Overview

The objective of this course is to crack the TOEFL iBT Writing Section so that candidates will be able to obtain the highest score in the actual exam. Throughout the course the student will be able to have a clear idea not only about the format of the TOEFL iBT Writing Task, but also about the rates' considerations when judging their essays. At the end of the course they will be familiar with the 185 official TOEFL essay-writing topics assigned for the Independent Writing Task and will be ready to face a writing task based on any of them.

Also, they will learn the difference between a 5 score essay and a 0 score one, and will learn how to avoid the most common writing mistakes made by TOEFL candidates. They too will receive important essay-writing tips and be told a series of strategies for raising their score on both the Integrated Writing Task and the Independent Writing Task.

Furthermore, they will be able to revise common grammar mistakes made by students in the iBT writing task and learn about key grammar formations on the test, as well as their usage, not forgetting writing mechanics, including spelling and punctuation. Finally, they will be able to practice time discipline under exam conditions, so as to be able to make proficient essays with in the 20 or 30 minute periods allowed for the task. They will also do actual drills on the online Official Site.

Participants

This course is suitable for candidates willing to take the TOEFL exam as a requirement to enter Northamerican or other English-speaking colleges and universities in order to follow post-graduate studies, or as a requirement to be eligible to take a master, an MBA, or even to get a grant.

Requirements

In order to take this course, students should have an Advanced level of English.

Duration

This course has a duration of 15 hours.

Course Outline

The format of the TOEFL iBT writing questions:

- The Integrated Writing Task

- The Independent Writing Task

How your written responses are evaluated

-  If the essay effectively addresses the topic and the task

-  If the essay is well organized and well developed, using cleary appropriate explanations, and/or details

-  If the essay displays unity, progression and coherence

Tips for answering each question type

-  For the Integrated Writing Task :

•  The importance of taking notes

•  The importance of always looking for the main idea in written text, etc.

-  For the Independent Writing Task:

• The importance of always thinking before writing anything

• The importance of writing a brief outline before actually beginning the essay, etc.

Strategies for raising your TOEFL Writing score

- On the Integrated Writing Task:

As your read:

• Look for the main ideas of the reading passage

• See how this main idea is evaluated or developed, etc.

As your listen:

• Take notes on your scratch book.

• Listen for information, examples, or explanations that make points in the reading passage seem wrong or less convincing or even untrue, etc.

As your write your response:

• Before you start writing, briefly reread the passage, consult your notes, and make a very brief outline of the points you wish to make, etc.

- On the Independent Writing Task:

• Keep track of your time

• Try to finish writing your essay by the time the clock counts down to 4 or 5 minutes, in order to check your work and make final changes, etc.

Key grammar rules and examples

-  Present simple, present continuous, present perfect, past simple, past continuous, past perfect, etc.

-  Phrasal verbs

-  Relative clauses

-  Conditionals, etc.

Revision of the following grammar errors

- Sentence errors:

• Fragments: an incomplete sentence, e.g.: Where there were mice and cockroaches

• Run-on Sentences: when we join two sentences together without a conjunction or the correct punctuation, e.g.: My sister loves to dance she is very good at it, etc.

- Word errors:

• Noun Forms: countable and uncountable, e.g.: These furnitures are beautiful, etc.

• Verb Forms: auxiliary, modals, infinitive form, e.g.: They would of stayed one more month if possible, etc.

• Subject-Verb agreement, e.g.: many students thinks tomorrow is a holiday, etc.

• Noun Forms: countable and uncountable, e.g.: These furnitures are beautiful, etc.

- Other errors:

• Wrong or missing words, e.g.: The went to the store each Monday, etc.

Revision of style

- Word Repetition, e.g.: a student interviewed another student and other students about…, etc.

- Inappropriate Words or Phrases:

• Too informal: No way would I ever vote

- Too Many Passive, Long or Short Sentences, etc.

Revising, editing, and proofreading an essay

- Revising:

• Identify each part of the essay: introduction, thesis, main ideas, supporting ideas, and conclusion, etc.

- Editing:

• Correct grammar and usage, make changes in word choice, style and the way you explain your ideas, etc.

- Proofreading:

• Read word-by-word and line by line to make corrections, etc.

Review of the actual list of topics for the Independent Writing Task

- E.g.: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Parents are the best teachers.

Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Practice time discipline under exam conditions

- Learning to keep track and wisely distribute the allowed time for the exam, so as to get the highest
profit from it.