Good Paragraphs:

Today we talked about writing paragraphs for the exit test.  Below are the paragraphs we wrote together in class and their "maps".  

Questions #1

What are the advantages of living in a big city?  What are the disadvantages?  Give specific advantages or disadvantages.  Include details or examples for each advantage or disadvantage.

     Big cities have many advantages and disadvantages.  There are many good jobs available in a big city.  There are a lot of factories, hospitals, companies and big stores in big cities where you can get a job.  Another advantage is public transportation.  Many big cities have buses, subways, taxis and trains so people don't need to drive cars.  One disadvantage of big cities is that there is a lot of crime.  There are robberies and murders.  It can be very dangerous.  Also, big cities are very busy.  There is a lot of traffic in a big city.  Big cities have many advantages and disadvantages, but I love big cities. 

    Topic Sentence.  Advantage.  Detail.  Advantage.  Detail.  Disadvantage.  Example.  Detail.  Disadvantage.  Detail.  Conclusion (topic sentence + opinion).  

Question #2

Many students have to live with roommates while going to school or university.  What are some of the important qualities of a good roommate?  use specific reasons and examples to support why these qualities are important. 

     It is important to have a good roommate because they live in your home.  It is important to have a roommate who is honest.  You can trust a roommate who is honest to live in your home and not steal your things.  Another quality of a good roommate is neatness.  I don't want to have to clean up after my roommate.  It is also important to have a roommate who is fun.  I don't want to be sad or bored all the time with my roommate.  Roommates live in your home with you.  It's important to have a good roommate with many good qualities. 

     Topic Sentence.  Quality.   Reason.  Quality.  Reason.  Quality.  Reason.  Conclusion (topic sentence + Opinion)

Questions #3

If someone offered to give you a free vacation to anywhere in the world, where would you go?  Why?  Explain your choice using specific reasons and examples. 

     If someone offered to give me a free vacation I would go to the Bahamas.  I would go to the Bahamas because of the weather.  The Bahamas have hot and beautiful weather all the time.  Another reason I would go to the Bahamas is for the food.  In the Bahamas they have delicious seafood.  I would also go to the Bahamas for the hotels.  There are many good and clean hotels in the Bahamas.  They have good service.  I would love to go to the Bahamas.  The Bahamas are beautiful and fun. 

    Topic Sentence.  Reason.  Detail.  Reason.  Detail.  Reason.  Detail.  Detail.  Conclusion (topic sentence + opinion. 
    
 

Click on the link below.

http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pdf/989563wt.pdf

Read the questions and think about how you would answer them.  These questions are VERY similiar to the ones that will be on the exit test.  Choose one question and write a paragraph.