Written Expression (条件英作文)
The writing task gives a short Japanese prompt and three or four conditions you must satisfy. Typical conditions: write two sentences or more, give a reason with because, use all the words in brackets, and reach a minimum word count (often around 15 words). Short items also ask you to fill a dialogue blank with a few words or answer a question in English.
How to build an answer
- Underline every condition and tick each one off after writing.
- Use a frame you can trust: opinion sentence + reason sentence, e.g. "I think ... . I think so because ... ."
- Keep the grammar simple and correct rather than complex and broken: one clause per sentence is enough.
- Count the words at the end - the minimum is a scored condition, not a suggestion.
Worked example
Prompt: Write about a job you want to do in the future and why. Conditions: 15 words or more, use want to, give a reason with because.
Answer: "I want to be a nurse because I like helping people. I will study hard." Count: I(1) want(2) to(3) be(4) a(5) nurse(6) because(7) I(8) like(9) helping(10) people(11) I(12) will(13) study(14) hard(15) - fifteen words, all three conditions met.
Traps
- A fragment beginning with Because. "Because I like helping people." is not a sentence; put the main clause first.
- Missing one condition, usually the bracketed words or the sentence count.
- Katakana English: write soccer, not soccer player when you mean the sport, and check spelling of everyday words.
- Subject–verb agreement: my sister likes, not my sister like.
- No period at the end, which merges two sentences into one.
- Copying the Japanese prompt word for word instead of answering it.