今回の Topic は、Official Guide to the TOEFL の Independent Essay 第８問です。

１. Topic           

      Some people like to travel with a companion.  Other people prefer to travel alone.  Which do you prefer?  Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.

２. Struture

a) Thesis Statement (Introduction)                

     I would rather travel with a companion than travel alone, since it is cost effective, enjoyable, and secure to travel with a friendly and reliable person.

b) Body の部分を構成する３つの Paragraph の Main Idea は、

第１ Paragraph　一人で旅行するのと比べると、費用を同伴者と折半することで旅行のコストを下げることが可能

第２ Paragraph　旅行の際の様々な出来事を同伴者と共有することで、旅行が一層思い出深くなる

第３ Paragraph　不慮のトラブルに見舞われた場合、単独で旅行するよりも同伴者がいる方がより安全である

 

３. Sample

     I would rather travel with a companion than travel alone, since it is cost effective, enjoyable, and secure to travel with a friendly and reliable person.    

     To begin with, I can reduce travel expenses by sharing the cost with a companion.  If I traveled alone, I had to pay all the expenses necessary for the travel.  On the other hand, if I had a travel companion the expenses for the travel could be half by sharing accommodation and transportation.  With this advantage, we can make the travel a bit more luxurious.  For example, I can stay at prestigious hotels with a companion thanks to going Dutch for the room fee of the hotel.              

     In addition, traveling with a companion should make the travel more enjoyable because there would be always someone whom I can share unforgettable or impressive experience.  If I had unexpected interactions with local people or viewed spectacular sceneries, it should be very nice to share the experience with a travel companion.  With a companion nearby, the events we participated in would become good old memories for the rest of my life.                                                                                                     

     Finally, it would be safe and secure when I travel with a companion rather than travel alone.  If I were in unfamiliar places in foreign countries without friends or acquaintances, it would be helpless and insecure when faced with troubles.  For instance, if I got involved in a car accident and seriously injured, I could not do very little to deal with the situation.  But my travel companion should do everything to help me.              

     Needless to say, it is not necessary to travel all the time with a companion.  We can make arrangements that we visit different places in the daytime but get together at dinner time.  Therefore, with this flexibility and the benefits I mentioned above, I would prefer to travel with a companion.    

 

To be continued.