Mastering Integration Skills for the TOEFL: Writing and Speaking Strategies.
If you’re preparing for the TOEFL, understanding how to integrate information from multiple sources is essential for achieving a high score, particularly in the integrated tasks of the writing and speaking sections. Here’s a guide to help you excel in these tasks with practical strategies and techniques for combining content effectively.
Table of Contents
Mastering Integration Skills for the TOEFL: The Integrated Writing Task
In the integrated writing task, you will read a passage and then listen to a lecture. Your job is to write a summary that integrates key points from both sources. Usually, the listening passage challenges or adds to the ideas in the reading passage.
Key Strategies for Writing:
- Identify Contrasts or Connections:
As you read and listen, note where the lecture contradicts, supports, or adds new details to the reading. For example:- “While the reading argues that pollution is the main reason for the decline in sea otters, the lecturer suggests that predation is a more likely cause.”
- Paraphrase Accurately:
Avoid copying directly from the sources. Instead, rephrase using your own words while preserving the original meaning.- Reading: “Pollution from oil spills has severely harmed sea otter populations.”
- Your paraphrase: “The passage states that oil spills have negatively impacted sea otter numbers.”
- Use Clear Transitions:
Transition words like however, in contrast, on the other hand, and moreover signal relationships between ideas and ensure smooth writing.
Grammar and Punctuation Tips for Integration:
- Use complex sentences to combine information:
- “The reading claims that pollution is the main cause of the problem, whereas the lecturer attributes the issue to predation.”
- In-text citations for clarity:
- “According to the reading, …”
- “The lecturer explains that …”
- Pay attention to punctuation in compound and complex sentences:
- Correct: “The reading states that pollution harms sea otters; however, the lecturer argues that predators are to blame.”
Mastering Integration Skills for the TOEFL: Writing for Academic Discussion
In this newer task, you’ll integrate your ideas with a professor’s or classmates’ discussion posts. This means you’ll need to respond directly to what others have said, supporting or challenging their points.
Key Strategies for Discussion Writing:
- Acknowledge the Source:
- “I agree with Professor Smith’s point that student participation in debates can improve communication skills, but I would add that group projects are equally effective.”
- Support Your Ideas with Evidence:
- Use examples, statistics, or logical reasoning to strengthen your arguments.
TOEFL Speaking Integrated Tasks (2 & 3)
The integrated speaking tasks require you to summarize and synthesize information from a short reading and a listening passage.
Key Strategies for Speaking:
- Note Key Points from Both Sources:
- Focus on main ideas and examples. Ignore unnecessary details.
- For instance:
- Reading: “The university plans to introduce a new dining hall policy.”
- Listening: “Students are concerned it will increase meal prices.”
- Combine Sources in One Sentence:
- Use linking phrases:
- “The reading states that the university plans to introduce a new policy, but the speaker explains that students worry about its cost.”
- Use linking phrases:
- Practice Timing:
- You only have 60 seconds to respond. Be concise and clear by organizing your response into:
- Introduction: “The reading discusses… while the speaker mentions…”
- Key Points: Focus on 2-3 main ideas.
- You only have 60 seconds to respond. Be concise and clear by organizing your response into:
Sentence Structures for Integration
To combine ideas from multiple sources in one sentence, practice these structures:
1. Compound Sentences
- Combine two independent clauses with a conjunction:
- “The reading states that X, but the lecturer argues that Y.”
2. Complex Sentences
- Combine an independent clause with a dependent clause:
- “While the reading claims X, the lecturer asserts Y.”
3. Using Participial Phrases
- Reduce sentence length by using participles:
- “The reading suggests that X, contrasting with the lecturer’s assertion that Y.”
4. Using Appositives
- Add extra information without creating a new sentence:
- “The lecturer, a professor of biology, refutes the idea that pollution is the primary cause.”
Final Tips for Mastery
- Practice Summarizing: Regularly summarize short articles and audio clips to build confidence.
- Study Common Transitions: Make a list of comparison and contrast phrases to use during the test.
- Time Yourself: Practice integrating content under timed conditions to simulate test scenarios.
- Seek Feedback: Share your responses with a teacher or friend for constructive criticism.
By mastering these integration skills, you’ll not only perform better on the TOEFL but also improve your ability to synthesize and communicate complex information—a skill that’s valuable in both academics and beyond!
Michael Buckhoff, mbuckhoff@aol.com