TOEFL® essay: Knowledge gained from books vs. knowledge from experiences in life

[Namcy]

It has been said, “Not everything that is learned is contained in
books.” Compare and contrast knowledge gained from experience
with knowledge gained from books. In your opinion, which source
is more important? Why?

It is rightly said, ‘Not everything that is learned is contained in books’. Books are an important source of information and knowledge, but not the only source. Great deal of knowledge comes from life itself. Situations and experiences which arise in an individual’s life play an important role in teaching and contributing to knowledge and learning of an individual.

The knowledge gained from the books is immense and vast. By reading a variety of books, a person can acquire knowledge about different aspects and fields. For instance, by reading books related to sports, politics, movies, a person can enhance his knowledge from around the globe. Academic reading which gives great knowledge regarding different subjects cannot be obtained from experiences itself. This knowledge is particularly required to be successful in school, college and later or in the job.

Day-to-day life offers great experiences to a person, which impart valuable knowledge to him. Experiencing and going through a variety of things in life teach a person from different angles and leave a deeper impact on him. For example, a person wants to learn driving a car. This learning can only be obtained by observing and practicing driving again and again until a person masters it. Books cannot teach a person how to drive a car. Having said that, it is not possible for a person to experience all the things, to obtain information. One has to read books to gain variety of knowledge.

Although, I feel that both sources of knowledge, from books as well as experiences have their own advantages, I personally feel that knowledge gained from books is more important. There are a couple of reasons for it.

Books can help a person gain vast knowledge from various aspects. The knowledge from books is important for building a career of a person and being successful in life. Knowledge acquired through experiences is limited and don’t play a major role in making a person successful. By saying this, I definitely don’t underestimate the value of knowledge through experience, but because of the above mentioned reasons, knowledge through books is more important.

All in all, both the sources of knowledge have their own importance as to the amount and type of knowledge acquired. But, if I have to pick one, knowledge gained from the books is more necessary for a person to be aware of various fields and to have a successful career.

This is my first essay on the forum. I am appearing for my TOEFL soon. I shall appreciate some feeback on this..Thanks..

TOEFL listening lectures: A university lecture by a professor of American History

[Kitosdad]

Namcy, a great first essay. It can only get better. I look forward to reading your next work.

Kitosdad.
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Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Freshmeat]

you do not need to start with "It is rightly said, ‘Not everything that is learned is contained in books’."

[Kitosdad]

But at least Namcy got the capital letter part right, or do you also disagree with that ?

" hi everyone
i am going to take toefl on 27 june 2009.I have to take at least 80 points so i want to speak with foreigners.If someone need speaking partner as me , we can speak each other and practise a lot

we can also create a group of finding partner for practising from here.We can arrange in groups then start speaking on commication programs(Msn,yahoo messenger etc.)

Please join me "

I can see at least ten mistakes here, not including spelling errors.Better to concentrate on your own studies rather than others.
_________________
Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Amina1]

i[size=12] think nowdays,there are plenty ways to learn,one can learn from televisions, radios,internet or even from an expeerince.i i strongly,belive that learning from experince is the best way. first of all, learning from an experiance is unforgeatable. students tend to forget the information they reaad from books so easily.THERFORE BY LEARNING FROM AN EXPERIANCE,THEY CAN PRACTISE THE KNOWLDGE THE GAINED.AT SCHOOL CLASS,TEACHERS ALWAYS COMBINE THE KNOWLDGE FROM THE BOOK WITH CERTAIN EXAMPLES,AND EXPERINCES.SECOND LEARNING FROM EXPEERINCE CAN INCREASE SELF ESTEM AND PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITITS. TO SUM IT UP I BELIVE LEARNING FROM EXPERINCE IS THE BEST WAY.

[Kitosdad]

Amazing. You really are amazing!

I think your best asset is your full stop.

Perhaps you should consider spending just a little time reading a few decent books, just to become familiar with this grammar thingy.
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Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Freshmeat]

[Kitosdad]

Freshmeat, you are very welcome here, but don't you really think your own work needs some serious attention? I am not being nasty, just being practical.

If you were to post an essay yourself here, I would be more than happy to check it out for you.Alternatively you could PM me and we could work together until such time as you felt confident in posting an essay. I am here to help and encourage.

With Namcy being so close to his/her exam I don't want anything to distract her/him from the work in hand.

Please feel free to contact me if you wish.

Kitosdad.
_________________
Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Olkozian]

It has been said, “Not everything that is learned is contained in
books.” Compare and contrast knowledge gained from experience
with knowledge gained from books. In your opinion, which source
is more important? Why?

There are many sources of information nowadays. They are: books and journals, internet, our parents experience and our own one. Some people prefer to learn from books, literature, while others their own experience. There are pros and cons in every method; therefore I think that it is better to learn both from books and experience.
Firstly, the knowledge is gained from books. Books provide a lot of theories, morality, examples etc. We could know the rules of behavior, ethiquet. Until we practice knowledge got in books, the knowledge will be forgotten. Books provide no practice. So it is hard to imagine how to apply knowledge gained from them. On the other hand when you experience something, you know how to use it. But in this case people have no knowledge about the origin of action. Even if somebody reads many books, he could hardly apply its knowledge without practicing.Books give us history of mankind. One can read instructions and repeat them. Others couldn’t do so. They could not implicate knowledge practically even after having read instructions. So sometimes literacy is important, in other times practice is better.
Secondly, people are different. For someone it is easier to perceive information during reading. For others it is better to see the action and repeat it For third one imagine and do the action. Someone perceive information during communication. For example, when learning language it is better to speak on it. Especially when there is feedback. One can read books, know many words but without speaking and practicing there is no much effect. So no matter how long a person reads books until he tries to do the action he will not understand the material.
So books are equally important as practical knowledge. And if to combine knowledge then the effect will be great, there will be more value.
Thirdly, joint action. When someone reads books they do it independently. They do not communicate with others. Sometimes it is unclear how to do certain things until watching it. For example, cook a dish. After person sees the action he could repeat it and ask if something is unclear. Another example is landscape design. One can see many pictures, read many books but until he does successfully his design, he will not understand it. It is better to learn language with peer. He could check you, correct you. Thus in future, the mistakes will not be done.
In conclusion, everybody is different. We all need individual approach. It will be better if the knowledge will be got from all sources: books, journals, experience, and communication.