the population crisis on Earth. And it will enable us to utilize the natural resources of other planets, thereby helping to preserve Earth's. By exploring space now, governments can obtain the knowledge they need to be able first to travel to other planets and then to colonize them. [Example 1] For example, recent unmanned visits to Mars have shown that, with the proper technology, Mars could be made inhabitable for humans. However, governments need to spend more money on the space program to be able to invent the necessary technology. [Closing sentence 1] By spending money now, the payoff in the future can be tremendous. 
[Topic sentence 2] Second, governments should spend more money on exploring outer space simply because it will help increase human knowledge. [General statement 2] The space program has already helped astronomers learn much about the universe and everything in it. Also, the space program has helped people learn more about Earth. By providing more funding for space programs, we can increase this body of knowledge. [Example 2] Indeed, many discoveries and inventions by the space program have helped to improve life on Earth in many different fields, including technology and medicine. [Closing sentence 2] By continuing to fund space programs, surely there will be even more advances made in these fields. 
[Summary] I strongly believe that governments should continue to fund their countries' space programs. These programs will not only help humans eventually leave Earth and colonize other planets but will also contribute to the knowledge that we on Earth possess. [Final comment] Countries should be encouraged to support their space programs. Doing so will improve the lives of people both on Earth and off of it. 

 

Sample Answer (Spending Money on Basic Needs on Earth)
[Opening sentence] While many governments like to spend large sums of money on space exploration, this actually does little to benefit the citizens of those countries. [Thesis statement] Governments instead should focus on spending the majority of their funds on the basic needs of the citizens of their countries. 
[Topic sentence 1] One of the most basic needs for people is health care. Unfortunately, most governments have not ensured that their citizens have access to quality health care. If governments were to spend more money on even the most basic health care, the quality of life for their citizens would increase dramatically. [General statement 1] The countries themselves would benefit from investing in health care because their citizens would be healthier and live longer lives, which would then increase the overall productivity of the workers in those countries. [Example 1] Furthermore, in advanced countries such as the United States, where health care costs are a major cause of bankruptcy, governments could help relieve citizens of the burden of expensive health care. [Closing sentence 1] By spending more money on health care than on space programs, governments could create a healthier, wealthier, and more productive workforce. 
In addition, many countries are spending large amounts of money on their space programs but are not getting a good return on their investments. There are very few people involved in space programs, yet, in some countries, they receive an incredibly high amount of money due to the expensive nature of sending rockets, satellites, and men into space. One example of this is the International Space Station. Several countries have contributed billions of dollars to the construction and maintenance of the space station. However, I cannot recall ever reading or hearing about any scientific discoveries made on the space station. Nor have I heard af an experiments being conducted there. It seems ha enace station. but they do 
[Topic sentence 2] In addition, many countries are spending large amounts of money on their space programs but are not getting a good return on their investments. [General statement 2] There are very few people involved in space programs, yet, in some countries, they receive an incredibly high amount of money due to the expensive nature of sending rockets, satellites, and men into space. [Example 2] One example of this is the International Space Station. Several countries have contributed billions of dollars to the construction and maintenance of the space station. However, I cannot recall ever reading or hearing about any scientific discoveries made on the space station. Nor have I heard of any experiments being conducted there. It seems that astronauts often visit the space station, but they do not appear to be doing anything practical or useful to the large majority of the world's population. Instead, the International Space Station is just wasting billions and billions of taxpayers' dollars to increase the prestige of the nations associated with it. [Closing sentence 2] That money could be spent much more wisely and better back here on Earth. 
[Summary] In conclusion, I believe that goverments should stop spending so much money on their space programs and should instead focus on investing their valuable financial resources here on Earth. Those funds could be better spent on health care and making the population healthier. [Final comment] In addition, since the space program is not producing any obvious benefits, the money spent on it could and should be spent on Earth, not in outer space.