TOEFL® essay: Not everything that is learned is contained in books.

[Florired]

Thank you for your feedback regarding my TOEFL essay about food.
I wrote another one.

Throughout our lives, we learn from both sources: books and experience. Books are extremely important in academic setting, but also useful to expand our knowledge in various fields of interest. On the other hand, experience confirms or contradicts written data and, as a result, the information contained in books will continuously be updated. I personally believe that both experience and books are important at any age and for any profession, but if I had to choose one, I would say that books are the base of information, the foundation for gaining experience, and the most precious legacy for our children.

For example, first, students learn plenty of new things from books, and then they have to apply the principles and the theorems in practice. Without a fund of knowledge, the student will not be able to resolve problems, to actively participate at a chemistry experience, or to finalize a project in physics. In our career preparation, we go to college or university, pass many exams, and many of them include a practice test or a project. Only studying hard all the books required by the professor, a student will pass that exam. After many years of learning in school, we apply for a job. At this point, we begin to gain experience, and we even learn new things, not written in books, from more experienced people in that specific field. Also, there are life lessons not found in any book that we learn from our personal mistakes or achievements or from our parents.

Furthermore, what we find in old books from libraries is an invaluable heritage from our predecessors. Partially based on this old information, historians were capable to write the history; geologists were able to compare and to predict earth movements or climate changes; we also became aware of endangered or already disappeared species. Every science has its history, and it is a fascinating chapter for anyone to read.

In conclusion, I would say that the knowledge gained from books is more important then the knowledge gained from experience. The foundation for experience comes from books, and we have to spend many years in school to gain proper education. Moreover, all we know at this moment in a specific field comes from our ancestors’ experience available to us through data contained in books.

[Kitosdad]

Good morning Florired. This is very good. I could find little to fault in your essay. You obviously gave a lot of thought and preparation to the subject, and it shines through.

Your best to-date. Well done.

Kitosdad.
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If you need me, I'm here.

[Olkozian]

Dear Sirs,
My essay is below. Please help me to impove it.

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.

[Kitosdad]

[quote="Olkozian"]Dear Sirs,
My essay is below. Please help me to impove it.

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 (from)their own experiences. 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 (that) is gained from books. Books provide a lot of theories, morality, examples etc. We could know the rules of behaviour, etiquette,but unless we practice (the)knowledge found 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 the 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. One imagines and does the action. Someone perceives information during communication. For example, when learning a language it is better to speak about it. Especially when there is feedback. One can read books, know many words, but without speaking and practicing there is not 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 one combines knowledge then the effect will be great and there will be more value gained from the action.

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 seeing it. For example, cooking a dish. After a person sees the action he could repeat it and ask questions if something is unclear. Another example is landscape design. One can see many pictures, read many books but until he does his own design successfully, he will not understand it. It is better to learn language with peers. He could check you, correct you. Thus in future, mistakes will not be made.

In conclusion, everybody is different. We all need an individual approach. It will be better if the knowledge will be got from all sources: books, journals, experience, and communication.
_________________
If you need me, I'm here.