今回の Topic は、Official Guide to the TOEFL の Independent Essay 第３６問です。

１. Topic           

         Do you agree or disagree with the following statement:  “Life today is easier and more comfortable than it was when your grandparents were children.”

２. Struture

a) Thesis Statement (Introduction)                

        I agree with the statement because we can enjoy the benefits of globalization, technological advances, and welfare state, which our grandparents couldn’t when they were children.

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

第１ Paragraph　グローバル化によって、祖父母が若かった時代よりも平和な世界がもたらされた

第２ Paragraph　科学技術の発展は、祖父母たちが若い時代には享受出来なかった快適な生活を実現している

第３ Paragraph　第二次世界大戦後の福祉国家の出現も又、社会全体の生活水準の向上に貢献している

 

 ３. Sample        

     I agree with the statement because we can enjoy the benefits of globalization, technological advances, and welfare state, which our grandparents couldn’t when they were children.                                      

     To begin with, people today can enjoy benefits of globalization, which our grandparents couldn’t when they were children.  Although our grandparents experienced harsh life during and after World War II, we are free from the sufferings of war thanks largely to globalization.  As is often said, countries which trade together are unlikely to engage in war.  Moreover, global supply chains have made it possible to maintain efficient manufacturing, which contributes greatly to lowering price of consumer goods.                                                  

     In addition, technological advances have also helped us lead a more comfortable life than the one our grandparents had.  With a PC or smartphone connected to the Internet, we can communicate with other people, buy anything online, and enjoy music and movies with very reasonable costs.  And we can remotely monitor whereabouts of our family members through PCs or smartphones.  Also, we can expect the arrival of auto-driving electric cars.  Those highly intelligent cars will be able to avoid traffic accidents which are caused by human errors.                                                                                                                                                     

     Finally, the advent of welfare state after World War II in developed countries has also contributed to improving our qualities of life.  In that context, national governments provide a wide variety of social services such as public education, public transportation and national health care system.  This has led to lower child mortality rate and longer life expectancy.  Also working hours have become shorter and shorter, which give us more time to enjoy life.                                                          

     It is true that globalization has made competition between us more intensive than when our grandparents were young.  However, I agree with the statement due to the three reasons I mentioned above.

 

To be continued.