Answers That Avoid Deductions — Strategies by Type

There are three main types of free English composition: opinion, chart description, and summary. Because the points likely to result in deductions differ for each type, this lesson organizes strategies by type.

Basic Rules

Common points that cause deductions (all types):
- Inconsistent tense (mixing the past and present tenses in the same paragraph)
- Subject-verb agreement errors (such as he have)
- Missing or incorrect articles (mistakes in deciding between a/the)
- Lack of logical consistency (the position in the Introduction contradicts the position in the Conclusion)
① Opinion type (agree/disagree):
- Make your position clear in the first sentence (writing in a way that seems uncertain may result in a deduction)
- Do not change your position midway
② Chart description type:
- Focus on "reading" the chart and do not mix in your own opinions or guesses (when the question does not ask for an opinion)
- Use vocabulary for describing changes accurately: rise / increase / fall / decline / peak at / remain stable / fluctuate
- Explain "trends" rather than the numbers themselves: describe the sequence of events, such as "It increased steadily from 2000 to 2010 and then leveled off."
③ Summary type:
- Do not copy phrases directly from the original; paraphrase them in your own words
- Do not include your own opinions that are not in the original
- Compress the main idea. Delete specific examples and details, leaving only the claim and main points

Points to Note

① In an opinion essay, making the conclusion vague with phrases such as "both sides have a point" may be judged as failing to state a position and result in a deduction. Maintain one position to the end.
② In a chart description, writing guesses not shown in the chart (such as "This was because the economy improved") may be penalized as going beyond the instructions. If the instructions say "describe the trends," focus only on the trends.
③ In a summary, simply arranging the original words as a "copy" receives a low evaluation. You are tested on the skill of paraphrasing by changing synonyms and sentence structures (see the knowledge of synonyms in this lesson).
④ For every type, make "Is my claim consistent?" and "Are my tenses consistent?" the final items on your review checklist.

Practice

1. Name three verbs or expressions used to describe an "increasing trend" in a chart description.
2. Explain in Japanese, within 40 characters, why a "copy of the original" receives a low evaluation in a summary.
3. Explain in Japanese, within 30 characters, why you should not change your position midway in an opinion essay.