TOEFL ibt Writing: Steps to Successful Integrated Writing

1. TOEFL ibt Writing: Steps to Successful Integrated Writing Wendy M. Gough St. Mary College/Nunoike Gaigo Senmon Gakko

2. The TOEFL Integrated Writing Task tests your ability to summarize and link information together. • You will have three minutes to read and take • notes on a short passage about an academic • topic • You will listen to a lecture related to the topic • You will be asked to write an essay of about • 150-225 words relating the reading and listening to • each other • You will be given 20 minutes to complete the • writing task

3. The Reading Passage • Usually presents general information or one point • of view on an academic topic

4. The Listening Passage • May give a different perspective on the • reading topic • May provide further support or details • about the reading topic

5. The Questions Will ask you to show how the reading and listening are related to each other. You may be asked to Show how the listening passage adds information to the reading In this question you will need to show how the listening gives more information about the topic and supports the reading

6. Show how the information in the listening challenges or casts doubt on the reading In this question you will be asked to show how the listening presents information that shows a different point of view on the topic.

7. Writing the Integrated Essay Follow these steps to write a successful Integrated Essay

8. Step 1 Be familiar with a good response A good response includes • An introductory paragraph that presents the • topic and main idea of the essay • Body paragraphs that summarize the reading • and listening passages and show how they are • related • A conclusion

9. Step 2 Understand how information is presented in a reading or listening passage In English information is presented from general to specific. When reading or listening to a lecture you can find information in the following manner

10. In the Reading and Listening Passages • The topic and main idea are presented at the beginning • of the passage • The writer’s or speaker’s point of view is presented in • the beginning of the passage • Details then specific examples follow the introduction of • the topic • Information in the middle and end of a passage is • always more specific than at the beginning

11. In the Listening • The speaker will always mention the point in he or she is • responding to at the beginning • The speaker willusually give a short summary or restatement • of the information in the reading • The speaker will give details and examples to support his or • her side of the issue • The speaker will define any words or ideas specific to the • topic by paraphrasing or restating them another way • The speaker will usually restate important points, opinions, or other important information at the end of the lecture

12. Step 3 Take good notes and make sure you understand how the passages are related to each other • Pay attention to words and phrases that are specific • to the topic and how those words are used • Pay attention to any words or phrases that are repeated • or restated. These will be important to the meaning and • will help you understand the general meaning of the text • Pay attention to words or phrases in the listening that • show contradiction, different points of view, comparison, • or support for the reading

13. Pay attention to information that seems similar or different • to the reading • Don’t write full sentences. Just write key words and • phrases to help you remember the information. • Use notetaking symbols and abbreviations to help save • time and eliminate having to write complete words. You can • find a link to a page with notetaking symbols in the Writing • Studio Materials file

14. Step 4 Organize your notes well Organize your notes from the reading passage in a way that will allow you to easily add notes from the listening and connect the ideas together. Look at the following notes from a reading and listening passage in Cambridge Preparation for the TOEFL Test 4th ed. 429-30.

15. Topic: Apes Communicative ability Reading Listening

16. Step 5 Paraphrase the information in both the reading and listening passages and use transitions to show how they are related • Use your own words to explain the reading and listening • Use words or phrases mentioned in the reading and • listening that are directly related to the topic • Mention specific examples such as tests, studies, etc. • Use transition words and phrases to show how the • ideas are related