The following is a writing sample of a TOEFL essay written by a student. The essay is edited and then rewritten in both a TOEFL and an IELTS format. The topic is playing computer games.
TOEFL Essay Topic: Computer games
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Playing computer games is a waste of time. Children should not be allowed to play them.
Losing track of time while playing computer games is a very common problem among youths. Some people thus believe that children should not be allowed to play them, so that they can spend their time on other productive things. While there are many other activities for kids, I disagree that playing computer games is a waste of time because they can help children be more creative and help them learn how to solve problems.
First of all, computer games can help increase children’s creativity. It is beneficial, then, for children to be spending a reasonable amount of time on them. In other words, kids can use many different computer games to learn and see things from different perspectives. My own life experience is a compelling evidence of this. I grew up playing many different types of games, including shooting, strategy, and role-playing. In these games, the problems I encountered were diverse, from simply going from point A to point B to trying to find hidden things and following hints to complete a mission in the game. In doing so, I was able to see problems from different perspectives and learn why a solution might work for one specific problem but not others. Eventually, this carried over to school where I had to think through difficult questions and come up with possible solutions in classes such as math or physics. Thus, to assume that playing computer games is a waste of time is incorrect. To suggest that children should not be allowed to play them is not looking at the benefits games can have for children.
Indeed, by playing computer games, children can learn to how to solve many different types of problems as they often have to think on their feet while trying to solve them in real time. In Farming Village, for instance, a kid needs to figure out in what order the farming steps need to be taken as doing them in an incorrect order often means insufficient results or even failure. Likewise, the StarCraft strategy game needs careful planning, building, and sending an army to the battlefield, and children need to take calculated risks in order to successfully complete a mission. Furthermore, by learning how to solve different types of problems, they can also learn how to be proactive and think of solutions without needing to be told what to do beforehand, which is a trait that can be very helpful in their adult life. Therefore, children can learn many different things from computer games.
In conclusion, while some people think that playing computer games is a waste of time, it can actually be very beneficial for children as they learn to see problems from different perspectives and learn how to solve them.
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Adam’s rewrites in two versions
Spending excessive hours playing computer games is a common problem among today’s youth. While some people thus believe children should be prohibited from playing these games, I disagree and argue that video games can actually help children to be more creative and to develop their problem-solving skills.
First of all, the wide variety of computer games available these days suggests that they require a high level of creativity and imagination. These games involve shooting, strategy development, role-playing and more, presenting players with all sorts of tasks, such as simply going from point A to point B, trying to find hidden things, or following clues to complete a mission. Moreover, players encounter high quality graphic arts, scripts, and other artistic features, making the game seem more realistic. In the game Farming Village, for instance, a player must figure out the correct order of farming steps in order to win the game. As most children who play this game have never been to an actual farm, this activity allows them to imagine the situation and be a part of it, even if only virtually. In the long run, educators can make good use of this technology to creatively teach history, geography, and other subjects with a more hands-on approach, thereby making video games a benefit rather than a waste of time.
Another advantage of computer games is that they enable players to view problems from different perspectives. Indeed, by playing computer games, children learn to solve various types of problems quickly as they often have to do this in real time, often against other players. Not only do children thus develop problem-solving skills, they also learn to be proactive, think independently, and interact with others online, all of which are useful in adulthood. My own experience playing these games allowed me to see problems from a variety of angles and learn why a solution might work for one specific problem but not others. Eventually, this carried over to school where I had to think through difficult questions and come up with an array of solutions in classes such as math or physics. Again, the applications of video games in education are endless.
In conclusion, to assume that playing computer games is a waste of time is shortsighted and does not take into account the potential benefits these games offer. Children should be encouraged to play these games to stimulate their creativity and to learn to see problems from different perspectives and solve them.
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As computer games become increasingly popular, many people believe that children should be prohibited from wasting their time on them. I disagree and argue that, in moderation, children can benefit from playing these games.
Firstly, today’s games require a high level of creativity and imagination. Shooting, strategy development, role-playing games and others present players with a variety of tasks, such as simply going from point A to point B, discovering hidden things, or following clues to complete a mission. Moreover, players encounter high quality graphics and scripts, and other artistic features. The popular game Farming Village is a great example of this. As most children who play this game have never been to an actual farm, this virtual exercise allows them to imagine the situation and be a part of it. On a practical level, educators can utilize this technology to creatively teach history, geography, and other subjects with a hands-on approach, which makes video games a tool rather than a waste of time.
Another advantage of computer games is that they enable players to view problems from different perspectives. Indeed, children can learn to face a variety of challenges in real time, and often to do this against competitors. Thus, not only do they develop problem-solving skills, they also learn to be proactive, think independently, and interact with others online, all of which are also useful adult skills. My own experience playing these games allowed me to see why one solution might work for one specific problem but not others. Eventually, I was able to work through difficult questions at school and come up with an array of solutions in classes such as math or physics. Again, the applications of games in education are endless.
In conclusion, to assume that computer games are a waste of time is shortsighted and ignores potential benefits. Children should thus be encouraged to play these games to stimulate their creativity and to learn to see manage problems in a variety of ways.
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