XII-4: The Realism Movement
Warm-up and Vocabulary
Look at the two paintings below. The first is from the Romanticism movement (left), and the second is from the Realism movement (right). What differences do you notice in the subject matter and style?
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As you can see, Realism was a major shift in art. It focused on showing life as it truly was. Study the key terms below that help describe this movement, then complete the quiz.
Key Terms
- Idealized: Represented as perfect or better than in reality.
- Objective: Not influenced by personal feelings; based on facts.
- Depict: To represent by a drawing, painting, or other art form.
- Mundane: Lacking interest or excitement; dull; everyday.
- Socio-economic: Relating to the interaction of social and economic factors.
- Unembellished: Plain, without decoration; showing the simple truth.
Activity 1
Now, try to answer these questions.
Strategy Focus: The A-R-E-A Method for Independent Speaking
The TOEFL Independent Speaking task gives you a choice between two options. You have just 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to speak. You need a simple, strong structure to succeed. Use the A-R-E-A method.
- A – Answer: State your choice directly. This is your topic sentence.
- R – Reason: Give your main reason for your choice.
- E – Example: Provide a specific, personal example or explanation. This is the most important part!
- A – Answer (Restated): Briefly conclude by summarizing your point.
Using Your 15 Seconds of Prep Time
Do NOT try to write full sentences. Just write keywords for your Reason and Example.
Below is an example of the A-R-E-A Method
Prompt: Some people prefer to get news from television. Others prefer to get news from the internet. Which do you prefer and why?
15 Second Notes:
- Choice: Internet
- R: More choice, deeper
- E: Ukraine war – TV short, internet I read articles, see maps
Putting It Together in 45 Seconds
(A) Answer: “I definitely believe it’s better to get news from the internet.” (R) Reason: “This is mainly because the internet offers a much wider variety of sources and allows you to go more in-depth on topics you care about.” (E) Example: “For example, when I was following the recent events in Ukraine, the TV news would only give a two-minute summary. But online, I could read detailed articles from different newspapers, watch longer video reports, and even look at interactive maps to understand the situation fully. It felt like I got a much more complete picture.” (A) Answer (Restated): “So, because of that depth and variety, I’ll always choose the internet for news.”
This structure is logical, easy to follow, and fills the 45 seconds perfectly.
Skill Practice
You will now practice with a similar prompt. You will have 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to speak. Click the record button when you are ready. The system will automatically record your response.
Prompt: Some people prefer to read fiction books that are fantasy or sci-fi. Others prefer to read realistic fiction that is based on everyday life. Which do you prefer and why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.