Independent Speaking 1: Structure 1

In the independent speaking section of the TOEFL test, there are two parts
1. the free response
2. the paired-choice rsponse
Both free-response and paired choice response can be approached in a similar fashion.
A The free response.
In the free response task you are given a topic. It will usually relate to your life, your experiences  or your opinions.  You  choose what you are going to speak about within that topic (this choice of yours is called the topic statement). An example topic could  be something like, "What is the most memorable event you have ever attended?"  An even simpler topic might be, "Which place in Japan would you like to visit?" After you are given the topic you have 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to speak. It's not very long, especially the preparation time, so you must learn to  very quickly plan what you are going to say.
B Why do you have to plan?
Well, it's very simple: if you don't plan you will probably drift off the topic, run out ot time or even  finish too early.
C How do you  plan?
Don't try to write a speech, you don't have time. All you have time to do is write down your topic statement and two or maybe three main points.
D No 'shopping lists'.
It is important to remember that you must not make up a 'shopping list'. In your speech you have to explain why you answered as you did. For example, imagine your free response topic is "Did you have a good summer vacation?" If you answer like this -
Sample speech 1
Yes, I did.
I went to the beach. I went swimming. I saw a fireworks festival. I ate lots of watermelon. The weather was very warm. School was over and I had no homework. My friends from high school all gathered in my hometown.
This answer is no good at all. There is no structure and there is no explanation. It is what I call a 'shopping list'. What you need to do is choose two (or at the very maximum three) main points and explain why they helped make your summer vacation good. For example, in Sample speech 1 the speaker says he  "ate lots of watermelon." Now, I hate watermelon and I can't understand why eating watermelon makes a vacation a good one. The speaker has to explain why watermelon contributed to his good vacation. The speaker should have said something like -
"I ate a lot of watermelon. Watermelon is my favorite fruit and I've loved it since I was a boy. Unfortunately, in Tokyo, we can only buy it in summertime and I always look forward to the watermelon season."
E Speech structure.
A well-structured speech should look like this -

Topic statement (your answer to the topic)

Main point 1 (reason for answer in topic statement)

Explanation of main point 1

Main point 2 (reason for answer in topic statement)

Explanation of main point 2

You DO NOT need a concluding statement. You DO NOT have time.

Look at this example speech. The topic is: Did you have a good day yesterday?
Sample speech 2
I had a good day yesterday. I slept late, which is very unusual for me. I had a very busy week and I was eh I was very tired by Friday evening, so by sleeping late I was able to get back lots of energy. Actually, I slept about three hours longer than usual and woke up feeling really good. Secondly, I went to the park with my daughter and she eh successfully rode a bicycle for the first time. She'd tried riding a bicycle before, but hadn't been able to do it, fell off a couple of times. Yesterday, though, she did ride it and she was over the moon. This made her very happy and because she was so happy, I was happy too. (126 words, 45 seconds)

The speaker's first main point is that he slept late. If I had slept late today and missed this class, would it be a good day for me? Obviously it wouldn't, so saying I slept late is not enough. You have to explain why this helped make your day good.

I had a good day yesterday.

I slept late, which is very unusual for me.

I had a very busy week and I was eh I was very tired by Friday evening, so by sleeping late I was able to get back lots of energy. Actually, I slept about three hours longer than usual and woke up feeling really good.

Secondly, I went to the park with my daughter and she eh successfully rode a bicycle for the first time.

She'd tried riding a bicycle before, but hadn't been able to do it, fell off a couple of times. Yesterday, though, she did ride it and she was over the moon. This made her very happy and because she was so happy, I was happy too.

No concluding statement

Here are two possible plans for Sample speech 2.  The long plan is obviously better, but could you write a plan like this in 15 seconds? I couldn't. That is why we need to use the short plan style.

Long plan	Short plan
Topic statement: good day MP 1: Slept late Explain: busy last week              regained energy              woke feeling good MP2: Went to park Explain: daughter bicycle first time               she happy, me happy	Topic statement:  good day MP 1: Slept late MP2: Went to park

F The steps in doing a TOEFL independent speaking task.. The steps are
1. Read the topic carefully
2. Decide your answer to the topic.
3. Plan your response by writing down a topic statement and the main points of what you want to say.
4. As you speak try to explain your main points and why they form your answer to the topic.
Important: watch the clock as you're speaking. It helps to get your timing right.