Toefl exam Essentials

Use transitions. Key words and phrases like more
important, similarly, first, for example, and in particular can
help guide your reader through your essay. For more
transitional phrases, see pages 100–103 in Chapter 4.
ACTIVE VS. PASSIVE VOICE
For clear, direct writing, use the active voice. In English, voice
expresses a relationship between the verb and the subject of the
sentence or its direct object. When you write in the active voice,
the subject of the sentence causes, or is the source of, the action
(verb). When you use the passive voice, the subject does not per-
form the action, but rather is acted upon. Sentences in the pas-
sive voice are often wordier and more difficult to understand. Here
are some examples of active vs. passive voice:
Active voice: We suggest that you organize your ideas by
importance.
Passive voice: It is suggested that you organize your ideas
by importance. (Note that this sentence does not say who per-
formed the action.)