Before You Begin HOW THIS BOOK IS ORGANIZED If you are preparing for any version of the TOEFL, you are not alone. Almost a million people all over the world took the TOEFL last year. A high score on this test is an essential step in being admitted to graduate or undergraduate programs at almost all colleges and universities in North America. But preparing for this test can be a difficult, often frustrating experience. Peterson’s Master TOEFL Writing Skills, used as a self-tutor, will help you improve your writing skills. • Top 10 Strategies to Raise Your Score gives you test-taking strategies. • Part I includes basic information about the TOEFL writing section. • Part II provides a diagnostic test to determine your strengths and weaknesses. • Part III provides the basic grammar and writing review. The exercises progress from relatively simple to relatively difficult as you continue through the book. Various skills, such as error identification and writing style, are reviewed. • Part IV includes three additional practice writing tests. They will show you how well you have mastered the writing skills presented in this book. SPECIAL STUDY FEATURES Peterson’s Master TOEFL Writing Skills is designed to be user-friendly. To this end, it includes features to make your preparation much more efficient. Overview The review chapter begins with a bulleted overview, listing the topics to be covered in the chapter. This will allow you to quickly target the areas in which you are most interested. ix Summing It Up The review chapter ends with a point-by-point summary that captures the most important concepts. They are a convenient way to review the chapter’s key points. Bonus Information Look in the page margins of your book for the following test prep tool: NOTE Notes highlight critical information about a concept in the review section. These notes will provide you with additional study tools. YOU’RE WELL ON YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS Remember that knowledge is power. By using Peterson’s Master TOEFL Writing Skills as a supplement to your other TOEFL test preparation, you will fine-tune your writing skills and abilities. GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK Peterson’s publishes a full line of resources to help guide you and your family through the college admission process. We welcome any comments or suggestions you may have about this publication and invite you to complete our online survey at www.petersons.com/booksurvey. Or you can fill out the survey at the back of this book, tear it out, and mail it to us at: Publishing Department Peterson’s 2000 Lenox Drive Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Your feedback will help us to provide personalized solutions for your educational advancement. x Before You Begin www.petersons.com TOP 10 STRATEGIES TO RAISE YOUR SCORE 1. As with other sections of the TOEFL, be familiar with the directions and examples so you can begin work immediately. 2. Come up with a plan. Make sure your essay has an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. 3. Brainstorm for 3 to 5 minutes. Write down words and phrases that are related to your topic. 4. Write simple sentences to help you put your ideas into a complete form. 5. Order your ideas in a logical pattern to support your thesis. 6. Use specific, detailed examples from your thoughts to develop your ideas. 7. Choose effective words and include transitional words and phrases to unify your work. 8. Set aside 2–4 minutes for revising, editing, and proofreading. Make sure everything you included says what you mean. 9. Make sure you have written about the given prompt only and that you have answered the question completely. 10. Concentration is another important factor. Your practice and hard work will help you. Before You Begin xi www.petersons.com ABBREVIATIONS The following is a list of the abbreviations used in the review sections of this book. adj. adjective adv. adverb aux. auxiliary cl. clause CN count noun comp. comparative conj. conjunction d.o. direct object fut. future infin. (or to 1 V) infinitive i.o. indirect object irr. irregular n noun ncn non-count noun neg. negative obj. object part. participle past part. past participle past perf. past perfect perf. part. perfect participle pl. plural prep. preposition pres. present pron. pronoun qw question word s subject sing. singular suprl. superlative to 1 have 1 past part. perfect infinitive to 1 v (or infin.) infinitive v simple form of the verb v 1 ing present participle or gerund xii Before You Begin www.petersons.com P ART I TOEFL WRITING BASICS CHAPTER 1 All About TOEFL Writing . power. By using Peterson’s Master TOEFL Writing Skills as a supplement to your other TOEFL test preparation, you will fine-tune your writing skills and abilities. GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK Peterson’s. experience. Peterson’s Master TOEFL Writing Skills, used as a self-tutor, will help you improve your writing skills. • Top 10 Strategies to Raise Your Score gives you test-taking strategies. • Part. Various skills, such as error identification and writing style, are reviewed. • Part IV includes three additional practice writing tests. They will show you how well you have mastered the writing skills