TOEFL Sample essay : integrated essay from TPO 11

In this set of materials, the reading passage brings up three consequences of decline in reading literature nowadays. However, the lecturer finds all the ideas dubious and provides some evidence to refute them all.

First of all, the author of the passage states that a sharp decline in reading literature has occurred and resulted in a loss of intellectual stimulation. In contrast, the lecturer disagrees with the argument since the book does not have to be literature to be intellectually encouraging. For example, there are scientific, political, and historical books that are of high quality and that are as creative and well-written as novels and plays that stimulate imagination.

Furthermore, it is mentioned in the passage that trivial amusements such as TV, movies, music, and so forth reduced the level of culture. On the contrary, the lecturer declares that spending less time on literature does not mean that people spend less time on other books. She asserts that culture has changed and there are many culturally valuable forms of expression available other than novel and poem that speak more directly to contemporary issues.

Finally, the reading passage claims that the lack of an audience to literature has resulted in a decline of investing in literature and writing poems and plays as well. Conversely, the lecturer explains that although the support for literature has been decreased, the reduction in literature reading and writing is the fault of authors themselves since modern literature is very difficult to understand that new generation cannot interact with the subjects not to mention the earlier generations of readers.