Comparisons : Structure

In the TOEFL independent speaking paired choice response tasks your are given a choice of two things and have to say why you prefer one of them, or why you think it is better. To do this you have to compare things. Students often do not do this. They tend to talk only about one of the choices and not even mention the other. Native speakers, on the other hand, tend to make direct comparisons and then explain them.

Look at Sample speech 1
I prefer summer than winter. In summer the weather is very warm, so we don't need to wear heavy clothes or put on heater. Also, in summer we can go to the sea and go swimming I like playing on the beach very much. Playing volleyball and going surfing are great fun. And there are many activities in summer. There are firework parties and many festivals which are interesting to watch and take part in. I like summer.
There are two important points here.
1) The speaker told us why he likes summer, he didn't tell us why he preferred it to winter. Remember the TOEFL test is designed to check your English ability and in this part of the test you are being asked to compare things. Sample speech 1 didn't do this.
2) A terrible start to the speech and a common error. We cannot say, "I prefer summer than winter." We need to say, I prefer summer to winter." or "I prefer summer rather than winter."  Please remember this. It is a very common mistake.

Look at Sample speech 2
I definitely prefer summer to winter. The weather in summer is much better than in winter. Summer weather is warm or hot and we don't need to wear heavy clothes or turn on a heater. Because of the good weather we can do many more things in summer than in winter. We can go to the beach and go swimming in the sea, but we can't do this in winter because it's too cold. I really like playing on the beach and playing volleyball and going surfing are great fun. Also, summer is more exciting than winter. There are firework parties and barbeques and lots of festivals which are interesting to watch and take part in. Actually, the most important festivals of the year are in August.
Notice how in Sample speech 2 speech the speaker did compare summer to winter. He said,
the weather in summer is much better than in winter
we can do many more things in summer than in winter
We can go to the beach and go swimming in the sea, but we can't do this in winter.
summer is more exciting than winter

The speech structure we need for a paired response task is very similar to the structure for a free response task. However, it is better if the main points of the paired response task speech use comparative forms.
A paired response speech should look like this.

Topic statement (your answer to the topic)

Main point 1 (reason for answer in topic statement) This should be a comparative sentence.

Explanation of main point 1

Main point 2 (reason for answer in topic statement) This should be a comparative sentence.

Explanation of main point 2

No concluding statement

Look at Sample speech 2 broken down into its parts.

I definitely prefer summer to winter.

The weather in summer is much better than in winter.

Summer weather is warm or hot and we don't need to wear heavy clothes or turn on a heater.

Because of the good weather we can do many more things in summer than in winter.

We can go to the beach and go swimming in the sea, but we can't do this in winter because it's too cold. I really like playing on the beach and playing volleyball and going surfing are great fun.

Also, summer is more exciting than winter.

There are firework parties and barbeques and lots of festivals which are interesting to watch and take part in. Actually, the most important festivals of the year are in August.

No concluding staement

Remember not to make a shopping list. Use two, or maximum three main points, and explain them!!!!