Essay outline

[Aabg]

Hi guys

At school and university, I was taught that a good essay includes an introduction presenting the issue, a main idea that is "for" the issue, another main idea that is "against" the issue, and finally in your conclusion, a sort of synthesis of both main ideas, like a mix of both, pointing out the best of both.
Is it correct to proceed this way for the TOEFL? Because from what I've seen so far in corrections, when they ask you to agree or disagree, it's either "I agree because..." OR "I disagree because..." and never "I agree on this", "I disagree on that", and finally "I agree on this and that".

For example, for this essay, I thought of this outline:

It is better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a big
city. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to
develop your essay.

* Introduction
* Body of the essay:
1) There is no better place than the countryside to grow up (for the health, for traditions, for the contact with nature, landscapes...) compared to polluted, grey, depressing cities.
2) Nevertheless, the countryside nowadays is a bit of a lost place (few jobs, no universities, not fun for young people, few inhabitants so little social contacts)
* Conclusion: for practical reasons, it's better to live in a big city nowadays, although one should go spend time in the countryside every now and then as it also has many advantages.

Do you think this would be marked up? Or should I always stick to giving exclusively "Yes I agree" or "No I disagree" answers?

Thanks a lot for your help
AABG

TOEFL listening lectures: Who are not included as members of the Underground Railroad?

[Zourou]

Hello Mr Torsten,
which are the various stages for a good TOEFL essay ?
thanks for your help,

[Luschen]

Aabg - I saw this question was never answered. I think you need to be careful on the TOEFL because there are different kinds of questions which require different essay types. When they say "do you agree or disagree" you must pick one side or the other and only support that view. Your structure will be Introduction - Reason 1 - Reason 2 - Reason 3 - Conclusion. If they ask "what are the advantages and disadvantages of each and which do you prefer" you need to present both sides of the argument: Introduction - Advantages and disadvantages of choice 1 - Advantages and disadvantages of choice 2 - My preferred choice and why - Conclusion. This webpage has a lot of valuable information on this topic: http://www.urch.com/forums/twe/12765-toefl-essay-writing-tips.html

[Aabg]

Thank you so much Luschen! :)