今回の Topic は、Official Guide to the TOEFL の Independent Essay 第２９問です。

１. Topic          

      Some people believe that university students should be required to attend classes.  Others believe that going to classes should be optional.  Which point of view do you agree with?  Use specific examples and reasons to support your answer. 

２. Struture

a) Thesis Statement (Introduction)                

     In my opinion, attendance at classes in university should be optional because coercion is not in line with advanced education and university students would attend classes voluntarily under the current circumstances.    

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

第１ Paragraph　大学教育の様な高等教育は、義務教育と異なり強制になじまない

第２ Paragraph　大学当局は、出席を強制するのではなく授業内容をより魅力的にすべきである

第３ Paragraph　今日の経済環境の下では、学生は良い学業成績の達成を目指して自ら積極的に授業に参加している

 

 ３. Sample

     In my opinion, attendance at classes in university should be optional because coercion is not in line with advanced education and university students would attend classes voluntarily under the current circumstances.                             

     To begin with, university students have regal right to attend classes because they pay tuition fees but have no obligation to attend them.  Unlike compulsory educations, in which tuition fees are free, university students choose to receive advanced education of their own volition.  Therefore, it is very hard to justify in requiring students to attend classes even though this is designed to let the students make the most of university education.                                                         

 

     In addition, presidents of universities and members of faculties should make every effort to improve lessons more informative, productive, and interesting to encourage the students to attend classes without being told to do so.  It has been often reported that the students fail to attend classes because they are not attractive enough to take time.  As a result, some classes end up always having low attendance.  If the students thought that attending classes are worthwhile, they would never miss the classes.                                                                                                                                

     Finally, under today’s economic conditions, students are willing to attend classes to achieve higher Grade Point Average (GPA) to stay ahead of fierce competition between them.  Prestigious global corporations, which are also well known for high salary and comprehensive employee benefits, hire only extremely qualified students.  And every university student comprehend very well that higher GPA cannot be awarded without attending classes.                                               

     It is true that forcing students to attend classes by universities is based on goodwill to make their students prepared for today’s fast changing world.  However, because of the three reasons I mentioned above, attendance at classes in university education should be optional.

 

To be continued.