作文・記述表現 - Essay and Constructed Response
Essay and constructed response
In 作文・記述, begin by underlining the task: are you explaining, summarizing, comparing, or stating an opinion? State one clear claim, support it with reasons and concrete examples from the passage or experience, and close by returning to the claim. For summaries, include who, what changed, and why; omit minor details. For opinion prompts, acknowledge the other side briefly, then answer it.
Traps include drifting from the prompt, listing examples without a claim, copying long phrases from the source, and ignoring length or format rules. In 原稿用紙, know indentation, small っ and ゃ, and the treatment of punctuation at line ends. A long, vague sentence is riskier than two short, clear ones. Avoid casual speech in formal writing.
Worked example: for a 60-character summary of a passage about a student who failed a test and changed study habits, do not retell the whole story. Write: 「失敗をきっかけに、生徒は一人で覚える勉強から説明する勉強へ変えた。」 This states the actor, the trigger, and the change.
Rule of thumb: one paragraph, one job. Put the claim first, support it, and check that every sentence serves the prompt. Reserve time to reread for particle errors, tense consistency, and character count.